The BMW Z3 two-seater sports car was produced from 1995 to 2002, with 297,088 examples built. Built atop the E36 3 Series platform, it had a 96.3-inch wheelbase, a width of 66.6 inches, and a length of 158.5 inches. Four-cylinder engines provided the power, replaced in 1966 by six-cylinder units. A single tailpipe was used for four-cylinder models and dual tailpipes for the six-cylinder version. The roadster body style was joined by a coupe in January 1998. M Models were introduced in 1997 and had the same wider fenders as the six-cylinder models but with unique bumpers, quad exhaust pipes, side mirrors, larger brakes, M-specific colors, and a limited-slip differential. The Z3M was solely equipped with a five-speed manual transmission.The 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster sold for just under $30,000. Power was from a dual-overhead cam four-cylinder engine which delivered nearly 140 horsepower. For those seeking more power, a 2.8 liter, lightweight aluminum engine was available, bringing horsepower to nearly 200 horsepower. The car had a five-speed manual gearbox as standard or an optional four-speed automatic. Disc brakes were at all four corners.The dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine displacing 116 cubic inches (1,895cc) had a cast iron block, aluminum alloy head, 16-valves, hydraulic valve lifters, 10.0:1 compression, and fuel injection, delivering 138 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 133 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 RPM. The 24-valve, 170 cubic-inch (2793cc) inline six-cylinder engine had dual overhead camshafts, fuel injection, 10.2:1 compression, aluminum block and aluminum alloy heads, and delivered 189 horsepower at 5,300 RPM and 203 lbs-ft of torque at 3,950 rpm.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2012
The Z3 with the 1.9 liter engine was priced at $30,000 (USD) and the 2.8-liter version at $36,500 (USD). The M roadster tipped the scales at $42,700 (USD).
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2012
Related Reading : BMW Z3 History
Featuring a celebrity-like intro, the BMW Z3 was first spotlighted in the James Bond flick Goldeneye, even before its introduced for model-year 1996. Along with being featured in Neiman Marcus 1995 Christmas catalog that showcased the sports car as the perfect Christmas gift, the Z3 launched a sales stampede that resulted in sold-out Z3 numbers for the BMW before the first model even made it to....
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Similarly Sized Vehicles
from 1998
Recent Vehicle Additions
Performance and Specification Comparison
Price Comparison
$39,470 - $53,865
$40,265
$40,265 - $46,465
$62,070 - $92,670
$69,400
Z3 Specification Comparison by Year
Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
14,497
96.30 in.
4 cyl., 115.95 CID., 140.00hp
6 cyl., 152.56 CID., 170.00hp
6 cyl., 170.87 CID., 193.00hp
6 cyl., 183.07 CID., 225.00hp
6 cyl., 195.28 CID., 240.00hp
6 cyl., 152.56 CID., 170.00hp
6 cyl., 170.87 CID., 193.00hp
6 cyl., 183.07 CID., 225.00hp
6 cyl., 195.28 CID., 240.00hp
$29,000 - $29,000
96.30 in.
6 cyl., 152.19 CID., 170.00hp
6 cyl., 170.44 CID., 193.00hp
6 cyl., 192.35 CID., 240.00hp
6 cyl., 170.44 CID., 193.00hp
6 cyl., 192.35 CID., 240.00hp
$31,875 - $43,270
96.30 in.
6 cyl., 152.56 CID., 184.00hp
6 cyl., 183.07 CID., 225.00hp
6 cyl., 195.28 CID., 240.00hp
6 cyl., 183.07 CID., 225.00hp
6 cyl., 195.28 CID., 240.00hp
$31,945 - $42,700
96.30 in.
6 cyl., 152.56 CID., 184.00hp
6 cyl., 183.07 CID., 225.00hp
6 cyl., 192.00 CID., 240.00hp
6 cyl., 183.07 CID., 225.00hp
6 cyl., 192.00 CID., 240.00hp
$31,950 - $42,700
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