THE ESSENTIAL BUYER’S GUIDE: BMW Z3 ROADSTER; 1995–2002

Mike Fishwick Published 2017 by Veloce (veloce.co.uk), which supplied the review copy ISBN 978-1-845842-90-1

With over 100 of Veloce’s Essential Buyer’s Guides having been published, covering cars and motorcycles, it’s interesting to see that more modern vehicles are being covered as well as the older ‘classics’. This recent addition to the series is a good example.

The guides are all pocketsized 64-page softcover books that follow a standard pattern. In this instance, the first few pages look at the Z3 in general: whether it the right car for your needs, how expensive the parts and servicing are, what you need to know about the different models, etc. Once you decide that a Z3 might fit your bill, the book offers a fairly comprehensive 15-minute evaluation ( Walk Away or Stay), followed by the meat of the guide, which is a 10-page section entitled ‘Serious Evaluation’ that includes a road test.

It is a very practical list of items to consider, with a marking system for each to help keep your assessment an objective one. For example: check the condition of the boot floor, as this is an area where cracking is known to take place, and see if the engine speed rises during low speed gear changes, as this could indicate a failed clutch switch. Other short chapters include those on problems due to lack of use and possible issues with paintwork.

There are a fair few Z3s on New Zealand roads, so this book is likely to find an appreciative audience. It could be useful for sellers, too, to give them an idea of what potential buyers will be checking out.

If your German sporting car enthusiasm runs to Porsche instead, another recent title in this series, by Adrian Streeter, covers the 987 Boxster and Cayman from 2009 to 2012.