Whether you love or hate James Bond, it’s hard to argue that the fictional spy hasn’t driven some fantastic cars over the years. From the DBS in “Casino Royale” to the Toyota 2000GT in “You Only Live Twice,” the silver screen’s leading agent has been supplied some serious metal. Most of it isn’t exactly affordable today, but the BMW Z3 is one of the rare exceptions.
This Bavarian roadster for the ’90s is known for its curvaceous Joji Nagashima-penned sheetmetal, its commonalities with the 3 Series of the period, and oh yeah, being driven by Bond. Perhaps BMW sold too many of them, because what we’re actually looking at is a wonderful two-seat sports car you can now pick up for seriously reasonable used car money.
What Are We Looking At?
Back in the mid-1990s, the roadster market was experiencing one hell of a resurgence. Spurred on by the success of the Mazda Miata, automakers far and wide returned to the niche, and BMW was looking for something with broader appeal than its funky-doored Z1. The solution was to essentially take the E36 Compact with its E30 3 Series-derived semi-trailing arm rear suspension and give it a two-seater convertible body and a new moniker, the Z3. To add some some star power, BMW partnered with Eon Productions to place the Z3 in the seventeenth James Bond film, “Goldeneye.” Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, briefly drove a blue four-cylinder Z3 before trading it for a plane, and guess what? The cross-promotion worked. BMW’s roadster for the ’90s hit the ground running, arriving in showrooms with instant desirability.
Even with the modest power output of the initial 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine, the press was enamoured with BMW’s vision of a more mainstream roadster, with Car And Driver coming away from a first drive absolutely delighted. As the magazine wrote:
Buttery-smooth, short-travel controls give the driver a great feeling of harmony with the machinery. The clutch and shifter are truly first rate, the power steering is light and very quick, the dead pedal and just-right seat work together to give you a stable platform for precise driving. The Michelins are seriously grippy yet gradual in their approach to the limit. This is one of those BMWs that understeers predictably under power, then flicks its tail out when you lift, a product of bushing deflection in this older rear-suspension design. By every objective standard, this self steering is hardly a good idea, but it’s harmless entertainment in a low-powered car and hardcore BMW drivers like it a lot.
Naturally, more power followed the initial 138-horsepower four-cylinder Z3. A 2.8-liter inline-six joined the party for 1997, pumping out 189 horsepower. A detuned 2.5-liter model called the Z3 2.3 appeared for 1998 with 170 horsepower, while 1999 saw the shift to a 184-horsepower 2.5-liter M54B25 straight-six in 2.5i models and a 228-horsepower three-liter M54B30 straight-six in three-liter models. You could even get a Z3 M with a 240-horsepower S52B32 straight-six, and later, a 315-horsepower S54B32 straight-six. While the Z3 never offered quite the agility of a Porsche Boxster, it proved a popular roadster, and now you can pick one up for peanuts.
How Much Are We Talking?
While some rare Z3 examples are expensive, the core models are cheaper than you’d think. Take this Topaz Blue 2001 model year 2.5i example, for instance. With a reasonable 85,100 miles on the clock, a five-speed manual gearbox, and top-brand tires, it looks well-maintained. Sure, it has a few minor cosmetic imperfections including a couple of bumper scuffs and a torn driver’s seat, but it fetched a mere $5,900 on Cars & Bids last year. That’s sensible money.
Looking for more gusto? How about something like this 2001 Z3 3.0i that hammered on Bring A Trailer earlier this year for $8,369. Not only had it been in the same family since new, it’s specced with the sport package, the premium package, a manual gearbox, and a fetching green-over-tan colorway. Sure, it might have a minor hit on its Carfax, but with 86,000 miles on the clock, it feels like a worthy weekend driver.
If you want the chance at an even better deal, a quick look through the traditional used car classifieds reveals no shortage of reasonably priced Z3s. Here’s a green 2002 3.0i model listed for $6,500. Alright, so it might have a whopping 235,000 miles on the clock, but it still looks fresh, and should make a fun summer toy.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong On A BMW Z3?
The good news is that the Z3 is fairly simple from a mechanical standpoint. You’re most likely to encounter general old car issues, but there are also old BMW issues to be aware of. The cooling systems across all engines get fragile with age, so if they haven’t been refreshed recently, plan on dropping some coin. All six-cylinder engines use some form of BMW’s Vanos variable valve timing that will need a fiddly if relatively inexpensive rebuild eventually, but otherwise, these machines are quite robust. As a bonus for those in the salt belt, they don’t rust nearly as badly as Miatas, and replacing the quarter panels is an at-home bolt-on affair as they aren’t actually welded to the tub.
Should You Buy A Cheap BMW Z3?
If you want something fun that doesn’t blow the budget, you should absolutely consider a reasonably priced BMW Z3. They’re fun, they’re fairly easy to keep going, they’re noticeably more refined than a Miata which makes a difference in a backroad cruiser, and they have that classic over-the-axle roadster form factor.
Top graphic images: Bring A Trailer; MGM/UA
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