BMW · 1995–2002

BMW Z3

The BMW Z3 is a range of two-seater sports cars which was produced from 1995 to 2002. The body styles of the range are: 2-door roadster (E36/7 model code) 2-door coupé (E36/8 model code) The Z3 was based on the E36/5 compact platform, a shortened version of the conventional E36 platform. This smaller and cheaper platform used the rear semi-trailing arm suspension design from the older E30 3 Series. It is the first mass-produced Z Series car. M models were introduced in 1998 in roadster and coupé body styles and were powered by the S50, S52, or S54 straight-six engine depending on country and model year. The M models came with a 5-speed manual transmission. The regular Z3s were offered with straight-sixes or four-cylinder engines. Production ended on June 28, 2002, with the Z3 line replaced by the E85 Z4.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: BMW Z1 · Successor: BMW Z4 E85

All BMW Z3 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Development and launch

Development on the roadster began in 1991 and was led by Burkhard Göschel. The exterior was designed by Joji Nagashima, being completed in mid-1992 at 39 months before production and the design was frozen in 1993. Design patents were filed on April 2, 1994, in Germany and on September 27, 1994, in the US. The Z3 was introduced via video press release by BMW North America on June 12, 1995. Production began on September 20, 1995. Development on the coupé model was run by a group of BMW engineers outside of work in their own time. The Z3 Coupé shares the identical platform and parts with the roadster, but features a chassis-stiffening hatch area and is 2.7 times stiffer in comparison. The Z3 Coupé was unveiled at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Z3 was the first BMW model to be solely manufactured outside of Germany. It was manufactured in Greer, South Carolina.

Body styles

=== Roadster (E36/7) === Roadster models entered production in September 1995, powered by 4-cylinder engines on launch. 6-cylinder engines were later introduced in 1996. A removable hardtop roof was available as an optional accessory. Coupé (E36/8). Coupé models entered production in January 1998 and could be ordered from spring that year. Deliveries, however, only started in September 1998. The unusual side profile has been given nicknames such as "clown shoe" and "bread van" by critics. In Germany, it has been referred to as a "turnschuh" (sports shoe). The coupé body style was only available with the engines that matched the 2.8, 3.0i, and M model Roadsters. The engine outputs varied as they spanned three generations of engine architecture, peaking at 325 horsepower with the facelift M Coupé. Like the roadster models, it was rear-wheel drive only, and was available in either an automatic or manual transmission. Very few of these cars were made, making it rarer than most cars, the BMW M Coupe model especially so.

Transmissions

The available transmissions are: 5-speed ZF S5-31 manual (Z3 2.8 / 3.0i / Z3M) 5-speed Getrag 250 manual (Z3 1.8 / 1.9i / 2.0 / 2.2i / 2.5) 4-speed GM 4L30-E automatic (Z3 1.9 / 2.0 / 2.5 / 2.8) 5-speed GM 5L40-E automatic (Z3 2.2i / 2.5 / 3.0)

Models

The 4-cylinder models feature a single tailpipe, while six-cylinder models have dual tailpipes, wider rear fenders (for pre-facelift models) and a revised front bumper. M models featured the same wider fenders as the six-cylinder models but with unique front and rear bumpers, side mirrors and the M division's first use of a quad exhaust pipe arrangement. The 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2i models were unavailable in the United States. The U.S. was also the only market to receive the 2.3 and 2.5 models

M models

The M versions were introduced in 1997 in the roadster (M Roadster) and coupé (M Coupé) body styles. European models were initially powered by the S50 inline-six engine, while North American models were powered by the less powerful S52 inline-six engine. In 2001 both the European and North American models switched to the new S54 engine. The Z3M was only available with a 5-speed manual transmission. Compared to the standard Z3, M models featured a limited slip differential, a wider rear track, and larger brakes (that are shared with the E36 M3). M models were available in M-specific colors and featured numerous aesthetic and aerodynamic differences versus the rest of the Z3 range, including more aerodynamic side-view mirrors, redesigned front and rear bumpers, bespoke "Roadstar" Style 40 wheels, revised side gills, and quad exhaust pipes. The interior can also be differentiated by the voltmeter, clock, and oil temperature gauges in the center console as well as unique M-styled seats and interior color options. Unlike the rest of the Z3 range, the M Roadster and the M Coupé did not receive cosmetic changes during the facelift in 2000.

Special models

=== James Bond Edition === To tie in with its appearance in GoldenEye, a James Bond film which was released the same year, BMW released a "James Bond Edition" Z3 that was offered for sale through the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog. The James Bond Edition was sold in 1996 for US$35,000 (equivalent to $71,849 in 2025). BMW and Neiman Marcus had originally set a 20-unit sales goal, but this was later increased to 100 units after receiving a high level of interest from customers. The James Bond Edition was based on the Z3 1.9i and included a 007 dash plaque, 007 floor mats, unique wheels, and chrome exterior trim. The color scheme was an "Atlanta blue" exterior with beige leather interior, matching the Z3 which appeared in GoldenEye. The VIN of all 100 limited edition cars has code 007, and the last two indicate that out of 100 produced there is a specific example (....00700 to 00799). Exactly half of the cars (50 pieces) had a manual transmission and the same number had an automatic transmission. V12 prototype. In 1999, the BMW M division produced a single prototype Z3 powered by the 5.4 L M73 V12 engine in order to test the space efficiency of the engine bay. It is based on the Z3 roadster, has 17 inch wheels with 225/45 tires up front and 245/40 at the rear, and is painted in a shade of orange. The V12 was rated at 240 kW (322 hp) at 5,000 rpm and 490 N⋅m (361 lb⋅ft) of torque at 3,900 rpm, and power was sent through a 6-speed manual transmission. The concept is much heavier than the standard Z3 at 1,400 kg (3,086 lb), with nearly all of that excess weight attributable to the V12—the big engine resulted in a 70/30 weight distribution front/rear. The engine itself was so heavy and tightly fitted into the engine bay that it was explicitly warned to not go over speed bump

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: BMW Z3
Production: September 1995 – June 2002
Assembly: United States: Greer, South Carolina (Plant Spartanburg)
Class: Sports car (S)
Body style: 2-door roadster, 3-door shooting-brake
Related: BMW 3 Series (E36)
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine: Gasoline:, 1.8–1.9 L M43/M44 I4, 2.0–3.0 L M52/M52TÜ/M54 I6, 3.2 L S50/S52/S54 I6
Transmission: 5-speed GETRAG 250/ZF S5-31 manual, 4-speed GM Hydra-matic 4L30E automatic, 5-speed GM 5L40-E/ZF 5HP automatic
Wheelbase: 2446 mm
Length: 4025 mm
Width: 1692 mm
Height: 1293 -
Kerb weight: 1160-1400 kg
Predecessor: BMW Z1
Successor: BMW Z4 (E85)
Manufacturer: BMW
Designer: Joji Nagashima, Burkhard Göschel
Model years: 1996–2002

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q720552CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z3CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1377755185 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BMW_Z3.JPGPublic domain · Photo: 328cia · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.