Celebrating 30 Years of the Iconic BMW Z3, Now a Classic

Thirty years have passed since the production of the Z3 began at BMW's Spartanburg plant in the United States. This compact roadster was the first BMW manufactured outside Germany, with a history full of successes, and 297,087 units were built.

Its first driver was James Bond in the 007 film "Golden Eye." The film premiered in November 1995, and the BMW Z3 was Pierce Brosnan's faithful companion in the most dynamic scenes. Interestingly, the car featured in the movie is housed in the BMW Museum in Munich.

That same year, the limited edition Z3 James Bond Edition was launched in the US market with only 20 units. Its success was such that production had to be increased to 100 cars. By early 1996, the entire annual production of the Z3 (15,000 units) was already sold out.

The body of the BMW Z3 was designed by Joji Nagashima, who also created the lines of the BMW 5 Series E39 and the 3 Series E90. The Z3 continued BMW's characteristic roadster formula: long bonnet, short rear, very reduced overhangs, and a driving position set back almost to the rear axle.

Undoubtedly, the Z3 was a worthy successor, in compact size, to the legendary BMW 507 of the fifties. The Z3's design perfectly combined modern and daring forms with classic details like the side gills. Today, the design of the BMW Z3 is considered a timeless classic aesthetic and is a roadster with fan clubs worldwide.

When the BMW Z3 was launched, the available engines were the well-known four-cylinder engines with 115 (M43B18) and 143 HP (M44B19). In April 1997, the unforgettable six-cylinder 2.8-litre engine with 193 HP (M52B28) arrived, and BMW M also introduced the Z3 Roadster M with the S50B32 3.2-litre engine producing 321 HP. With this engine, the same as the BMW M3 E36, the Z3 became a high-performance sports car.

By 1999, nearly 170,000 units of the Z3 had been sold, and the model was slightly updated with a more muscular rear, new taillights, and a front that included headlights with chrome-edged optics, giving it a very appealing look. Mechanically, there were new features such as the 1.9-litre engine (M43B19) with 117 HP, the six-cylinder 2.0-litre (M52B20) with 150 HP. A six-cylinder 2.2-litre (M52B22) with 170 HP also arrived, while the top of the range was occupied by the six-cylinder 3.0-litre (M52B30) with 231 HP and the M version with 325 HP (S54B32).

Within the history of the Z3, a special chapter must be dedicated to the coupé version launched in the summer of 1998. Its unique rear has a precedent in BMW with the legendary 328 Sportcoupé, with which Huschke van Hanstein and Walter Bäumer won the 1940 Mille Miglia. Today, the BMW Z3 Coupé is a cult car, with around 18,000 units produced.

The Z3 Coupés were sold only with six-cylinder engines: the Z3 Coupé 2.8i with 193 HP, the 3.0i with 231 HP, and the M versions with 321 and 325 HP. Interestingly, the Z3 M Coupé was the safety car used in MotoGP during the 2000 season. Another anecdote of the Z3 Coupé is the "Millennium Edition" unit raffled among the readers of a German car magazine.

Within the roadster body, there is a very special unique model, the Z3 M V12. This unit with a V12 engine producing 326 HP was built to test the engine bay capacity of the Z3.

BMW also produced some special Individual versions with a very exclusive combination of colours and equipment. Some of these editions are the "British Traditional," "Dakkar," or "Kyalami." More common were the Sport Edition versions, which can be found in the Z3 1.9i, 2.2i, and 3.0i. This special version featured 17-inch wheels with Style 42 or Style 78 models, along with a lower suspension (-1.5 cm compared to a standard Z3), rear limited-slip differential, and an interior with sports seats and M details.

The last unit manufactured at the Spartanburg plant was on June 28, 2002, and is on display at the factory museum. Undoubtedly, a tribute to a roadster that offered its drivers all the driving pleasure of BMW. Sports car enthusiasts have been considering the BMW Z3 a classic for several years, and 2020 marks a very special date as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.