BMW Z3

The BMW Z3 is a range of two-seater sports cars which was produced from 1995 to 2002. The body styles of the range are:

• 2-door roadster (E36/7 model code)
• 2-door
  coupé
  (E36/8 model code)

The Z3 was based on the

M models were introduced in 1998 in roadster and coupé body styles and were powered by the S50, S52, or S54 straight-six engine depending on country and model year. The M models came with a 5-speed manual transmission. The regular Z3s were offered with straight-sixes or four-cylinder engines.

Production ended on June 28, 2002,^[2] with the Z3 line replaced by the E85 Z4.

Development and launch

Development on the roadster began in 1991 and was led by Burkhard Göschel.^[1][3] The exterior was designed by Joji Nagashima, being completed in mid-1992 at 39 months before production^[4][5] and the design was frozen in 1993.^[6] Design patents were filed on April 2, 1994, in Germany and on September 27, 1994, in the US.^[7] The Z3 was introduced via video press release by BMW North America on June 12, 1995. Production began on September 20, 1995.^[8]

Development on the coupé model was run by a group of BMW engineers outside of work in their own time.

The Z3 was the first BMW model to be solely manufactured outside of Germany. It was manufactured in Greer, South Carolina.^[4]

Body styles

• 
  E36/7 roadster (Pre-facelift)
• 
  E36/7 roadster (Pre-facelift)
• 
  E36/7 roadster (Facelift)
• 
  E36/8 coupé

Roadster (E36/7)

Roadster models entered production in September 1995, powered by

Coupé models entered production in January 1998.[12] The unusual side profile has been given nicknames such as "clown shoe" and "bread van" by critics.^{[13][14][15][16]} In Germany, it has been referred to as a "turnschuh" (sports shoe).^[17]

The coupé body style was only available with the engines that matched the 2.8, 3.0i, and M model Roadsters. The engine outputs varied as they spanned three generations of engine architecture, peaking at 325 horsepower with the facelift M Coupé. Like the roadster models, it was rear-wheel drive only, and was available in either an automatic or manual transmission.^[18] Very few of these cars were made, making it rarer than most cars, the BMW M Coupe model especially so.^[19]

Transmissions

The available transmissions are:^[20]

• 5-speed ZF S5-31 manual (Z3 2.8 / 3.0i / Z3M)
• 5-speed Getrag 250 manual (Z3 1.8 / 1.9i / 2.0 / 2.2i / 2.5)
• 4-speed GM 4L30-E automatic (Z3 1.9 / 2.0 / 2.5 / 2.8)
• 5-speed GM 5L40-E automatic (Z3 2.2i / 2.5 / 3.0)

Models

The 4-cylinder models feature a single tailpipe, while six-cylinder models have dual tailpipes, wider rear fenders (for pre-facelift models) and a revised front bumper. M models featured the same wider fenders as the six-cylinder models but with unique front and rear bumpers, side mirrors and the M division's first use of a quad exhaust pipe arrangement.

The 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2i models were unavailable in the United States. The U.S. was also the only market to receive the 2.3 and 2.5 models

M models

The M versions were introduced in 1997 in the roadster (M Roadster) and coupé (M Coupé) body styles. European models were initially powered by the

Compared to the standard Z3, M models featured a limited slip differential, a wider rear track,^[15] and larger brakes (that are shared with the E36 M3). M models were available in M-specific colors and feature numerous aesthetic and aerodynamic differences versus the rest of the Z3 range, including more aerodynamic wing-mirrors, redesigned front and rear bumpers, bespoke "Roadstar" Style 40 wheels, revised side gills, and quad exhaust pipes. The interior can also be differentiated by the voltmeter, clock, and oil temperature gauges in the center console as well as unique M-styled seats and interior color options.

Unlike the rest of the Z3 range, the M Roadster and the M Coupé did not receive cosmetic changes during the facelift in 2000.

• 
  M Roadster front
• 
  M Roadster rear
• 
  M Coupé rear

Special Models

James Bond Edition

To tie in with its appearance in GoldenEye, a James Bond film which was released the same year, BMW released a "James Bond Edition" Z3 that was offered for sale through the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog. The James Bond Edition was sold in 1996 for US$35,000 (equivalent to $67,995 in 2023). BMW and Neiman Marcus had originally set a 20-unit sales goal, but this was later increased to 100 units after receiving a high level of interest from customers.

The James Bond Edition was based on the Z3 1.9i and included a 007 dash plaque, 007 floor mats, unique wheels, and chrome exterior trim. The color scheme was an "Atlanta blue" exterior with beige leather interior, matching the Z3 which appeared in GoldenEye.^[21]

V12 prototype

In 1999, the BMW M division produced a single prototype Z3 powered by the 5.4 L M73 V12 engine^[22][23] in order to test the space efficiency of the engine bay.^[24] It is based on the Z3 roadster, has 17 inch wheels with 225/45 tires up front and 245/40 at the rear, and is painted in a shade of orange. The V12 was rated at 240 kW (322 hp) at 5,000 rpm and 490 N⋅m (361 lb⋅ft) of torque at 3,900 rpm, and power was sent through a 6-speed manual transmission. The concept is much heavier than the standard Z3 at 1,400 kg (3,086 lb), with nearly all of that excess weight attributable to the V12—the big engine resulted in a 70/30 weight distribution front/rear. The concept was fully functional and was tested by the German motoring magazine Autozeitung in 1999. Their tests revealed a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time of 5.5 seconds, a standing kilometer (0.62 miles) in 24.4 seconds, and a top speed of 263 km/h (163 mph).^[25]

M Coupé Safety Car

A

• M Roadster and M Coupé models introduced to the public.
• BMW Individual introduced to Z3 models.[27]

1998

• Coupé models introduced.^[28]
• Wood trim and a power soft top were added as options.^[29]
• Rollover hoops introduced.^[30]
• Automatic stability control (ASC) became standard equipment on 1.9 models.^[31]
• Hardtop shell option for Z3 models introduced.^[32]

1999 facelift

In April 1999, the facelift (LCI) versions of the Z3 began production.^[33] Major changes include:

• The Z3 2.0 model was replaced by the Z3 2.2i and the Z3 2.8 model was replaced by the Z3 3.0i, as the inline-six engines were upgraded from the M52 to the M54 (the addition of the "i" to the model names is not significant, since all engines use electronic fuel injection). In the United States, the Z3 2.3 model was replaced by the Z3 2.5.
• Exterior design changes including redesigned chrome ring headlights and L-shaped taillights, wider rear track by 2.5 in (64mm) (now the same across 4 and 6-cylinder models), model designation badges, finger indent for trunk release button, integrated third brake light (with silver lights on 2.8 and 3.0i models), chrome exhaust tips, and new wheel designs.^{[34][35][36][37]} The Z3M models did not receive these exterior changes.
• Interior design changes including redesigned centre console buttons with a clock in the middle and a new three-spoke steering wheel design.^[38]
• Electronic stability control upgraded from ASC to new DSC system.^[39]
• New three-layer insulation convertible roof with headlining.^[38]
• Dual-stage side airbags introduced.^[40]

2000

• DSC now integrated with Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and Automatic Differential Brake (ADB) functions.^[41]

2001

• Z3M models switched from the BMW S50 (Euro spec) and BMW S52 (U.S. spec) inline-six engines to the
  BMW S54
  inline-six engine.

Production volumes

One source provides the data below for production figures.^[42] However, there are other sources which provide conflicting information,^[42] so actual figures are not certain.

Marketing

The Z3 appeared briefly in the James Bond movie