My new baby

[easthampstead]

Having sold my original "Baby Blue" Z3 in 2019 and purchased an Atacama Yellow Z4 E89 I am now back in the Z3 fold. I thought the Z4 would be an upgrade to my old Baby Blue, but I was so wrong. The E89 is a grand tourer at best, no fun at all. Everyone, meet "Dakar Baby"! Yeah, I know there are loads, many with far less mileage than 87K, but the extra funds from selling the E89 will go to making her perfect, watch this space.....

 

[GDavis]

That's my favourite colour
any details on cost and engine etc ??

Just nosey really

 

[easthampstead]

Hey - it is a 2.2 that cost me £4,300. I've slowly been doing work on it, this week was the remap of the ECU. Surprisingly, the 21 year old engine was producing 171 bhp (original 168) when they started on the rolling road and now produces 183. It is not about the bhp though, it now revs up to 6,800 and so much smoother. The sound from the exhaust when on deceleration between 3rd and 2nd always brings a smile to my face. I had a 2.2 before, but it had so many problems that I sold it to buy an E89 Z4 - that was the worst mistake I made. Now back with a 2.2 that I love to bits

 

[GDavis]

Gotta say it looks a good car for that money...
Prices are all over the place so it's good to know there are still good deals out there.
Only been considering the 2.8 or 3.0, there's less of them, but your the second person to recommend the 2.2 Maybe I should give it a try out.
Really interesting what you say about the remapping, is that something that other owners do ?
Good luck with whatever else you have planned for the car

 

[easthampstead]

I'm with you. I was looking for a 3.0 but could not find one I really liked for a good price. I knew the 2.2 and realised that, when would I ever get the chance to really push the 3.0, so went back to the 2.2
The thing about them is the outright fun, I always look forward to using it. Mine has never been a fair weather car, it is my main car (apart from snow of course). There is nothing better on a crisp bright winter's day than putting the heated seats on, dropping the top and going for a fun ride

 

[GDavis]

For me it'll be a second car, so it is slightly different i suppose.
Did you buy trade or private ? I'm guessing private.
How many miles on the clock.?
I'm still a bit caught up with the mileage thing. Lots of people on here say its not the most important thing and I'm slowly getting my head around it.

Good friend of mine bought a Honda S2000 and he loves it...(wants me to get one too) but they generally have high miles and certainly don't offer any cost savings, some of them are 12/13/14 grand with 100plus on the clock.

 

[GDavis]

there's a Black 3.0 on 'Car and Classics' auction at the moment. 67K, hard top too.
Looks like a nice car but can't help wondering why it's going through the auction route.
Have a quick look, see if you can find it I'd be interested in any thoughts

 

[Lee]

Lovely car mate. welcome to the fold.

 

[easthampstead]

there's a Black 3.0 on 'Car and Classics' auction at the moment. 67K, hard top too.
Looks like a nice car but can't help wondering why it's going through the auction route.
Have a quick look, see if you can find it I'd be interested in any thoughts

It looks fantastic and well kept. My only issue would be that it is an auto and I never wanted an auto Z3. Other than that I could see nothing wrong and surprised it is so low at the moment

 

[GDavis]

Well that's one of the benefits of the larger engine, it'll still pull and perform even as an auto.
Thing is I'm not too wrapped up in revving the nuts off it to be honest. Sometimes I just like the ease of driving. trust me around Bristol the traffic is horrendous so an auto could make sense.
We/ll see what it ends up going for
Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Ianmc]

there's a Black 3.0 on 'Car and Classics' auction at the moment. 67K, hard top too.

Looks like a 2.8 preface lift to me; unless i'm looking at the wrong car?

 

[Jam03]

There’s a black 2.2 on Facebook for £4k. Looks decent.

 

[easthampstead]

Oh, yeah - it is just that, a pre-facelift 2.8, didn't read the 3.0 comment

 

[GDavis]

Sorry guys
Absolutely right it is a 2.8 pre facelift.
I was not concentrating when I put 3.0, getting confused in my old age

 

[skully]

My favorite color

 

[PaulG]

It looks fantastic and well kept. My only issue would be that it is an auto and I never wanted an auto Z3. Other than that I could see nothing wrong and surprised it is so low at the moment

The BMW Steptronic semi auto box is superb ! Like you I was of the opinion that a manual box was the only way to go with a sports car, however when I saw the car advertised and the price I couldn’t turn it down! The electronics are clever and take note of your driving style so if you generally give it lots of high rev welly it keeps the revs up . You can use it in manual mode but it won’t allow you to over rev or under and will make a gear change , but great fun and it deals with the 3.0 litres very well.

 

[PaulG]

The BMW Steptronic semi auto box is superb ! Like you I was of the opinion that a manual box was the only way to go with a sports car, however when I saw the car advertised and the price I couldn’t turn it down! The electronics are clever and take note of your driving style so if you generally give it lots of high rev welly it keeps the revs up . You can use it in manual mode but it won’t allow you to over rev or under and will make a gear change , but great fun and it deals with the 3.0 litres very well.

 

[t-tony]

Same gearbox was in my old E85 3.0 I always enjoyed driving it. Same with my E89 too.

Tony.