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BMW Z3 Maintenance & Repair

104 messages,  Last post on Dec 28, 2012 at 10:38 PM

You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW Z3, Convertible

Messages Page 1 of 11

#1 of 104 2001 Z3 2.5i by spirolli

Jul 13, 2002 (6:55 am)

I just purchased a 2001 Z3 2.5i factory demo. 15k Miles, Sienna Red Metalic w/ Black Power Top and Black leather interior, Manual Trans, Premium Package, Harmon Kardon Premium Sound system with Single CD and Chrome accents. I paid $29k even.
 
Wow, is this a great car.! I got lucking with the factory demo. It seems the factory demo (unlike dealer demo's) have never been titled, therefore as far as BMW is concerned, they are treated like new. Full warranty, full road side assistance, free scheduled maintenance, ect. Plus, this car was simply in immaculate condition. Not a scuff, scratch or blemish in the paint, interior, tires or rims. The tires are Continental ContiSport Contacts. They seem very well suited for this car.
 
I have only a few gripes. 1. The plastic rear window is pretty lame. BMW should really incorporate a glass window. The BMW Executive who drove my car must have never put the top down. There is no creases or scratches on the platic window. (Compared to others I have seen) 2. The stereo system, despite the fact that I have the upgraded Harmon Kardon system, is OK at best. It's certainly under powered and I believe that is it's biggest problem. 3. I wish it had a 6 speed manual instead of a 5 speed manual. Once you hit 70MPH, that 6th gear would come in handy. At least that's the case with the 2.5i motor, not sure about the 3.0i 4. Gas Tank- the car gets pretty good gas mileage but the tank is so dam small, that I am getting only 200-240 Miles out of a full tank of gas. Therefore, I am stopping for gas more than I'd like.
 
Since the purchase 3 weeks ago, I have added some extra's to the car via HMS Motorsport (www.hmsmotorsport.com) ask for Kael and tell him Steve Pirolli sent you. They are great to work with. I purchased the BMW wind deflector which works great, a black leather arm rest which I can believe BMW doesn't just include when you buy the car, a rear truck lid organizer for additional storage, a KN Air Filter (supposidly increases horse power 3-10hp, the black magnetic stone guards (which look sort of cheesy) and the felt rear plastic window protector for when the top is down.
 
At some point I will probably purchase the Cool Air Intake and possibly the software upgrade. I am looking at the Shark and Dinan versions of the upgrade.
 
I plan on taking it back to dealer soon for some quirks that arose in the past 3 weeks. I noticed a very annoying rattle in the passenger seat, my cigarette lighter light seems to be possessed as it blinks on and off when it wants to and there is also a rattle in the passenger door that you car hear when you open and close the door.
 
Other then those items listed above, I am more then impressed with the power, handling and styling of the 2001 BMW Z3. And by the way, this car turns heads !
 
Steve Pirolli
Bucks County, PA

#2 of 104 Steve by haspelbein

Jul 13, 2002 (7:29 pm)

I think it makes good sense that you opened a general Z3 repair and maintenance topic. I don't think we had one before, even with the BMW-Z3 owners club.
 
As a follow-up on the other topic ("Z3/Inspection II"), I started the maintenance myself. I did about the first half today, and it has been very easy so far. As I suspected, the Z3 is actually a very easy car to service.
However, I will give a complete report once I'm done.
 
...
 
Yes, the Contis are great tires. I have the 4-cyl. model, and while the gas tank is the same size, I have roughtly a 350 mile range. When I got the car almost two years ago, I compared it with the 2.8 version. I liked the wider rear fenders and the engine, but in the end the difference didn't justify the price. Also, while I prefered the I6 over the I4, I liked the Getrag transmission better than the ZF in the 2.8.
 
Interior rattles: My advice is to learn to live with them. My car is still under warranty, but even with all the repairs at the dealer, the interior never became completely rattle and squeak free. The rest of the car however is rock solid.
 
Other than that, the way the car drives easily makes up for those nuisances.
 
A 2001 Z3 turns heads ? Maybe in PA. Here in CA you need something more. An M3 convertible, maybe ? But would you really want the attention when you can just enjoy the drive ?

#3 of 104 Z3 by spirolli

Jul 13, 2002 (9:22 pm)

Yes, this site was in desperate need of a "Repair and Maintenance" discussion group. I am looking forward to more input and other owner experiences related to engine add on's, software updates, etc.
 
Wow, that is a substantial difference between the 4 and the 6 cylinder engines in terms of "distance to empty". (350 vs 240 miles to empty). Again..., it needs a larger gas task.

#4 of 104 spirolli by lm_

Jul 14, 2002 (4:18 pm)

hi all ... it's been a while since I've chatted at any of the Edmunds sites, but when I read your message, I had to respond.
 
I've read that the Z4 is going to have a glass window and the 3.0i is going to have a 6 speed manual tranny. I have a 2000 2.8 and love it. The plastic window doesn't bother me ... neither do the marks from putting it up and down ... after all, it is a convertible with a plastic window. I have some good plexiglass cleaner that doesn't remove everything, but makes the window pretty good for when I have to top up, which isn't all that often ... usually in the rain ... then I have raindrops to look through anyway ... no biggie to me. I've accepted the plastic window for what it is. Also, it's my understanding that the window is fairly easy to replace should the need arise.
 
About accessories ... check out z3solutions.com. The map pocket cupholders are fabulous!!
 
Gas & mileage ... I get about 260 on a tank - 240 without worrying where the next gas station is (only when I'm out wandering those back winding country roads and haven't thought much about gas) I believe I get somehwere around 23 mpg.
 
You sound like you got a beautiful car and a great deal! Enjoy your drives ... and if it's not everything you wanted ... trade it in for a Z4 - they sound pretty awesome too.

#5 of 104 KN Air Filter by haspelbein

Jul 15, 2002 (3:50 pm)

Steve,
 
 I still have too much warranty left to try a KN Air Filter, but I would be interested if it made a noticable difference on an engine that had no other performance modifications. Also, if you notice the impact, at what RPM range does it become noticable ?
 
Thanks,
Martin

#6 of 104 KN Filter / Warranty ? by spirolli

Jul 15, 2002 (7:09 pm)

Do you mean if I install the KN Air Filter, I break the bmw factory warranty ? I only have 15k miles on a 2001 Z3. I too have "a lot" of warranty left.
 
Anyone know if this is true ?
 
Steve

#7 of 104 2.5i Motor by spirolli

Jul 15, 2002 (7:14 pm)

Is it true that the BMW 325 has the same exact (185) horsepower as the 2.5i engine found in the Z3 ? Obviously they are both 2.5 liter but do they have the same output is the question.

#8 of 104 Warranty / 2.5 L by haspelbein

Jul 16, 2002 (9:52 am)

I would have to look at my warranty agreement to see if such an airfilter would void it. But that would probably be beside the point anyhow, because it will probably depend on how much slack the BMW dealer will give you in case of a warranty repair.
 
Overall, performance enhancements are where many manufacturers and dealers draw the line. But that line is very fuzzy. There is a difference between using Bosch Platinum plugs vs. OEM plugs or dropping in a supercharger.
 
Usually, I would contact the shop or manufacturer of that part, to see if it's use was approved by BMW.
 
That being said, I would assume that a KN Filter on a stock engine would have very little effect overall.
 
...
 
Yes, it appears that the 2.5 liter engines are identical. (If they are not, they have exactly the same specs.) However, the gearing of both the transmission and the final drive seem to be different in the two cars.

#9 of 104 1st Visit To The Shop.... For me anyway by spirolli

Jul 31, 2002 (5:58 pm)

When I purchased the 2001 Z3 about 1 month ago it had a plastic tab/clip missing from the CD Radio. The sales person and manager assured that they would order the clip direct from BMW and mail it to me. To make a long story short, he called me a few days ago and told me that he couldn't order the clip, that I should bring the car into the dealership and they would replace the entire radio.! I thought that was excellent customer service.
 
I am also going to see if they can take care of a few other items. 1- When pressing the auto-up drivers window...the window will go up to about 1" from the top, stop and go back down to about 4" from the top. Something is faking out the safety sensor in the window. It's something in the roof or molding in the roof since it only happens when the top is in the up position. 2- There is a mean rattle in the passenger seat. It actually sounds as if the seat is loose or something. 3- The cigarette lighter light blinks on and off at will.
 
I did have a wobble in one of the front tires at 69MPH. I had all 4 of the tires speed balanced and sure enough, one of the front tires was slightly out of balance. However, I am starting to feel a wobble at 79MPH instead of 69MPH. It's an ever so slight wobble but still a wobble. I'm thinking that either the tires were not balanced properly or it's just me.
 
Does anyone else feel an ever so slight wobble at a given speed.?
 
Other than that, the car is a great piece.
 
Steve

#10 of 104 inspection II by vjoe_udo

Aug 05, 2002 (3:15 pm)

haspelbien, did you do your own inspection II?
I did a bunch of stuffs (engine oil, spark plugs,
fuel filter, air filters, etc..) and then took
it in and paid $300 for the dealer to do the rest.

I'm going to do all the inspection myself from
now on. Try this message board for your questions.
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/z3/

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