u/ham_cheese_4564

Posted a few weeks back about valuation on an 02 2.5i I was being offered, and then I bought it! $4,700 with a mint condition hard top, total steal for a solid running car with no rust and no CEL.

Been driving it a few weeks now and have noticed a few things I can’t seem to pin down with just google searches:

1. DSC light/brake light combo. I know this can be anything from sensors to the module solder joints, etc, but the way it manifest

s

1. is very specific. I start it up, no lights, drive for 30 min or so and then I get a weird quick vibration,

a quieter

1. version of what it sounds like when the ABS is activated. Like less than a second, and then the DSC light and brake light come on. No ABS light, no engine codes. I don’t have a BMW scanner to read the ABS module yet.
2. speed-specific shuddering: at about 25-35 mph with the worst happening around 30, I get a strong shudder in what feels like the entire car. It’s not a sharp vibration, but more like you are going over rapidly bumpy pavement. I have varied gear and RPM and it’s consistent with vehicle speed and not engine speed. Google says it’s likely driveshaft bearing but wondering if anyone else had a similar issue before I start randomly replacing driveline components.

Thanks in advance, this is my first Z3, one of the most fun-per-dollar cars I have ever owned.

I have a neighbor who is selling his 02 2.5 manual. Not up for sale, he would love to sell it to me so he doesn’t have the hassle of fb marketplace etc, and is willing to give me a good price. I did some Edmunds and KBB and sales research and I can’t get a feel for how these things are valued. I am not new to cars or working on them but I am new to Z3s.

Car is not the one in the pic, but very very similar. Factory hardtop, dark gray, style 42 wheels. It’s a 2.5 manual with 187,000 miles. I can’t find any for sale with that high mileage. I checked it out and drove it yesterday.

Body is decent, some small dings, very very little rust, just a touch on one of the wheel wells and on the inside of the hood at the edge of one of the support sheets. IMHO for being a 25 year old car, it looks great. Wheels are dirty but not scratched, glass all clean, hardtop has some small scratches, but headliner literally looks brand new. It does have a mystery leak that only happens when parked in a hard rain? Interior is pretty good, clean carpets, no rips in leather, some small things are broken like a door handle and the seatbelt guide on the headrest, a few other small blemishes.

Pretty sure 3 of 4 shocks are blown, and feels like the subframe bushings are worn, shimmies a little in the corners under load, rebounds after you get back on the throttle and squats a little hard on braking.

Motor seems to run very well, quiet, maybe a very small lifter tick, but great linear throttle response, no hissing or hesitation. I’m a little wary of 187K but it has a new clutch, flywheel, and rear main seal that were done at a reputable local shop with receipts. I have read about the cooking issues and the oil consumption on the M52B25 but temp looked solid over the 45 minutes or so I was ripping it down some back roads. Not too concerned about oil, this is a fun/weekend/back road car that will spend most of the time in a conditioned garage.

He is looking for 5K, but KBB and Edmunds are sitting around 3500 for “Good” condition even with the factory hardtop. I see similar ones for sale but less mileage going between 5K and 15K with no real correlation of mileage and trim. Just wondering what you guys think.

Car was an absolute blast to drive. Shifts like an ND Miata but I actually fit my 6’-3” frame in it comfortably. Really amazing how well it drove for a 25 year old car with almost 200K. Predictable and linear, exactly what a roadster should be.

Is there anything else I should be looking out for?

ALLOW ME TO PLAY THE SONG OF MY PEOPLE!

I sure do miss this pig/seal/goblin…