M3 Roadster or Boxster
Discussion
Chaps,
I may well be in the market for a cheap summer ragtop whilst I wait on the new Porsche.
I have no intentions of splashing out, only to sell at a large loss come winter.
I am tempted by a boxster, as porsche is a known entity for me, but I always had a hankering for the Z43m..
Girlfriends dad just took delivery of a new Z4, and it rekindled my like of them...
So, in your 'biased' opinions, if you would, is the Z3m a good motor? Solid ? Reliable? known niggles?
If i was to get one, i think it would have to be in Estoril blue, as I love the color.. its almost Cobaltesque..
I am looking to spend ~£15k... car will only be kept until end of the year.
I do about 30 miles a month, but with the occasional 500m round trip to visit parents / inlaws.. I sold my 996 as it just wasnt getting used, but with summers onset, I miss the roof off antics I had in the TVR, I want Top down motoring again.
also, is there THAT much of a difference performance / spec / handling and crucially insurance (they wanted £5k for the 996 in docklands.. I am 24) wise between the M and the 2.8 ?
Look forward to your replies.
thanks.
I may well be in the market for a cheap summer ragtop whilst I wait on the new Porsche.
I have no intentions of splashing out, only to sell at a large loss come winter.
I am tempted by a boxster, as porsche is a known entity for me, but I always had a hankering for the Z43m..
Girlfriends dad just took delivery of a new Z4, and it rekindled my like of them...
So, in your 'biased' opinions, if you would, is the Z3m a good motor? Solid ? Reliable? known niggles?
If i was to get one, i think it would have to be in Estoril blue, as I love the color.. its almost Cobaltesque..
I am looking to spend ~£15k... car will only be kept until end of the year.
I do about 30 miles a month, but with the occasional 500m round trip to visit parents / inlaws.. I sold my 996 as it just wasnt getting used, but with summers onset, I miss the roof off antics I had in the TVR, I want Top down motoring again.
also, is there THAT much of a difference performance / spec / handling and crucially insurance (they wanted £5k for the 996 in docklands.. I am 24) wise between the M and the 2.8 ?
Look forward to your replies.
thanks.
Jamie,
Haven't had the roadster but had the breadvan.
They are pretty close, so here goes.
Main thing everyone will scream at you is
VANOS!!
It was weak on the 3.2 engines & costs a couple of grand to put right if it goes.
Best thing is search under 'vanos'.
I think AA will give you a warranty which covers it for a few hundred a year, unless you buy the car from a main dealer & then it's covered from there 12month warranty.
Z3m is real good value for money IMO, totally reliable, wonderful engine & I personally don't think it looks like the normal Z3 (especially in estoril). I saw a LHD roadster the other day from a specialist for £11,999!! was very tempting.
Definately take one over a 97 boxster, was looking the other day looking so dated inside.
Good luck anyway & I think Raks just bought a roadster.
Haven't had the roadster but had the breadvan.
They are pretty close, so here goes.
Main thing everyone will scream at you is
VANOS!! It was weak on the 3.2 engines & costs a couple of grand to put right if it goes.
Best thing is search under 'vanos'.
I think AA will give you a warranty which covers it for a few hundred a year, unless you buy the car from a main dealer & then it's covered from there 12month warranty.
Z3m is real good value for money IMO, totally reliable, wonderful engine & I personally don't think it looks like the normal Z3 (especially in estoril). I saw a LHD roadster the other day from a specialist for £11,999!! was very tempting.
Definately take one over a 97 boxster, was looking the other day looking so dated inside.
Good luck anyway & I think Raks just bought a roadster.
Hell yeh and loving it !!! 
sound is glorius and the engine just loves to be revved.
if you're more after a drivers car it would be said here to buy the MCoupe, but you want hood down so it's the Z3M. However, not sure what your budget would get you ?
more 2.2-'s around with that price tag. gives you more choice that way.
anyone else help here ?
ps. Did i say i just love mine !?!?
sound is glorius and the engine just loves to be revved.
if you're more after a drivers car it would be said here to buy the MCoupe, but you want hood down so it's the Z3M. However, not sure what your budget would get you ?
more 2.2-'s around with that price tag. gives you more choice that way.
anyone else help here ?
ps. Did i say i just love mine !?!?
Thanks chaps.
I meant to say £15k on top of my current run around, so nearer £20k real to spend.
There is a Z3 M in classifieds on estorial atm at £16k~ which tbh, is what make me think.
The VANOS system, well, Ideally I would look for one which has already been sorted (once fixed, does it tend to reoccur, or is a defective part replaced?) but I think a full BMW warranty would be a must.
I am torn, I want a 360M, but I just cant justify it given the amount of miles I am doing (30 a month on some months) its just too much of a waste, I am happy with the current runaround, but I DO want some top down fun.
I must admit, the shape of the Z3 M Coupé is lovely, and I really admired it when it first came out, a neighbour in billericay has one, again in estorial, and I smiled when i saw, AND HEARD it booted.
I guess I should find the BMW dealer in docklands and make myself known to them.
thnx Guys.
I meant to say £15k on top of my current run around, so nearer £20k real to spend.
There is a Z3 M in classifieds on estorial atm at £16k~ which tbh, is what make me think.
The VANOS system, well, Ideally I would look for one which has already been sorted (once fixed, does it tend to reoccur, or is a defective part replaced?) but I think a full BMW warranty would be a must.
I am torn, I want a 360M, but I just cant justify it given the amount of miles I am doing (30 a month on some months) its just too much of a waste, I am happy with the current runaround, but I DO want some top down fun.
I must admit, the shape of the Z3 M Coupé is lovely, and I really admired it when it first came out, a neighbour in billericay has one, again in estorial, and I smiled when i saw, AND HEARD it booted.
I guess I should find the BMW dealer in docklands and make myself known to them.
thnx Guys.
hwassall said:
Also, there are quite a few used cars still carrying BMW warranties asyou can renew them every year for like £380.
Hmm, that would be nice. Try £510 for a Z3M warranty renewal.
It would've been the same for my 2.8 this year too.
If a certain Scooby owner wasn't taking it off my hands.
hwassall said:
Also, there are quite a few used cars still carrying BMW warranties asyou can renew them every year for like £380.
Hmm, that would be nice. Try £510 for a Z3M warranty renewal.
Sorry, I never renewed mine, they sold me 3 years for a special deal with the purchase of the car.
I'm also sure I heard the M5 one is around £400.
heres a quickie,
the Roof operation on the MR, is it toally seemless, or does it require human intervention like the Z4 ?
Just loved the fact I could raise and Drop the roof on my Porsche with the KeyFob, would like the same on the Z, and am sure I could sort a Mod to do it, so long as the roof itself didnt need manual intervention.
the Roof operation on the MR, is it toally seemless, or does it require human intervention like the Z4 ?
Just loved the fact I could raise and Drop the roof on my Porsche with the KeyFob, would like the same on the Z, and am sure I could sort a Mod to do it, so long as the roof itself didnt need manual intervention.
Two questions to answer there:
1. You have to release 2 catches inside the car before the roof will open. Also, as it is built in the US, you have to have your foot on the brake while the roof is moving.
2. I believe that you cannot renew the warranty if it has lapsed. I may be completely wrong of course.
1. You have to release 2 catches inside the car before the roof will open. Also, as it is built in the US, you have to have your foot on the brake while the roof is moving.
2. I believe that you cannot renew the warranty if it has lapsed. I may be completely wrong of course.
was stunning watching the Porsche roof do its magic, it would literally draw a crowd. 
Once the BMW warranty has lapsed, you cannot renew it. (unless it's only been lapsed for a few weeks tops)
However warrantydirect.co.uk told me they would cover VANOS.
VANOS is often replaced many times, try a search on bm3w.co.uk (NB same engine in E36 M3 Evo). Some technician type guys seem to think that even if its noisy does not mean it will fail - they are all quite noisy. I have not actually heard of that many failures ! (but if it does fail u could need a new engine...)
For 20k u could get a very nice Z3M Coupé, depends if u really want a soft top, or the different looks and stiffer Coupe.
www.z3mcoupe.com is a good site for info on these.
However warrantydirect.co.uk told me they would cover VANOS.
VANOS is often replaced many times, try a search on bm3w.co.uk (NB same engine in E36 M3 Evo). Some technician type guys seem to think that even if its noisy does not mean it will fail - they are all quite noisy. I have not actually heard of that many failures ! (but if it does fail u could need a new engine...)
For 20k u could get a very nice Z3M Coupé, depends if u really want a soft top, or the different looks and stiffer Coupe.
www.z3mcoupe.com is a good site for info on these.
yeah, defo want the Cab, its summer.
Coupés are for winter, next coupé i buy will probaly be a 360m, just want summin cheap for the summer months, that wont depreciate too heavily and will be be accepted by the Fez dealer on PX.
WD worry me, read a few posts over at zroadster.net, about them refusing to pay out for new parts, but only covering for Reconditioning of existing parts etc.
Still, any warranty is better than non I spose.
I heard bad things about Warranty Holdings too, but they always payed out.
Just need to sell the FTO at present. it served its purpose now.
thnx for the info.
Coupés are for winter, next coupé i buy will probaly be a 360m, just want summin cheap for the summer months, that wont depreciate too heavily and will be be accepted by the Fez dealer on PX.
WD worry me, read a few posts over at zroadster.net, about them refusing to pay out for new parts, but only covering for Reconditioning of existing parts etc.
Still, any warranty is better than non I spose.
I heard bad things about Warranty Holdings too, but they always payed out.
Just need to sell the FTO at present. it served its purpose now.
thnx for the info.
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