I just walked in from the garage after putting a new battery in my '96 Z3 and a fellow owner sent me this link. We bought it new in '96 - had it delivered to Germany where I was serving in the Army. Still running strong and still putting a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. Off to push it through the NC mountains soon!!
My 97 1.9L is at 58,000 miles and going strong. I have owned it 23 years now! There are just too many memories in it to let it go! I did supercharge it though! Thank you Motorweek for releasing this.
The Z3 in bond was cool but what did it for me was the Z3 M in Armageddon, it was love at first sight. Up until now one of the best looking cars in my opinion.
Yeah, now you have to be a masochist to own any BMW since the E46 out of warranty. They’re money pits that are needlessly complex, very expensive to work on, and prone to all sorts of expensive problems.
superweh Many have learned the hard way how most any German cars made in the last 20 years will ultimately drain your bank account due to their incredibly poor engineering.
Great video on the Z3, I of course do have the pleasure of driving a like new 23 year old 1999 Z3. What was a nice driving mechine, drives even better with poly bushing throughout.
I bought a 2000 Z3 2.8 5 speed manual for $1000 bucks 4 months ago, other that 2 kidney grills, and new struts, it was a solid car, I've put 4k miles in 4 months lol
Wow amazing deal! I’ve been wanting to do something similar and find an affordable easily fixed/ maintained car like this to have as a weekend car but I lack the space for it currently :/
Those years when I dreamed with BMW, those years when you buy luxury and reliability, nowadays, well, no thanks. By the way, 20 years later and I'm still in love with the Z8s.
@@thetechlibrarian yes sir, for me, the Golden years for European luxury cars. The best balance between simplicity, luxury, performance and reliability. Greetings
@Justinian Yi well, personally I don't like Tesla, if I have to choose a luxury car today, I prefer Audi or Porsche ( because Tesla after sale horror stories and because the lack of support for independent workshops repairs). Greetings
My 96 is so much fun to drive. The car gives you a direct connection to the road and it's way more responsive than the newer cars that just seem to go wonky when you hit the gas. There's nothing wonky about a Z3.
@@Thejordanenthusiast they were sorta if you maintain it very religiously $$$ - had an e46 m3. Regret selling it sometimes but it’s not a car that you don’t need to carefully consider it’s needs
I test drove a red 1.9 just like this back in 1997 and remember thinking how slow and anemic it was for the time. I waited a few years and got the M version… No regrets!
Ah the days of relatively simple BMWs that didn’t empty your bank account just keeping everything working. They’re now among the least reliable cars in the world.
@@blisterbrain lol no I think a lot of people idolize and believe the bond they grew up with was the best one but I do think Bronson was better than Craig or maybe just the movies were better
I never liked this one, but copue version is ok. It was weird to me when new, but today i like it. I think its called Clow Shoe in States. Z3 Coupe is a quite unique car on European roads.
What is the song being played at the 4:05 mark? I used to hear that song in some of the older NASCAR races back in the mid 90s before they would cut to a commercial break.
Mostly thanks to the popularity of the miata is that we then had cars like the M-B SLK, BMW Z cars, Porsche Boxter and even the Honda S2000 and the Pontiac Solstice twins.
These are really likable cars. Tragic that people look down upon them because they’re so small and the first bimmer made in the US. It’s hard to find one in good shape.
@@TheCarCrazyGuy yeah they'll try to blame us and tell us it's our fault that we don't want to see bond as a woman really has nothing to do with that It just doesn't make any sense and honestly in a way it's actually insulting to women that they couldn't come up with a character good enough for it to stand on its own merits as a woman, It has nothing to do with hate either I was actually rooting for irids elba to be bond because I wasn't particularly a fan of Craig's Bond.
@@TheCarCrazyGuy Yeah exactly like remaking Ghostbusters a couple of years ago with an entirely unfunny female cast. Was an instant failure as soon as the trailers came out.
One of the worst looking BMWs of all time. It just looked like they were bored at designing it. Same goes for the 1st gen BMW X5, which mr. Stephenson said he designed it in just 2 hours.
Rather ignorant and doesn't tell the whole story, but suit yourself. Stephenson isn't telling the whole truth, as the design program wasn't fully completed in 1994, let alone just "2 hours". He was referring to the basic design theme, not final production spec design. Can't always take someone literally in that context. The E37 Z3 was designed during a difficult time at BMW with no design director in charge and finalized after approval from The Claus Luthe himself, no longer a salaried BMW employee. The guy who designed it was a hard working Japanese man, also working on TWO designs. This and E39 5-Series, at the SAME TIME in 1991-92, before they went to engineers in June of 1992. Even after that, Z3 went through 2 more stages: design freeze in early 1993 and in March 1994, completion of alterations. Very well received product, after 4.5 years investment. I hate when people comment on what they don't fully know about.
@@jmin8400 I simply judged from what I can see. I don't like these particular cars I referred to. The X5 looks too short and tall, too stubby, like a squished pig, and it also has the awful-looking taillights of the E46 3-Series. And the Z3 looks like a mismatch of designs and, just like the E36 Compact, it feels cheap, especially inside. It just doesn't cut it for me. And the Breadvan Z3 version is even worse, in a whole different league of awfulness. The first Z4, following the Z3, is much more dramatic in design and has a far more premium feel inside.
@@blakelip3 they’re around, in my area $30k for a regular z3 coupe $50K + for an M, in comparison I have a 2002 M roadster S54 that’s pristine with tons of extras and low miles, I’d be lucky to get $25K for it
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is that the host driving?
@@squidhunter2014 Yep that's John - we would see him testing them in the early early seasons kinda unique to see him behind the wheel in this
I just walked in from the garage after putting a new battery in my '96 Z3 and a fellow owner sent me this link. We bought it new in '96 - had it delivered to Germany where I was serving in the Army. Still running strong and still putting a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. Off to push it through the NC mountains soon!!
My 97 1.9L is at 58,000 miles and going strong. I have owned it 23 years now! There are just too many memories in it to let it go! I did supercharge it though!
Thank you Motorweek for releasing this.
Damn you’ve barely driven it!
How much performance, say 0-60, did yours improve by after supercharging?
Seen them with 350-400k miles and more those little engines run forever!
Euro swap s50 would be real nice 👌
Fellow 1.9 supercharged owner as well! Had my Z3 for 13 years now!
Motorweek coming in clutch to help get through the week 🤘
Our man John driving and reviewing that Z3. Respect.
Loving the Bond vibes throughout haha. Amazing.
James Bond with 138hp. Unstoppable!
Yep, but quite light car.
BTW, in Europe we had also a 115hp 8 valve version.
@@jareknowak8712 sounds exciting
The Z3 in bond was cool but what did it for me was the Z3 M in Armageddon, it was love at first sight. Up until now one of the best looking cars in my opinion.
Wow! Impressive how this car still looks good today! 🚗💨
Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in Goldeneye. BMW Z3 was in the movie in Puerto Rico where I was live.
I wish you guys streamed motorweek retro live around the clock on repeat
Same here.
Or at least once a month for 48h.
@@jareknowak8712 ...funny you should say that
They do!!
Back when BMWs looked good, were reliable, and actually worth buying, not leasing.
138hp isnt gonna break anything
They were NEVER reliable...
Yeah, now you have to be a masochist to own any BMW since the E46 out of warranty. They’re money pits that are needlessly complex, very expensive to work on, and prone to all sorts of expensive problems.
superweh Many have learned the hard way how most any German cars made in the last 20 years will ultimately drain your bank account due to their incredibly poor engineering.
@@sharedknowledge6640 Agree, totally over engineered.
Golden eye for N64, what an awesome game!!
I'm 33 currently. When I was in Elementary School , at Little Woods Elementary in New Orleans , I looked at these as mini Dodge Vipers.
Amazing design. This engine is bulletproof.
I love my 1998! Just now replacing the clutch & flywheel and the cooling system after 162,000 miles! Excellent cars & still look great today! 🥰
Great video on the Z3, I of course do have the pleasure of driving a like new 23 year old 1999 Z3. What was a nice driving mechine, drives even better with poly bushing throughout.
I’d love to see an M Z3 review
I just had the privilege of driving one this past weekend. An absolute blast. And I own an ND2 Miata.
The N64 era
First thing I thought of when they said goldeneye lol
Great video...I love my little Z3....she's so much fun to drive....
I bought a 2000 Z3 2.8 5 speed manual for $1000 bucks 4 months ago, other that 2 kidney grills, and new struts, it was a solid car, I've put 4k miles in 4 months lol
Fucking steal I’ve seen em for 5k MINIMUM and up to 12k even for decent mileage examples
Wow amazing deal! I’ve been wanting to do something similar and find an affordable easily fixed/ maintained car like this to have as a weekend car but I lack the space for it currently :/
Those years when I dreamed with BMW, those years when you buy luxury and reliability, nowadays, well, no thanks. By the way, 20 years later and I'm still in love with the Z8s.
Right. The days when you could buy a old bmw and it’s would be relatively reliable and able to be worked on.
@@thetechlibrarian yes sir, for me, the Golden years for European luxury cars. The best balance between simplicity, luxury, performance and reliability. Greetings
@Justinian Yi well, personally I don't like Tesla, if I have to choose a luxury car today, I prefer Audi or Porsche ( because Tesla after sale horror stories and because the lack of support for independent workshops repairs). Greetings
As soon as he GOLDEN EYE the first thing that came to my mind was the N64 game, BEST GAME EVER.
Built in my hometown, nothing Beats a BMW for a ride and handling
My 96 is so much fun to drive. The car gives you a direct connection to the road and it's way more responsive than the newer cars that just seem to go wonky when you hit the gas. There's nothing wonky about a Z3.
29k in 1996...that’s 49k in today’s money...for a 4 banger 138hp roadster that does 0-60 in almost 10 seconds. Might as well buy a Miata.
2:48 John: ONE THAT IS MORE GRAN TOURING THAN GRAN PRIX! LOL
Spot on review! Looking retrospectively.
As soon as I saw this in my feed I immediately thought of Goldeneye.
Same
Me too.
The last true reliable Bimmer
I thought the E39 M5 and the E46 M3 were the last reliable Bimmers.
@@Thejordanenthusiast they were sorta if you maintain it very religiously $$$ - had an e46 m3. Regret selling it sometimes but it’s not a car that you don’t need to carefully consider it’s needs
The Z3M was incredible.
I test drove a red 1.9 just like this back in 1997 and remember thinking how slow and anemic it was for the time. I waited a few years and got the M version… No regrets!
@@thirdstar9255 you say that like it’s not an anemic turd lmao 💩
Review of the 94 Galant please!
You unbreakable :)
I totally see this as a collector
Z3 지금봐도 매력적이죠
Davis, John Davis. 🤣
There's a guy in the next town over selling one of these. Might at least look at it.
Who needs car ads when you have reviews like this 🙄
I love my z3 but the 507 is goals AF
Ah the days of relatively simple BMWs that didn’t empty your bank account just keeping everything working. They’re now among the least reliable cars in the world.
You couldn't be more wrong
Besides Connery Bronson was the best Bond, I don’t care what anybody says
Death Wish?
@@blisterbrain lol no I think a lot of people idolize and believe the bond they grew up with was the best one but I do think Bronson was better than Craig or maybe just the movies were better
Mr. Majestyk?
In true BMW fashion, coolant temp already hanging out at 1/2.
Buick called, they want their portholes back
"Ventiports"
Those were inspired by the 1956 BMW 507 Roadster. They look nothing like the Buick Cruiser-Line Ventiports.
You realize this is 25 years old, right?
The BMW Z car is the only one in its class to still be competing with the Miata. All other competitors have said bye-bye.
I never liked this one, but copue version is ok.
It was weird to me when new, but today i like it.
I think its called Clow Shoe in States.
Z3 Coupe is a quite unique car on European roads.
What is the song being played at the 4:05 mark? I used to hear that song in some of the older NASCAR races back in the mid 90s before they would cut to a commercial break.
I still have my 97 Z3.
its beautiful
Had a few as service loaners
Never drove one, but this is a bit like the missing link between my E30, E36 and S2000, at least in M Roadster form.
Best cars from 90-s
Can you please upload a retro review of the 1998 Honda Accord? That car was part of my childhood.
So like a mazda miata in bmw form
Mostly thanks to the popularity of the miata is that we then had cars like the M-B SLK, BMW Z cars, Porsche Boxter and even the Honda S2000 and the Pontiac Solstice twins.
These are really likable cars. Tragic that people look down upon them because they’re so small and the first bimmer made in the US.
It’s hard to find one in good shape.
Z platform will be discounted 😭
One of the more reliable BMW’s
Those Bond movies were dismal.
Thumbs up for the video, not the horsepower.
There's no upside down mpg guage flicking around all over the place. Anyone know the reason?
The James Bond car
我了解~其實這輛是 bmw系列super-2jz ~哈哈哈!
Cool
just about to go to skchol and i see this
screw schckool
Is that a Toyota supra lol
When BMWs looked like BMWs
My uncle from Munich had one while dating my aunt in 00'
The Brosnan James Bond car lol
More than once I have considered a Z3 or Z4 a good used convertible.
2:58 Wait, which M3? The Z3 had the rear suspension of an E30 or E36?
E30 in the back, E36 in front.
Miata is a lot better if it's not a 6 cylinder.
Now the new James Bond is a woman
The movie will be a complete flop. Get woke, go broke.
@@TheCarCrazyGuy yeah they'll try to blame us and tell us it's our fault that we don't want to see bond as a woman really has nothing to do with that It just doesn't make any sense and honestly in a way it's actually insulting to women that they couldn't come up with a character good enough for it to stand on its own merits as a woman, It has nothing to do with hate either I was actually rooting for irids elba to be bond because I wasn't particularly a fan of Craig's Bond.
@@TheCarCrazyGuy Yeah exactly like remaking Ghostbusters a couple of years ago with an entirely unfunny female cast. Was an instant failure as soon as the trailers came out.
BMW Miata
One of the worst looking BMWs of all time. It just looked like they were bored at designing it. Same goes for the 1st gen BMW X5, which mr. Stephenson said he designed it in just 2 hours.
LOL thats why they sold out in 96 and continued to be a success through its lifespan.
But you are entitled to your opinion.
Rather ignorant and doesn't tell the whole story, but suit yourself. Stephenson isn't telling the whole truth, as the design program wasn't fully completed in 1994, let alone just "2 hours". He was referring to the basic design theme, not final production spec design. Can't always take someone literally in that context.
The E37 Z3 was designed during a difficult time at BMW with no design director in charge and finalized after approval from The Claus Luthe himself, no longer a salaried BMW employee. The guy who designed it was a hard working Japanese man, also working on TWO designs. This and E39 5-Series, at the SAME TIME in 1991-92, before they went to engineers in June of 1992. Even after that, Z3 went through 2 more stages: design freeze in early 1993 and in March 1994, completion of alterations.
Very well received product, after 4.5 years investment.
I hate when people comment on what they don't fully know about.
@@jmin8400 I simply judged from what I can see. I don't like these particular cars I referred to. The X5 looks too short and tall, too stubby, like a squished pig, and it also has the awful-looking taillights of the E46 3-Series.
And the Z3 looks like a mismatch of designs and, just like the E36 Compact, it feels cheap, especially inside. It just doesn't cut it for me. And the Breadvan Z3 version is even worse, in a whole different league of awfulness.
The first Z4, following the Z3, is much more dramatic in design and has a far more premium feel inside.
@@hothatchpa It seems like you're a bit biased, since you own one.
@@McBeamer94 Well stated Ray, they are very subjective vehicles, unlike previous cars which were much more conservative.
Whoa! It looks ugly, but drives beautifully!!
Design wise, either you loved it or hated it
Not a fan of the Z3 or the later Z4! It sits too low for me(even lower than the Miata)! A BMW M3 would be better for me!!!
Shake and stir. How very droll.
Was this car called the Clown car or was that that M version
No. You are thinking about the coupe version.
@@jareknowak8712 oh ok
The z3 coupes are called clown shoes both the m and non m versions. They’re unbelievably expensive now if you can find one
@@anthonyjenkins3335 lol I probably won’t find one
@@blakelip3 they’re around, in my area $30k for a regular z3 coupe $50K + for an M, in comparison I have a 2002 M roadster S54 that’s pristine with tons of extras and low miles, I’d be lucky to get $25K for it
🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷👍👍👍👍👍
Too damn small
it's funny how useless this coverage is back then. this is essentially an advertisement.
I don't like it never did
First
3rd liker
You deserve an award, you winner
4th