BMW Z3 Price Guide

The BMW Z3 is the roadster that launched a thousand posters. Helped of course because this is the car James Bond drove in GoldenEye. It was also the car that proved BMW could build a credible modern roadster on an E36 3 Series floorpan and make it feel entirely right. It was not technically brilliant. But it was irresistible.

The Car

Produced from 1995 to 2002 at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina factory (the first BMW built outside Europe) the Z3 used a range of four and six-cylinder engines from the 1.8-litre four-cylinder through to the 3.0-litre M54 straight-six in the 3.0i. The E36 rear-wheel drive floorpan with semi-trailing arm rear suspension gave the Z3 lively handling that rewarded commitment. A coupe variant with an extraordinary roofline was offered from 1998 in 2.8 and the M Coupe 3.2-litre forms. The Z3M M Roadster used the S52/S54 engine.

What Goes Wrong

Rust attacks the sills, and this is the Z3’s primary structural concern. The area behind the front wheels and under the sill trim collects moisture and corrodes. Any Z3 should have the sills inspected before purchase. The hood mechanism is straightforward and long-lasting.

While not a fault, the four-cylinder cars suffer from the lack of low-down torque, making them feel breathless compared to the six-cylinders.

Buying

The 2.8 or 3.0i six-cylinder is the roadster to seek. The M54 3.0i is the most usable and refined Z3 engine. The ‘breadvan’ coupe is the collector’s Z3; appreciating values and an extraordinary rear-end design. The BMW Z3 has been rising in value for several years as a genuine 1990s icon.