Hi all, Bought a Z3 this week - Have a big smile on my face

Zeddi3 · Post by **Zeddi3** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 18:26

Hi all, after months of looking I finally found the car I was looking for.

It is a V reg 2.8 with blue leather. 45,000 miles. Bodywork in good condition, but I need to get the wheels refurbished. Can anyone recommend a place in the midlands (more specifically Warwickshire) where I might be able to get this done without having to send the wheels away.

The only major problem is that the tyres are perished and in awful condition. I have ordered a new Set of Avons – are they any good on the Z3?? I was going to go for the Eagle F1s but the tyre man said that the Avons were just as good but cheaper?

The lady I bought the car off told me that the car is a special edition? It has clear indicators front and back. Also I have not seen these wheels on a V reg before. Do you think it is a special edition or just been messed with? I wonder if it has been messed about with a bit as there were M stickers on the back etc. (Which I managed to get off with no trouble with my girlfriends hairdryer) and also has a K&N air filter. If it is a special edition, which one? And should I buy some new badges to go on the back?

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riano · Post by **riano** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 18:31

awesome looking car-great buy!i just got mine last week and im chuffed

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 18:34

Looks like a lovely car and in a cracking colour.........Well done

Gazza.

cleomantra · Post by **cleomantra** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 18:42

very nice car mate

whiteminks · Post by **whiteminks** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 18:54

It looks fab. You'll love it

Zeddi3 · Post by **Zeddi3** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 19:01

Hi, Cheers. I am very pleased with it. I am not used to driving Z3s and just wondered: Is it usual that the 2.8 makes a whooshing/hissing sound when you accelerate. It is not that loud, but I can hear it most when I am going slowly.

bigfut · Post by **bigfut** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 19:42

Hi welcome! Great colour, really sands out

Cant answer any of your q's, but am sue someone wil.

enjoy!

321bhp · Post by **321bhp** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 19:49

nice car welcome aboard,re-tyres have you looked at the falken range,great tyre,nice looking,i have just had 4 fitted all round on the m,about £340 all in,

jhb1 · Post by **jhb1** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 20:19

Very nice

crumbmonster · Post by **crumbmonster** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 21:45

Hi,
The whooshing sound is induction noise and it's coming from your air filter.The K&N allows more air to pass through it and any induction noise is consequently louder.
Don't dismiss the Falken 452's because of their price.They are excellent tyres.

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 21:57

It looks like Topaz Blue but a very deep, shiny topaz blue!!

Avons were probably better than the Goodyears probably as he gets the Avons cheaper/has a discount on them!

Zeddi3 · Post by **Zeddi3** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 22:17

Yeah, I did think that he probably was going to get them at a better price and make more of a profit. Anyway, I will give the Avons a try and see how it goes. Anyone got an idea about this special edition? I am not convinced, It looks nice though so I am not that bothered either way. I am just interested to know.

djfield · Post by **djfield** » Wed 14 Mar, 2007 09:46

Hi, lovely car thats a really nice colour. I've got the same wheels on my 2.2 sport and I've just sent them off to be refurbed in Notingham. Interestingly my tyres had the same problem as you. I'll post back some pics when they're back.

For information:

Tyre's Falken FK452's 255 rear 225 front @ £302 delivered
http://www.tyretraders.co.uk
Wheel refurb, split the rims polish powder coat inners @ approx £350
http://www.juswheels.co.uk
Shipping 2-4 day insured parcel2go @ £63
http://www.parcel2go.co.uk

Not sure if shipping is included in the wheel refurb so that may be same on the way back. Also, point to note the tyres are going straight to the wheel refurb guy and he'll fit and balance them plus dispose of the old. So thats £40 off the refurb price I would have paid for fitting.

Not cheap but hopefully worth it.

Have you compared the cost of the Avon's online against the Falkens and Goodyears ? Also there are some good tyre review sites out there.

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Wed 14 Mar, 2007 10:19

Beautiful Zed. Best of luck with it

Ian_C · Post by **Ian_C** » Wed 14 Mar, 2007 10:38

Good looking zed zeddi3

I've got Avons all round on mine and they're fine. Good combination of wet & dry grip and reasonably priced. Maybe not the choice for track days and ultimate performance but as a general use tyre I don't think you could do much better at the price.

I recently replaced both fronts on mine for £160 (all inclusive price i.e. fitting, balancing, valves, disposal). I ordered them here: http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/home.asp and then chose the fitting option. Turns out that they use National for fitting (who'd quoted me £30 more when I phoned them direct

). You get Tesco clubcard points too

I had a good look around before buying (BlackCircles, MyTyres etc) and found tyre-shopper to be the cheapest.

shabsbmw · Post by **shabsbmw** » Wed 14 Mar, 2007 12:47

Nice car.....well done

shabs

trickyb · Post by **trickyb** » Wed 14 Mar, 2007 16:07

I'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong, but i wasn't aware BMW did the clear indicators as part of special editions... Anyone?

Re the fact that an 'M' was on it, and with the K&N, i'd have to suggest someone did a little go at modding. There'll be people on here who spit at the idea of the 'M' badge alone, but the K&N's ok, and some like the clear lenses.

Enjoy.

risquenun · Post by **risquenun** » Wed 14 Mar, 2007 21:57

trickyb wrote:I'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong, but i wasn't aware BMW did the clear indicators as part of special editions... Anyone?

Re the fact that an 'M' was on it, and with the K&N, i'd have to suggest someone did a little go at modding. There'll be people on here who spit at the idea of the 'M' badge alone, but the K&N's ok, and some like the clear lenses.

Enjoy.

My Orinoco had the front indicators, side repeaters in white plus it has the 'm' rear light clusters -all factory fit.
les

Zeddi3 · Post by **Zeddi3** » Wed 14 Mar, 2007 22:21

Your Orinoco looks very nice. Perhaps it is possible that it was factory fitted with clear indicators and my alloys then? I just don't know.

djfield · Post by **djfield** » Thu 15 Mar, 2007 23:26

Not sure they're the same alloys on the Orinoco.

My 2.2 has clear indicators as well so maybe its a certain pack ..

p.s. I really love that colour each time I look at it it gets better !!!! Ok I'm sad

madmare · Post by **madmare** » Thu 15 Mar, 2007 23:42

My 2002 zed has those wheels and clear indicators ... although only a baby 1.9 but it's the sport ....

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 08:34

Sport wheels are gorgeous.

djfield · Post by **djfield** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 08:46

They will be when I get them back from the refurb place with my 255's

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 11:23

djfield wrote:Not sure they're the same alloys on the Orinoco.

My 2.2 has clear indicators as well so maybe its a certain pack ..

p.s. I really love that colour each time I look at it it gets better !!!! Ok I'm sad

Jonty, OG II and I must be sad too, as we love the OG II colour as well.

Any other OG II coloured Zeds out there owned by forum members?

Lets hear you!

Austin Powers · Post by **Austin Powers** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 17:33

djfield wrote:Not sure they're the same alloys on the Orinoco.

My 2.2 has clear indicators as well so maybe its a certain pack ..

p.s. I really love that colour each time I look at it it gets better !!!! Ok I'm sad

The Orinoco alloys are stlye 78, your car wears style 42 - with screws.
By default, the sport package (M technic) came with either 78 or 42.
So I'd say that Orinoco alloys were fitted later on...if I remember correctly, both are made by BBS.
The oxford green really looks classy...

I have never seen Orinoco before...the interior is really nice with the body color...

Bw,
Austin

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 20:06

Image in Solihull are pretty good on wheel refurb.

http://www.imagecar-care.co.uk/

Post by **Robert T** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 20:26

I'm not sure about the special editions, but when I bought mine I had a choice of a small number of wheels. Judging by the variety on cars later on, I'm guessing that they had the pick on any BMW wheels which were available in the right size. With special editions, this may just cover the paint and trim, and you can still pay extra to pick some fancier wheels?

Are the clear indicators not standard on all facelift models (built after 04/99)?

What colour does it say on the front strut tower?

Looks very smart, whatever it turns out to be. Good choice, and you'll be grinning for a long time yet!

Cheers R.

Austin Powers · Post by **Austin Powers** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 21:15

Robert T wrote:I'm not sure about the special editions, but when I bought mine I had a choice of a small number of wheels. Judging by the variety on cars later on, I'm guessing that they had the pick on any BMW wheels which were available in the right size. With special editions, this may just cover the paint and trim, and you can still pay extra to pick some fancier wheels?

Are the clear indicators not standard on all facelift models (built after 04/99)?

What colour does it say on the front strut tower?

Looks very smart, whatever it turns out to be. Good choice, and you'll be grinning for a long time yet!

Cheers R.

Of course money can buy you anything you want, but 95% of sport editions, that I have seen were booted with style 78 and 42. After all, the sport edition has mixed tyres and alloys - and BMW doesn't have 25 sets of them...

No, clear indicators are NOT standard on facelift models, however, I haven't seen a sport edition without them. Standard trim is available with orange ones.

Bw,
Austin

risquenun · Post by **risquenun** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 21:59

The Orinoco alloys are stlye 78, your car wears style 42 - with screws.
By default, the sport package (M technic) came with either 78 or 42.
So I'd say that Orinoco alloys were fitted later on...if I remember correctly, both are made by BBS.
The oxford green really looks classy...

I have never seen Orinoco before...the interior is really nice with the body color...

Sorry guys -the tyle 78 alloys in my pictures I have recently fitted. The Orinoco style 42 16 inch alloys are living in my loft

Les
ps i love Oxford Green as my old E34 was i that colour.

zroadster.net

Hi all, Bought a Z3 this week - Have a big smile on my face

Hi all, Bought a Z3 this week - Have a big smile on my face

hi

new Zed