BMW Z3

The 'BMW Z3' was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first BMW model assembled in the United States. It was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie, ''GoldenEye''. There were a few variants of the car before its production run ended in 2002, including a coupe version for 1999. It was manufactured and assembled in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Z3 was replaced by the BMW Z4 in late 2002 at the Paris Auto Show.

Contents

Overview

Year to year standard equipment changes

M Roadster

Coupé

Racing

Awards

References

Links

Overview

The Z3 was developed from the E36 platform of the 3 Series. The resulting platform is sometimes referred to as the 'E36/7'(roadster) or 'E36/8'(coupe'). The rear semi-trailing arm suspension from the E30 was used rather than the more sophisticated multilink suspension from the E36. At first, only the 1.9 L M44B19 straight-4 engine was offered, but its 138 hp was not up to buyers' expectations. Interior appointments too were not up to the standard of other BMW models, and the plastic rear window looked poor compared to the glass unit found on the much cheaper 1999 Mazda Miata.

In the North American market, the inline 4 engine was complemented by a larger straight-6 engine in 1997: the 2.8 L M52B28. This engine, similar to the BMW M52 in the 328i except with an all aluminum block and head, was especially desirable with its 189 hp. The M Roadster (see below) appeared in 1998 with a 3.2 L S52B32 I6, just as the four was retired. In 1999, the 1.9 L 4-cylinder engine was replaced with a 2.5 L straight-6 M52TUB25, producing 170 hp. Due to marketing, BMW wanted to differentiate the 2.8L engine from the 2.5L engine, so it was badged it 2.3 just like the 3-Series 323i which also has a 2.5L engine.
Outside of North America, the 1.9 L 4-cylinder was replaced with a 2.0 L straight-6 in 1999.

All of the engines were replaced when the car was freshened for 2001. The range consisted of the 2.2 L M54B22 (available outside of North America), 2.5 L M54B25, 3.0 L M54B30, and (for the M Roadster) 3.2 L S54B32. All three of these straight-6 engines lasted through the end of the car's run in 2002. Also updated was the car's interior appointments, though the plastic window remained.
The Z3 proved quite reliable, with problems limited to bad oxygen sensors, a flimsy plastic water pump, and failing rear shock mounts. With time the most common problems were rocking seats and water leaks on the roof. With its popular retro styling, the Z3s have held their value fairly well in the resale market.

Year to year standard equipment changes

1997 - Traction control;

1998 - Rollover bars;

1999 - Side airbags;

2000 - Revised tail styling;

2001 - Dynamic Brake Control.

M Roadster

Main articles: BMW M Roadster

From 1998 to 2002, the Motorsports division of BMW produced the M Roadster which included suspension upgrades and the engine from the BMW M3. The 1998, 1999 and 2000 M roadster had the 3.2L S52 motor from the E36 M3 into it with quad exhaust. The 2001 and 2002 models had the S54 motor from the E46 M3. There were also interior upgrades with additional gauges in the center console, lighted "M" shift knob, various chrome bits throughout the cockpit and sport seats as standard equipment. Exterior changes were larger wheels spaced further apart and more aggressive fenders than were installed on the regular Z3. Hardtops were available as an option.

Coupé

In addition to the roadster version of the Z3, BMW also released a coupe featuring a chassis-stiffening rear hatch area, though the 'breadvan' styling this gave was controversial. The coupe was available as the 'Z3 Coupé' from 1999 to 2001 or as the BMW Motorsport-enhanced 'M Coupe' from 1999 to 2002.
The Z3 Coupes were only available with the largest 6-cylinder engine offered in the Z3 roadster: the 2.8 L in 1999 and 2000 and the 3.0 L in 2000 for Europe and 2001 for the US. The 1999 and 2000 M models were equipped with the 3.2 L S52 motor from the E36 BMW M3, while all the 2001 and 2002 models came with the S54 motor from the E46 BMW M3.

Racing

The Z3 is currently used in the KONI Challenge Series.

Awards

The BMW Z3 won the "Super Reggie" award for the best promotional marketing campaign of 1995.
The campaign, which won the "Super Reggie", was co-sponsored by the United Artist unit of Credit Lyonnais and by BMW of North America. Efforts included James Bond Edition Z3's sold through the Neiman Marcus catalogue.

The BMW Z3 2.8 made Editor's Most Wanted Vehicle for 1999 Edmunds.com

The ''M Coupe/M Roadster'' made ''Car and Driver'' magazine's Ten Best list for 1999.

The BMW 2000 Z3 2.8 made one of the most exotic cars list on fantasycars.com

The BMW 2000 2.3 made "The Best Overall Value of the Year" - "Base Sport" category winner by Intellichoice

References

★ Affordable Sports, Nick Pon, , , Sports Car International, 2005

★ BMW Z3 Service Manual 1996-2002, , , , Bentley Publishers, ,
''AUTOMOBILE Magazine'' awarded the BMW M coupe its 1999 Design of the Year.

Links

Z3ers.com Esmerelda's Pages Everything about the Z3 on the web
"BMWCCA Z-Series Car Club of America"
"Robert Leidy's BMW Z3 website"
Official Roadster HomeComing