As a dedicated fan of vintage and classic BMWs, stumbling upon this piece of automotive history was a true delight. The Z3, launched back in September 1995 and produced until 2002, perfectly embodies the spirit of a balanced roadster, based on the E36 platform.
This roadster’s journey began in 1991 under the guidance of Burkhard Göschel, with exterior design by Joji Nagashima. Its distinctive look was frozen in 1993, and the Z3 was introduced through a video press release by BMW North America on June 12, 1995. Production began on September 20, 1995, marking an era of BMWs manufactured outside of Germany, right in Greer, South Carolina.
The Z3 lineup included the striking coupé model introduced at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show. The coupé shares the same platform as the roadster but stands out with its chassis-stiffening hatch area, making it 2.7 times stiffer. The coupé’s unique side profile has earned it endearing nicknames like ‘clown shoe’ and ‘bread van’ – a true conversation starter!
What’s under the hood? The Z3 offered various engines, including the 2.8 and 3.0i, with outputs ranging up to 325 horsepower for the facelift M Coupé. The M versions, available from 1997, featured the S50 and S52 inline-six engines (later the S54) and were equipped with a limited-slip differential, larger brakes, and M-specific styling elements.
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