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 of these cars they are a ... ...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? ...
yackers1 12.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
...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
Advantages: Not enough space here to fit it all in ;-) Disadvantages: None! But remember its a 2 seater sports car not a saloon.
I've owned this car for nearly a year now and I absolutely love it to the point that I will never part with it.
I bought this 2nd hand at a price of £10,600 for a 5 1/2 yr old, 2.0l, (6 cylinder) Special Edition with 27K on the clock.
I spent 3 months avidly searching and viewing various cars before finding the right one. All I can say is do your homework and you will reap the rewards. There is a great Zroadster website that I can highly recommend, ... ...the advice you will ever need.
So for the car: If you want something that looks the part then go for it, you won't regret it.
The body shape was updated late 99 which included flared rear wheel arches and a reshaped boot and rear light cluster. I think they also added a roof lining in the hood that helped insulate and sound proof a little more. In 2000 they produced some special editions, 2.0 Cosmos, Aegean, Velvet and Mora which had little extras ...
bex1068 03.11.2006 (26.01.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Looks, Drop top, Noise, Engine, Gadgets Disadvantages: Rear wind deflector, Space
The Z3 is a very good car and was a pleasent surpise to how good it really was.
Some journalists say that the handling is dodgy but i can tell you now it is not. It sticks to the road very well and has virtually nill body roll. The only thing i will say is that the 2.8 has got that much power that it can outwit the chassis on a very twisty B Road but unless you go stupidly fast you will be fine.
The car has one of the quickest drop tops you have ... ...The std level of gadgets with this car is amazing. DSC, Leather seats, heated seats, electric seats, all leather interior, heated mirrors, rcl, moveable headlights, air con, electric windows and electric hood and cruise control
The driving position is low but the pedals are slightly offset so any trip over an hour and 30 minutes gets a little uncomfortable and the rear wind deflector works wonderfully but looks bluidy awful.
If you are after this ...
dimbo9 13.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Great looks, fun to drive, good performance and holds it's value Disadvantages: Limited storage space and can attract unwanted attention
...to get used to the BMW foot pedal layout. The accelorator pedal pivots from the floor (low) and the brake is a 'regular' (quite high) pedal, so there is a height difference for your foot to get used to. Make sure that you have a good long test drive to get used to this. It's a good feature as you are less likely to get the brake and accelorator mixed up if ever your feet become disorientated!
The boot space is good for a roadster (can do the weekly ... ...check that the windows are BMW standard - there should be a BMW symbol in the corner. Non standard windows can contribute to leakage.
Hope that this is useful so far...I am continuing to add stuff all the time
This car will turn heads - it's up to you whether that's a positive or not. ...
silverdaisy 07.08.2007 (08.08.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Handles extremly well - good fuel economy considering Disadvantages: Non really - except there are more powerful models.!
...He had never had a BMW before and pretty much shocked my entire family when he got it. But he knows cars.! He's worked in the industry for 40 years and has a passion and collection that is unrivalled. This car is stunning. From the moment you slide into the leather interior you feel like you have control of an animal. The 1.8 litre was a nice car but the 2 litre has that something extra.! The steering is precise, the acceleration great and the engine ... ...not much space left although the boot holds more than you would imagine. Fuel consumption is not too bad and top end speed is very good. I accidentally took the revs too high a couple of times (as we are running it in) but hey when you do 0-60 in what feels like an instant you are going to slide up towards the red a couple of times. Comfy with great handling - nice.! ...
jimstrong 11.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Great ride, handling and comfort. Fun & fast! Disadvantages: None
The Z3 is the consumate roadster. Great fun in all weathers, but really comes into its own with the top down, shades on and sunshine.
A really flexible car, with a roomy enough boot for an overnight case as well as your CD changer. The long nose gives a big footwell - large enough for my dog to stretch out in.
Poky, reactive and fun to drive - comfortable for long journeys or just hopping to the nearest country pub. Great on motorways and handles ... ...others look at. When I'm driving around in the company Rover I'm certain that I'm often invisible. Never so in the Z3 - with a nose like that everyone sees you coming.
Kitted up with the electric hood, chrome trim and with the CD on full - it's a pleasure to behold
A really great car to drive. ...
teazle 21.04.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: rast and cool Disadvantages: bit small
If you want a BMW Z3 then go for the 1.9 version.Great for hot sunny days and posing also greatly built the car is awsome for a small family and even more great you look cool in the car also it is a fast little car built for speed ... maybe not good for small familys then I ordered my Z3 1.9 and was expecting around a years wait but luckily it turned up pretty quick and looked fantastic. Silver really suits this car. It also has ivory leather interior ... ...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 problems what so even im very please with my car it is great !!! i am totaly recomending it to any one and every one this car is the bees knee's i love it to bits and would be totaly stumped it any thing happend to it. ...
summah07babe 12.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Attractive & Enjoyable ride Disadvantages: The steering whell could be smaller
BMW Z3 roadster
This is a car to dead for; it's the cream of the crop with the performance to go with it. It has new l-shaped taillights and chrome alloy wheels. The appearance is shocking really that this car is absolute elegant with an interior to match it. This car has a lot of features and new engine refinements have made a big improvement although he steering wheel could be reduced in size a bit. It has a maximum of 193bhp and a 2.0 litre ... ...of 140-mph depending on the model of Z3 you have. The price ranges from £19,995 to £28,350, which is very reasonable for what you get. This car is the best in it's range and the ride to go with it's what you would exspect from the BMW standards. ...
Master_mic_uk 16.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: The Look Disadvantages: Not the most practical for a DIY trip to B&Q
...fact that it is a BMW with a very high build quality is better than the other roadsters from other brands. Some of the cars do not have the Leather interior, and to be honest this is no big deal, as any i have seen have been worn and torn badly on the leather seats, the electric hood is a pain as you have to be out of gear with the handbrake on and with the foot on the brake before it will let the roof down or come up, and it takes 10 seconds once ...
bob1054 29.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
Advantages: Great gas mileage fun fast sleek built to last Disadvantages: Only people shorter than six foot tall can enjoy it. If you are taller it is not built for you.
In 2000 we bought the female neighbor's car for $13,500, the same as the dealer would give her for a trade in. It had 40,000 miles on it then, now it has 150,000. For five years the maintenance was oil changes and a brake job. For the next 4 it has cost me $1000-1500 a year, in the shop, for one thing or another. Catalytic converter one time, oxygen sensor, belts and hoses etc. another time, new clutch, electric window and door interior reinforcement ... ...Small stuff that could have destroyed the car if left unrepaired. Luckily we had the funds to repair them and the car looks almost new and runs like a top after 12 years. It is a woman or shorter man's car. I have to crawl in head first and can barely drive it with the top up, with the top down I can't see the light at intersections because the windshield is in the way. I can't see if my blinker is on either because the steering wheel blocks my vision. ...
Wisegeorge 02.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of BMW Z3 Roadster
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