Hi all,
New member here from Belgium. I picked up a 2003 Z3 1.9i over the weekend — my first BMW, and my first hobby car full stop.
I should be upfront: I have essentially no hands-on experience with cars. I'm technically minded and happy to learn, but right now I don't know a torque wrench from a tyre iron. Part of the appeal of buying this car was having something to learn on.
It has 285,000 km on the clock. From what I've read, the Z3 doesn't mind the distance if it's been maintained, so I'm more focused on the age-related stuff — particularly rust around the rear subframe mounting points and sills, which matters here given the salted winter roads and our annual technical inspection.
So: what would you check first on a car like this, and what are the first few jobs a complete beginner can realistically take on themselves? Happy to be pointed at existing threads rather than have anyone repeat themselves.
Cheers,
Ivan
New member here from Belgium. I picked up a 2003 Z3 1.9i over the weekend — my first BMW, and my first hobby car full stop.
I should be upfront: I have essentially no hands-on experience with cars. I'm technically minded and happy to learn, but right now I don't know a torque wrench from a tyre iron. Part of the appeal of buying this car was having something to learn on.
It has 285,000 km on the clock. From what I've read, the Z3 doesn't mind the distance if it's been maintained, so I'm more focused on the age-related stuff — particularly rust around the rear subframe mounting points and sills, which matters here given the salted winter roads and our annual technical inspection.
So: what would you check first on a car like this, and what are the first few jobs a complete beginner can realistically take on themselves? Happy to be pointed at existing threads rather than have anyone repeat themselves.
Cheers,
Ivan
Welcome