@@DivideBYZero69 it's more about the torque band. Power to weight the mx5 has an on paper advantage but in the real world the torque of the 6 pot manages the weight.
@@froggyreynolds4927an intermission is a pause by definition. So a murcielago intermission is a referring to the video stopping due to the presence of a Lamborghini murcielago.
have always been a fan of the Z3 6cyl manual. ...and BTW, as you implied, driving a vehicle on public roads, and evaluating it when doing so, IS valid and makes sense to most driving enthusiasts.
The place I work at specialize in these and have some of the best examples in the country, very nice car to work on and rarely see them have any actual problems. Was never a fan really until I worked there but now I've been close up and hands on I've learned to appreciate them. Very nice car!
@@mallardc6049 it's a BMW Specialist called Rockvale Motor Company based in Stockport, family run business since the 60's. Not been working there long but all the People are fantastic and we get some really cool cars in that you don't see anymore.
Bought a 2001 Z3 3.0i manual two years ago with 64000kms on the clock. Love the straight-six inline sound with the accompanying pops and burbles. Recently replaced the interior leather with Nappa. Perfect car for South African weekends.
@@fteoOpty64 not sure it's quite THAT pretty (250GTO etc might beg to differ) and I say this as a Z3 owner but I do agree the shape has aged pretty well compared with some contemporaries
I had a gorgeous Estoril Blue (when it was a rarity!) 2.2i - as an individual build, it also had yellow calipers and beautiful style 78 rims. A silky smooth six-pot paired with the five speed manual transmission made it a superb drive, and in all fairness, it didn't lack character. To say it's missed is an understatement.
My mother had one! Bought it from new, collected from germany and turned it on its roof! Came out pretty much unharmed a testent to how brilliant the car was
I can indeed confirm that the overrun burble is something that these engines did at the time from standard - my E36 with an M52B28 also had that lovely subtle overrun, and a soundtrack largely dominated by the intake noise rather than the exhaust noise (which I personally much prefer).
I own a 1998 with the 1.9 four cylinder engine and five speed manual transmission and I really don’t think it’s as bad as most people make it out to be compared to a six cylinder. It’s plenty of fun to drive and easier to work on than the six cylinder. If your complaint is the power then you bought a Z3 for the wrong reason.
"If your complaint is the power then you bought a Z3 for the wrong reason" - no, they just bought the WRONG Z3, they should've bought the 6-cylinder one.
Theres another guy who sees things like I see them. My 1997 Atlanta blue with the 1.9 has the looks of an M without the badges but I never hesitate to drive it on road trips because its a gas saver over my 528i and 330i. 4 banger is the best way to have fun with my Z3. If I want power, Ill jump into the other 2 cars.
I have a 96 1.9 and the power is enough for a joy ride, obviously you are not the fastest, but with a smile in your face who cares? The engine is also reliable with a good maintenance. The only issues with my Z3 is that the interior feels really cheap, lot of hard plastic, the roof system is manually operated and its easier to go down but the hard part is when you need to put the roof up. Great video.
About to go look at an r 2.8 tonight. Has a few issues but nothing I can't deal with and sort while owning it. Can't wait. Always wanted one. Have an e46 330i but it was never as fun as my mx5. Now that's gone the z3 seems ideal replacement.
I'd say the Z3 is underrated, or at least based on my 2.8 experience. It's not a car that people necessarily think of or desire, like an MX-5 below or Boxster above, yet it's a very rewarding experience. It's a heavy car, and feels that way, but with the likes of a 2.8 engine, that counteracts it. It is very mechanical and engaging, and the driver definitely feels connected to the road unlike many modern cars which feel a bit artificial. The soundtrack of six cylinder engine and nice exhaust go very well together, with again those burbles which are sufficiently noticeable but not antisocial. Running costs are surprisingly decent, in thanks part to the quality of materials. Garages comment on how the Z3 is structurally and mechanically a better quality car than the later Z4. So what's bad about a Z3? Well, it's not a dream car like some, and because they are old they have their growing list of issues, but likely no worse than many other cars at a much younger age, testament to their engineering. Arguably, little niggles add character if you're that way inclined. They're also not much fun in urban settings, due to being heavy and that big awareness that you're nowhere near exploiting its potential. The seats are lacking in lumbar support too, so not best for long journeys. Otherwise, affordable and fun.
I just picked up a '99 2.8 coupe. Its a really nice one with only 80k miles. Prices are already though the roof for coupes in the US, a nice 2.8 goes for $17k-$20k, 3.0 $20k+, S52 $25k+ and S54 cars are out of this world going for $40k+ up to $90k for ultra low mile ones.
Good review! I have the 2.2 Sport and it’s a 6 cylinder not a 4 pot. Also worth noting the Sport model gives slightly lower suspension and bumpers. The Z3 must be one of the few remaining low priced modern classic sports cars
Because they’re shit. They’re low priced because there’s absolutely nothing special about them, at all. We’ve owned a 2.2, so I’m not just an idiot on the internet giving his opinion on something I haven’t driven.
It’s exactly 25 years ago that my dad offered a z3 2.0i S M spec manual. To my mom. Silver with red panther leather interior with dots. learned driving in it. Still today it’s a great car today. Only 40k miles on it and every year a total dealer maintenance.
I have a 2002 2.2L (6 cyl) and you are right the burble from the exhaust is like a symphony. I prefer the exhaust note of my Z3 to the exhaust of my Porsche 987, and love driving both.
I bought one of these a while back for my wife. She insisted in the Z3 rather than the Boxter S which I tried to sway her to. She loves it and I've used and e joyed it as much as her. It's just a great drive and has been super reliable.
Couldn’t agree more! I’ve always thought these cars will be future classics. Just gotta pick the right one. Deffo the M coupe 3.2 is the pick! Been watching your videos for a while. Just wanted to say, I love your videos and your presenting style. Love the old top gear style you do, and the research you do. Keep up the good work! 💪
I must admit that the Z3 is ageing gracefully as a classic, it looks beautiful and I expect prices to slowly rise as it gets rare in the future due to the large production numbers. The 2.8 (3.0 ideally) straight six will be the pick of the bunch over M version due to high running cost, the BMW 3.0 stra8 six is one of the best engines out there for economy and performance, coming from my 6 years ownership of BMW e86. Excellent content!!
You got a point, but how much do running costs matter when cars enter classic territory. Generally the do very few miles, amd these werent exactly used as mile munchers to begin with, for the most part. I suspect for most the M will still be more desirable with some margin.
I had a 2.8 Coupe EU specs back in the day. Loved it. Great engine. One of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven. Still regret to this day having parted ways with it!
I just love your honesty and f**k the people that moan that your testing ROAD CARS on an actual Road....and the fact that your not always sucking up to manufacturers so you get press cars or press events....which makes you by far the most loyal, reliable you tuber with by far the most integrity....keep up the great work....your loyal fan...Joseph styles
I'm really glad to see you getting some content out of this car. I enjoyed your take on it. It's a car I dismissed for a long time but I've come to see these as a worthy fun runaround.
The first generation wasn't supposed to get a 6 Cylinder , the reconstructed the whole rear axle (widebody) also the M44 1.9 (140Hp) has about 90kg advantage in generell and especially on the front axle which makes it more agile than the 6 Cylinder cars (less overhang weight, the engine is behind the front axle ) and it always was meant to be a fun car not a sportscar. Still good video mate ! Greetings from Austria
And one of these brand new in 1999 - Awesome car (until I test drove a Boxster !) but today they offer incredible value on Autotrader if you want a two seater soft top. And it was a BOND car !
The head went on my Z3 just before christmas, I was gutted. The E36 platform was the last platform from BMW that can be truly labelled The Ultimate Driving Machine. The Z3 handling is so light and responsive with so much feedback, it is a pure fun car. I've replaced my Z3 with an SLK 230 from the same time period, it is a much nicer car, but the handling isn't as much fun as the Z3.
My wife had a 2000W Z3 2.8 back in 2006. Unfortunately, we decided to sell it. Wish I knew where it was to go and buy it back again. The only car we've ever regretted selling
Excellent segment. I drove a 3.0 back when I had just graduated high school (a salesman let me take a test drive) and I've remembered it ever since. And of course Pierce Brosnan solidified the cool factor. I sort of still want one
My wife saw the Bond firm and wanted one. She got her 1.9l auto in Atlanta Blue and she still owns it after 25 years. Also for 19 years I had the ZM Roadster but had to sell her because I could not still fit in. Must add we were lucky enough to also own a larger family car for shopping, runs to the tip and holidays. Often we would take her roadster because it was more comfortable to drive on the British roads. The M was fun for short Sunday morning drives but for bimbling around on a warm sunny day, no contest. In addition over 50,000 miles the M was about four times the cost to run.
I don’t know why people are being so critical about this car. I got two (a 1.8 4cyl and a 2.8 6cyl) of them and love both. Just a really great, fun, reliable drivers car. Relatively cheap to maintain, and most of it you can actually do yourself. Really a great daily driver for if you don’t have kids
I just bought a Z3 in absolutly mint condition, titan silver, low milege, one owner in Germany. No air con, no electric roof, no leather on the steering wheel and factory fitted steal rims and hub caps. 118 hp 8 valve is quite torquey, it IS enough to move it and it just runs beautifully. You still get that typical E36 diff and gearbox whine and notchy gear shift. A bear bones roadster that I wouldn't EVER want to change. I absolutly love it!
All bmw z car costs are skyrocketing here in the United States. I got myself a 35is z4 last year... great car! Now I'm searching for one of these. In my opinion, they are a sound investment and so fun to drive.
Absolutely love these cars driven many but never owned one. And what a great road at 24:00 ish - used to always go out there to practice when I first got a manual motorbike at 17 because it was always quiet.
Had the M roadster when I was only 21, funny enough i picked up a 16k mile example for only £6k!! Was cheaper to insure faster and more characterful than a used ep3 type r I was originally looking to get, bargain!!! Had it for 4 years put about 40k Mile's on it trouble free and sold it for 20k about 6 years ago one of my best motoring buys ever 😊. Only downside was it was a little walloway when getting on but none the less fun, engaging, very rare and uniquely special.
Indeed it never did, but it wasnt meant to. Both BMW and Mercedes knew who their primary buyers of these cars were, and it certainly wasnt those with any sporting pretentions. Mercedes just placed even less emphasis on it than BMW.
I would say that this generation of SLK is the ugliest car Mercedes has ever made... including the MB 100 😀 ... but I also almost bought one used since they seem to be very cheap in Germany- about half of what a Z3 or early Z4 would cost
Test driven a few of these and been very tempted in the past (have owned multiple other rivals, Boxster, MR2, MX5s etc). I really like them - think of it like a modern Triumph TR6. Wobbly chassis yes, but feel nicely old school, fabulous engine, dirt cheap, long bonnet, great fun.
I picked up a 3.0i last year and totally agree, it may not be an Elise/Boxster on the twisty bits but I love how faithful it is to traditional roadster layout, sitting behind that long bonnet on the right road, listening to the fantastic engine note, you can almost kid yourself that you're driving an old Healey or TVR S.
I was eight years old with my best friend when we went to the movies to watch Goldeneye. Seeing this car blew me away. I was also heartbroken they cut it in half. I don't care much about cars. But this would be the one I would get for nostalgic reason's alone. Oh, my sister was born this year also. Thanks for the memories 👍
An excellent review with all bases covered and the same conclusions as my friend who owns a Z3M. I did look at a 2.2 as it's only 20 bhp down on the 2.8 and while I can't speak for other markets, in the UK they all seem to be M54B22 straight sixes with the four cylinder cars being reserved for 1.8 & 1.9. The 2.8 though is probably the best value at the moment it's just that at 6'3" I don't know if I'd fit with the roof on.
I'm 6'3" as well and I didn't fit under the roof of a Z3 or an NC Miata (and plenty of coupes don't have enough headroom for me either...). If I could justify buying one just for the occasional, nice weather drive it wouldn't be a problem though.
I have a 2.8 facelift for a few years, love it. You can improve the engine noise considerably with a cone filter, you get a handful more HP as well. At 5+K rpm it sounds like an old F1! A screamer :-) -- Perhaps worth mentioning that on the 2.8+ you need to have the diff welding in the boot checked, and very likely strengthened as the spot weld give up due to the amount of torque. Any good garage will be able to do that pretty cheaply.
I EveryDaily my 198kmi 2001 3.0i Z3 COUPE here in NC (not far from Spartanburg) .. It like driving to work in some idealized 1950s AC Aceca hatch with great Bristol or even an Aston soundtrack but with 250 injected HP and wider hips/tires Plus heated seats, aircon , the hatch carries my stuff and it cost me less than my brothers laptop It’s a hoot and there’s a million 3.0i m54 engines waiting to be released from imprisonment in some sad x5 if mine doesn’t quite make it to 300+kmi :)
I had a 1.9 and a 2.8 from new in period. Both were the kind of cars I just took for a drive, enjoying life with no other purpose. We took them through the continent several times, very nice tour car. I fitted quite well (6,4 high). Still to my surprise, the 2.8 is the best winter car I ever driven (on ice and snow). That is because the car was so predictable, I always new exactly where it was; when it would miss grip on the back wheels, and it was very easy to handle to get back on track. Sort of felt on with the car. I agree - you really want to drive these with the hood down.
I had the 2.8 for a bit. It was a beast, was quicker than my 225 TT. The sound of the straight six was lovely. I’d love an M but they are way out of my price range now. Canadia? 🤔😬
Great tribute to the Z3. I agree, it is underrated, esp the 6 cyl versions. I have the 2.0, bought it new in 1999, and it was only available for a year in the UK because they made it only for a year. It is a great engine though, much better power than the 4 cyl and all the noises from the bigger versions. I didn’t feel the 3.0 was worth 11T DM more at the time. And this version should be very rare now.
Delighted to see this vid, never realised you owned one of these - I picked up a Z3 3.0i (manual, facelift) last summer, wanting a usable/affordable modern 'classic' for summer fun that might also hold its value. No Elise on the bends, but I didn't expect it to be - I do like the old-school layout and roadster sensibilities, though, and the M54 engine is a peach. Even if I do keep reaching for that non-existent sixth gear. Something Healey-esque about the road presence with that burbling inline six and big bonnet up front, even if the chassis feels more California cruiser than B-road racer. Agree the shape has aged well compared to its contemporaries and have a hunch it was a decent investment but I guess time will tell...
I don't know the UK market of the Z3 but here in Germany the prices of them are constantly going up. I bought mine not even 2 years ago and it already has gone up in value 3000€ in the short amount of time. and it's only 2.0.
Great video! It's weird that you hardly seen any raced compared to e36 or 46. I bought a 2.8 5spd for $2,000 and full cage build was much easier with no roof. Just posted first track day in it!
Still glad I was able to pickup a 20k mile 2002 M Coupe about 3 years ago. I thought the price was crazy then.. It's crazy now. Will never get rid of the car at this point.
Not a BMW cultist but I really like this car. Modern classic. Beautiful lines. The right amount of tech, not over engineered. 2001-02 year with the nice hips. 3.0 engine is brilliant. Don’t need the M roadster. Small, solid, spunky daily driver. I want a hard top for my future one. Coupes hard to find now. In Estoril blue or silver please.
You do have it the wrong way 'round about the 4 cylinder engines. The 16V M42 engines in the 318is E30s and E36 were bullet proof, didn't have the cam shaft oil starvation on the M10s and dare I say it: more fun and more powerful than the 6 cylinder 2 liter M20s. They nailed that engine.
Absolutely. BMW have made some great 4 cylinder engines. The M10 in the 2002tii was making 130bhp in 1971 and 170 with the turbo! The S14 is a glorious engine and the M42/M44 is a bargain version that loves to be revved.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
The 2.2 is a six. I have it. It’s the M54 motor.
And in fact the 170hp is a decent enough amount of power. So that Velvet Blue is a good car.
^^^^ Thankyou for this. My bad, was sure the 2.2 was a four for some reason.
@@JayEmmOnCars I know why; it was in the 320 e46 and most thought that was a four.
The 520 also a 2.2 litre straight six. Was silly smooth.
@@DivideBYZero69 it's more about the torque band. Power to weight the mx5 has an on paper advantage but in the real world the torque of the 6 pot manages the weight.
That Murcielago intermission, haha.
so easily could've been edited out but i love that he kept it in
That hit me deep in the feels
Intermission? WTF?
Good Lad
@@froggyreynolds4927an intermission is a pause by definition. So a murcielago intermission is a referring to the video stopping due to the presence of a Lamborghini murcielago.
have always been a fan of the Z3 6cyl manual.
...and BTW, as you implied, driving a vehicle on public roads, and evaluating it when doing so, IS valid and makes sense to most driving enthusiasts.
The place I work at specialize in these and have some of the best examples in the country, very nice car to work on and rarely see them have any actual problems. Was never a fan really until I worked there but now I've been close up and hands on I've learned to appreciate them. Very nice car!
Where do you work Harry
@@mallardc6049 it's a BMW Specialist called Rockvale Motor Company based in Stockport, family run business since the 60's. Not been working there long but all the People are fantastic and we get some really cool cars in that you don't see anymore.
Bought a 2001 Z3 3.0i manual two years ago with 64000kms on the clock. Love the straight-six inline sound with the accompanying pops and burbles. Recently replaced the interior leather with Nappa. Perfect car for South African weekends.
I've never been a huge BMW fan, but the Z3 has a certain charm, and you can't beat the sound of a straight six.
The shape of this Z3 is second only to the classic Jaguar E-Type. Classically sexy.
Can get a straight six in any bmw, doesn’t make the z3 special, at all.
@@fteoOpty64 not sure it's quite THAT pretty (250GTO etc might beg to differ) and I say this as a Z3 owner but I do agree the shape has aged pretty well compared with some contemporaries
I had a gorgeous Estoril Blue (when it was a rarity!) 2.2i - as an individual build, it also had yellow calipers and beautiful style 78 rims. A silky smooth six-pot paired with the five speed manual transmission made it a superb drive, and in all fairness, it didn't lack character. To say it's missed is an understatement.
I had a 2002 3.0 M Sport and it was a lovely car, good balanced handling and a gusty engine. One of my favs.
I have exactly one of those too, in silver. I’ll be putting it back on the road this Sunday
My mother had one! Bought it from new, collected from germany and turned it on its roof! Came out pretty much unharmed a testent to how brilliant the car was
I can indeed confirm that the overrun burble is something that these engines did at the time from standard - my E36 with an M52B28 also had that lovely subtle overrun, and a soundtrack largely dominated by the intake noise rather than the exhaust noise (which I personally much prefer).
The Burble!!! Oh yes!
I own a 1998 with the 1.9 four cylinder engine and five speed manual transmission and I really don’t think it’s as bad as most people make it out to be compared to a six cylinder. It’s plenty of fun to drive and easier to work on than the six cylinder. If your complaint is the power then you bought a Z3 for the wrong reason.
"If your complaint is the power then you bought a Z3 for the wrong reason" - no, they just bought the WRONG Z3, they should've bought the 6-cylinder one.
@@andycalifornia426 lol okay nerd
Theres another guy who sees things like I see them.
My 1997 Atlanta blue with the 1.9 has the looks of an M without the badges but I never hesitate to drive it on road trips because its a gas saver over my 528i and 330i.
4 banger is the best way to have fun with my Z3. If I want power, Ill jump into the other 2 cars.
@@likits1999 Exactly, the 1.9 definitely doesn’t deserve all of the negativity that it receives.
At that price point a NB Miata would be a better choice..similar power, "decent" interior, a low power Z3 is not the best purchase
I have a 96 1.9 and the power is enough for a joy ride, obviously you are not the fastest, but with a smile in your face who cares? The engine is also reliable with a good maintenance.
The only issues with my Z3 is that the interior feels really cheap, lot of hard plastic, the roof system is manually operated and its easier to go down but the hard part is when you need to put the roof up.
Great video.
These are excellent cars and the values will only increase dramatically in the near future.
Miss my 2.8l R reg convertible, in this day and age of cars i truly miss its simplicity, manual box and the fun that came with driving it .
About to go look at an r 2.8 tonight. Has a few issues but nothing I can't deal with and sort while owning it.
Can't wait. Always wanted one. Have an e46 330i but it was never as fun as my mx5. Now that's gone the z3 seems ideal replacement.
The shooting brake version of the z3 is a great looking car
always great to wake up to a new post from you James
I love your content, your voice and your attention to detail
keep it up
I'd say the Z3 is underrated, or at least based on my 2.8 experience. It's not a car that people necessarily think of or desire, like an MX-5 below or Boxster above, yet it's a very rewarding experience. It's a heavy car, and feels that way, but with the likes of a 2.8 engine, that counteracts it. It is very mechanical and engaging, and the driver definitely feels connected to the road unlike many modern cars which feel a bit artificial. The soundtrack of six cylinder engine and nice exhaust go very well together, with again those burbles which are sufficiently noticeable but not antisocial. Running costs are surprisingly decent, in thanks part to the quality of materials. Garages comment on how the Z3 is structurally and mechanically a better quality car than the later Z4. So what's bad about a Z3? Well, it's not a dream car like some, and because they are old they have their growing list of issues, but likely no worse than many other cars at a much younger age, testament to their engineering. Arguably, little niggles add character if you're that way inclined. They're also not much fun in urban settings, due to being heavy and that big awareness that you're nowhere near exploiting its potential. The seats are lacking in lumbar support too, so not best for long journeys. Otherwise, affordable and fun.
I just picked up a '99 2.8 coupe. Its a really nice one with only 80k miles. Prices are already though the roof for coupes in the US, a nice 2.8 goes for $17k-$20k, 3.0 $20k+, S52 $25k+ and S54 cars are out of this world going for $40k+ up to $90k for ultra low mile ones.
3:39 is hilarious! Thanks for not editing that part out.
Good review! I have the 2.2 Sport and it’s a 6 cylinder not a 4 pot. Also worth noting the Sport model gives slightly lower suspension and bumpers. The Z3 must be one of the few remaining low priced modern classic sports cars
Because they’re shit. They’re low priced because there’s absolutely nothing special about them, at all. We’ve owned a 2.2, so I’m not just an idiot on the internet giving his opinion on something I haven’t driven.
It’s exactly 25 years ago that my dad offered a z3 2.0i S M spec manual. To my mom. Silver with red panther leather interior with dots. learned driving in it. Still today it’s a great car today. Only 40k miles on it and every year a total dealer maintenance.
I have a 2002 2.2L (6 cyl) and you are right the burble from the exhaust is like a symphony. I prefer the exhaust note of my Z3 to the exhaust of my Porsche 987, and love driving both.
I bought one of these a while back for my wife. She insisted in the Z3 rather than the Boxter S which I tried to sway her to. She loves it and I've used and e joyed it as much as her. It's just a great drive and has been super reliable.
"He just spent 50 quid....60 quid... good lad."
Couldn’t agree more! I’ve always thought these cars will be future classics. Just gotta pick the right one. Deffo the M coupe 3.2 is the pick!
Been watching your videos for a while. Just wanted to say, I love your videos and your presenting style. Love the old top gear style you do, and the research you do. Keep up the good work! 💪
Very accurate description of this beast ….I had one 1997 new for about 5 years….1.9 lt woefully underpowered but yet a joy to drive…go figure…
Have read that 1.9 is best-balanced of the lot, unsurprising I suppose given this was the original engine option
Jay I would imagine most that watch your reviews live in the real world and enjoy your real world opinion. I most certainly do.
I must admit that the Z3 is ageing gracefully as a classic, it looks beautiful and I expect prices to slowly rise as it gets rare in the future due to the large production numbers. The 2.8 (3.0 ideally) straight six will be the pick of the bunch over M version due to high running cost, the BMW 3.0 stra8 six is one of the best engines out there for economy and performance, coming from my 6 years ownership of BMW e86. Excellent content!!
You got a point, but how much do running costs matter when cars enter classic territory. Generally the do very few miles, amd these werent exactly used as mile munchers to begin with, for the most part. I suspect for most the M will still be more desirable with some margin.
That M54 3.0 engine is a fantastic unit.
I have that engine in my E60 on a 6-speed manual... it's on 196k miles now and still running well.
FYI: the 1.9 8V engine was also available in the UK
I had a 2.8 Coupe EU specs back in the day. Loved it. Great engine. One of the most fun cars I’ve ever driven. Still regret to this day having parted ways with it!
I just love your honesty and f**k the people that moan that your testing ROAD CARS on an actual Road....and the fact that your not always sucking up to manufacturers so you get press cars or press events....which makes you by far the most loyal, reliable you tuber with by far the most integrity....keep up the great work....your loyal fan...Joseph styles
Appreciate the quality camera angles and overall look and feel of the video…
I just got a 2000 Z3 2.3. It has the E36 2.5L six cyl engine. 88,000 miles
I'm really glad to see you getting some content out of this car. I enjoyed your take on it. It's a car I dismissed for a long time but I've come to see these as a worthy fun runaround.
The first generation wasn't supposed to get a 6 Cylinder , the reconstructed the whole rear axle (widebody) also the M44 1.9 (140Hp) has about 90kg advantage in generell and especially on the front axle which makes it more agile than the 6 Cylinder cars (less overhang weight, the engine is behind the front axle ) and it always was meant to be a fun car not a sportscar.
Still good video mate ! Greetings from Austria
Great timing on the sonorous interlude from the big lambo.
1998 M Roadster owner here in New York. My daily driver. Highly recommended.
I have one of these in Turkish Green. I love the colour choices of these vs the newer z4s
the 2.2 was a 6-pot as well
So was a 2.0. Only 1.8 and 1.9 were 4cyl.
@@youzernejm 2.0 was a straight 6. Only 1.8 and 1.9 were the only 4 cyl. versions.
@@herrrechtschreibpruefung that's what I said actually
And one of these brand new in 1999 - Awesome car (until I test drove a Boxster !) but today they offer incredible value on Autotrader if you want a two seater soft top. And it was a BOND car !
I test drove a Z3M in Estoril Blue back in 2007 and it was very nice.
The head went on my Z3 just before christmas, I was gutted. The E36 platform was the last platform from BMW that can be truly labelled The Ultimate Driving Machine. The Z3 handling is so light and responsive with so much feedback, it is a pure fun car. I've replaced my Z3 with an SLK 230 from the same time period, it is a much nicer car, but the handling isn't as much fun as the Z3.
Really nice and fun looking car. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
My wife had a 2000W Z3 2.8 back in 2006. Unfortunately, we decided to sell it. Wish I knew where it was to go and buy it back again. The only car we've ever regretted selling
Love the Z3, work on one regularly, 2.8/5 and it feels so nice to drive it. Thanks for an excellent video.
What a great in-depth review. Great content
Excellent segment. I drove a 3.0 back when I had just graduated high school (a salesman let me take a test drive) and I've remembered it ever since. And of course Pierce Brosnan solidified the cool factor. I sort of still want one
My wife saw the Bond firm and wanted one. She got her 1.9l auto in Atlanta Blue and she still owns it after 25 years. Also for 19 years I had the ZM Roadster but had to sell her because I could not still fit in. Must add we were lucky enough to also own a larger family car for shopping, runs to the tip and holidays. Often we would take her roadster because it was more comfortable to drive on the British roads. The M was fun for short Sunday morning drives but for bimbling around on a warm sunny day, no contest. In addition over 50,000 miles the M was about four times the cost to run.
I don’t know why people are being so critical about this car. I got two (a 1.8 4cyl and a 2.8 6cyl) of them and love both. Just a really great, fun, reliable drivers car. Relatively cheap to maintain, and most of it you can actually do yourself. Really a great daily driver for if you don’t have kids
BMW surely made some bangers in the late 90s. I know a guy who owns a Z3 M, and I hope I can get to drive it someday
Nice new camera angles.. I had a 2.8 loved it. Now have a mx5 nc love it more. Love the channel. See you in Scotland I hope in April.
I have had one since 2010, extremely reliable.
It has grown on me over the years. Quite fancy a manual 2.8 or 3.0 and will be keeping an eye on local BMW specialist forecourt.
Thank you for summarizing everything I felt today bringing home my first 2000 Z3. What a wonderful machine.
I just bought a Z3 in absolutly mint condition, titan silver, low milege, one owner in Germany. No air con, no electric roof, no leather on the steering wheel and factory fitted steal rims and hub caps. 118 hp 8 valve is quite torquey, it IS enough to move it and it just runs beautifully. You still get that typical E36 diff and gearbox whine and notchy gear shift. A bear bones roadster that I wouldn't EVER want to change. I absolutly love it!
I put an Eisenmann Sport exhaust on my 3.0 about 6 months ago. Awesome sound, not overly loud just a little deeper and a few more burbles.
The interior on the M version is infinitely more timeless. I love the double stacked 3 circular knobs/gauges
All bmw z car costs are skyrocketing here in the United States. I got myself a 35is z4 last year... great car! Now I'm searching for one of these. In my opinion, they are a sound investment and so fun to drive.
Absolutely love these cars driven many but never owned one. And what a great road at 24:00 ish - used to always go out there to practice when I first got a manual motorbike at 17 because it was always quiet.
Had the M roadster when I was only 21, funny enough i picked up a 16k mile example for only £6k!! Was cheaper to insure faster and more characterful than a used ep3 type r I was originally looking to get, bargain!!! Had it for 4 years put about 40k Mile's on it trouble free and sold it for 20k about 6 years ago one of my best motoring buys ever 😊. Only downside was it was a little walloway when getting on but none the less fun, engaging, very rare and uniquely special.
Being a MB fan, I always adored these. The R170 SLK never quite reached the sportiness of the Z3.
Indeed it never did, but it wasnt meant to. Both BMW and Mercedes knew who their primary buyers of these cars were, and it certainly wasnt those with any sporting pretentions. Mercedes just placed even less emphasis on it than BMW.
I would say that this generation of SLK is the ugliest car Mercedes has ever made... including the MB 100 😀 ... but I also almost bought one used since they seem to be very cheap in Germany- about half of what a Z3 or early Z4 would cost
6:20 - Every time I rewatch the video, I get a good chuckle out of this XD...
The 2.2 litre would have been 6 cylinder im sure. Same engine fitted to the E46 3 & E395 series of that time. Never heard of a 4 cylinder version
Test driven a few of these and been very tempted in the past (have owned multiple other rivals, Boxster, MR2, MX5s etc). I really like them - think of it like a modern Triumph TR6. Wobbly chassis yes, but feel nicely old school, fabulous engine, dirt cheap, long bonnet, great fun.
I picked up a 3.0i last year and totally agree, it may not be an Elise/Boxster on the twisty bits but I love how faithful it is to traditional roadster layout, sitting behind that long bonnet on the right road, listening to the fantastic engine note, you can almost kid yourself that you're driving an old Healey or TVR S.
I’ve had a 1.9 for over 10yrs es and I still love it
I was eight years old with my best friend when we went to the movies to watch Goldeneye. Seeing this car blew me away. I was also heartbroken they cut it in half.
I don't care much about cars. But this would be the one I would get for nostalgic reason's alone. Oh, my sister was born this year also.
Thanks for the memories 👍
That was a Z8
@@Tom_Hadler I just checked it's the z3 in Goldeneye. But your right, the z8 was cutt in half. Cheers.
@@zartic4life yeah you had your wires crossed a bit. Z8 are worth a fortune now, Z3 very much still an every man car
An excellent review with all bases covered and the same conclusions as my friend who owns a Z3M. I did look at a 2.2 as it's only 20 bhp down on the 2.8 and while I can't speak for other markets, in the UK they all seem to be M54B22 straight sixes with the four cylinder cars being reserved for 1.8 & 1.9. The 2.8 though is probably the best value at the moment it's just that at 6'3" I don't know if I'd fit with the roof on.
A research error on my part
@@JayEmmOnCars Still an excellent video. Thank you.
I'm 6'3" as well and I didn't fit under the roof of a Z3 or an NC Miata (and plenty of coupes don't have enough headroom for me either...). If I could justify buying one just for the occasional, nice weather drive it wouldn't be a problem though.
Probably depends on the length of your torso vs. your legs...?
@@adamduus-boolsen2975 indeed. I'm 6' 2" and could fit in my wife's 2000 2.8 easily
I have a 2.8 facelift for a few years, love it. You can improve the engine noise considerably with a cone filter, you get a handful more HP as well. At 5+K rpm it sounds like an old F1! A screamer :-) -- Perhaps worth mentioning that on the 2.8+ you need to have the diff welding in the boot checked, and very likely strengthened as the spot weld give up due to the amount of torque. Any good garage will be able to do that pretty cheaply.
Whered you get your cone filter intake from?
Can I email you about this?
I absolutely adore my 02 M roadster, such a beautiful car and even 20 years later, I still get compliments daily on the styling! 😃🤙
Amazing how you can just rattle off all the different specs to the Z3! Thank you!
The pause to hear the Lambo was mint. 😁
Great review as usual, my boss drives a 3.0. I'm assuming it must be a bit of a handful in the wet. 😉
Excellent job on mentioning all the engine variations!
I had one of those, and still miss it every day.
I EveryDaily my 198kmi 2001 3.0i Z3 COUPE here in NC (not far from Spartanburg) ..
It like driving to work in some idealized 1950s AC Aceca hatch with great Bristol or even an Aston soundtrack
but with 250 injected HP and wider hips/tires
Plus
heated seats, aircon , the hatch carries my stuff
and it cost me less than my brothers laptop
It’s a hoot and there’s a million 3.0i m54 engines waiting to be released from imprisonment in some sad x5 if mine doesn’t quite make it to 300+kmi :)
The Z3M coupe is one of my dream cars, so weird and characterful
As a Z3 coupe non M owner, I can't wait for a teview. Great review of a lovely car
just picked up a 2L straight 6 in blue on 66k miles, for 3k. can't beat a recession when it comes to buying cars.
I had a 1.9 and a 2.8 from new in period. Both were the kind of cars I just took for a drive, enjoying life with no other purpose. We took them through the continent several times, very nice tour car. I fitted quite well (6,4 high). Still to my surprise, the 2.8 is the best winter car I ever driven (on ice and snow). That is because the car was so predictable, I always new exactly where it was; when it would miss grip on the back wheels, and it was very easy to handle to get back on track. Sort of felt on with the car. I agree - you really want to drive these with the hood down.
My next door neighbour has a Z3 roadster, they still look lovely. Prefer my Z4 coupe though ❤
A lot of research went into this episode. We had a 1.9 Z3 for 22 years and 140,000 miles.
I had the 2.8 for a bit. It was a beast, was quicker than my 225 TT. The sound of the straight six was lovely. I’d love an M but they are way out of my price range now.
Canadia? 🤔😬
I have a 2003 Z4 Msport package with the 3.0 M54B30, over 200000 miles. Best engine BMW ever made.
Enjoyed the review, what a novel concept, driving a road car at road legal speeds instead of at 110 mph on a canyon road. Good work Jay.
Always liked them in green with the tan interior, and over the Z4.
Great tribute to the Z3. I agree, it is underrated, esp the 6 cyl versions. I have the 2.0, bought it new in 1999, and it was only available for a year in the UK because they made it only for a year. It is a great engine though, much better power than the 4 cyl and all the noises from the bigger versions. I didn’t feel the 3.0 was worth 11T DM more at the time. And this version should be very rare now.
i have 2.0 aswell they're great
Keep it up as you do it, James.
The tiny inline 6’s are pretty great
I bet the muffler box is knackered causing the burbles. The deteriorated stock mufflers on my old Z32 actually sounded quite nice.
Delighted to see this vid, never realised you owned one of these - I picked up a Z3 3.0i (manual, facelift) last summer, wanting a usable/affordable modern 'classic' for summer fun that might also hold its value. No Elise on the bends, but I didn't expect it to be - I do like the old-school layout and roadster sensibilities, though, and the M54 engine is a peach. Even if I do keep reaching for that non-existent sixth gear. Something Healey-esque about the road presence with that burbling inline six and big bonnet up front, even if the chassis feels more California cruiser than B-road racer. Agree the shape has aged well compared to its contemporaries and have a hunch it was a decent investment but I guess time will tell...
Used to own a z3 2.2 straight six till I crashed it.
Own a 3.0 Z4 a decade later.
How I miss the Z3
I don't know the UK market of the Z3 but here in Germany the prices of them are constantly going up. I bought mine not even 2 years ago and it already has gone up in value 3000€ in the short amount of time. and it's only 2.0.
Thanks for the video and stay safe ✌️
Always quite liked the Z3, especially the Clownshoe.
Great video! It's weird that you hardly seen any raced compared to e36 or 46. I bought a 2.8 5spd for $2,000 and full cage build was much easier with no roof. Just posted first track day in it!
Still glad I was able to pickup a 20k mile 2002 M Coupe about 3 years ago. I thought the price was crazy then.. It's crazy now. Will never get rid of the car at this point.
Not a BMW cultist but I really like this car. Modern classic. Beautiful lines. The right amount of tech, not over engineered. 2001-02 year with the nice hips. 3.0 engine is brilliant. Don’t need the M roadster. Small, solid, spunky daily driver. I want a hard top for my future one. Coupes hard to find now. In Estoril blue or silver please.
My boss had a track day converted clownshoe 2.8. Wasnt in the uk though.
He also had a fully packaged Hartge Z3 M.
You do have it the wrong way 'round about the 4 cylinder engines. The 16V M42 engines in the 318is E30s and E36 were bullet proof, didn't have the cam shaft oil starvation on the M10s and dare I say it: more fun and more powerful than the 6 cylinder 2 liter M20s. They nailed that engine.
The 4cyls never get enough credit, thank you for sticking up for them
Absolutely. BMW have made some great 4 cylinder engines. The M10 in the 2002tii was making 130bhp in 1971 and 170 with the turbo! The S14 is a glorious engine and the M42/M44 is a bargain version that loves to be revved.
I just bought that one. An absolute beast on the Z3. I love every second of it.
The US 97/98 with the Aluminum block M52 is my favorite… and I just got one. Also has a Dinan Supercharger. Excited to build it up