Page 1 of 2

Z3/4

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:55 pm
by Hut man
Hi , I’ve been reading up on the forum for a few weeks now and have previously registered on the z3 site as well.
Initially I was interested in a z3 and was quite happy to do some resto work on what ever car I eventually found, I’m not in any way a home mechanic but have done engine out, clutches, brakes etc on MGBs in the past, so not totally useless.
In between looking at various cars my wife decided to retire and we had the usual chats about pensions and what we could afford, long story short we decided buying a third car for the two of us wasn’t going to happen.
So now I have a choice do I chop in my 2021 128ti for a 30i Z4.( same engine) or sell the wife’s 2014 430dxdrive,
We’ve had the 430 from new it’s full bmw history with 80 k and she’s quite attached to it,
What do you think?

Z3/4

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:08 pm
by Zedebee
Welcome to the forum. You can expect plenty of advice here, but no two opinions the same!

If you’ve been considering everything between a Z3 and a G29 Z4, you are spanning 28 years of BMW models. Are you fixed on the G29 Z4 sDrive30i and want to know which of your other cars to sell, or do you want to know which Z3/4 to buy?

Z3/4

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2023 12:40 am
by buzyg
Welcome to the Forum. :)

Z3/4

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:29 am
by pvr
Chop in yours, if you sell your wife’s you will never hear the end of it :lol:

The size of cars are quite different, the 4 versus the 1, do you need / like the space?

Z3/4

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:39 am
by bigwinn
Welcome to the forum

Opinions are like, well you know the saying… my fourpenneth for what it’s worth

The z3 is a generation older than the z4 and is noticeable in the drive and the environment you pilot it in

Engineering wise the z3 is a better put together car- as an example the front struts on the 3 have more fixing bolts but are easier to do as an amateur mechanic than the 4…

If you want a more pleasing resto I’d suggest the z3
If your aim is a nicer place to be on a daily basis then go for the 4

Both are such good fun to work on, drive and own though

Good luck!

Z3/4

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:05 pm
by deltasierra
“So now I have a choice do I chop in my 2021 128ti for a 30i Z4.( same engine) or sell the wife’s 2014 430dxdrive,
We’ve had the 430 from new it’s full bmw history with 80 k and she’s quite attached to it,
What do you think?”

You could try asking her, although if there are no kids to cart around the 30i Z4 might suit her well.

Z3/4

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:26 pm
by Hut man
deltasierra wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:05 pm “So now I have a choice do I chop in my 2021 128ti for a 30i Z4.( same engine) or sell the wife’s 2014 430dxdrive,
We’ve had the 430 from new it’s full bmw history with 80 k and she’s quite attached to it,
What do you think?”

You could try asking her, although if there are no kids to cart around the 30i Z4 might suit her well.


Sorry for the late reply, blame Christmas and the Scotish Hogmanay.
Anyway took Deltas advice and asked the wife, so the 430d is going up for sale, we do have grandkids so the 1 series will handle them and be used as the daily.
My wife quite liked the G29, the next move will be to do some research and check the piggy bank.

Z3/4

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:42 pm
by PSQ777
Hut man wrote: Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:26 pm
deltasierra wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:05 pm “So now I have a choice do I chop in my 2021 128ti for a 30i Z4.( same engine) or sell the wife’s 2014 430dxdrive,
We’ve had the 430 from new it’s full bmw history with 80 k and she’s quite attached to it,
What do you think?”

You could try asking her, although if there are no kids to cart around the 30i Z4 might suit her well.


Sorry for the late reply, blame Christmas and the Scotish Hogmanay.
Anyway took Deltas advice and asked the wife, so the 430d is going up for sale, we do have grandkids so the 1 series will handle them and be used as the daily.
My wife quite liked the G29, the next move will be to do some research and check the piggy bank.
Check very carefully in the piggy bank to see if there is enough money for the M40i :-)

Z3/4

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 11:11 pm
by Hut man
Would love the M40i, but the piggy is just not that big I’m afraid :roll:

Z3/4

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:35 pm
by Hut man
Well sometimes the comments here are just so correct and to the point !
As posted earlier I’ve been thinking about changing one of our cars and following discussions with the other half we’re going to sell the 430d, it’s been and still is a great car for someone, so over the last few weeks I’ve been on Autotrader looking what’s out there.
I noticed the local dealer had my preferred 30i as a demo so I nipped down for a little hurl, the weather wasn’t great with persisting rain and high,ish wind, anyway I took it out for about 30min and must admit it didn’t blow me away (pun)
I returned the car and the salesman was all upbeat expecting me to be the same, but it just didn’t do much for me.
So this morning back on AT and noticed Edinburgh had an M40 demo, so pitched up with the wife looking for a test run, no problem says the sales lad, take it away for half an hour.
Now I see what you guys are on about, flipping brilliant, I drove it on some nice B roads and down the motorway from Livingston back to the dealers, tried all the modes, sport was a delight for the ears and the speed was great.
The wife just about had a wee accident when I floored it in sport :rofl:
So good comment from here when someone said she may like the M40, you were right, she said let’s buy it ! now it’s me saying wait a minute it’s the first one we’ve seen.
So your a bunch of bampots, I’m really going to have to raid everything I can think off because there’s no going back! :headbang:

Z3/4

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:53 pm
by sars
You both won't regret it, I'm super happy with mine and just passed 34,000 smiles in a little over two years, it really is a great daily :thumbsup:

Z3/4

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:15 pm
by Hut man
sars wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:53 pm You both won't regret it, I'm super happy with mine and just passed 34,000 smiles in a little over two years, it really is a great daily :thumbsup:


I really couldn’t believe the difference it was like two different cars, it really reminded me of driving the 430d, whereas the 30i was like the 128ti, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised as the 30 is basically the same engine and the 40 is a six.

Z3/4

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:19 pm
by Mr Tidy
Now and again the Yanks get things right - there's no replacement for displacement!

Z3/4

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:19 pm
by Mr Tidy
Now and again the Yanks get things right - there's no replacement for displacement!

Z3/4

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 9:03 pm
by Hut man
Mr Tidy wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:19 pm Now and again the Yanks get things right - there's no replacement for displacement!


Yeah, meaner than a junk yard dog :rofl: