When was the bmw z3 made

Skip to Content Skip to Footer. Find a car review Make Make. Model Model. Reviews Home BMW. The M Roadster offered enormous performance, with European markets getting a 3. A de-tuned M Roadster was sold in the United States. The lower compression 3. During , the 1. A five-speed automatic with manual shifting capability replaced the four-speed automatic transmission.

In it's final year on the market, all models were equipped with ABS anti-lock brakes, side-impact protection, inertia reel seat belts, drivers airbag, and high level brake-light. Of the nearly , Z3 models manufactured, the overwhelming majority were roadsters. The Z3 hatchback was not well received, with just over 10, units produced worldwide.

The BMW Z3 has proven itself to be reliable and practical, making it a top choice in the affordable sports car market. Although the M models and six-cylinder models command more money, the four-cylinder roadsters provide an excellent combination of handling and economy. The car can be seen twice in the movie "GoldenEye" towards the end. The car featured a commemorative "Specially Equipped " dash plaque, and floor mats.

What made the Z3 M Roadster such an endearing sports car though—aside from its exhilarating performance and seductive styling—was its refreshingly analog nature. You sit low and snug inside the M Roadster like all the great sports cars of yore. And like those vintage roadsters, the beltline which is the bottom edge of the windshield, side windows, and rear window is nice and low, so you have awesome visibility as well as plenty of room to hang your elbow out the side window while you cruise.

The uncluttered dashboard featured all the vital gauges a driver would need, and nothing more. It went on sale in , and offered a considerably better driving experience, as well as quirky sporting estate styling. This interesting body style was only available in high-performance M-specification in the UK. One useful option for anyone wanting to use a Z3 Roadster throughout the winter months is the extremely rare aluminium hard top.

It was an expensive when new, and it can be a pain to remove and store as with most hard tops , but is certainly worth considering. Age is also starting to take its toll on some early cars, with rust most likely to bubble up around the boot lock and mirror bases. Bumpers are plastic, so check for minor knocks and scrapes — although repairs are relatively cheap and easy. These have also been known to crack if driven hard throughout its life. Check that the inner wings and boot floor are straight and true, as crumpling probably points towards a minor knock at some point.

If not, look for signs of perishing and a damp interior. Polishing it can generally bring it back however. The most common problem is generally a failing oxygen sensor, which will throw up an engine warning light or fail an MoT emissions test.

Also listen out for a noisy timing chain. These caused issues in the s due to high-sulphur fuel supplies, but the majority of engines were fixed under warranty. Some early engines suffered from big-end cap failure, writing off the engine in the process.