BMW Z3

BMW Z3

Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1996–2002
Assembly	Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States
Predecessor	BMW Z1
Successor	BMW Z4
Class	Roadster
Body style(s)	2-door convertible 2-door coupé
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	1.8 L M43B18 I4 1.9 L M44B19 I4 2.0 L M52B20 T I6 2.2 L M54B22 I6 2.8 L M52B28 I6 3.2 L S52B32 I6 (NA only) 3.2 L S50B32 I6 (non-NA) 2.5 L M52TUB25 I6 2.5 L M54B25 I6 3.0 L M54B30 I6 3.2 L S54B32 I6
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	96.3 in (2446 mm)
Length	158.5 in (4026 mm)
Width	1996-98: 66.6 in (1692 mm) 1999-2002: 68.5 in (1740 mm)
Height	1996-98: 50.7 in (1288 mm) 1999-2002 Roadster: 50.9 in (1293 mm) Coupe: 51.4 in (1306 mm)
Curb weight	2,590–3,186 lb (1,170–1,450 kg)
Fuel capacity	13.5 US gal (51 L; 11 imp gal)
Related	BMW 3 Series (E36)[citation needed]

The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first new BMW model assembled in the United States. (The very first BMW assembled in the US was the E36/4, 318i that rolled off the Plant Spartanburg assembly line beginning in October 1994.) The Z3 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 coupé version for 1999. It was manufactured and assembled in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Z3 was replaced by the BMW Z4 introduced in late 2002 at the Paris Auto Show.

Overview

The Z3 was designed by Joji Nagashima of the BMW design team and developed from the E36 platform of the 3 Series. The resulting platform is sometimes referred to as the E36/7(roadster) or E36/8(coupé). 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 (103 kW) 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 less expensive 1999 Mazda MX5.

BMW Z3

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 (141 kW). The M Roadster (see below) appeared in 1998 with a 3.2 L S52B32 (North America) or more powerful S50B32 (International) 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 (130 kW). Due to marketing, BMW wanted to differentiate the 2.8 L engine from the 2.5 L engine, so it was badged 2.3 just like the 3-Series 323i, which also has a 2.5 L engine.

Outside of North America, the 1.9 L 4-cylinder was replaced with a 2.0 L straight-6 in 1999.

BMW Z3 Facelift in Dakar Yellow

All of the engines were replaced when the car was facelifted for 2000. The range consisted of the 2.2 L M54B22 (available outside 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.

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

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 international 1998, 1999 and 2000 M roadster had the 3.2L S50 motor from the E36 M3 with quad exhausts. The North American models for this time frame had the less powerful S52 engine. The 2001 and 2002 models all 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. The BMW Z3 M was succeeded by the BMW Z4 M.

Coupé

BMW Z3 Coupé

In addition to the roadster version of the Z3, BMW also released a coupé featuring a chassis-stiffening rear hatch area, though the Shooting-brake styling this gave was controversial. The coupé was available as the Z3 Coupé from 1999 to 2002 or as the BMW Motorsport-enhanced M Coupé from 1999 to 2002.

The Z3 coupés 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 in 2001 for the US. The 1999 and 2000 M models were equipped with the 3.2 L S50 (S52 for North America) 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: BMW Z3

• The BMW Z3 won the "Super Reggie" award for the best promotional marketing campaign of 1995. The campaign 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 2000 BMW 2.3 made "The Best Overall Value of the Year" - "Base Sport" category winner by Intellichoice
• AUTOMOBILE Magazine awarded the BMW M coupe its 1999 Design of the Year.
• The BMW Z3 M Coupé became Top Gear's "Driver's Car of the Year" in 2000.
• The 2002 BMW Z3 M Coupe became Top Gear Car of the Year (confirmation and citation needed)

References

• Nick Pon (2005). "Affordable Sports". Sports Car International 21 (6): 96. 
• BMW Z3 Service Manual 1996-2002. Bentley Publishers. 2005. ISBN 0-8376-1250-0.