ConvertibleBMW61% by Neofiliac Team59% by External Reviewers

BMW Z3 E36/7

Convertible

Product Gallery

Photo 0of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 1of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 2of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 3of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 4of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 5of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 6of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 7of BMW Z3 E36/7Photo 8of BMW Z3 E36/7

Product Overview

BMW Z3 E36/7 is a subcompact convertible sports car in production from 1995 to 2003. It was available with a range of inline-4 and inline-6 engines that displaced 1.8 to 3.0 liters.
An attempt by BMW to compete with the Mazda MX-5 in the ultra-light sports car market, the Z3 has an interesting styling with proportions of a classic European sports car. It is slightly heavier, and its suspension setup is more basic; these factors led to the relatively poor handling characteristics of the car.
Nevertheless, when equipped with an M52 or M54 inline-6 engine, the Z3 was more powerful than the MX-5 and the Morgan +4. It is also more affordable than the latter.

Ratings

What we found

Neofiliac score 61%
Pros
  • Lightweight sports car with I6 option
  • Good styling
  • Open top driving
Cons
  • Stuck with MacPherson struts in the front
  • Not very light

What external reviewers found

External score 59%
Pros
  • Good standard equipment
  • Comfortable to drive
  • Stylish looks
Cons
  • Poor ride quality
  • Fiddly VANOS system

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Price Comparison

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Specifications

Variants shown:
1.8 M43B18
1.8 M43B19
1.9
1.9 AT
2.0
2.2i
2.2i AT
2.8
2.8 AT
3.0i

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External Reviews

autoexpress[1]

Reviewer score 59% (normalized by Neofiliac)
Reviewers from autoexpress have found:
Most common problem is generally a failing oxygen sensor, which will throw up an engine warning light or fail an MoT emissions test. Non-M engines have a few more issues to be aware of, such as the Nikasil cylinder liners. Genuine BMW parts are expensive, but aftermarket parts can bring down the cost.
Pros
  • Stylish looks
  • Good standard equipment
  • Comfortable to drive
Cons
  • Poor ride quality
  • Fiddly VANOS system

References

  1. ^ BMW Z3: Buying guide and review (1996-2002). [autoexpress].

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