Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh
It's been my experience with five different 3-series platform BMWs I've owned since 1988 and over 1M miles driving them, the E85/86 chassis has been the least problematic of any of them. The E37 (Z3) has been the most "unreliable", which means the interior plastics on it totally suck. I bought my Z4 Coupe at 8 years old and just 23,000 on the clock, so it was a low mileage example, and it had no issues with the rubber or plastic components. It still doesn't now at 17 years old.
I'm emphatically stating the E85/86 platform is very well built with good materials used throughout.
|
I agree with your general evaluation of the chassis and material aspects, I have similar experience currently owning an E30, E46, and E90. But are you saying you haven't spent any money or time on maintaining the Z4?
My reply was toward how a potential owner may define money pit, is it $100 in parts and a weekend of DIY labor every month to maintain instead of being with family or friends? $500 every few months? An initial $3000 hit of deferred maintenance at a shop after purchase but smooth sailing for the next year?
Absolutely no disrespect to the OP but asking if a 20yo BMW is a "money pit" is the wrong question, it will need care and maintenance regardless of mileage. All cars are money pits, a person needs to decide if the joy of ownership is worth the cost in time and money.
I think a PPI will give a good overview of what a car needs and the going rate for maintenance, the $100 would be well spent to see what someone is getting into if they don't plan to DIY.