BMW Z3
Car-ID: OT0149
Vehicle Description
BMW combined all the ingredients for success in this roadster: A long bonnet, a fine balance between round shapes and straight lines, fine build quality and of course the superb engines the make has earned itself a reputation for.
This example was built in 1997 and has had only one owner from new. The odometer displays an unwarranted mileage of just 117,200 km. It has the 1.9 litre four-cylinder engine installed, which produces 105 kW (143 hp) of power, perfectly sufficient for the lightweight roadster that tips the scales at just over 1,200 kg. The last service dates back to 10/2014 at 117,200 km.
Standard features of the Z3 include remote controlled central locking, driver’s airbag, power assisted seat adjustment, power windows and power operated outside mirrors. This Z3 also has got a series of factory options such as leather upholstery, automatic transmission, passenger airbag, heated seats, fog lights, leather steering wheel and trip computer. The original BMW Business RDS cassette radio is also on board.
The car shows slight optical deficiencies and presents itself as a desirable modern classic. Delightful driving on many sunshiny days through all seasons is pre-programmed.
In 1995, BMW presented a new sporting two seater roadster. Designed by Joji Nagashima, technically based on E36 and internally named E36/7, this was the first new BMW to be built exclusively in the US. Within just two years, a new factory had been erected at Greer, South Carolina, which had commenced production of the E36 in 1994. Apart from the powertrain, which still came from Germany, all other components for the Z3 were sourced from North American suppliers. The roadster was very popular right from day one – aided by clever product placement in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye.
In 1999, a coupé version (E36/8) was added. This proved somewhat controversial, as it was more of a shooting brake than an actual coupé, and it ended up nicknamed “breadbox” by some critics. The engine palette ranged from a 1.8 litre four-cylinder with 85 kW (116 hp) to the mighty 3.2 litre six-cylinder in the Z3M, which boasted 239 kW (325 hp).
For the 2000 model year, the Z3 was facelifted, the new look best noticeable at the rear with the L-shaped taillights. The facelift also brought better insulation for the convertible top, which now had three layers, not just one, and higher quality materials were used for the plastic rear window.
Over 7 years, a total of 279,273 roadsters and 17,815 coupés were built.
