BMW Z3

BMW
BMW Z3 Roadster (1995–1999)
E36 / 7
Sales designation:	Z3
Production period:	1995-2002
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Roadster , station wagon coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.8-3.2 liters (85-239 kW)
Length:	4025-4050 mm
Width:	1692-1740 mm
Height:	1266-1306 mm
Wheelbase :	2459 mm
Empty weight :	1225-1450 kg
successor	BMW Z4 (E85)

The BMW Z3 is a passenger car made by the German car manufacturer BMW . The two-seater roadster was launched on the market in autumn 1995. In the summer of 1998, the series was supplemented by a coupé variant.

In April 1999, both the roadster and the coupé were given a facelift . The engine range ranged from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 85 kW (115 hp) to a 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine with 239 kW (325 hp).

By July 5, 2002, the BMW US Manufacturing Company, LLC in Greer , South Carolina ( USA ) had produced 279,273 roadsters and 17,815 coupés. The Z3 bears the internal designation E36 / 7 for the roadster and E36 / 8 for the coupé (E36 / 7S or E36 / 8S for the motorsport models). It is based on the platform of the E36 Compact and shares the rear axle and some parts of the cockpit with it.

Model history

The first BMW Z3 rolled off the assembly line on September 20, 1995. It was the first BMW that was built entirely and exclusively outside of Germany. For this reason, the Z3 was specially developed for the new plant in the USA . Over 60% of the parts installed come from North America. Production in the USA should the company u. a. make you less dependent on exchange rate fluctuations.

The production of the roadster began with the four-cylinder model Z3 Roadster 1.8 and 1.9 . BMW placed this in the James Bond film " GoldenEye ". In 1996 the product range was expanded by the Z3 Roadster 2.8 with an in-line six-cylinder, which u. a. Can be recognized by wider rear fenders and two marker lights in the front bumper.

A year later, the Z3 M Roadster started with the 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine and 236 kW (321 hp) familiar from the M3 of the E36 series . In addition to some technical changes to the engine , chassis , exhaust system , electrics and body , the M Roadster also brought some new visual details. The mirrors, the tailgate and the front spoiler have been changed. The design of the center console has been revised and additional instruments have been integrated.

In August 1998, the series was expanded to include a station wagon ( shooting brake ), which was presented at the 1997 IAA . These closed vehicles were equipped with the well-known six-cylinder engines. They were offered under the designation Z3 Coupé 2.8 (later Z3 Coupé 3.0 ) and M Coupé . The design of the coupe was controversial and was commonly referred to as the "sneaker".

In October 1998, BMW equipped the Z3 Roadster 2.8 with a further developed engine. Although it had the same displacement, it now had two adjustable camshafts (double VANOS ) so that, in addition to the intake valve, the exhaust valve control could now also be adjusted to the speed and load conditions. This measure resulted in an improved torque curve with 1 kW more power.

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  Rear view

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  inner space

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  BMW Z3 Coupé (1998–1999)

Facelift

From April 1999 on, BMW sold a revised version of the Z3 series. The rear got a new shape with raised fenders, L-shaped taillights and a curved tailgate. The glazed round headlights at the front were framed with chrome rings. In the interior, the instruments in the center console were changed and the top was given an additional inner top. There have been no version-related optical differences since this year of construction. The M Roadster also received chrome rings on the headlights, but otherwise remained unchanged.

With the new generation of engines from April 1999, BMW offered the Z3 Roadster 2.0 for the first time . Over time, BMW changed the model range. In June 2000 the Z3 Roadster 3.0i replaced the Z3 Roadster 2.8 and in October of the same year the Z3 Roadster 2.2 replaced the model with the 2-liter engine. A Z3 Roadster 2.3 with 125 kW (170 PS) was offered for the North American market. This engine was also installed in the 3 (E36) series in the 323i and had a displacement of 2.5 l (2494 cm³).

Finally, in June 2001 , the M Roadster and the M Coupé were equipped with the S54 engine from the BMW M3 ( E46 ). Instead of the usual 252 kW (343 hp), this delivers "only" 239 kW (325 hp) in the Z3, as no exhaust system of sufficient length could be installed ex works to achieve the performance of the M3 counterpart.

In July 2002 production of the Z3 series was stopped. The Z4 became its successor in autumn 2002 .

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  BMW Z3 (1999-2002)

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  Rear view

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  inner space

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  BMW M Roadster

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  BMW M Coupé

Quantities

model	Production period	number
roadster 1.8	1995/09 - 1998/08	53,580
roadster 1.9	1995/09 - 1999/03	77,965
roadster 2.8	1996/11 - 2000/09	24.204
M roadster	1997-2002	15,322

Features of certain versions

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  Narrow rear of the four-cylinder variant

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  Z3 Roadster 2.8: wide rear until 1999

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  Rear hump from 1999

Hood

The fabric top of the BMW Z3 was produced in the colors black, dark beige, classic red, dark blue and dark green. Due to the design, the rear window is folded when the convertible top is opened, so that only one version made of plastic can be used here. The window is connected to the hood with a zipper and can be replaced relatively quickly. The optional hardtop was offered in all available vehicle paint colors.

Special models

Z3 Roadster "James Bond Edition" in the BMW Museum Munich in the color Atlanta Blue

A total of nine special models of the BMW Z3 were built in 1999 and 2001. All 1999 special models have white turn signal lights.

• 1999: American style, Bella macchina, British traditional, Fiji, Orinoco
• 2001: Estoril, Imola, Kyalami, San Remo

American style
This model was delivered in the special Velvet-Blue-Metallic paintwork. Ink blue nappa leather door panels and two-tone nappa leather sports seats in the M Roadster (ink blue and black) determine the look of the interior.

Bella macchina
The Bella macchina was painted in the color black-II or cosmos black- metallic, the fine wood equipment ( plane tree ) of the interior was combined with two-tone nappa leather door panels and seats in the colors Modena natural (light beige) and black.

British traditional
The special model British traditional was painted in the colors dark green or Boston green metallic. The interior is equipped with fine wood ( poplar ). The door panels and seats are covered with champagne-colored nappa leather. The model has a dark green hood.

Fiji
The turquoise exterior (special Fiji green paint ) was combined with a dark and navy blue leather interior on this model.

Orinoco
The model was delivered with the special paint Orinoco -Metallic (gray-green). In the interior there are cream-white nappa leather door panels and seats. The Orinoco was available with a beige or black hood.

Motorization

Engine compartment of the Z3 2.0i

model	Engine code	Displacement (cm³)	Cylinders / valves	Power at 1 / min	Torque at 1 / min	Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	Top speed	variant	Construction period
Z3 1.8	M43 B18	1796	4/8	85 kW (115 PS) at 5500	168 Nm at 3900	10.4 s	196 km / h	Roadster	01 / 1996-08 / 1998
Z3 1.9i	M43TU B19	1895	4/8	87 kW (118 hp) at 5500	180 Nm at 3900	10.4 s	196 km / h	Roadster	09 / 1998-07 / 2002
Z3 1.9	M44 B19	1895	4/16	103 kW (140 PS) at 6000	180 Nm at 4300	9.5 s	205 km / h	Roadster	10 / 1995-04 / 1999
Z3 2.0	M52TU B20	1991	6/24	110 kW (150 PS) at 5900	190 Nm at 3500	8.9	210 km / h	Roadster	04 / 1999-10 / 2000
Z3 2.2i	M54 B22	2171	6/24	125 kW (170 hp) at 6100	210 Nm at 3500	7.9 s [8.9 s]	224 km / h [220 km / h]	Roadster	10 / 2000-07 / 2002
Z3 2.8	M52 B28	2793	6/24	141 kW (192 hp) at 5300	275 Nm at 3950	7.1 s [7.2 s]	218 km / h [216 km / h]	Roadster	03 / 1997-09 / 1998
Z3 2.8i	M52TU B28	2793	6/24	142 kW (193 hp) at 5500	280 Nm at 3500	6.9 s	225 km / h	Roadster	02 / 1999-06 / 2000
						6.8 s [7.1 s]	231 km / h [229 km / h]	Coupe (1)	09 / 1998-06 / 2000
Z3 3.0i	M54 B30	2979	6/24	170 kW (231 hp) at 5900	300 Nm at 3500	6.0 s [6.3 s]	240 km / h [236 km / h]	Roadster	06 / 2000-07 / 2002
						6.0 s [6.3 s]	250 km / h [242 km / h]	Coupe	06 / 2000-07 / 2002
M 3.2	S50 B32	3201	6/24	236 kW (321 hp) at 7400	350 Nm at 3250	5.4 s	250 km / h	Roadster	03 / 1997-07 / 2000
								Coupe	09 / 1998-07 / 2000
M 3.2	S54 B32	3246	6/24	239 kW (325 hp) for the 7400	350 Nm at 4900	5.3 s	250 km / h	Roadster, coupe	04 / 2001-07 / 2002

⁽¹⁾ not on the German market.

Values ​​in […] are with automatic transmission

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Development report Z3 Roadster (1995) at the minute 23:40
2. ↑ Development report Z3 Roadster (1995) at minute 43:00
3. ↑ BMW Z3 James Bond movie Goldeneye 1995 Pierce Brosnan. In: 007museum.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018 . 
4. ^ ^{A b} Jacob Joseph: 1998 - 2002 BMW M Roadster Review - Top Speed. In: topspeed.com. December 12, 2005, accessed June 16, 2018 . 
5. ↑ Kai Klauder: IAA 1997: New Stars from Mercedes, BMW, VW and Opel - auto motor und sport. In: auto-motor-und-sport.de. August 31, 2009, accessed June 16, 2018 . 
6. ↑ BMW Z3 (1996-2002) - autobild.de. In: autobild.de. February 25, 2002, accessed June 16, 2018 . 
7. ↑ USA: Last BMW Z3 built - Automotive Industry News - just-auto. In: just-auto.com. July 1, 2002, archived from the original on June 15, 2018 ; Retrieved June 16, 2018 (American English). 
8. ↑ BMW AG (Ed.): BMW Z3 roadster 1.8 (E36 / 7) . Retrieved April 3, 2018
9. ↑ BMW AG (ed.): BMW Z3 roadster 1.9 (E36 / 7) . Retrieved April 3, 2018
10. ^ BMW AG (ed.): BMW Z3 roadster 2.8 (E36 / 7) . Retrieved April 3, 2018
11. ↑ BMW AG (ed.): BMW M roadster (E36 / 7) . Retrieved April 3, 2018
12. ^ "Z3 Roadster Forum" Z3 soft top colors
13. ↑ ^{a b} OnlyZ3 - Roadster & Coupé - Special versions. In: onlyz3.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018 . 

Web links

Commons : BMW Z3  - collection of images, videos and audio files