Buying used Z3 - what to look at
Hi guys, my friend want’s to buy a 1999 BMW Z3 roadster. He asked me for help since he’s not very experienced, but I haven’t had a chance to look for used BMW’s yet.
What would you check in the first place? What are common problems of that car? Are there some particular release batches affected by some kind of known problems?
Thanks for your help!
Comments
Check the wing mirrors. If they don’t work they are really expensive, especially the right mirror. Also, if the rear plastic window on the convertible is yellowed or cracked they are cheap to buy but expensive to fit. Otherwise they are solid cars. Oh, also check that all of the locks work because on mine and my dads ones they have all gone.
They suffer from Headgasket issues.. Make sure the oil is clean, and check the coolant to make sure there isn’t any oil in it.. Check the oil filler cap for foaming.. and make sure there is no smoke out the tail pipe..
The biggest one I would say with any of the mid to late 90s bmws is rear subframe issues and bushings. Check all suspension bushings. Rear trailing arms control arms shock mounts etc. check for rust and cracking.
Would you say that having the main parts of the rear suspension replaced - performing a general restoration - is an expensive job? I’m thinking between looking for expensive good looking car or buying cheap and using saved money for doing repairs on your own?
Yeah bushings are a big one, they are cheap and easy but if you pay someone to do it it adds up fast. They are very simple cars though. Check for common oil leaks and perform a cooling system overhaul. And like Vozz said, the rear window is cheap, but we charge 3 hours to install. Its easy to do but it takes some finesse and patience.
Another related question - I can see that due to ageing, most Z3’s have ruined seats:( have any of you guys tried replacing the trim on them? Is it possible to take the old leather down and replace it with new? I know not all car seats can be repaired that way (Peugeot seats for example are glued together and cannot be taken apart)