My New 2000 Z3 2.8 Story............ (archive)

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Well thanks again everyone for your thoughtful and thorough responses yesterday to my initial posting on this board and website. My question concerned the perceived difference(s) of a 2.3 versus a 2.8 Z3 Roadster. I was anxious to see, hear and feel the difference(s). Well, my wife and I took each out for about one hour yesterday afternoon, and I am delighted to report that I will be picking up my new Titanium Silver Z3 2.8 next Saturday. What a car!!! Absolutely gorgeous and drives like a dream. I did feel a difference in torque, suspension, and gearbox smoothness, and although I really wasn't looking to spend any extra for a 2.8, I did feel it was worth it. My wife, who actually wants this car as much, if not more than I do (she is British and loves old roadsters like MG, Triumph, Jags etc.), also felt the same with respect to noticable differences. We took the cars on country and urban roads, as well as the highway to get a complete sense of the engine, gearbox, handling, and overall comfort. There also were patches of snow and ice about so we got to try out the stabilization controls (both on and off). They were both 1999 cars that we took out, but I think the differences should be the same. The lined roof on the 2000 might help on some of the road noise as will the Harmon Kardon stereo upgrade, but I expect this out of a roadster and actually enjoy the open feeling you get. My wife never could get used to the "hermetically sealed" enviornment of today's luxury sedans. Makes her and my daughters nausious they always say. We'll both take a 5 speed manual roadster any day.

With respect to options, I got mine (sorry, we got ours :-)) with the premium package black leather heated sports seats, in dash CD, chrome trim, and on board computer. The dealer threw in the mesh wind deflector ($149) and Z3 floor mats ($85) at no charge.

As the dealer incentive is on until the end of the month, I was fortunate enough to work a deal for $506 over dealer invoice (MSRP: $40,679, purchase price: $37,475). I am delighted with the deal, and was fortunate that the 2.8 model I had asked for excluded the on board computer and the sports seats, and were therefore thrown into the deal at no additional cost to me. If I had waited to get this same car less those two optional extras, the dealer would not have had his incentive from BMW as delivery date would have been past February 29th. So I feel fortunate to have benefitted from the timing of the deal.

I can't wait to drive this car home. We'll surely argue as to who goes first, but I think my wife should as I feel lucky to be married to someone who wants one of these beauties too.

Any comments or suggestions from you experts on how I should break her in (the car, not my wife) or whether or not to use a window pillow given that the 2000 has a lined roof and may be too thick....etc.....etc..... would be very welcomed and appreciated. This is my first roadster, so I can use all the advice I can get.

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