I did it myself. Its still not perfect by any means, I have some light swirling and the odd random light scratch. I used to have an orbital polisher but I don't any more, so need to either borrow one or pay someone to sort it out for me at some point.
BMW and M Power Owners
- Thread starter panthro
- Start date
- Joined
- 25 Apr 2009
- Posts
- 2,780
- Location
- Sidcup
Came home from holiday today and went to start the car, it turns over but doesn't fire up. Nice welcome home present. Will update as it goes.
Gutted.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...e39-540i-sport-2002/2020291?isexperiment=true
^^ getting a hard on over this. (inb4 530i is the better car, better steering etc etc etc)
Not what you need when you get back from hols
It could be the battery matey..I had similar symptoms when mine was on its last legs. Whatever it is I hope it's nice and simple to sort..keep us updated.
Gutted.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...e39-540i-sport-2002/2020291?isexperiment=true
^^ getting a hard on over this. (inb4 530i is the better car, better steering etc etc etc)
Hmm, he buys parts and then does not have time to fit them?
Perhaps he means "can't be arsed?" - just like he can't be arsed to sort out the bodywork perhaps?
And he doesn't remember when it's MOT'd until? - bit of an omission on a for sale advert, two weeks after placing the ad he's yet to add this information,he describes the service history as "impeccable" yet then says he has "most service bills" and I wonder why there's no interior pictures??
And as ever, despite it's age and the type of car it is,it's done a mere 125k, I would wager it probably had covered that distance by the time it was six years old!
Perhaps I'm being over critical of it but I Can't honestly say that one gives me the horn!
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Hmm, he buys parts and then does not have time to fit them?
Perhaps he means "can't be arsed?" - just like he can't be arsed to sort out the bodywork perhaps?
And he doesn't remember when it's MOT'd until? - bit of an omission on a for sale advert, two weeks after placing the ad he's yet to add this information,he describes the service history as "impeccable" yet then says he has "most service bills" and I wonder why there's no interior pictures??
And as ever, despite it's age and the type of car it is,it's done a mere 125k, I would wager it probably had covered that distance by the time it was six years old!
Perhaps I'm being over critical of it but I Can't honestly say that one gives me the horn!
I was a bit sceptical of the ad to begin with too, but asked for some more hi res shots just to be sure. The interior is completely immaculate; driver's seat is completely unmarked and the steering wheel looks practically new. It's probably worth a look.
My thought is that if the car has had all the work done to it that he claims (want receipts, obviously), then the remaining parts to be fitted I'd happily get done by a reputable indie as part of the 'just bought it, now let's get it thoroughly looked over' routine.
Going on the extra pictures he's supplied, it is a very tidy looking example.
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Code Serienausstattung Standard Equipment
S210A
Dynamische-Stabilitäts-Control Dynamic stability control
S473A
Armlehne vorne Armrest front
S520A
Nebelscheinwerfer Fog lights
S550A
Bordcomputer On-board computer
S832A
Batterie im Kofferraum Battery in luggage compartment
S853A
Sprachversion englisch Language version English
Code Sonderausstattung Optional Equipment
S1CAA
Selektion COP relevanter Fahrzeuge Selection of COP relevant vehicles
S226A
Sportliche Fahrwerksabstimmung Sports suspension settings
S249A
Multifunktion für Lenkrad Multifunction f steering wheel
S302A
Alarmanlage Alarm system
S338A
M Sportpaket II M Sports package II
S354A
Frontscheibe grün Grünkeil Green windscreen, green shade band
S403A
Glasdach elektrisch Glass roof, electrical
S428A
Warndreieck und Verbandstasche Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A
Innenspiegel automatisch abblendend Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S441A
Raucherpaket Smoker package
S459A
Sitzverstellung elektrisch mit Memory Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S481A
Sportsitz Sports seat
S494A
Sitzheizung Fahrer/Beifahrer Seat heating driver/passenger
S495A
Dreipunktgurt u. Kopfstütze hinten Mitte 3-point belt and headrest, center rear
S502A
Scheinwerferreinigungsanlage Headlight cleaning system
S508A
Park Distance Control (PDC) Park Distance Control (PDC)
S521A
Regensensor Rain sensor
S534A
Klimaautomatik Automatic air conditioning
S644A
Vorbereitung Handy m. Bluetooth Preparation f mobile phone w Bluetooth
S661A
Radio BMW Business (C43) Radio BMW Business (C43)
S692A
CD-Wechsler I-Bus Vorbereitung Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S710A
M Lederlenkrad M leather steering wheel
S716A
Aerodynamikpaket Aerodynamics package
S760A
Hochglanz Shadow-Line High gloss shadow line
S772A
Interieurleisten Alu Black Cube Interior moldings Alu Black Cube
S775A
Dachhimmel anthrazit Headlining anthracite
S785A
Blinkleuchten weiss White direction indicator lights
S787A
BMW LM Rad M Doppelspeiche 135 BMW alloy wheel, M double spoke 135
L812A
Länderausführung England / Irland NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A
Zusätzl. Tankfüllung Export Additional Export tank filling
S863A
Händlerverzeichnis Europa Retailer Directory Europe
S877A
Entfall Überkreuzbedienung Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A
Bordliteratur englisch On-board vehicle literature English
S8SPA
Steuerung COP Control unit COP
S210A
Dynamische-Stabilitäts-Control Dynamic stability control
S473A
Armlehne vorne Armrest front
S520A
Nebelscheinwerfer Fog lights
S550A
Bordcomputer On-board computer
S832A
Batterie im Kofferraum Battery in luggage compartment
S853A
Sprachversion englisch Language version English
Code Sonderausstattung Optional Equipment
S1CAA
Selektion COP relevanter Fahrzeuge Selection of COP relevant vehicles
S226A
Sportliche Fahrwerksabstimmung Sports suspension settings
S249A
Multifunktion für Lenkrad Multifunction f steering wheel
S302A
Alarmanlage Alarm system
S338A
M Sportpaket II M Sports package II
S354A
Frontscheibe grün Grünkeil Green windscreen, green shade band
S403A
Glasdach elektrisch Glass roof, electrical
S428A
Warndreieck und Verbandstasche Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A
Innenspiegel automatisch abblendend Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S441A
Raucherpaket Smoker package
S459A
Sitzverstellung elektrisch mit Memory Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S481A
Sportsitz Sports seat
S494A
Sitzheizung Fahrer/Beifahrer Seat heating driver/passenger
S495A
Dreipunktgurt u. Kopfstütze hinten Mitte 3-point belt and headrest, center rear
S502A
Scheinwerferreinigungsanlage Headlight cleaning system
S508A
Park Distance Control (PDC) Park Distance Control (PDC)
S521A
Regensensor Rain sensor
S534A
Klimaautomatik Automatic air conditioning
S644A
Vorbereitung Handy m. Bluetooth Preparation f mobile phone w Bluetooth
S661A
Radio BMW Business (C43) Radio BMW Business (C43)
S692A
CD-Wechsler I-Bus Vorbereitung Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S710A
M Lederlenkrad M leather steering wheel
S716A
Aerodynamikpaket Aerodynamics package
S760A
Hochglanz Shadow-Line High gloss shadow line
S772A
Interieurleisten Alu Black Cube Interior moldings Alu Black Cube
S775A
Dachhimmel anthrazit Headlining anthracite
S785A
Blinkleuchten weiss White direction indicator lights
S787A
BMW LM Rad M Doppelspeiche 135 BMW alloy wheel, M double spoke 135
L812A
Länderausführung England / Irland NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A
Zusätzl. Tankfüllung Export Additional Export tank filling
S863A
Händlerverzeichnis Europa Retailer Directory Europe
S877A
Entfall Überkreuzbedienung Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A
Bordliteratur englisch On-board vehicle literature English
S8SPA
Steuerung COP Control unit COP
Full spec for that car (formatting is a bit off). Taken from http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html.
Gutted.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...e39-540i-sport-2002/2020291?isexperiment=true
^^ getting a hard on over this. (inb4 530i is the better car, better steering etc etc etc)
That's a really great offside rear quarter panel... that's literally all he's photographed!
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Jan 2004
- Posts
- 23,826
- Location
- South East
Hi all,
What is the general consensus on Z3s? I'm moving back to the UK in a month, and I was just going to buy another Clio 182, but I see that Z3s can be had fairly cheap for a 1999-2001 model. Obviously some have high mileage, and I'm guessing they're not going to be cheap to run in terms and parts and servicing.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, or links to any useful information about buying one.
Thanks
What is the general consensus on Z3s? I'm moving back to the UK in a month, and I was just going to buy another Clio 182, but I see that Z3s can be had fairly cheap for a 1999-2001 model. Obviously some have high mileage, and I'm guessing they're not going to be cheap to run in terms and parts and servicing.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, or links to any useful information about buying one.
Thanks
I've got a 3.0 Coupe.
Never driven the cabrio so can't comment.
Also can't comment on the M50 2.8, but obviously the M54 3.0 has all the usual M54 issues.
I've had to replace the DISA valve and the cooling system. Also had to replace the HVAC blower unit.
I've got a leaking front shock but that's hardly unique to a Z3.
Not had any major issues with it, I think (the Coupe at least) is a fantastic car and with the 3.0 it's no slouch.
If you can get a late model M54 at a good price, I don't see why not.
Never driven the cabrio so can't comment.
Also can't comment on the M50 2.8, but obviously the M54 3.0 has all the usual M54 issues.
I've had to replace the DISA valve and the cooling system. Also had to replace the HVAC blower unit.
I've got a leaking front shock but that's hardly unique to a Z3.
Not had any major issues with it, I think (the Coupe at least) is a fantastic car and with the 3.0 it's no slouch.
If you can get a late model M54 at a good price, I don't see why not.
I should hope not!
- you mean the M52 I presume.... 
Whilst I can't comment on the Z3 as a whole, but having owned 3 M52 2.8 engined cars I can say the engine is a real gem IMO, all covered high mileage with ease , my 528i nearing 300k without any noticeable oil use age nor drop off in performance or even any top end rattle on cold start up which , at that mileage, you could forgive it for!!
My M54 engined 325i on the other hand uses about a litre every 2k, it's not done 100k yet!