ConvertibleBMW61% by Neofiliac Team59% by External Reviewers

BMW Z3 E36/7

Convertible

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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

Your rating:

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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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100 km/h","Fv":"10.5 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 60 mph","Fv":"10.0 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Fuel Economy","Fv":"10.9 L/100km / 21.6 MPG (urban) | 5.9 L/100km / 39.9 MPG (highway)"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Top Speed","Fv":"194.0 km/h / 120.5 mph"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Drivetrain Layout","Fv":"Front-engine (longitudinal), Rear-wheel drive"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine","Fv":"M43B18"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Bore","Fv":"84.0 mm / 3.3 in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Compression Ratio","Fv":"9.7:1"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Displacement","Fv":"1.8 L / 109.7 cu-in / 1798.0 cc"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Power","Fv":"115.0 hp / 85.8 kW @ 5500 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Specific Output","Fv":"64.0 hp/L / 1.0 hp/cu-in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Stroke","Fv":"81.0 mm / 3.2 in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Torque","Fv":"168 Nm / 123.9 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Type","Fv":"Naturally-aspirated multi-port injected petrol inline-4 engine with 2 values per cylinder"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Gears","Fv":"5-speed"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Type","Fv":"Manual"},{"Ft":"Production","Fn":"Availability","Fv":"1995 ~ 1998"}],[{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Cargo Capacity","Fv":"165 L / 5.8 cu-ft"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Coolant Capacity","Fv":"6.6 L / 7.0 qt"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Engine Oil Capacity","Fv":"4.0 L / 4.2 qt"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Fuel Capacity","Fv":"51.0 L / 13.5 gal"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Passengers","Fv":"2"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Payload","Fv":"270 kg / 595 lbs"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Brakes | Front","Fv":"Ventilated discs"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Brakes | Rear","Fv":"Disc"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Power Steering","Fv":"Hydraulic Steering"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Suspension | Front","Fv":"MacPherson strut"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Suspension | Rear","Fv":"Multi-link"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Tire Size","Fv":"225/50 R16"},{"Ft":"Construction","Fn":"Body Style","Fv":"2-door Convertible"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Height","Fv":"1288 mm / 50.7 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Length","Fv":"4050 mm / 159.4 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Width","Fv":"1740 mm / 68.5 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Track Width | Front","Fv":"1411.0 mm / 55.6 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Track Width | Rear","Fv":"1492.0 mm / 58.7 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Weight","Fv":"1220.0 kg / 2689.6 lbs"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Wheel Size","Fv":"16 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Wheelbase","Fv":"2446 mm / 96.3 in"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 100 km/h","Fv":"10.4 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 60 mph","Fv":"9.9 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Fuel Economy","Fv":"11.0 L/100km / 21.4 MPG (urban) | 6.0 L/100km / 39.2 MPG (highway)"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Top Speed","Fv":"196.0 km/h / 121.8 mph"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Drivetrain Layout","Fv":"Front-engine (longitudinal), Rear-wheel drive"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine","Fv":"M43TUB19"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Bore","Fv":"85.0 mm / 3.3 in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Compression Ratio","Fv":"9.7:1"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Displacement","Fv":"1.9 L / 115.6 cu-in / 1895.0 cc"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Power","Fv":"118.0 hp / 88.0 kW @ 5500 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Specific Output","Fv":"62.3 hp/L / 1.0 hp/cu-in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Stroke","Fv":"83.5 mm / 3.3 in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Torque","Fv":"190 Nm / 140.1 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Type","Fv":"Naturally-aspirated multi-port injected petrol inline-4 engine with 2 values per cylinder"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Gears","Fv":"5-speed"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Type","Fv":"Manual"},{"Ft":"Production","Fn":"Availability","Fv":"1998 ~ 2000"}],[{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Cargo Capacity","Fv":"165 L / 5.8 cu-ft"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Coolant Capacity","Fv":"6.6 L / 7.0 qt"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Engine Oil Capacity","Fv":"5.0 L / 5.3 qt"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Fuel Capacity","Fv":"51.0 L / 13.5 gal"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Passengers","Fv":"2"},{"Ft":"Capacity","Fn":"Payload","Fv":"250 kg / 551 lbs"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Brakes | Front","Fv":"Ventilated discs"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Brakes | Rear","Fv":"Disc"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Power Steering","Fv":"Hydraulic Steering"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Suspension | Front","Fv":"MacPherson strut"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Suspension | Rear","Fv":"Multi-link"},{"Ft":"Chassis","Fn":"Tire Size","Fv":"205/60 R15"},{"Ft":"Construction","Fn":"Body Style","Fv":"2-door Convertible"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Height","Fv":"1288 mm / 50.7 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Length","Fv":"4025 mm / 158.5 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Size | Width","Fv":"1692 mm / 66.6 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Track Width | Front","Fv":"1411.0 mm / 55.6 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Track Width | Rear","Fv":"1427.0 mm / 56.2 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Weight","Fv":"1185.0 kg / 2612.5 lbs"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Wheel Size","Fv":"15 in"},{"Ft":"Dimensions","Fn":"Wheelbase","Fv":"2446 mm / 96.3 in"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 100 km/h","Fv":"9.5 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Acceleration | 0 - 60 mph","Fv":"9.0 sec"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Fuel Economy","Fv":"11.4 L/100km / 20.6 MPG (urban) | 6.0 L/100km / 39.2 MPG (highway)"},{"Ft":"Performance","Fn":"Top Speed","Fv":"205.0 km/h / 127.4 mph"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Drivetrain Layout","Fv":"Front-engine (longitudinal), Rear-wheel drive"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine","Fv":"M44B19"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Bore","Fv":"85.0 mm / 3.3 in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Compression Ratio","Fv":"10.0:1"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Displacement","Fv":"1.9 L / 115.6 cu-in / 1895.0 cc"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Power","Fv":"140.0 hp / 104.4 kW @ 6000 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Specific Output","Fv":"73.9 hp/L / 1.2 hp/cu-in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Stroke","Fv":"83.5 mm / 3.3 in"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Torque","Fv":"180 Nm / 132.8 lb-ft @ 4300 rpm"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Engine | Type","Fv":"Naturally-aspirated multi-port injected petrol inline-4 DOHC engine with 4 values per cylinder"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Gears","Fv":"5-speed"},{"Ft":"Powertrain","Fn":"Transmission | Type","Fv":"Manual"},{"Ft":"Production","Fn":"Availability","Fv":"1995 ~ 1999"}]]

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

Also Check

Product ComparisonProducts in ConvertibleProducts by BMWKeyword dohcKeyword macpherson-strutKeyword manual-transmissionKeyword multi-linkKeyword rwd

References

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

BMW Z3 E36/7

Product Gallery

Product Overview

Ratings

What we found

What external reviewers found

Your rating:

Price Comparison

Specifications

External Reviews

autoexpress[1]

Also Check

References

autoexpress^[1]