Vehicle Highlights
• Wheels: 17"
• Dream Red Seating
• BMW Business Radio
• BMW Tool Kit
• BMW Service Records
• Full Car Cover
• 2 Owner Vehicle
• Female Driven
• Owned since 2004
• Only 23,000 miles
• Rear Boot & Screen
• New Tires
Vehicle Overview
New engines for 2001 are the top news for BMW’s group of two-passenger sports cars, which debuted in 1999. What had been the base Z3 2.3 roadster is now the 2.5i, courtesy of a new 2.5-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that makes 14 horsepower more than its predecessor with a bit less torque.
BMW’s five-speed-automatic transmission with the Steptronic manual shift provision replaces the former four-speed unit. All models gain BMW’s Dynamic Brake Control system as standard equipment to help maintain braking stability through difficult turns. The Z3 also comes standard with traction control and BMW’s electronic stability system called Dynamic Stability Control. The wheels have been restyled, and interiors exhibit a bit more chrome than before — including the door handles. A chrome and leather gearshift lever also is new this year.
Interior
Seating is restricted to two, even in the hatchback with its squared-off roofline. Standard equipment on the Z3 2.5i includes air conditioning, a four-way power driver’s seat and two-way passenger seat, a six-speaker cassette and weather stereo system, and power mirrors, locks and windows.
Under the Hood
The base 2.5-liter dual overhead cam inline-six-cylinder engine develops 184 hp and come with come with a four-speed automatic. The Z3 comes standard with side-impact airbags, dual front airbags, antilock brakes, the electronic stability system and traction control.
Handling has always been a Z3 bonus, with the roadster and coupe steering precisely and confidently, whether on straightaways or curvy roads. Cockpits are on the snug side but no more so than most rivals.
BMW Z3 (1996-2001) Model History
1995 : The Z3 appeared in the Nieman Marcus Christmas catalogue.These cars were all Atlanta Blue with beige upholstery
1996 : The first demonstrators arrived at the dealers in March of 1996.
01/01/1997: Z3 1.9 rear-drive Roadster (140 bhp), 5-speed gearbox or 4-speed automatic,ABS,PAS,alloy wheels, central locking, electrical windows and mirrors, electrical seat adjustment,airbag. Options include air-conditioning , ASC+T traction control, leather trim & electrical hood
01/08/1997 : Z3 2.8 (193 bhp) launched. Equipment as 1.9 plus ASC+T traction control, limited slip differential, electrical hood, leather upholstery, larger 16-inch Z-Star alloy wheels, trip computer
01/09/1997 : 1.9 now has ASC+T traction control system.
01/01/1998 : Smaller M-style leather-trimmed 3-spoke steering wheel. Option ; Aluminium hard top with heated screen
01/05/1998 : M Roadster 3.2 spec as Z3 2.8 plus four exhaust pipes, air-conditioning, 2 airbags, heated electrical mirrors.
01/09/1998 : M Coupe launched, specification as M Roadster.
01/04/1999 : Special edition 'Orinoco' and 'Fiji' 1.9 and 2.8 launched.
01/07/1999 : Z3 1.8 and 2.0 launched. Restyled rear end, chrome-rim headlamps, chrome-rim instruments.
01/02/2000 : 2.0 Cosmos, Velvet, Aegean and Mora editions (all £26900).
01/09/2000 : Z3 2.2 (170 bhp) and 3.0 (231 bhp) launched.
01/02/2001 : Z3 2.2 Sport and 3.0 Sport launched. 2.2 Sapphire and Titanium editions (both £25950 new)
01/03/2001 : Revised M Roadster and Coupe with 325 bhp engine, DSC III stability control system, uprated brakes.
02/12/2001 : The 250,000th Z3 roadster > Jet Black with a red top and Mugello red seats with black inserts. The console is trimmed with red birchwood and the roll bars are black leather in front and red leather in back held together with red stitching
2002 : An in-dash CD player was newly standard for 2002.
06/28/2002 : Production of the last Z3 roadster.
2003 : BMW's Z4 replaced the Z3