Hi, I've presently got a lotus Elise which I love driving but my other half doesn't like travelling in it due to the noise/lack of comfort & well pretty much everything really!
I like the look of the Z3 and thought it could be a good compromise car that we would both like & use for weekends away and the occasional commuting journeys. (I've got an old micra for the daily grind/winter use)
I like the sound of the six cyl engines over the fours but not sure between 2.2 or 2.8? Date of reg is also a consideration as I don't want to pay £470 tax, great site & a world of info
Regards
I pondered on 2.0ltr, 2.2ltr or maybe 2.8ltr for some time. Cost of running is so similar that there is no reason not to buy a 2.8ltr. Go for it and enjoy!
Hi, I have a 1997 2.8, perhaps getting on in the years, but still in great shape! I love swapping the keys from my younger 330d and enjoying a real drive! This is a brilliant forum, loads of really useful info. from a bunch of really helpful people.
1997 Z3 2.8 (M52) Roadster Montreal blue
2013 330d (F31) M Sport Alpine White
Hi, welcome from Bonzo and Zelda. I have no experience of 2.0l Z3s. I guess they must sound nice, but with not much more grunt than a 1.9l. A 2.2l would give you more, but my 2.8l I find very enjoyable. A fair bit of low down torque for speedy relaxed progress, but let her rev and and the world in front rapidly disappears behind!
Read Mike Fishwick's articles on the Z3 knowledgebase. this will tell you all you need to know. Test drives though are worth a thousand words!
Cheers,
Bonzo
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.
I have to stand up for the 2.0l.... it does lack the grunt of the big engines obviously and if I had researched more then I would probably have waited and got a 2.8 or an M - however, my 2.0 cost £2k and thats a lot of car for not a lot of money and if you know how to drive its fun fun fun.... I actually prefer it to my A5 quattro!!
Either way, you are onto a winner with both the car and this forum, anything you need is on here
Thanks for the welcome guys, im thinking hard about selling my lotus at the moment-its great fun but very impractical
im liking the sound of the 2.8 or 3.0 the more i read about them, surprisingly economical for the engine size.
My nephew works at a bmw specialists (bennets of maldon) which could be rather handy if i do make the step to ownership.
regards
Last edited by Smartbear on Sun 19 Oct, 2014 02:17, edited 2 times in total.
Can not go wrong with a 3.0. One of the most cost effective of the Zs for the engine size. Ours returns around 32mpg Standard is 148mph 0-60 5.8 seconds
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Z3 3.0 Sports Sold
Z4 3.0si Ruby Black with Champagne Leather and Piano Black Dash
billz wrote:Can not go wrong with a 3.0. One of the most cost effective of the Zs for the engine size. Ours returns around 32mpg Standard is 148mph 0-60 5.8 seconds
I had a 2.8 Z3 and I have a 3.0 E46. I would opt for the 3.0 over the 2.8 as an engine. It's a generation newer and just seems better than 200cc's better would suggest.
When you see an M, you'll always want one, but I think a 3.0 is 95% there for 60% of the cost. A 2.8 is 90% there for 50%.
The smaller engines (from what I have seen, rather than experienced from the driver's seat) are perfectly good in normal running, but on a "cruise" you can tell the difference (unless you are Calbens - who could keep up on a Sinclair C5!!).
Welcome to the forum....
Having recently parted with a very long and loving relationship with my 2.8....(1998)
I've now bought the 3.0 (2001)....It's a new project and as with the 2.8 will be "transformed" into another "Super Zed"....
The 3.0 has as mentioned previously 95% of the M roadster and is noticeably more powerful than the 2.8... all in all, a fair compromise between Z3 and M Z3..
Mine is a 2000yr 2.0 Auto and I love it to bits. Honestly I think I should have done more research and gone for a larger engine size 2.8 or 3.0 but it's a 6 ! AND it is much easier to get in and out of than an Elise. That I can vouch for as I test a couple at work. Great car all the same.
"Knowledge and experience are not always the same"
I've put my Elise up for sale on pistonheads tonight-had a couple of call already with a firm offer from a dealer & an interested private buyer
I took out a 2.2 z3 from a backstreet dealers yesterday & was underwhelmed but I strongly suspect all was not well with it, very flat just off idle and extremely easy to stall, I think he's had it for sale for getting on for 2 years!
Defo want a hardtop with the car, I'd like to try a fit 2.2 again and a 3 litre as well.
If I asked nicely any chance of a passenger ride in yours woody? I'm Chelmsford as well.
Regards
My mid life crisis is a 2.2 sport, had it for over 5 years now. Goes really well and is in brilliant condition. It doesn't hang around and sounds fantastic so I imagine the one you rode was a duff. There are plenty of crap Z3's out there, not many original but loads modded to death and thrashed to F**K.
Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one. Harry Callahan.
BMW dust caps x 4 (replica)
Little Tree Air Freshener-Vanillaroma (now worn out and in the bin)
2006 AA road atlas (with the latest safety cameras)
I would be more than happy to take you for a spin in mine but it's been put away for winter in my mates garage in Woodford which is a massive pain as I would have been out in it yesterday as the weather was sunny and dry !! Mine is a weekend toy so not used every day which is why I've dry stored it. I will pm you my number as it would be worthwhile having a chat as I had a 2.0lt before this one.
No worries woody, cheers for your number-will give you a call during the week.
Will be sad to see the Elise go but at the same time I hope I get a buyer for it, it's a bit stressful waiting for the phone to ring!
I'm on autotrader/pistonheads tons at the mo waiting to see if any new cars appear, I'm not rushing but waiting for the right car.
Well if the weather stays like this with no snow forecasted than I will probably get it back out and give you a shout. I think I'm right in saying as men we always want a little bit more and that's what you will find if you go for a smaller engined car.
