Newbie

[1955Davidr]

Hello to you all.

I’m David and have been a petrolhead all of my life, I had a Z3 back in 2010 which I kept until swapped in 2014 for an MX5, sad but true. I retired from working after 52 years today and feel the need for a convertible to tinker with, I have a garage full of tools that need using. I am actively looking to buy another Z3 and there looks to be some decent ones out there, I live near Blackpool but happy to travel for the right car. I am about to go through the classifieds on here but if anyone has one for sale under £5k please let me know.

 

[Mus Musculus]

to the forum from Cambridgeshire, David.

 

[t-tony]

Hi David, welcome from me too near Lincoln.

Tony.

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland .

 

[Shelly]

 

[colb]

Welcome aboard the Forum, good luck with your search, decide what you want 4 pot or 6 pot, there are loads out there but be very careful and do your checks very carefully. All the usual checks but give particular attention to the sills and the underside for corrossion.
The sills are outer cover sills and rot out at the front and rears. You can only see the condition of the inner sills when the outers are removed, they just bolt on and are easy to replace, new outers are available from BMW circa £100+ each side, then paint on top.
Pay attention to the rear subframe and the tank straps for corrossion. Always go online and study the cars MOT history, it will give you an idea on how well its been looked after with advisories and fails history.
If you can and the seller allows plug a code reader in and check for any fault codes that are set or show up as historic codes.
Check for oil leaks around the cam cover and oil filter to engine block, the gaskets fail with age and repeated heat cycles, not that expensive to fix and an ideal DIY job for a Tinkerer.
Quite happy with my 1.9 which is a 1999 car but only 43k miles on it but there again I also have a 2.5 Z4 from 2003 and that performs very well even though its done 96k miles. Latter did require gasket changes and an alternator replaced.
Once you get the car of your choice I would advise doing a full oil service engine, gearbox and diff then you know exactly what you have in it going forward.

Check the MOT history of a vehicle

Check the MOT history of a vehicle from 2005 onwards, including if it passed or failed, its mileage and why it failed, download MOT test certificate

www.gov.uk

 

[colb]

Just noticed your showing interest in the 2.2 for sale in Worcester, that may well be the ideal car for you, its got good history with the things that have been attended to particulaly the rear end and could be improved with your tinkering for the rest of the issues being shown and described. Zedshed West with Nial where its had things attended to is first rate I do make visits there with all my diagnostic kit and while away my Saturdays with them when I can.

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi David, and welcome from me in Cardiff.

 

[1955Davidr]

Well spotted and watch this space!

 

[Ian&Sue]

Hi David, from North Yorkshire.

Ian & Sue.

 

[ExMX5owner]

Gidday David, Welcome

 

[Jam03]

Welcome from Surrey.

 

[Mint]

Hi David and to the forum from me too in Stafford.