Anything in particular to be concerned about with these?
Anything in particular to be concerned about with these?
1.9 or 2.8? 1.9 = rather pedestrian but economical, really wakes up with a flywheel and fogged airbox. 2.8 = the one to have, basically, for any kind of performance driving.
They are good little cars, I've always liked them. They fit more like an S2000 than a Miata. They need the cooling system maintenance like any other modern BMW; very severely abused ones may also show trunk floor separation (again, like any other modern BMW). But that's really uncommon.
In reply to SlickDizzy:
Sorry, it's a 1.9. This particular car is a real cream puff, as we used to call them. Under 60k miles and pretty much perfect other than a small dent in the trunk lid. It would be a dd for my son who commutes to college and work, so the smaller engine is actually preferred in this case. I liked the engine. I drove this car back to back with a 2003 Miata that had 48k miles on it, and preferred the Z3. It was a very nice car to drive, and the engine was much more refined and less buzzy than the Miata. It also made better low end torque, which made it enjoyable when driven under normal street circumstances. I say that before everyone jumps on me with comparisons of these cars on track. This car will not be tracked, so that is a non-issue. I thought it was over-priced at $8500, but this car is actually cheaper than any other comparable Z3 in my area, and as far as I can tell its the nicest of them all. I want to pay $8k with the added cost of snow tires, so I'm planning on shooting for $7500, but I don't know if he'll go for it or not. I'm also a little hesitant to buy this car for it's intended purpose, since it will be difficult here in the rust belt to keep it as nice as it is now. The plan is to buy both my sons a car now that they can drive through college and then we'll either sell them or they can buy the car from us.
I would personally buy them a Miata because it's going to be cheaper to maintain and to purchase too. Since it's not as nice to drive, they will learn that cheap reliable transportation is actually very valuable; they may not be able to learn it as much if they start out with a Z3. They can also learn that it's more practical to have a nicer vehicle when they make good money.
I also prefer the Z3's suspension (especially the rear) over a NA or NB Miata on an autocross course, but I'm an oddball. 
In reply to Mr_Clutch42:
The car would be mine, not his. He'd only be using it. So what I think matters. I've looked at Miatas. I'm not as smitten with them as most people here, although I do like them. But I have yet to find a comparable Miata that is cheaper than this Z3.
I don't know if there have been great progress made in quality of cars and college students. When I was a student, you would not want a car back after a college kid used it for 4 or 5 or 6 years (most kids don't finish college in 4 years).
bravenrace wrote: In reply to Mr_Clutch42: The car would be mine, not his. He'd only be using it. So what I think matters. I've looked at Miatas. I'm not as smitten with them as most people here, although I do like them. But I have yet to find a comparable Miata that is cheaper than this Z3.
I couldn't imagine a worse car for a college kid than a BMW convertible. It's rwd and will suck in any real snow, it has no room for stuff or people and you have the added bonus of dealing with an open top car.
If it's for you and not a DD, they're great. If he's the one that's going to be using it the majority of the time, try and find something else for him that's a hardtop and fwd/awd.
docwyte wrote: It's rwd and will be awesome fun in any real snow
Fixed.
I've owned a lot of BMW's and driven most of them in a lot of snow with snow tires. They do great!
docwyte wrote: I couldn't imagine a worse car for a college kid than a BMW convertible. It's rwd and will suck in any real snow, it has no room for stuff or people and you have the added bonus of dealing with an open top car. If it's for you and not a DD, they're great. If he's the one that's going to be using it the majority of the time, try and find something else for him that's a hardtop and fwd/awd.
Thanks, but I think I can determine what is good for my son.
Besides, this a thread about what to look for in a Z3, not what kind of car to buy my son.
I must be one of the few people who likes BMW's 1.9
In reply to mad_machine:
Well like I said, I liked it a lot. And the car in general. I wanted to buy it for me and give my son my 330ci, because I liked the Z3 better. It may not be fast with the 1.9, but the engine seems well-matched to the car, and its not a dog by any means.
In reply to mad_machine:
I'm just partial to the M42. The M44 isn't a bad engine, per se, but going from forged internals to cast, worse intake manifold, OBD2, etc...it's just not as good of an engine as the M42. Still not a bad little mill, though.
unless you are boosting or going to 9grand.. the loss of forged internals is nothing to worry about. I was going to add the lightweight flywheel and an M42 intake to my M44.. but rust took care of the car first
I had (Dad has) an E30 with the M42. I drive a Miata, and drove the Miata through college. I have autocrossed a 2.8 Z3 a couple of times, and loved it.
I personally would be looking for the 2.8--the 1.9 just isn't that great in comparison, and back when I was considering looking for a Z3, not enough price difference from Z3 to Miata to 2.8 Z3 to ever consider the 1.9 Z3. So it sounds like you've found a cream puff that makes it worth it compared to the others, go for it!
FWIW, I'd consider that vehicle perfect for a college kid. Fun, cool, not too fast, and he can't take twenty seven people with him.
mtn wrote: FWIW, I'd consider that vehicle perfect for a college kid. Fun, cool, not too fast, and he can't take twenty seven people with him.
Exactly.
Nothing to add about z3s but i am curoius if you have compaired it to a boxter?
In reply to dean1484:
Yes, but finding one that meets our requirements, parts cost and difficulty of certain repairs scared me off. The Z3 seems like a much better option for a year around DD. Plus, I just like the Z3 a lot better.
Well at my sons urging, I made what I thought was a fairly low offer, along with requirements like him bringing it to my house to put it on my lift so I can inspect it and providing a carfax. I really didn't think he'd agree to it, but he did. I've now got that feeling in the pit of my stomach, but not sure why. I don't know if part of me doesn't want to buy this car, or what. So I'm going to ask you to either enable me or un-enable me. Here's the ad for the car:
http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4543636853.html
Its not perfect, but is pretty close, at least from the top side. My offer was $7500, and he accepted it (he was originally asking $9500). When I look at ads, this seems like a really good price, but Edmunds lists a private party value of $4995. I don't get that. What do you guys think?
looks to be in really decent shape. Value-wise I have no really good idea, since I usually end up looking at cars with much higher miles (I should be asking myself why..).
I'm sure you will find any issues if you inspect up on a lift.
For edmunds, keep in mind this is a relatively old and low-volume car, so their formulas may not be super applicable (remember how the Z3m-roadsters were on the government 'clunker' list? I'm guessing this could be a similar mistake).
Arrest me red, prepare for tickets
ryanty22 wrote: Arrest me red, prepare for tickets
I'm not worried about that in the least. My son is a good kid, and he knows that driving fast is for the track, not the street. He's been driving a modified CRX-si for 4 years without incident, and he's earned my trust.
In reply to rcutclif:
Thanks. Hey, and it has Ostrich skin seats!
You did good. It's a fun and economical car. Parts are both E30 and E36, and if you want more power down the line, there is a supercharger available.
Then you can upgrade to an M.. 
I would buy it since you said that it was the best Z3 in your area. Every other person that's selling a sports car isn't selling a low mileage Z3.
I didn't have a car in college. It sure beats that.
The car looks to be in good shape. My only experience with Z3s was an M Coupe, and the only issue I had with that car over 7 years was with some cheap interior panels. The glovebox practically fell apart and needed some reinforcement. I removed an under dash panel to do this, and the mounting tabs broke off. The plastic was extremely delicate. And that was just after 4 years. Mechanically, it was very solid. Check the suspension bushings/joints and the driveshaft guibo.
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