1999 or 2000 which to buy?!

[Winyah]

Ok so new to the fourm and buying my first z3. I’m looking at 2 almost identical cars both triple black 5 speed 2.3 (2.5L) still don’t get that one but ok. Both are 5,000 almost same mileage. Question is which to go with I know the 2000 has L shaped tail lights and different steering wheel, clock in the center. Any thing else that would push for one more than the other. The 99 does look a little cleaner from pictures seat wear looks a lot better and steering wheel grip. Any help would be great thanks! Sorry if this double post did one earlier but don’t see it on here.

[Kram71]

Ok so new to the fourm and buying my first z3. I’m looking at 2 almost identical cars both triple black 5 speed 2.3 (2.5L) still don’t get that one but ok. Both are 5,000 almost same mileage. Question is which to go with I know the 2000 has L shaped tail lights and different steering wheel, clock in the center. Any thing else that would push for one more than the other. The 99 does look a little cleaner from pictures seat wear looks a lot better and steering wheel grip. Any help would be great thanks! Sorry if this double post did one earlier but don’t see it on here.

I personally liked the 2000 interior looks more than the 1999. The 2000 had more of a M style look to it IMO.

[328 Power 04]

I prefer the facelift

[Winyah]

What else did they do in the facelift

[cngizbleevng]

Aside from the taillights, the humps over the rear wheels was the other defining style change.

[Harvey Mushman]

Meanwhile, those of us with the odd-ball 2000 M cars just sit quietly...

[pine1000]

The soft top has a liner starting in 2000. You also get free maintenance for first 3 years/36000 miles!

https://www.cars.com/research/bmw-z3-2000/whats-new/

[Tim95M3]

Never liked the humpty-dumpty rear quarters at all, so I have to vote 99 here.

[Vintage42]

What else did they do in the facelift

Comparison:

Z3 rear ends.jpg

[Kram71]

Comparison:

Z3 rear ends.jpg

I never knew they changed the fenders before this thread. I like the 2000 up interior better but I'm not sure regarding the fenders.

[Randy Forbes]

I'm a preferer of the '99__pre-facelift__style too, though with '99 & '01 M versions, I didn't have a choice (but glad the facelift didn't extend beyond the Z3 trim/engine'd cars).

I'm not positive about the non M versions, but 04/99 was a big changeover point as far as equipment and trim levels; Model Year 2000 effectively beginning in April/May '99 (for the Ms with the S-54, customer deliveries were slow to start in April/May 2001__unsure of when the last S-52 engine'd Ms were built...).

[Winyah]

Thanks for all the input! The side by side back pictures help a lot too! I went and looked at the 99 today didn’t get it pictures made it look in better condition than it was. So the search is still on. Found another 2000 not far from me but the guy is wanting 8000. Looks in very good condition only 60,000 miles with M package but not a M car 2.3. It’s gray with black top/interior. Any input on a good price would be in this car? It was listed at 8,999 he came down to 8 in the phone said his lowest.

[cngizbleevng]

$8000 is a fair price.

[z3forlife]

If it's clean inside and out ( ding free or very few ) and isn't leaking anything runs smooth and quietly that's not unreasonable. One owner ? Any Maint done ? Manual or auto

[Winyah]

If it's clean inside and out ( ding free or very few ) and isn't leaking anything runs smooth and quietly that's not unreasonable. One owner ? Any Maint done ? Manual or auto

2nd owner said always garage kept. Did say he had to replace the head gasket on it. Is that something to worrry about or maybe a common issue?

[sijray21]

I prefer the 2000 (face-lift) fenders/body, but I'd go with which ever had the better service record or whichever is in better condition.

Why was the head gasket replaced? That's a big job assuming he wasn't confused with a valve cover gasket.

[Mr Bingley]

2nd owner said always garage kept. Did say he had to replace the head gasket on it. Is that something to worrry about or maybe a common issue?

Well that's easy--if they are equal in other ways and one had a head gasket replaced, pass on it and buy the other.

[blkwpnz]

Well that's easy--if they are equal in other ways and one had a head gasket replaced, pass on it and buy the other.

+1
Had head gasket replaced and wants to sell it now? Get the other one.

[Winyah]

Not sure why didn’t get in details with him yet

[Mr Bingley]

Not sure why didn’t get in details with him yet

It doesn't matter why (it's always due to overheating), it matters that it was done at all. No, it is not a common issue and yes, it's a bad sign. Someone has had the engine all apart--who? Were they meticulous? Were they clean? Was the underlying cause of the overheating addressed satisfactorily? Did they use the correct parts and proper procedures, or did they use cheap parts and take shortcuts? Why have to answer these questions at all? Just walk away.

[z3forlife]

I would get clarification on that detail. Valve cover gasket is predictable and not a big deal but a head gasket only fails predictably if you're boosted. Fwiw I'd go with the 99 if based on looks alone. I never liked the hips on post 99 models

[Winyah]

Well guys ended up going with the 2000 with 60,000 Miles. Ended up it was only the valve gasket was replaced and he had the paperwork showing when it was done. Car looked in great shape paint everything thing in mint condition. He didn’t move much on the price 7,750 was it. Here are a few pictures m. Thanks for all the help deciding! Well thought I could add pictures any idea how? Have them on my camera roll

[sijray21]

Well guys ended up going with the 2000 with 60,000 Miles. Ended up it was only the valve gasket was replaced and he had the paperwork showing when it was done. Car looked in great shape paint everything thing in mint condition. He didn’t move much on the price 7,750 was it. Here are a few pictures m. Thanks for all the help deciding! Well thought I could add pictures any idea how? Have them on my camera roll

If you're using Tapatalk (phone app) you can add them pretty easily, otherwise if you're using a PC or browser you'll need to host the photos somewhere then link the photos

Great! I hope it treats you well! Glad it was just a valve cover gasket. I asked about that earlier because people often get confused between head gasket and head valve cover gasket. One is definitely not like the other, haha.

[Winyah]

Oh no doubt very big difference haha and so far I love it. About to try to download the app to post some pictures. Only thing I’ve found wrong so far is the heat isn’t blowing out hot a/c is very cold works fine but the heat is just blowing but not hot:/ asked the guy he said he thought it was working and said he never really used it.... guess I should have tried it while I was there

[Winyah]