If you want a BMW Z3 then do not go for the 1.9 version. The small engine, although provides some torque, is not up to the job to power a heavy 2 seater roadster.
I bought a 1997 model in blue, with 65,000 miles on the clock for £8,000 back in April 2006.
After changing jobs I fancied ... Read review
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Advantages: Great for hot, sunny days and posing, great build quality Disadvantages: Attracts unwanted attention, NOT a sports car
If you want a BMW Z3 then do not go for the 1.9 version. The small engine, although provides some torque, is not up to the job to power a heavy 2 seater roadster.
I bought a 1997 model in blue, with 65,000 miles on the clock for £8,000 back in April 2006.
After changing jobs I fancied a change in car. I had always wanted a small two seater convertible and had considered the MX-5 and MGF. Although I like the look of both ... ...The build quality of the BMW is second to none. As you climb in to to the drivers seat and close the door there is a 'thud' as opposed to a 'twang' of a cheap MX-5. German engineering is something else.
Inside the Z3 was fully loaded - powerhood, aircon, traction control, electric windows, seats, 6 CD changer as standard etc. etc.
The bonnet looks like it goes on for miles and miles, and then you look behind you and....... ... more
If you want a BMW Z3 then do not go for the 1.9 version. The small engine, although provides some torque, is not up to the job to power a heavy 2 seater roadster.
I bought a 1997 model in blue, with 65,000 miles on the clock for £8,000 back in April 2006.
After changing jobs I fancied a change in car. I had always wanted a small two seater convertible and had considered the MX-5 and MGF. Although I like the look of both of these cars they are a bit.....well...... ponzy. I wanted a 'mans' convertible. Unfortunately the SLK, Z4 etc were way beyond my budget, as was the Z3 - or so I thought.....
When I saw the Z3 I had to have a drive in it. It was a bright and sunny day, not too hot since it was April, but the rag top brigade were out in force.
The Z3 felt sluggish, but then I had just gotten rid of my 240bhp twin entry turbo'd Celica :( so most cars within my budget were going to be slow.
The build quality of the BMW is second to none. As you climb in to to the drivers seat and close the door there is a 'thud' as opposed to a 'twang' of a cheap MX-5. German engineering is something else.
Inside the Z3 was fully loaded - powerhood, aircon, traction control, electric windows, seats, 6 CD changer as standard etc. etc.
The bonnet looks like it goes on for miles and miles, and then you look behind you and....... where's the back end? Getting in to a 2 seater after driving the boat sized GT4 is strange. Reversing was so easy!
The 1.9 Z3 kicks out 140bhp - the same as 1.8 Focus. I was told that rear wheel drive cars are fun to drive - and I agree if they have a bit of poke to match. The Z3 does not have the poke. You can get the back end round, granted, but it is hard work since the initial oomph just isn't there. If you want to get some back end out action round rounabouts etc then get an MR2 - it is much easier.
Where the 1.9 Z3 wins is on really hot days and busy roads/roads where it is impossible to get over 50mph - such as the north Norfolk coast road. It is a real pleasure to get the hood down, put on some music don the shades and just.... er pose. The Z3 taught me that driving within the speed limit can be pleasurable and that you don't have to drive flat out every where.
The Z3 feels much faster than it actually is. Being so low down to the ground the feeling of speed is enhanced greatly. The book speed is around 130mph - but there is no way I would want to drive that fast in a 1.9, that is on the assumption that it can actually reach that speed - I am definitely sceptical over that. I had mine up to 110mph and I am not scared to admit that I nipped up and lost my bottle. At that speed the Z3 felt like it was all over the place. The wind from cars going in the other direction blew my car all over the road. At 110mph my Z3 felt like it would not go any faster. so 130mph? I would like to see it.
The reliability of the BMW is, again, second to none. The engine used to purr and never miss a beat. BMW parts are expensive, granted, but nothing major happended to mine, ever. There are loads of non genuine parts around, if you look in the right places, that keeps the price down when parts are required.
The fuel economy is great. I used to get nearly 40 mpg in mine, however, what you get in economy you lose in performance. I know what I would rather have ; )
The Z3 attracted a lot of races, especially in my home town of Norwich. It is amazing how many boy racers in their Saxo VTRs and treved up Honda Civics felt the need to drag away from every set of traffic lights. It was in these situations that you have to be the bigger man - the 1.9 is not up to the job. In addition to the boy racers you find the 30 something males in their M3s, Evos etc are also always up for a race. Once again - it is not worth bothering.
The Z3 also attracts a lot of attention and most of it is unwanted. Chavy young girls used to scream at the car as you drive past, other motorists would stare at lights and never let you in at filter lanes or cut you off etc. etc. I would frequently find spit on the windscreed, or Macdonalds milkshake or food items. A favourite in Norwich appears to be jelly sweets which are sucked and then spat out on the bodwork where they would stick.
My Z3 was also vandalised a few times. The wipers were frequently pulled off, I had 2 wing mirrors knocked off and the final straw was when it was screw driverd - all the way from the bonnet to the rear quarter panel with a big scrape in the boot lid for good measure. That was the only reason I got rid of mine.
When I purchased my Z3 a friend of a friend (who was an old man going through a major mid-life crisis) bought a 52 plated 3 litre Z3. This is a totally different animal. There is power by the bucket loads, the handling is much better and it retains the Z3 pose factor. If you want a Z3 then plump for the larger ones. I would have done if I had £15,000+ to spank on a car.
I have mixed feelings over the Z3. I had many good experiences in mine and used to love driving it, however these are clouded by the bad experiences. The last bout of vandalism resulted in a £2,500 insurance claim.
If you own one of these then you definitely need a garage to keep it in, or have off road parking in a quiet village somewhere where these jealous low lifes cannot damage it.
...convertible sports car sensation at BMW for a few years now. In fact, it was no suprise that they are as popular as they are when you have a good long think about it. Firstly, above all else, its an attractive little sports car. Being little, it appeals to everyone. The machismo is not reduced however by its size. Secondly, it comes with the BMW build quality that is second to none. There are no rattles or shakes in this car. Its as solid as they ... ...elegantly curved with a distinctive BMW sculpture. Not the linear design of the horribly ugly 8 series. I particularly like the contrasting grilles on the bonnet you get on some models. the Chrome effect is very nice. Performance! Well it has bags of that. The 3 litre will get you form 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. Giving a porsche a run for its money. Top whack will be 153mph!!! No worries about getting to your destination in time! Not that you get to use ...
andycharger 06.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Superb Build. Low running costs. Beautiful Styling. Disadvantages: A bit slow.
I ordered my Z3 1.9 back in 1997 and was expecting around a years wait (the queue was long!), but luckily it turned up in May '98 and looked fantastic. Silver really suits this car. It also has purple leather interior (not as gaudy as it sounds!). The car has now done over 30,000 miles and I have not had a single problem. It is the best constructed car I have ever driven. I was expecting a few rattles from a convertible, but have had none. No mechanical ... ...No leaks, even in the heaviest rain.
If I had to have one negative it would be the performance, it feels like a good GTI to drive, not a sports car, but I knew the 1.9 would not be a scorcher - I wanted reasonable insurance costs and good economy as I do a high mileage. I get between 35 and 42 to the gallon, depending how I drive it.
The service I receive from Snows in Portsmouth is excellent. The normal annual service is below £100 and they always ...
dc 18.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Sporty Look..Braking power exceptional. And the engine purrs!! Disadvantages: Poor handling. Not the easiest car to drive. poor suspension!
...as is the case with BMW cars and does look very safe for a sports car which is a must!
The cars weaknesses are the suspension which is stiff and your jaw bounces on more uneven surfaces but hey thats the case with most sports cars and a small price to pay. I also found the accelerator peddle a but on the stiff side when you want to give it some hammer.
The fuel consumption is not great but hey this is a posers car and being sporty it is going to ... ...not in the car of course) Im not sure how much to the gallon but it is 2.8 engine with great acceleration so its alot.
The handling isn`t great either with plenty of rear end movement when turning at any kind of speed (that could come down to driver ability though!) The biggest weakness however is the price being in excess of £20,000 for a car you cant get a baby seat in!
Seriously though if you have the cash thats not a problem is it!
If you ...
kingbill 09.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: makes people jealous Disadvantages: hasnt got any
I first bought the BMW Z3 2.8 car beacause I was seduced by the sexy and aggressive looks and the sheer grunt and performance of the engine.
It has taken me a while to get used to it and through that time I have gone through the emotions of being dissapointed and back to being delighted. If you approach the car understanding that this is a drivers car, in the mould od perhaps a '70's sports car then from day 0ne you will understand what its about. ... ...all, we are in the 21st century and my 4 years old 406 shows a much better level of sophistication than a supposedly upmarket make like BMW. Im 6ft and fit in quite well with the hardtop fitted. When ever the headroom with the soft top up is any worse I shall find out in the summer. As for internal space; I'm a big chap and it took me a while to find a comfortable setting for the seat. But now I have, I have no grumbles about it. I fit it well. I ...
sparkz45 17.03.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Quality of drive from the engine, sheer fun of the drive. Disadvantages: Handling not quite up to latest standards
...light switch. Servicing costs at BMW main dealer have been vastly cheaper than our Mondeo diesel, due to the length of time between services indicated by the intelligent service indicator.
2 rear tyres at 30000 miles, 4 new tyres at 50000 miles.
The car drives like brand new even now, without ever the slightest murmur.
The best thing about the car is the engine. The 2.8 straight six pulls like crazy from 1000rpm to 6000rpm in a turbine like way. ... ...is fantastic in a straight line. Pushing it into 3rd at 50-60mph gives you a good buzz, and rockets past anything. (0-60 in 6.5secs also is quite good fun!!) The other great thing is that this is all on insurance group 16. Average 31.1 mpg over 50000 miles! (Does like super unleaded best (Sainsbury's only 2p/litre more)
Other great things are that the car is pretty low so good sportscar drive, but not so low as you've got to go into contortions ...
cagant 29.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
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You can choose between five different engines with the roadster. All are petrol, and even the most basic 2.0 litre version gives strong performance - although the smooth-revving, zingy 3 litre is the pick of the bunch. At the top of the range the M-Coupe and M-Roadster are fast but expensive for what they offer.
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The Zed 4 is definitely a different looking vehicle to the other BMWs that have come from their factory. I could talk a lot about numbers like the speed from 0 to 60, quarter mile or top speed, but its what BMW delivers to me as a package that counts. This car has great balance, great feel and overall its a pretty good damn motor. Whenever I look at the styling of any BMW, I always have to hot-step to the front first, and find the "beamer" signature "twin kidney grills" to feel at home with the brand. But let me tell you...this car has great attributes. For example I like the squareness of the front-end, and how long it is . Its also very neat and compact in the back. Honestly, looking at the lines of the vehicle where else would you see lines like this in any other vehicle ? I think it really is unique, it stands out and I think its ...
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"Fahrvergnügen", the BMW motto of the "joy to drive" is something I´ve been experiencing for quite a while: being a longtime Beemer owner - six years spent in a 530i and as of today nine years in the 740iA - I kept close watch on everything that left Bavarian factories with the distinct blue and white propeller logo.
Years back I used to switch my Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco GTIs every three years, the 530i had already been driven for six years and the 740iA will probably survive me with its still mint condition.
So what is all the fuss about getting a second car that I do not really need as my loving wife constantly keeps reminding me? Well, for a member of the +50 age group life is beginning to change priorities, hedonism demands for lifestyle toys such as the new Z4 roadster, doesn´t it? ;-)
My first encounter last ...
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