Greetings from the UK. Thanks for an honest and real view of your Z3. I have just bought a 1999 model as a project car so the tips and hints you gave are really useful.
I have a 98 Z3 2.8 black on black detachable hardtop convertible and I love it. It's nice to be able to remove the hardtop as well as having a soft top option. I think one of the things I enjoy the most about it is that it's still under 2600 lb so it's light. I also enjoy the manual transmission. These cars are a ton of fun and ALWAYS a good time !
Grate vid, I had one 1.9 from new - 97 model. Silver, red interiour, crome package (light switch in crome metal++) I traded that in for a new 2.8 two years on. Both vere fantastic cars.
Hey, gereshifters - I see you’re an Aggie. Gig ‘ Em! I guess you’re still in TX? I live in Baytown and, although I didn’t attend TAMU (I’m a UTPB grad), I have many friends/relatives who are A&M graduates. Nice to know there’s a Z3 owner/aficionado who can help those of us who are thinking about buying a Z3. Best Regards & Merry Christmas - Jim
Nice video, good to see how satisfied you are with your Z. I've got a '96 as well, paint is Boston green which everybody likes (I'm a little color challenged...). My wife and I have been on a number of mid-length trips and always drive with the top down - always. We're in Minneapolis and have driven from here around Lake Superior with the top down, same for over to Denver, over the Rockies, up through Wyoming , through the Black HIlls and Badlands of S.D. and home. Now I'd really like to head out to the Pacific coast and do Hwy 1, the coastal highway from Seattle down to S.F. (where we lived in a commune for 5 years...) and then down to Moro Bay, South of Big Sur (Honeymoon). But with 120,000 miles I'm a bit leary of having the Z so far from home, particularly out West away from any big city. And what I'd like to do is find someone who has installed a trailer hitch for pulling one of those very small tear drop trailers. So if anyone reading this has some trailer hitch ideas, I'd like to hear them.
You needed to mention that all 6cylinders pre fl body are wider than 4cylinder pre fl. And fl 4 or 6cylinders are the same body with ugly bump on sides.
I bought a 1999 BMW Z3 with 92,000. I have had to have the drive shaft rebuilt and all the Intake rubber replaced. The rest has just been normal wear and tear. I have to say the 2.8 L engine has been very dependable. At 210 HP and 3,000 lbs, it's very quick. Usually keep inside in the winter, but once drove in deep snow. It pushed through very well. Mine does have traction control. And yes the Air Bag light is stuck on inspite of my efforts. I call it my hobby car. Wife loves it.
I have the 97 I bought needing work but it runs and drives but had to do suspension also did the drilled and slotted rotors ceramic brake pads mine was bought from the original owner and sat in a garage for many years
Good review... thanks for taking the time in shooting the video... I just purchased an identical one yesterday but mine is black on black. Fun little car and you summarized it pretty well being an analog/basic car...and you are right, stick shift makes you feel you are actually driving a car.. stay safe.. cheers
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching my video. I’ve got several other repair videos on this car and road trip videos posted on my channel. A “Subscribe” would be greatly appreciated as well. Enjoy your car, have fun and be safe.
Ahmed K - I hope you’re enjoying your “new” car. I’m thinking of finding/buying a Z3 myself. If you don’t mind my asking: how much did you pay for the car? How many miles did it have on it? Any other details you could provide would helpful as well. Thank You very much!
@@gerechoppers I got it man, your review influenced the purchase greatly. Now a proud owner of a 5 speed 96 1.9 in arktissilber metallic with just 57k on the odometer. Subscribed for more content.
Very good review. Am in the uk, thinking of getting one of these next spring. They are an appreciating classic over here. Sounds like you got a very good deal. Thanks for the heads up.
Enjoyed your video! Great detailed info that was helpful. I have the exact same car and color and bought mine with about 95K miles. Serviced well and no issues or cosmetic damage. I will be putting in a roll bar in mine and getting a ceramic paint job on it to protect the shine. What kind of all weather car cover would you recommend? Im in Florida so the correct one is important when not garaged indoors.. Enjoy and be safe!
Thanks for watching my video. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I don’t have any experience with car covers. My car hardly sits still long enough to worry about one. Lol. I try to keep it parked under a carport or in the garage every chance I can. I might be a little more particular once I re-paint it sometime this year though.
Really enjoyed the video, very in depth overview. I’m likely going to buy a 1996 manual 1.9L this Friday, so this was very helpful for me. Also I spotted 2 square body Chevy’s, an F100, and a couple other classics in the background of your drive. Very cool.
I just bought my 2nd z3. It only has 140k miles which is nothing compared to my last one (220kmi) but I just sold my last one right after I bought it so never really drove it that far. I’m planning on keeping this one, just not sure how reliable it’ll be
A thermostat rear tires and just regular servicing. Just before I bought it the previous owner replaced; fan clutch, an 02 sensor, and an energy ignition coil.
My main advice would be to watch the coolant levels. The thermostat is placed on the front upper half of the engine. It can easily get air locked If the coolant drops just a couple inches.
Idk if you're even aware of it or not bud, but your coilpack cap is missing. Hopefully when you paint it you keep that color, you've got the 007 color!! ❤
IMHO, they’re no more complicated than any other car I’ve ever worked on. All cars need maintenance and I don’t feel like my BMW requires any more than my wife’s Toyota Camry. Lol. Thanks for watching.
The advice to always keep a towel also came from the movie The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: "A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have." I keep a towel in each of my cars.
Not sure why I'm watching this, I've had my 02 Z3 (2.5) since June of 2020. Haha! Great video though! I'm sure I'll end up buying a second one for road/track purpose car soon.
It would just depend on what I can find. An M would be awesome, but if I could find a lower mileage regular coupe, I’d be fine with that as well as long as it’s a manual transmission.
@@gerechoppers The M's are really holding their value. The non M coupes seem to be going for a more tempting bargain, or atleast on the East Coast. But I'll be looking forward to seeing what you end up getting.
Thanks for watching. I have several step by step repair videos on the Z3 as well and some road trip videos too. If you would consider subscribing, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Just stumbled upon your video as I'm looking to purchase one of these. Found a 2000 2.0l 6 cylinder for £3k with 42k miles on the clock. Had a good look around it and it still looks brand new. Think your video sums it up very well, you may have conviced me to go ahead with it.
@@gerechoppers no not yet but was jw if there could something else wrong with it. The background story is, when I cold start it’ll run great but once I turn it off and crank it again it’ll put around. But if I wait till it cools down it’ll be good
I also have a 2000 Z3 2.8. I just replaced both intake and exhaust camshaft sensor. My advice is to spend the extra and buy Genuine BMW parts. The parts will cost you a little over 100 bucks each. They are easy enough to do it yourself. I followed the guide from Pelican parts and UA-cam videos.
Make sure you get the error code before replacing expensive parts. My car has cold start sputtering problem. Even with the camshaft error code, replacing the sensors didn't resolve the cold start sputtering. My next project will be replace the intake boots and VANOS seals.
I just replaced mine and found one on partsgeek for $47.58 that will fit yours as well as I have the 2000 2.5. So far it works great and easy to replace.
Hey man great video! I’m an owner of a 96 Z3 with 60K miles and your insight on which little pieces to take care of the most will help me keep it nice for as long as possible. I have met an issue with my back window, the black plastic linings of the outside have kinda peeled off. I’ve been super gluing them and haven’t had a good long term success. Would you have any tips for this? I would really appreciate it
Fortunately for me, right before I purchased my car the previous owner put a new top on it. So, I don’t have any experience working on or fixing anything with the soft top. Thanks for watching my video. I’ve got several others posted showing various other repairs if you’re interested. Good luck with your car, a 60K example is sweet. Good find.
You just need a new rear window. They are not very expensive and very easy to install. You will need two people to do it. It just zips in after you zip out the old one.
Tipp for the plastic parts, if there not completly broken off or worse . you can try to care them with silicone oil like Florine. It made my compartment work again :D
I m the orig owner of a '97 Z3, still driving the same car daily. Be surprised, I just changed out the orig set of spark plugs 7 months ago. But, your car engine doesn't sound like a typical Z3 AT ALL, it could just be that it s a 4-cylinder version.
It’s a custom exhaust, that’s why it sounds like that. Thanks for watching. It’s cool to see you’re enjoying your Z3. I absolutely LOVE mine. Thanks for watching.
HEY MATE" GREAT VIDEO, I HAVE A 1997" Z3" BMW, A 1999" Z3" BMW AND JUST BOUGHT A Z4" BMW 2006" ,ALL ARE SPORTS CONVERTIBLES. I JUST LOVE THESE LITTLE CARS MAN. AS YOU KNOW WHEN YOU PULL THE TOP DOWN AND DRIVING ON A NICE DAY! CANT BEAT IT! ANYWAYS BRO" THANKS FOR SHARING ALL YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE GREAT CAR. PS" BUT AS YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO GET A PART? OR NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE WORKSHOP! MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LOT OF CASH. CHEERS FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA.✌✌✌👌👍
I have a 97, 6 cylinder z3. It's the same color as yours. It only has 69,000 miles on it. I have had it for 3 years. I LOVE my car!! My brother did all the engine repairs. He said it was the easiest motor he ever worked on. My seat belt light is also on constantly...any suggestions on fixing that?
It’s a “custom” exhaust that I built myself. I did a short video about it. Just search Gereshifters and straight pipe exhaust and it should show up. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it.
I found one at a pick and pull salvage yard. It’s a rare part from a rare car, I understand. Also, try eBay. I don’t know if anyone still makes a brand new one that you can purchase. If anyone would know, it would be the guys at Pelican Parts in California. I’d suggest giving them a call. They’re usually pretty helpful. 310-626-8765.
is that little thing near the gear shift a cigarette lighter thing or is it a port plug for like charging phones via usb?? i cant imagine its a charging port in a 98 vehicle..
Looking at a 96 with 115,000 miles. I appreciate the video man. I had no idea what the red led in the console was. Thought it was aftermarket BS. Much appreciated.
Thanks for watching. Yes, the little red led in the center console is the remnants of a BMW dealer installed alarm. It’s kind of funny to look back and remember when dealers used to do things like that. I’ve got more coming for this car, I’m just in transition now building a new house while living in an apartment with little garage space, so stay tuned. Cheers.
Is it not going into gear, or is it slipping? If it’s slipping, you will likely need a new clutch disk and pressure plate. If it’s just not engaging allowing you to go into gear, it’s more likely to be the clutch slave cylinder. Hard to say without seeing it first hand, but those are the two likely things that could be wrong.
Okay I have the same z3 it's just black so there by you're gear lever there are a white triangle and a black triangle that is to lift up you're roof just switch you're car on and then push the brake pedal and press the black triangle it will automatically open just give it a push upwards then it will open the reason why it works like that is because to prevent car from flipping if you are on speed so when you back home or want to close it press the other white triangle that will close you're roof and then just clip it close on the bracket
Hello from the uk. Ive found your channel as been looking at getting one of these and think you have convinced me. Im happy with the 1.9 as would be a 2nd car just for a bit of wkend drives maybe track but doesnt need be silly fast just enjoyable to drive. I may even do my own work on it as details on your other videos is good thank you and subscribed!
I live in Colorado- and my Z3 is my daily driver. It has all weather tires and does actually just fine- it’s actually pretty reliable. I will never get rid of it- recommend to anyone who is thinking of getting one. Just know there is NO space for bags or anything
I had that in mind when I made the video, but I forgot to mention it. I need to start writing things down and sort of having a script. Thanks for watching.
I've owned four of these, and have looked at my share, and look at the adds regularly and have yet to find one that had this problem. Also read an article that said it's extremely rare. Where are you getting your numbers? Like what percentage are you claiming have this problem?
If I were in the market for a Z3, this would be the go-to video. One word: you really don’t need to explain everything (“this is the ignition key”😂😂😂). GREAT video.
Thanks for the kind words. I know it seems a little ridiculous to explain the key, but I think most people that drive more modern cars would think the button on the key would lock/unlock the doors. This button is just a little light on the key.
Great video. I just purchased a 99 Z3 2.3L straight 6 with 60k for $8k. Everything is working smooth so far but this video gave me confidence to manage the fixes in the future. Thanks for the awesome information. I just subscribed.
Awesome. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I’m sure you’re going to LOVE your Z3. Thanks for subscribing as well. I’ve got more videos on this car coming out.
The leg room is surprisingly abundant. I’m only 5’8” tall, but I’ve had friends that are over 6’ tall that have sat in the car and had plenty of legroom. But, if you’re very tall I think you might be cramped with the top up.
There’s still a lot of 225 50 R16s. They just have to be ordered online. I prefer the stock Z star wheels actually and it keeps it as a bond spec with the Atlanta blue and tan interior.
Ordering them online doesn’t help when you need a tire to get you through the rest of a trip. I truly daily drive this car. I had a split sidewall on one of the 17” tires in the middle of a 300+ mile road trip in the middle of nowhere. I was able to limp it over to a local tire shop and get a new tire and continue the trip. If I still had the 16” wheels on I would have been in a pickle. I do like the “Bond” look of the original wheels, but the inconvenience of them isn’t worth driving this car wherever and however I want. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching my video. Subscribing would be greatly appreciated if you aren’t already a subscriber.
@@gerechoppers A split sidewall is kinda rare but each to his own and it happens often the thinner the tire is. I don’t have any spare as the spare tire is actually obsolete for our z3s. I have a tire repair kit instead. Most cars nowadays don’t even carry spares. But each to his own. There’s pros and cons. The beauty of the 16s is theyre more comfortable on the road and more fuel efficient. That’s a fact with bigger tires.
I’m not trying to start a debate, like you said “to each, their own”, but the 17” wheels themselves are actually lighter(I did I weigh them)and the 225/45-17 vs. the 225/50-16 are almost identical in height. I get the exact same gas mileage before and after, 29-30 mpg on the highway.
@@gerechoppers not trying to start a debate either, just letting you know that switching to 17s “just to get through a trip” is just one reason and you can’t overgeneralize that 225 50 r16s are not easily available considering a lot of tires are actually made to order- not all tires are available off the shelf.
So I just heard from this guy who is trying to sell 1998 V4, and he said that front struts need to be fixed. he is asking for 6k for that whole car with 140k miles. What would be a fair price and how much should I be expecting to spent on that car to be in a good shape?
A new set of front struts runs anywhere from $200 to $400, it just depends on how much you want to spend. That’s just for parts, not including labor if you don’t do the work yourself. 6K sounds a little high to me, but if it’s a really clean car and worth it to you, then it’s worth it. If you don’t do any work yourself, it will likely get expensive.
I’ve got a better shifter I’m going to install in an upcoming video. The stock one is old and sloppy. I’d really like to get some better wheels in the future as well. The ones I have on there are kind of cheap. Other than that I’m really happy with the car. It’s not the fastest, but I don’t think that’s the point of the 4 cylinder cars. It’s just really a joy to drive as is. I’m still going to upgrade suspension bushings in the near future as well. But, nothing to really detract from what the car already is.
Also, if you’re going to get one, now would be the time. I look at these cars for sale all the time and they are starting to creep up in price. Depending on your budget, you can still find some lower mileage ones out there for less than 10k if you look hard enough.
No. From what I’ve seen that’s a pretty common issue on old BMWs. I’m not sure what the fix for that is or if it’s even worth messing with. I’m not sure I’d want an almost 25 year old airbag to deploy if I got in a collision anyway. Thanks for watching the video, if you’re not subscribed to my channel already, it’d be greatly appreciated if you did. I’m close to my goal of 200 subscribers by years end. 😃
@@gerechoppers Airbag light on is a common issue on Z3. It's most likely caused by the airbag harness under either the driver or passenger seat. I fixed the airbag lights on my z3 while I was fixing the rocking seat problem.
As mentioned it's a common problem, and if you are interested in diagnosing further you can buy an airbag scan tool, which surprise surprise is actually NOT very expensive for these old BMWs! Bought mine from Amazon for $24. And it revealed the problem in my Z3 easily!!! The whole airbag module is bad...:(
You could have a problem depending on where you live with the airbag light on. In Virginia where I live the light on will cause the car to fail inspection. Your mileage may vary.
3 Basic Rules To Owning A BMW Z3 : • Do Not Tint The Glass . • Do Not Straight-Pipe The Exhaust System . And For The Love Of God ! • Please, Do Not Paint The Stock Wheels (rims) Black .
Looking at a few of these, anywhere from $3,500 to $12,000 lol very broad range in price so doing alot of research
Right? i can’t grasps what a fair price for these cars are
Always make sure the plastic window folds in the middle when you put the top down otherwise you’ll get kinks in the plastic.
I want one of these so damn bad
Greetings from the UK. Thanks for an honest and real view of your Z3. I have just bought a 1999 model as a project car so the tips and hints you gave are really useful.
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching.
@Tony Treble - I bought Z3 as a project too ;) . Greetings from Worthing.
I have a 98 Z3 2.8 black on black detachable hardtop convertible and I love it. It's nice to be able to remove the hardtop as well as having a soft top option. I think one of the things I enjoy the most about it is that it's still under 2600 lb so it's light. I also enjoy the manual transmission. These cars are a ton of fun and ALWAYS a good time !
Automatics in roadsters is just WRONG!
Yes... Of course but if there are med issues for shifting, well worth it! Tested manual but found out not safe for me so looking for an auto!
Grate vid, I had one 1.9 from new - 97 model. Silver, red interiour, crome package (light switch in crome metal++) I traded that in for a new 2.8 two years on. Both vere fantastic cars.
Hey, gereshifters - I see you’re an Aggie. Gig ‘ Em! I guess you’re still in TX? I live in Baytown and, although I didn’t attend TAMU (I’m a UTPB grad), I have many friends/relatives who are A&M graduates. Nice to know there’s a Z3 owner/aficionado who can help those of us who are thinking about buying a Z3. Best Regards & Merry Christmas - Jim
Nice video, good to see how satisfied you are with your Z. I've got a '96 as well, paint is Boston green which everybody likes (I'm a little color challenged...). My wife and I have been on a number of mid-length trips and always drive with the top down - always. We're in Minneapolis and have driven from here around Lake Superior with the top down, same for over to Denver, over the Rockies, up through Wyoming , through the Black HIlls and Badlands of S.D. and home. Now I'd really like to head out to the Pacific coast and do Hwy 1, the coastal highway from Seattle down to S.F. (where we lived in a commune for 5 years...) and then down to Moro Bay, South of Big Sur (Honeymoon). But with 120,000 miles I'm a bit leary of having the Z so far from home, particularly out West away from any big city. And what I'd like to do is find someone who has installed a trailer hitch for pulling one of those very small tear drop trailers. So if anyone reading this has some trailer hitch ideas, I'd like to hear them.
You needed to mention that all 6cylinders pre fl body are wider than 4cylinder pre fl. And fl 4 or 6cylinders are the same body with ugly bump on sides.
I would rather have a manual top less things to break
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for watching.
I bought a 1999 BMW Z3 with 92,000. I have had to have the drive shaft rebuilt and all the Intake rubber replaced. The rest has just been normal wear and tear. I have to say the 2.8 L engine has been very dependable. At 210 HP and 3,000 lbs, it's very quick. Usually keep inside in the winter, but once drove in deep snow. It pushed through very well. Mine does have traction control. And yes the Air Bag light is stuck on inspite of my efforts. I call it my hobby car. Wife loves it.
I have the 97 I bought needing work but it runs and drives but had to do suspension also did the drilled and slotted rotors ceramic brake pads mine was bought from the original owner and sat in a garage for many years
Nice. These are very underrated cars, IMHO. Good luck with yours…I’m sure it’ll be miles of fun.
Good review... thanks for taking the time in shooting the video... I just purchased an identical one yesterday but mine is black on black. Fun little car and you summarized it pretty well being an analog/basic car...and you are right, stick shift makes you feel you are actually driving a car.. stay safe.. cheers
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching my video. I’ve got several other repair videos on this car and road trip videos posted on my channel. A “Subscribe” would be greatly appreciated as well. Enjoy your car, have fun and be safe.
Ahmed K - I hope you’re enjoying your “new” car. I’m thinking of finding/buying a Z3 myself. If you don’t mind my asking: how much did you pay for the car? How many miles did it have on it? Any other details you could provide would helpful as well. Thank You very much!
Great Video buddy love the topic NO need for all this technology BS just think wen was the last time we used traction control haha
Thank you I’m gonna go check out a 96 z3 tomorrow . Hopefully all goes well
I hope it goes well too. I love mine.
@@gerechoppers I got it man, your review influenced the purchase greatly. Now a proud owner of a 5 speed 96 1.9 in arktissilber metallic with just 57k on the odometer. Subscribed for more content.
@@MSFerrari248F1 update
@@DefyDistrict as far as? Ownership?
@@MSFerrari248F1 nevermind watched ur video! future Z3 owner, you are influencing my purchase! :D
Very good review. Am in the uk, thinking of getting one of these next spring. They are an appreciating classic over here. Sounds like you got a very good deal. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks for watching.
Great video and explanation!! Thanks. Will pick mine up shortly. A 99 2.3 with 126k. Very useful info here to check it out.
Enjoyed your video! Great detailed info that was helpful. I have the exact same car and color and bought mine with about 95K miles. Serviced well and no issues or cosmetic damage. I will be putting in a roll bar in mine and getting a ceramic paint job on it to protect the shine. What kind of all weather car cover would you recommend? Im in Florida so the correct one is important when not garaged indoors.. Enjoy and be safe!
Thanks for watching my video. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I don’t have any experience with car covers. My car hardly sits still long enough to worry about one. Lol. I try to keep it parked under a carport or in the garage every chance I can. I might be a little more particular once I re-paint it sometime this year though.
Really enjoyed the video, very in depth overview. I’m likely going to buy a 1996 manual 1.9L this Friday, so this was very helpful for me.
Also I spotted 2 square body Chevy’s, an F100, and a couple other classics in the background of your drive. Very cool.
Very real review.
These are reliable cars. I have owned the 1998 2.8l. Same color, got it at 190,000 and put 20,000 on it.
What was the most expensive part you’ve had to replace within those 20,000 miles of driving?
I just bought my 2nd z3. It only has 140k miles which is nothing compared to my last one (220kmi) but I just sold my last one right after I bought it so never really drove it that far. I’m planning on keeping this one, just not sure how reliable it’ll be
A thermostat rear tires and just regular servicing.
Just before I bought it the previous owner replaced; fan clutch, an 02 sensor, and an energy ignition coil.
My main advice would be to watch the coolant levels. The thermostat is placed on the front upper half of the engine. It can easily get air locked If the coolant drops just a couple inches.
Idk if you're even aware of it or not bud, but your coilpack cap is missing.
Hopefully when you paint it you keep that color, you've got the 007 color!! ❤
Never owned a bmw and assumed maintenance would be difficult but just did the oil change and camshaft sensor replacement and it was easy.
IMHO, they’re no more complicated than any other car I’ve ever worked on. All cars need maintenance and I don’t feel like my BMW requires any more than my wife’s Toyota Camry. Lol. Thanks for watching.
The advice to always keep a towel also came from the movie The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
"A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have." I keep a towel in each of my cars.
Not sure why I'm watching this, I've had my 02 Z3 (2.5) since June of 2020. Haha!
Great video though! I'm sure I'll end up buying a second one for road/track purpose car soon.
Thanks for watching. I think I see another one in my future as well. A coupe would be awesome!!
@@gerechoppers Are you thinking M or just a base? Either way they're both amazing cars no matter the engine.
It would just depend on what I can find. An M would be awesome, but if I could find a lower mileage regular coupe, I’d be fine with that as well as long as it’s a manual transmission.
@@gerechoppers The M's are really holding their value. The non M coupes seem to be going for a more tempting bargain, or atleast on the East Coast. But I'll be looking forward to seeing what you end up getting.
I have a 2000 z3 2.8 roadster with 59k miles. Awesome sports car manual top and manual transmission. Absolutely love it
Thanks for the vid - I’m now seriously thinking about becoming a happy Z3 owner 👍
I don’t think you’ll regret it. I LOVE mine. I think it’s a car I’ll never sell.
I'm thinking of buying one so the review was great thank you 👍
Thanks for watching. I have several step by step repair videos on the Z3 as well and some road trip videos too. If you would consider subscribing, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
@@gerechoppers I've subscribed. I've bought a 2.2 version collecting it today. From the UK.
Thanks
Peter
Awesome, it’ll be a fun car for sure. Thanks for subscribing!!!!!
Just do it already. You would be glad you did. If you like to work on your own cars, then you will have even more fun with it.
Get a 6 cylinder Manual transmission, you will be glad you did.
Just stumbled upon your video as I'm looking to purchase one of these. Found a 2000 2.0l 6 cylinder for £3k with 42k miles on the clock. Had a good look around it and it still looks brand new. Think your video sums it up very well, you may have conviced me to go ahead with it.
Thanks for watching. These are getting harder to find with low mileage. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Good luck.
300k on my 99. Awesome car. Lots of fun.
007😄
I was gifted a z3 2000 2.8L bmw a few moths ago for graduation and I’m having trouble with a camshaft positioning sensor, know anything?
Have you replaced the cam position sensor yet?
@@gerechoppers no not yet but was jw if there could something else wrong with it. The background story is, when I cold start it’ll run great but once I turn it off and crank it again it’ll put around. But if I wait till it cools down it’ll be good
I also have a 2000 Z3 2.8. I just replaced both intake and exhaust camshaft sensor. My advice is to spend the extra and buy Genuine BMW parts. The parts will cost you a little over 100 bucks each. They are easy enough to do it yourself. I followed the guide from Pelican parts and UA-cam videos.
Make sure you get the error code before replacing expensive parts. My car has cold start sputtering problem. Even with the camshaft error code, replacing the sensors didn't resolve the cold start sputtering. My next project will be replace the intake boots and VANOS seals.
I just replaced mine and found one on partsgeek for $47.58 that will fit yours as well as I have the 2000 2.5. So far it works great and easy to replace.
Howdy from Allen, TX! Great vid. My brother has a Z3 and I've been thinking of getting one myself. This really helped.
Thanks for watching. I’m sure you won’t regret getting a Z3. Happy Motoring.
Get you a wind deflector and it will take care of that wind and noise to hear the radio while your top is down.
Thanks for all the details. I just brought a 2000 six cylinder with 50K in mint condition... glad to know I made a good choice.
Sounds like you found a gem. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy it.
Love how you take good care of your cars
Thanks, and thanks for watching.
Great video man, that's a beautiful car! New subscriber here👍💯✌
COOL!!! Thanks for watching and SUPER thanks for subscribing!!!
@@gerechoppers no problem! Keep up the good work👍💯✌
Hey man great video! I’m an owner of a 96 Z3 with 60K miles and your insight on which little pieces to take care of the most will help me keep it nice for as long as possible. I have met an issue with my back window, the black plastic linings of the outside have kinda peeled off. I’ve been super gluing them and haven’t had a good long term success. Would you have any tips for this? I would really appreciate it
Fortunately for me, right before I purchased my car the previous owner put a new top on it. So, I don’t have any experience working on or fixing anything with the soft top. Thanks for watching my video. I’ve got several others posted showing various other repairs if you’re interested. Good luck with your car, a 60K example is sweet. Good find.
I've had similar issues with my '97. She's still a great car, not my daily but fun to drive.
You just need a new rear window. They are not very expensive and very easy to install. You will need two people to do it. It just zips in after you zip out the old one.
I Like that Car.
I was Waiting for you to RAG IT's PANTS OFF With your Foot Down. Some flat out Speeds & High speed cornering. Enjoy the car.
Great, comprehensive review based on on some proper real world experience. Thank you from a soon to be Z3 owner in the UK.
Best review I saw on youtube
Thanks, and thanks for watching my video.
2 days ago I got a bright red 1996 z3 with black rims like that and it’s a monster, fast and fun to drive
I purchased a Z3 in the similar color. We are drivers. I appreciate your content.
Tipp for the plastic parts, if there not completly broken off or worse . you can try to care them with silicone oil like Florine. It made my compartment work again :D
Show off!
Great video. Just checked tire rack and they have a lot of options for tires
I m the orig owner of a '97 Z3, still driving the same car daily. Be surprised, I just changed out the orig set of spark plugs 7 months ago. But, your car engine doesn't sound like a typical Z3 AT ALL, it could just be that it s a 4-cylinder version.
It’s a custom exhaust, that’s why it sounds like that. Thanks for watching. It’s cool to see you’re enjoying your Z3. I absolutely LOVE mine. Thanks for watching.
HEY MATE"
GREAT VIDEO, I HAVE A 1997" Z3" BMW, A 1999" Z3" BMW AND JUST BOUGHT A Z4" BMW 2006" ,ALL ARE SPORTS CONVERTIBLES. I JUST LOVE THESE LITTLE CARS MAN.
AS YOU KNOW WHEN YOU PULL THE TOP DOWN AND DRIVING ON A NICE DAY! CANT BEAT IT! ANYWAYS BRO" THANKS FOR SHARING ALL YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE GREAT CAR. PS" BUT AS YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO GET A PART? OR NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE WORKSHOP! MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LOT OF CASH. CHEERS FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA.✌✌✌👌👍
Thanks for watching!!!
Personally I think the z3 is better than the mx5
Just bought a 1997 z3 roadster, 65.777 original miles, 3,500,car seems to be solid and fun to drive.
Awesome. It sounds like you found a real gem. I’m sure you’ll have tons of fun. Thanks for watching.
I have a 97, 6 cylinder z3. It's the same color as yours. It only has 69,000 miles on it. I have had it for 3 years. I LOVE my car!! My brother did all the engine repairs. He said it was the easiest motor he ever worked on. My seat belt light is also on constantly...any suggestions on fixing that?
There are electrical switches in the seat belt receptacles that sense the seat belt is plugged in. One of the receptacle switches could be bad.
Great video. I'm going to look at one Monday to buy!
What exhaust??
It’s a “custom” exhaust that I built myself. I did a short video about it. Just search Gereshifters and straight pipe exhaust and it should show up. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it.
Good vid. I just bought a 98 2.8 w/ 13k miles. I appreciate the tips. Going to change the oil for the first time in ten years tomorrow.
It still has the original tires. Sketchy, but I did 120 on 23yo tires. That will change soon.
good work dude
nice machine
Thanks!!!
Do you know where I can purchase the third brake light black cover inside the trunk lid?
I found one at a pick and pull salvage yard. It’s a rare part from a rare car, I understand. Also, try eBay. I don’t know if anyone still makes a brand new one that you can purchase. If anyone would know, it would be the guys at Pelican Parts in California. I’d suggest giving them a call. They’re usually pretty helpful. 310-626-8765.
Not it ! But love it
Thanks, and thanks for watching!!
If you press in the left lever, it will show miles per gallon and miles to empty, outside temperature, etc.
Great video.., looking for one.
is that little thing near the gear shift a cigarette lighter thing or is it a port plug for like charging phones via usb?? i cant imagine its a charging port in a 98 vehicle..
It must be the cigarette lighter socket that you’re seeing. This car definitely didn’t come with a USB port.
Looking at a 96 with 115,000 miles. I appreciate the video man. I had no idea what the red led in the console was. Thought it was aftermarket BS. Much appreciated.
Thanks for watching. Yes, the little red led in the center console is the remnants of a BMW dealer installed alarm. It’s kind of funny to look back and remember when dealers used to do things like that. I’ve got more coming for this car, I’m just in transition now building a new house while living in an apartment with little garage space, so stay tuned. Cheers.
@@gerechoppers bought the Z3 and already looking up clutch replacement videos 😂 off we go I guess.
clutch went out on mine, anybody know anything that could be wrong.
Is it not going into gear, or is it slipping? If it’s slipping, you will likely need a new clutch disk and pressure plate. If it’s just not engaging allowing you to go into gear, it’s more likely to be the clutch slave cylinder. Hard to say without seeing it first hand, but those are the two likely things that could be wrong.
Super nice video, I've got a 1997 1.9 in black, and I love it dearly. Many thanks buddy.....Jack D.
Thanks for watching my video. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
That’s my car !
Okay I have the same z3 it's just black so there by you're gear lever there are a white triangle and a black triangle that is to lift up you're roof just switch you're car on and then push the brake pedal and press the black triangle it will automatically open just give it a push upwards then it will open the reason why it works like that is because to prevent car from flipping if you are on speed so when you back home or want to close it press the other white triangle that will close you're roof and then just clip it close on the bracket
This 1996 model did not come with a power roof. The power roof wasn’t an option on the Z3 until 1998.
Thx a lot for that Video, very useful for me !!
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.
I have one ,and I won,t ever part with it .
Beautiful
Hello from the uk. Ive found your channel as been looking at getting one of these and think you have convinced me. Im happy with the 1.9 as would be a 2nd car just for a bit of wkend drives maybe track but doesnt need be silly fast just enjoyable to drive. I may even do my own work on it as details on your other videos is good thank you and subscribed!
Thanks!!!! It’s always great to hear kind words. Go for it. I think you’ll enjoy the Z3. I certainly have no regrets with mine. Ton Up!!
@@gerechoppers i picked one up last week. 1998 - 1.9, 107k miles, full history. Needs some TLC but drives well so far 👍
I live in Colorado- and my Z3 is my daily driver. It has all weather tires and does actually just fine- it’s actually pretty reliable. I will never get rid of it- recommend to anyone who is thinking of getting one.
Just know there is NO space for bags or anything
Love the vids on the Z!
Thanks. I enjoy making them. Please subscribe if you haven’t already. Happy Motoring.
I was hoping you'd show the boot floor and how to check for cracking which can be a problem with these cars. Love your vids.
I had that in mind when I made the video, but I forgot to mention it. I need to start writing things down and sort of having a script. Thanks for watching.
I've owned four of these, and have looked at my share, and look at the adds regularly and have yet to find one that had this problem. Also read an article that said it's extremely rare. Where are you getting your numbers? Like what percentage are you claiming have this problem?
If I were in the market for a Z3, this would be the go-to video. One word: you really don’t need to explain everything (“this is the ignition key”😂😂😂). GREAT video.
Thanks for the kind words. I know it seems a little ridiculous to explain the key, but I think most people that drive more modern cars would think the button on the key would lock/unlock the doors. This button is just a little light on the key.
beautiful car
Thanks and thanks for watching.
Great video. I just purchased a 99 Z3 2.3L straight 6 with 60k for $8k. Everything is working smooth so far but this video gave me confidence to manage the fixes in the future. Thanks for the awesome information. I just subscribed.
Awesome. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I’m sure you’re going to LOVE your Z3. Thanks for subscribing as well. I’ve got more videos on this car coming out.
Very lovely review. Do you still have it?
I do. I drive it every day. I’ve got more videos coming with this car as well. Thanks for watching.
Legroom?
The leg room is surprisingly abundant. I’m only 5’8” tall, but I’ve had friends that are over 6’ tall that have sat in the car and had plenty of legroom. But, if you’re very tall I think you might be cramped with the top up.
There’s still a lot of 225 50 R16s. They just have to be ordered online. I prefer the stock Z star wheels actually and it keeps it as a bond spec with the Atlanta blue and tan interior.
Ordering them online doesn’t help when you need a tire to get you through the rest of a trip. I truly daily drive this car. I had a split sidewall on one of the 17” tires in the middle of a 300+ mile road trip in the middle of nowhere. I was able to limp it over to a local tire shop and get a new tire and continue the trip. If I still had the 16” wheels on I would have been in a pickle. I do like the “Bond” look of the original wheels, but the inconvenience of them isn’t worth driving this car wherever and however I want. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching my video. Subscribing would be greatly appreciated if you aren’t already a subscriber.
@@gerechoppers A split sidewall is kinda rare but each to his own and it happens often the thinner the tire is. I don’t have any spare as the spare tire is actually obsolete for our z3s. I have a tire repair kit instead. Most cars nowadays don’t even carry spares. But each to his own. There’s pros and cons.
The beauty of the 16s is theyre more comfortable on the road and more fuel efficient. That’s a fact with bigger tires.
I’m not trying to start a debate, like you said “to each, their own”, but the 17” wheels themselves are actually lighter(I did I weigh them)and the 225/45-17 vs. the 225/50-16 are almost identical in height. I get the exact same gas mileage before and after, 29-30 mpg on the highway.
@@gerechoppers not trying to start a debate either, just letting you know that switching to 17s “just to get through a trip” is just one reason and you can’t overgeneralize that 225 50 r16s are not easily available considering a lot of tires are actually made to order- not all tires are available off the shelf.
Neither of you have a spare under the trunk?
Great video
Thanks!!!!!
I have a '97 in the same colors!
Cool. I really enjoy mine. Every time I drive it, it puts a smile on my face. Thanks for watching my video.
@@gerechoppers same here and you are most welcome. :)
So I just heard from this guy who is trying to sell 1998 V4, and he said that front struts need to be fixed. he is asking for 6k for that whole car with 140k miles. What would be a fair price and how much should I be expecting to spent on that car to be in a good shape?
A new set of front struts runs anywhere from $200 to $400, it just depends on how much you want to spend. That’s just for parts, not including labor if you don’t do the work yourself. 6K sounds a little high to me, but if it’s a really clean car and worth it to you, then it’s worth it. If you don’t do any work yourself, it will likely get expensive.
excellent vid!
Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching.
@@gerechoppers --your vid is helping me decide if i will buy a Z3...any updates you wanna make?
I’ve got a better shifter I’m going to install in an upcoming video. The stock one is old and sloppy. I’d really like to get some better wheels in the future as well. The ones I have on there are kind of cheap. Other than that I’m really happy with the car. It’s not the fastest, but I don’t think that’s the point of the 4 cylinder cars. It’s just really a joy to drive as is. I’m still going to upgrade suspension bushings in the near future as well. But, nothing to really detract from what the car already is.
Also, if you’re going to get one, now would be the time. I look at these cars for sale all the time and they are starting to creep up in price. Depending on your budget, you can still find some lower mileage ones out there for less than 10k if you look hard enough.
Thanks for the review, is the airbag light meant to stay on after the engine starts..?
No. From what I’ve seen that’s a pretty common issue on old BMWs. I’m not sure what the fix for that is or if it’s even worth messing with. I’m not sure I’d want an almost 25 year old airbag to deploy if I got in a collision anyway. Thanks for watching the video, if you’re not subscribed to my channel already, it’d be greatly appreciated if you did. I’m close to my goal of 200 subscribers by years end. 😃
@@gerechoppers Airbag light on is a common issue on Z3. It's most likely caused by the airbag harness under either the driver or passenger seat. I fixed the airbag lights on my z3 while I was fixing the rocking seat problem.
As mentioned it's a common problem, and if you are interested in diagnosing further you can buy an airbag scan tool, which surprise surprise is actually NOT very expensive for these old BMWs! Bought mine from Amazon for $24. And it revealed the problem in my Z3 easily!!! The whole airbag module is bad...:(
It always does mine did to just think every light on as being normal
You could have a problem depending on where you live with the airbag light on. In Virginia where I live the light on will cause the car to fail inspection. Your mileage may vary.
3 Basic Rules To Owning A BMW Z3 :
• Do Not Tint The Glass .
• Do Not Straight-Pipe The Exhaust System .
And For The Love Of God !
• Please, Do Not Paint The Stock Wheels (rims) Black .
Why not tint the windows?
Are you really from Weatherford, Tx? I am about to take a trip out of state to bring back a Z from Louisiana to Weatherford, Texas! 😂
I live north of Denton in a little town. But, I am from the North Texas area.
I live in Fort worth and own a 98 BMW Z3 M (M Roadster) Would love to see your car sometime