Z3M roadster or stick with S3??
Discussion
Im having trouble deciding what to do..... i like my current S3 but im finding it more and more boring... you really have to give it some stick to have any fun.. and tbh.. i dont want to break it!
ive been looking into getting an E36 M3 but the insurance is a killer... as im only 22 (23 soon). While looking around i found that for some unknown reason the Z3M roadsters are cheap-ish to insure.
What im wondering is basically if i can afford to run a Z3. Are the hugely expensive to run? Petrol isnt a huge deal as i only do 12 miles a day and the occasional longer trip. so are the parts very expensive? is the servicing often and pricey? or will it be in the same sort of region as my S3? ideally i would do the servicing myself but ive been advised that this would affect the value of the car massively so would have to pay a specialist to get it done.
i could plough some money into making the S3 faster with a chip and exhaust etc but essentially it will be still be a dull drive just a fast one!
ive been looking into getting an E36 M3 but the insurance is a killer... as im only 22 (23 soon). While looking around i found that for some unknown reason the Z3M roadsters are cheap-ish to insure.
What im wondering is basically if i can afford to run a Z3. Are the hugely expensive to run? Petrol isnt a huge deal as i only do 12 miles a day and the occasional longer trip. so are the parts very expensive? is the servicing often and pricey? or will it be in the same sort of region as my S3? ideally i would do the servicing myself but ive been advised that this would affect the value of the car massively so would have to pay a specialist to get it done.
i could plough some money into making the S3 faster with a chip and exhaust etc but essentially it will be still be a dull drive just a fast one!
to be fair.... i like the look of them. having spent some time in a Z4 3.0L si (company car) and i have wanted an M3 since.. forever been a boyhood dream. i figured if i can do it then why not... ill be looking to spend 13k ish which looks like i could get a decent Z3m as they are suprisingly cheap...but id be open to anything fun.
I think you'll find them really great fun. The mags don't rate them but for a point 'n squirt roadster you cant argue with the figures.
As for running costs, I'd be prepared to double, if not triple your current budget for the S3.
Many people seem to enter into cheap ///M's on the misapropriated theory that they are cheap to run.
They aren't. Folks on here will tell you that a kitty of £1500-2000 will get you through the year. IMO a budget of £3k is more realistic. For reference, my E36 has cost me that in 6 months, let alone a whole year and it's only done 33k miles too...
Of course, if you don't drive it hard then maintenance costs will lower, but then you'd probably be better off with an MX5
As for running costs, I'd be prepared to double, if not triple your current budget for the S3.
Many people seem to enter into cheap ///M's on the misapropriated theory that they are cheap to run.
They aren't. Folks on here will tell you that a kitty of £1500-2000 will get you through the year. IMO a budget of £3k is more realistic. For reference, my E36 has cost me that in 6 months, let alone a whole year and it's only done 33k miles too...
Of course, if you don't drive it hard then maintenance costs will lower, but then you'd probably be better off with an MX5
If you find one of the rare S54 engined cars they need servicing a lot less frequently than the earlier and more common S50 engined cars. On 12 miles a day it wont cost you anything like £3000 a year to service. 9000 miles service interval is the norm but it depends how you drive it.
ASBO said:
I think you'll find them really great fun. The mags don't rate them but for a point 'n squirt roadster you cant argue with the figures.
As for running costs, I'd be prepared to double, if not triple your current budget for the S3.
Many people seem to enter into cheap ///M's on the misapropriated theory that they are cheap to run.
They aren't. Folks on here will tell you that a kitty of £1500-2000 will get you through the year. IMO a budget of £3k is more realistic. For reference, my E36 has cost me that in 6 months, let alone a whole year and it's only done 33k miles too...
Of course, if you don't drive it hard then maintenance costs will lower, but then you'd probably be better off with an MX5
Don't scare him mate. It's not the same for everyone. My M3 Evo has cost me precisely zero this year other than petrol and 2 rear tyres. Seriously. Zip, zero, nada. And she gets a damn good kicking every time she's driven. Will need an inspection 2 shortly but I have a man for that and it'll only cost me £350 so in all, she's cost me fcuk all.As for running costs, I'd be prepared to double, if not triple your current budget for the S3.
Many people seem to enter into cheap ///M's on the misapropriated theory that they are cheap to run.
They aren't. Folks on here will tell you that a kitty of £1500-2000 will get you through the year. IMO a budget of £3k is more realistic. For reference, my E36 has cost me that in 6 months, let alone a whole year and it's only done 33k miles too...
Of course, if you don't drive it hard then maintenance costs will lower, but then you'd probably be better off with an MX5
@S3Graham. An M car cannot be compared to an S3. The S3 is essentially a tarted up golf whereas anything with M power is a lot more grown up. 300+bhp + RWD = Lot of smiles. You would love an MRoadster. Awesome car. The key thing is to do your research. Buy with the head not the heart. If you see one that is even remotely suspicious then walk away. Get a car with a bulletproof dealer history and it is also possible to research the cars by getting the service details from BMW cust servs and cross checking that info with the service book. The engines are prety bullet-proof other than the vanos issue which is over-publicised. Buy on condition and history, not because one car has 10k less miles than the other.
Edited by E36GUY on Friday 30th November 09:34
glad to hear some of these responses.. as tbh i was worrying... ive been after an M3 for ages now and the insurance @22 is a killer.. too many chavs buying up L-K reg ones for £3k and stacking them!!!! but for some reason the Z3M's are cheap to insure only a few hundred more than my S3.
Tbh i dont wring my cars by the neck because im always a bit scared of blowing them up so hopefully it shouldnt be too expensive... i was looking at 10 - 14k budget range.. but like you said age doesnt overly bother me as long as its well looked after! i would imagine mileage isnt a huge deal either as long as its been looked after correctly?
Im practising my RWD skills in an E30 325 sport at the weekends atm so hopefully ill be up to it when ive saved up my pennies!
Tbh i dont wring my cars by the neck because im always a bit scared of blowing them up so hopefully it shouldnt be too expensive... i was looking at 10 - 14k budget range.. but like you said age doesnt overly bother me as long as its well looked after! i would imagine mileage isnt a huge deal either as long as its been looked after correctly?
Im practising my RWD skills in an E30 325 sport at the weekends atm so hopefully ill be up to it when ive saved up my pennies!
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