My First BMW

MikeHiow · 1 Oct 2010 at 20:49

I like these, especially the M versions.

Chives · 1 Oct 2010 at 20:53

Very nice, you keeping the lolvo?

mjt · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:13

Cheers for the all the positive comments, I've always liked the look of these and the fact they're so rare, especially in 3.0 form.
I can't stomach forking out nearly €30k on a 3 Series at the moment, plus this is probably more fun and a little bit less grown-up

I was also looking at R56 JCWs, but at €25k it's a ridiculous amount of money.

I wish it were an M, but I don't really fancy spending thousands on engine rebuilds and insurance. That, and they're rather more expensive for ones in this condition

The Lolvo is staying for now, although I might stick it up at an inflated price and see what happens. It doesn't really cost me anything though apart from fuel (unless I fix the funny noises).

Gib_Gib said:
They are very rare as non M cars in the UK, but sure if they were officially imported as non Ms, only ever seen one for sale.

They were never officially sold in the UK as they were never produced in RHD. Continental Europe and the USA is where the vast majority of them went.

NickXX said:
Given the nickname these cars are given, I assume you've checked it for accident damage?

Which nickname?

I've had the bumpers resprayed, and some supermarket dings will be removed on Monday as part of the deal.
I do need to check the rear subframe, but that removes ripping up the carpet, so I might leave that for the time being. That, and I'd be amazed if it's ever been anywhere near a track that doesn't lead to a house.

godinman · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:13

I like it, guess it goes like stink too.

UltimateBadger · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:15

I love these cars! - great choice!

mjt · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:16

godinman said:
I like it, guess it goes like stink too.

0-60 in 6s apparently, but it really didn't feel all that fast..
I've only been on a 20 minute drive, but it seemed awfully quiet. I think an Eisenmann might be on the cards

OllyM · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:17

Wow, bit of an upgrade there from that Volvo. Very nice

Hxc · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:19

Liiiike

mjt · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:21

OllyM said:
Wow, bit of an upgrade there from that Volvo. Very nice

The Volvo was bought as a knee jerk reaction to getting caught speeding (a lot) and the fact my Leon was beginning to rust and I thought the turbo was on the way out.

I lasted 7 weeks

Morba · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:23

I don't get how you go from being ok to spend on an e92 to saying you can't stomach it.
Still, you odd foreigners have your reasons

mjt · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:28

Morba said:
I don't get how you go from being ok to spend on an e92 to saying you can't stomach it.
Still, you odd foreigners have your reasons

I'm British thank you very much

For a fully loaded E92 325i/d or 330i/d, I'm looking at around €25k, and that's for a pre-LCI, old-style iDrive. No thanks.
Also, I'd be looking at between €3-4k reg tax as they're only a few years old. This makes the OTR price nearly €30k.
The reg tax on this 9 year old(!) BMW is still €1,730, but I don't want to turn this into a OMGWTFTAX thread

georges · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:28

Love them..

635Csi, Z3M Coupe and a Z8 are my favourite looking bmw's. Good job!

Morba · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:30

mjt said:
I'm British thank you very much

For a fully loaded E92 325i/d or 330i/d, I'm looking at around €25k, and that's for a pre-LCI, old-style iDrive. No thanks.
Also, I'd be looking at between €3-4k reg tax as they're only a few years old. This makes the OTR price nearly €30k.
The reg tax on this 9 year old(!) BMW is still €1,730, but I don't want to turn this into a OMGWTFTAX thread

Not wanting to go too far off topic, but wh go and have a look at them if you had no intention of buying?!

mjt · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:33

Morba said:
Not wanting to go too far off topic, but wh go and have a look at them if you had no intention of buying?!

1. I don't really like the Volvo.
2. I was bored.
3. I wanted to see what the fuss was about.

Sitting behind a computer, it's very easy to say, "Yes, I can easily ***** 25 grand on this car." But when you see it in the flesh, I can't justify spending so much money on one, especially when an M3 isn't that much more. Not that I could afford the running costs of an M3, but that's another matter..

I wouldn't have bought anything if this Z3 hadn't been for sale. I just felt it was too good an offer to refuse, it's a few thousand cheaper than anything else with even remotely equivalent mileage, let alone from BMW. And it was in Belgium, which means minimal hassle. I've had enough of importing cars.

rare · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:42

I didn't know they made them in none M guise! I really like the look of that, looks mega clean. A great unique car from a great era of design for BMW!

shifty_uk · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:49

I must be in the minority but those are utterly, utterly vile. Aesthetically horrendous.

Each to their own, though

Maz · 1 Oct 2010 at 21:51

Owned a Z3M once, and that was awesome! Wish I'd had a Z3M Coupe though.

NickXX · 1 Oct 2010 at 22:03

mjt said:
Which nickname?

.

Widowmaker

. Although I guess that was more the z3m.

Edit, wow - worldwide production numbers for the z3 coupe:

2.8: 7,671
3.0: 3,853
3.2M: 6,291

Very rare cars.

InvaderGIR · 1 Oct 2010 at 22:10

mjt said:
The Style 32s are in desperate need of a refurb, but I'm debating whether to leave it until after the winter, or just get some BBS..

Swap them for Style 30s?

Chris1712 · 1 Oct 2010 at 22:11

God I love the Z3 coupe, one of the best looking BMW's ever. Wasn't aware they did a non M version, and my brain is telling me the 'Widowmaker' nickname came from the first models with the old 2.8 which didn't have the M3 bits to help it stay straight? Could be garbage, can't remember exactly.