This is a very good line.  Nice job.

One quick point regarding the opening:

Uconnect in my wife’s Durango sends us on some batshit crazy routes.

Come to think of it, there’s only one body panel that is integral on the Z3 - the little strip between the trunk lid and the convertible top.  Everything else is bolted to the car.

I agree.  The grenade scene told you everything you needed to know about Steve and his willingness to die for others.  

I should have clarified it more. I’m probably just bitter because I broke a reflector (my own dumb fault) and they aren’t even available on eBay. But beyond the cosmetic parts, everything to keep the car running is easily available for any Z3.  Nice part of it being a little bit of a parts bin car.

It’s the cosmetic things.  I’m probably just bitter because I broke a reflector (my own dumb fault) and they aren’t even available on eBay.  But beyond the cosmetic parts, everything to keep the car running is easily available for any Z3.  I should have clarified that some.

Only concern I’d have with that is how hard it may be to get parts for. Even on the Z3, which was a big seller for BMW, I have trouble finding some parts for it (for example rear bumper reflectors are NLA and impossible to find used).  I think an early Z4 with the 3.0i is the best option.  And the suspension is better.

For less than 10k, he can easily get a z3m roadster with the S52. Or he can get a Z3 with either a 2.8 (m52tu) or a 3.0 with an M54. Even early Z4's are in that price range in good condition. 

Wagons always pique my interest, but the price here is too much for what is presented.  There are some poor decisions made (rear end, transmission, weird rear speakers) that hurt it for the price.  

I know I have said to my kids (4/6): “Is this the hill you want to die on?” Somehow, it actually works on them and they break, but I don’t understand why it does - they should not understand what this means.

Other than white, silver, and yellow, the tan interior looks good with any of those colors (mine is Oxford Green w/ the tan interior). Most M’s came with black with the color matched inserts.

Glad I could help!

I had an S52 M3 sedan.  It’s a fine engine as you said.  It is reliable and easy to maintain, just a little less powerful on the top end.  It’s good for driving around town and autocross since it’s got a good bit of torque down low.  

I love Z4 coupes.  They are better looking than the Z3 coupes.

My stock seats had that pattern on them. They were nice looking, just not functionally good. If he’s up to spending the month, the M seats would be a good improvement and easy to swap. The M seats are not any harder to get out of than the stock seats.

It’s easy enough.  I did them on mine when I first got it - it was really bad! I also added the front spacers to tilt the seat back a bit.  However, in the end, I just bought a set of Corbeau A4 wide seats for it since I find the regular Z3 seats to be terrible.  They don’t hold you at all and I was sliding in my seat…

It’s not that hard (especially if you have a 97 to 99). I thought about doing that with my 2000 Z3, but I’d probably swap in an M54 if I did anything. However, you can find a pretty good one for like $8k - may not be worth the effort.

S54 Z3M roadsters are creeping up a bit (not to coupe levels, but still going up).  You can get a S52 Z3M roadster for a little more than a decent E36 M3.  

The idea of doing what Porsche did with the 911 to the Avanti would have been pretty cool.  Massage the styling over the years and add gradual improvements/updates.  I still like how these cars look.