How long have you had your z3?

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webby
Joined: Sat 09 Jul, 2005 15:32
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  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: leigh on sea

How long have you had your z3?

Post by webby »

This is my 10th year of owning my z3. She never let's me down!!!! I have 3.0i the only thing I've ad to spend out on was a new power steering pump and new front shocks. Not bad really.

How long you had yours?
billz
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Location: nottingham

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by billz »

Ours will be 4 yrs next March. have had new Brake Caliper and Cam sensors. The rest is what i wanted to spend on her :D
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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by TitanTim »

5 years this month (I think), still on 25K, think it had 21K on the clock back then and cost me £10995 as a BMW AUC :shock: Probably worth thruppence now :x The past 12 months have probably been the costliest with replacing the boot wiring loom and front brakes but apart from that no other real problems. MOT and service is due tomorrow, hopefully will pass but if anything major crops up will consider getting rid for something more practical and modern :shock:

Tim.
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gookah
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by gookah »

TitanTim wrote:5 years this month (I think), still on 25K, think it had 21K on the clock back then and cost me £10995 as a BMW AUC :shock: Probably worth thruppence now :x

I'll give you tuppence for it Tim, after all there's one for sale on here with 12,000 miles on it, unlike your old high miler...... I think you are over-valuing it. :wink:
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I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
Tilly
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Location: Sussex

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Tilly »

Had Blackie( 85,000 miles) for over 14 years and Bluie(44,000 miles) for over 13 years.
Running costs for Blackie for its life just over £22,000. For Bluie about £8,000.
Definitely NOT for sale. Don't care how much they are worth or not worth!

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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
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Location: Johannesburg

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Southernboy »

Almost 15 years...and aside from the "perishables" like tyres & brakes and servicing items like oil & filters, and excluding mods...1 new clutch,,£200.00 inc fitting, a couple of water hoses, and a new waterpump with thermostat, a replacement driver side door....Total around £400'ish over the period is an indication of the basically well built Z3. I do have the benefit of a relatively rust / damp free climate / environment, so it will increase the durability somewhat compared to UK cars.
And it's been my daily driver since new....now on 206,000kms and still drives smoothly, motor ticks over without any hiccups / misses etc...and I still enjoy the top down experience as much as ever...definitely not for sale.
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Tilly
Joined: Wed 26 May, 2004 19:45
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Location: Sussex

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Tilly »

Almost a mirror image to mine. My Rollover bars a black and I have a LHD. You bodywork looks immaculate. Have you had it resprayed in its lifetime?
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
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Location: Johannesburg

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Southernboy »

....Yes...I did a full body respray last year sometime...after I did the full interior change from Oregon Beige to Red / Black...More of a "blow-over" than a full body strip and re-paint...the original paint was in good shape, but I had a few of the inevitable front end mini chips, and the parking dings on the doors...so had all those sorted and a full re-spray.
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webby
Joined: Sat 09 Jul, 2005 15:32
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Location: leigh on sea

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by webby »

It's nice to hear all your story's. :-)
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
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  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Del »

Two years ownership for my little 1.9. Even with doing mostly DIY probably spent more money than I would get back on resale. I was conscious it was a 15-year old car (1998) but I didn’t want to be nursing an old car around being frightened to go on a long trip and so I have been a bit fussy about renovating the “mechanicals” and getting everything running as near as practical to new OE standard. Feel pretty confident I could motor across Europe, or travel the length of the UK now, and not have to worry.

Main jobs to do:- get the sills off and clean/renovate as necessary, new water pump when next changing coolant and new hood. I’d be reluctant to let it go after all this work and IF I did get rid of it, I would probably keep it in the family by giving it to my son so I could keep an eye on it. :D
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TitanTim
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by TitanTim »

gookah wrote:
TitanTim wrote:5 years this month (I think), still on 25K, think it had 21K on the clock back then and cost me £10995 as a BMW AUC :shock: Probably worth thruppence now :x

I'll give you tuppence for it Tim, after all there's one for sale on here with 12,000 miles on it, unlike your old high miler...... I think you are over-valuing it. :wink:
Yepp its definitely feeling its age, I feel a second E89 to replace it :D

Tim.
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Tilly
Joined: Wed 26 May, 2004 19:45
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Location: Sussex

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Tilly »

Southernboy wrote:....Yes...I did a full body respray last year sometime...after I did the full interior change from Oregon Beige to Red / Black...More of a "blow-over" than a full body strip and re-paint...the original paint was in good shape, but I had a few of the inevitable front end mini chips, and the parking dings on the doors...so had all those sorted and a full re-spray.
I think that I will have to have mine done in the not too distant future. The car is now over 16 years old. It was a BMW German demonstrator built before the press launch. Over the sixteen years it has stone chips and a few small dents mainly accumulated in car parks. I had a quote for a full respray and engine detail for £4,500. I think that is a bit excessive and I will need to shop around before taking the plunge.

Seeing yours really make me want to get the cosmetics done. Thanks for the information.
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
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Location: Johannesburg

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Southernboy »

Tilly wrote:-
I think that I will have to have mine done in the not too distant future. The car is now over 16 years old. It was a BMW German demonstrator built before the press launch. Over the sixteen years it has stone chips and a few small dents mainly accumulated in car parks. I had a quote for a full respray and engine detail for £4,500. I think that is a bit excessive and I will need to shop around before taking the plunge.

Seeing yours really make me want to get the cosmetics done. Thanks for the information.


My "re-paint" etc cost me around £ 800.00. The biggest cost was the front buper and the hood...with the stone chips... also the fronts of the rear wheel panels from "sand-blasting"...I've fitted the magnetic guards now... :wink:
"Normal is overrated"
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Tilly
Joined: Wed 26 May, 2004 19:45
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Location: Sussex

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Tilly »

Southernboy wrote:Tilly wrote:-

My "re-paint" etc cost me around £ 800.00. The biggest cost was the front buper and the hood...with the stone chips... also the fronts of the rear wheel panels from "sand-blasting"...I've fitted the magnetic guards now... :wink:

That is a very reasonable cost for the great job that has obviously been done. Hope I can somewhere near that figure. I am certainly encouraged to try.
TR4man
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Location: Woore, Near Nantwich, Cheshire

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by TR4man »

10 months.

From having company cars of some description for the last 22 years or so, redundancy at the age of 53 and after seven months without a permanemt job I was offered one without a car but with an allowance instead.

I bought my little Zed from a specialist car dealer in Northwich to use as an interim measure to see me through my probationary period. I did not want to commit myself to a personal lease until I was sure that I liked the job (and they liked me). I'm well past that stage now, but still have no desire to trade in my Zed. I like driving it, it's reasonably economical, and its a bit different - and I'm pocketing the car allowance :lol:

I'm conscious that I'm racking up the mileage quickly (22,000 miles in 10 months) but it seems to lap it up.

Here's a picture taken at a memorial to the crew of a Wellington bomber which crashed in WW2 near my home. The Zed looks decent from the photo, but the bonnet and front bumper is peppered with stonechips which is on the agenda for a front end respray this year and then maybe fitting some form of paintwork shield to prevent it suffering in this way again. I almost feel guilty, I'd bought it as an immaculate pampered car, but hammering it up and down the roads of England has taken its toll :(

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paul.s
Joined: Wed 26 Dec, 2012 09:54
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by paul.s »

we have had our 2.8 for coming up 7 years now paid £6500 for it with 55k its had a service every year and been took off the road every winter I stripped all the panels off and resprayed it last year and its just cracked 70k we wouldn't sell it. for what you would get its just not worth it
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Devon Z
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Location: Brixham, Devon

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Devon Z »

Had ours 14 years, purchased new for £29,950 and just turned 27k.
Will never sell and at least if it's not worth anything it's not worth selling anyway.
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snoops
Joined: Sat 12 Jun, 2010 17:08
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Location: Lancashire

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by snoops »

I've had Zippy for 12 years now having had 1 previous owner for 2 years - he's not looking bad for a 14yr old car

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He hasn't really missed a beat in the 12years I've had him, he's had a bonnet respray when he went in for a ding in the door fix that some moron did on a car park.

Other than the normal running costs, tyres, exhaust, brakes, servicing etc. he's had a new water pump and thermostat. He is about to get a makeover with replacement ///M heated seats which to refurb will probably cost around a 3rd of the value of him :shock: but I don't care coz he and I are worth it.

Is he for sale - not on your nelly - he's a keeper :D :drive

p.s. owning Zippy has also afforded me the opportunity to meet (both virtually and in person) some fantastic other zed owners, now how many other cars can brag about that !!

p.p.s I think I paid about £18k for him, it was all a bit of a whirl I was so dizzy with excitement at the time. :D
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Bonzo
Joined: Wed 21 Mar, 2012 21:52
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Location: Norfolk

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Bonzo »

I've had Zelda for 1.25 years. I paid £3900 for her with 70,800 on her clock! I still get a thrill from just looking at her, let alone driving her. She 's a keeper alright. :)
Z3lda (Zelda), 1998 2.8, Montreal Blue, Beige Oregon leather interior and M steering wheel, Sports Seats, Wood trim, Chrome Line Interior, Centre armrest with Cupholder, Alpina Softline wheels, Chromed Angel Eyes, De- tango'd, Rear stone guards, Sport aerial, ASC front strut brace, Strong Strut Butt Strut and Body Brace, Uprated brake fluid, Yellowstuff pads 78k.
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Pep
Joined: Fri 30 Nov, 2012 12:24
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  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Pep »

I've had mine about 9 months. 3.0 with loads of ACS kit, paid £4k with 75k on the clock.

I've had to have a couple of things repaired: OS window popped out the top, front springs replaced, Cam sensor, water tank. I had to replace the rear tyres after the NS one blew out. Comes to around £650 and I had a major service done. I've got a terrible rattle on the rear OS so I'll take that in to get looked at soon.

I think I'd only sell it to get an M or an AC Cobra (in my dreams!) but if I get an M I'd want to take across a lot of the ACS kit.
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Robert T
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Robert T »

14 years, 2 months and 3 days. :D

Still puts a smile on my face driving mine, and she was getting a fair bit of attention at Tatton Park Classic Car Show this weekend, even though she was only drafted in as a support vehicle for the Austin-Healey Club. :lol:

Can't say I have had anything terribly major in 64,500 miles of driving. I have had two "breakdowns": the original battery failed within the first 3 years and it was replaced FOC by BMW and the battery that they put on then is still on the car. The other was a failed or failing camshaft sensor which caused the engine to run very poorly and keep cutting out - I had to limp it off the A556 - AA man had a fiddle with the HT leads and it got going again, but either dirt on the sensor cleared, or the ECU stopped listening to it - either way it was replaced the following day by my local BMW garage.

Maintenance-wise, I have only had 2 complete sets of tyres, one set of springs each front and rear, wishbone bushes, a new back box, rear brake pipes, drivers seat bushes, brake pads and most recently discs and new handbrake shoes. I haven't even replaced that many bulbs - headlights, heater controls, odometer backlight, headlight switch backlight and ashtray light.

There are few bits of preventative maintenance coming up before long, like replacing both waterpump and power-steering cooling loop, a wheel refurb, sills, and possibly a bonnet and front bumper respray. None of which are urgent and will simply be done when the opportunity arises. The only ongoing problem I have is TIF (Total Instrument Failure) which occurs once every blue moon and is very difficult to get to the bottom of - it seems the cluster detects a short somewhere and shuts down all the gauges - a couple of mins with the key out seems to be enough to bring them back to life. Seems likely to be a short somewhere, but I found no evidence of chafed wires when I removed the cluster to replace the odometer backlight.

In short, the car owes me nothing, and I still love driving it. :)

Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Phil
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Location: Solihull

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Phil »

9 years and 5 months for ours.
I part exed a 2.8 with 57912 on the clock and got £10,100 for it.
The M cost £25799 and had 8600 on the clock.
We both love the car particularly my wife. I wanted to buy a rather nice Alpina Roadster in sapphire black with a red interior but her indoors said that our M was too good and rare.
Couldn't argue with that really.
Sapphire black/Imola red and black interior/ red roof/ S54 - the only RHD one made.

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stevietgr
Joined: Thu 30 May, 2013 17:26
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Location: Reading , Berkshire

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by stevietgr »

I've been a Z3 2.8 owner for a grand total of 2 weeks :D

Bought for £2,100 as a wee summer runaround 1997 90k on the clock.

Loving it so far (apart from auto hood not working)

No problem though as I just open it manually.

Hope to see some other zed drivers out and about in the Reading area.

:D
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stu
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by stu »

12 years and 9 months today! Nice to see we're amongst a decent list of 'owned from new'. Didn't honestly thought many people hung onto their cars like we're planning on doing.
someone in a minority once wrote:I know I'm in a minority
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Brian H
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Brian H »

Been a Z3 owner since November 2008, Had my current Z for 2 years 1 month.
Paid just under £5k for it with 60000 miles on it, now sat at 74000 so it has had some use :wink:
My plan is to keep it as long as i can (my boys are already eyeing it up but I still have a few trouble free years until they can drive) great car and brings a smile every time I drive it.
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Gazza
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Gazza »

I bought my Black 2.8 in 2005, enjoyed that for a year, sold it to a young lady in Mansfield and then bought the ///M in 2006.

The ///M was owned by a young lady in Enfield Middlesex, it was only used to go to the train station, she owned it for 3 months and wanted £18K and wouldn't budge by a pound, I found out after we had done the deal she had paid £21K
Gazza

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gookah
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by gookah »

I had a Schnitzer fully-loaded Z3 3.0 Sport for about 2 years,
then went to a Z4 2.5 litre, for about 18 months,
then onto a Z4M for another 12 months,
then back into a 2.8 litre Z3 for the last 7 months.
My wife, now has a Z3 1.9 Sport
which replaced her Z3 1.9 auto,

and my son has a 2.0 Z3..

I can't stand them actually......or you lot.... :D
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Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)

I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
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g8jka
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by g8jka »

gookah wrote:and my son has a 2.0 Z3..
Yes and I've had it just over 3 years now :D
I brought just after my Dad sold the schnizter 3.0, unfortunately it wasn't quite in time to remove some of the goodies off it and put them on mine. I was going to get a Clio 172 at the time but he convinced me otherwise and I'm glad he did.

The plan at the end of last year was to sell the Z3 in April/May time and go for a 3.0 Z4 but I wouldn't want to see the Z3 go so now I plan on keeping it until its worthless and can be stripped for parts. Then I think I will go for a 3.0 or even an ///M if its not used as a daily driver :)
2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list :-D :drive
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gookah
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Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by gookah »

g8jka wrote:I plan on keeping it until its worthless and can be stripped for parts.
You mean I am going to have to wait until next week?
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Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)

I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
stevietgr
Joined: Thu 30 May, 2013 17:26
Posts: 31

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Reading , Berkshire

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by stevietgr »

stevietgr wrote:I've been a Z3 2.8 owner for a grand total of 2 weeks :D

Bought for £2,100 as a wee summer runaround 1997 90k on the clock.

Loving it so far (apart from auto hood not working)

No problem though as I just open it manually.

Hope to see some other zed drivers out and about in the Reading area.

:D
Good news regarding my auto hood not working.

Turned out to be the up / down switch on the centre console that was at fault.

Got a replacement switch out of a 3 series at the local scrapyard.

£10 for the switch.

I am now a very happy Z3 owner.

:D
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Deano1712
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Location: Leeds

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Deano1712 »

Had mine 7 years now - around half its life. Cost 12k at the time. The car is a keeper. :grin:

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Lazeodoom
Joined: Fri 17 Aug, 2007 15:57
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Location: Birmingham

Re: How long have you had your z3?

Post by Lazeodoom »

Had the Zed now for 6 years, bought him at 39k miles and he's now up to 86k miles, including a few great nationwide drives with the roof off and one memorable great day at the beach parked in a row of Astra's and the like, hood down, drawing admiring glances from everyone! No huge spends on anything catastrophic yet, the only big spend was on a new soft top last year at £600, the old one was green no matter how much elbow grease and Autoglym I used! He's old from 1997 and I toyed with selling up last year, but just couldn't do it, glad I didn't, he keeps getting compliments from people who assume my 'P' registration is a personalised on a much newer car.

In fact I've just finished a long wash and clay session, I was going to 3 stage polish but the "quik detailer" and clay bar did wonders!
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