BMW Z3 (E36/4)

BMW Z3
Manufacturer BMW
Production 1996–2002
Assembly Greer, South Carolina, United States (BMW US Mfg. Comp.)
Predecessor BMW Z1
Successor BMW Z4
Class Roadster
Body style 2-door convertible
2-door coupé
Layout FR layout
Engine 1.8 L M43B18 I4
1.9 L M44B19 I4
2.0 L M52B20 T I6
2.2 L M54B22 I6
2.8 L M52B28 I6
3.2 L S52B32 I6 (NA only)
3.2 L S50B32 I6 (non-NA)
2.5 L M52TUB25 I6
2.5 L M54B25 I6
3.0 L M54B30 I6
3.2 L S54B32 I6
Transmission 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 96.3 in (2,446 mm)
Length 158.5 in (4,026 mm)
Width 1996-98: 66.6 in (1,692 mm)
1999-2002: 68.5 in (1,740 mm)
Height 1996-98: 50.7 in (1,288 mm)
1999-2002 Roadster: 50.9 in (1,293 mm)
Coupe: 51.4 in (1,306 mm)
Curb weight 2,590–3,186 lb (1,170–1,445 kg)
Related BMW 3 Series (E36)
Duesen Bayern Mystar[1]
Duesen Bayern Agnes[2]

The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first new BMW model assembled in the United States. (The very first BMW assembled in the US was the E36/4, 318i that rolled off the Spartanburg Plant assembly line beginning in October 1994.) The Z3 was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie, GoldenEye. At that time Karen Sortito created the BMW campaign for the film GoldenEye.[3] Afterwards, while the film was number one at the box office, sales of the car spiked.

There were a few variants of the car before its production run ended in 2002, including a coupé version for 1999. It was manufactured and assembled in Greer, South Carolina. The Z3 was replaced by the BMW Z4 introduced in late 2002 at the Paris Auto Show.

Contents

Overview

The Z3 was designed by Joji Nagashima of the BMW design team and developed from the E36 platform of the 3 Series. The resulting platform is sometimes referred to as the E36/7 (roadster) or E36/8 (coupé). The rear semi-trailing arm suspension from the E30 was used rather than the more sophisticated multilink suspension from the E36. At first, only the 1.9 L M44B19 straight-4 engine was offered, but its 138 hp (103 kW) was not up to buyers' expectations. Interior appointments too were not up to the standard of other BMW models, and the plastic rear window looked poor compared to the glass unit found on the much less expensive Mazda MX5 (Miata).

In 1997 a more powerful 6-cylinder engine was added. The 2.8 L engine (M52B28), similar to the BMW M52 straight-6 in the 328i except with an all aluminum block and head, was especially desirable with its 189 hp (141 kW). The M Roadster appeared in 1998 with a 3.2 L S52B32 engine (North America) or more powerful 3.2 L S50B32 engine (International). In 1999, the 1.9 L 4-cylinder engine was replaced with a 2.5 L straight-6 M52TUB25, producing 170 hp (130 kW) in North America. Due to marketing, BMW wanted to differentiate the 2.8 L engine from the 2.5 L engine, so it was badged 2.3 just like the 3-Series 323i, which also has a 2.5 L engine. Outside of North America, the 1.9 L 4-cylinder was replaced with a 2.0 L straight-6 in 1999, with 148 hp (110 kW).

There have been V8 engines fitted into the Z3 by German tuning companies AC Schnitzer (4.4L in roadster version, no series production) [4] and Hartge (5.0L in Coupé version, titled Hartge Z3 MQP V8).[5]

All of the engines were replaced for 2000. The range consisted of the 2.2 L M54B22 (available outside North America), 2.5 L M54B25, 3.0 L M54B30, and (for the M Roadster) 3.2 L S54B32. All three of these straight-6 engines lasted through the end of the car's run in 2002. Also updated was the car's interior appointments, though the plastic window remained.

Year to year standard equipment changes

1997 - Traction control;
1998 - Rollover bars;
1999 - Side airbags;
1999 - Revised tail styling;
2001 - Dynamic Brake Control.

M Roadster

Main article: BMW M Roadster

From 1998 to 2002, the Motorsports division of BMW produced the M Roadster which included suspension upgrades and the engine from the BMW M3. The international 1998, 1999 and 2000 M roadster had the 3.2L S50 motor from the E36 M3 with quad exhausts. The North American models for this time frame had the less powerful S52 engine. The 2001 and 2002 models all had the S54 motor from the E46 M3. There were also interior upgrades with additional gauges in the center console, lighted "M" shift knob, various chrome bits throughout the cockpit and sport seats as standard equipment. Exterior changes were larger wheels spaced further apart and more aggressive fenders than were installed on the regular Z3. Hardtops were available as an option. The BMW Z3 M was succeeded by the BMW Z4 M.

Coupé

In addition to the roadster version of the Z3, BMW also released a coupé featuring a chassis-stiffening rear hatch area, though the Shooting-brake styling this gave was controversial. The coupé was available as the Z3 Coupé from 1999 to 2002 or as the BMW Motorsport-enhanced M Coupé from 1999 to 2002.

The Z3 coupés were only available with the largest 6-cylinder engine offered in the Z3 roadster: the 2.8 L in 1999 and 2000 and the 3.0 L in 2000 for Europe and in 2001 for the US. The 1999 and 2000 M models were equipped with the 3.2 L S50 (S52 for North America) engine from the E36 BMW M3, while all the 2001 and 2002 models came with the S54 engine from the E46 BMW M3.

Racing

The Z3 is currently used in the KONI Challenge Series. In 2011 there is a new race series for BMW Z3s see 750 Motor Club website [2]

Awards

References

  1. ^ "BMW Z3 customized to look like a Mercedes 190 SL". Top Speed. 2007-01-24. http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/bmw-z3-customized-to-look-like-a-mercedes-190-sl-ar25936.html. Retrieved 2010-07-25. 
  2. ^ – Mike Spinelli (2007-01-25). "More Replicas from Duesen Bayern". Jalopnik.com. http://jalopnik.com/231357/more-replicas-from-duesen-bayern. Retrieved 2010-07-25. 
  3. ^ "Karen Sortito dies at 49; marketing exec negotiated product tie-ins to Bond movies". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/15/local/la-me-karen-sortito-20101215. Retrieved 2010-12-21. 
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ "Hartge Z3 M Coupé 5.0 V8 the one". Pistonheads.com. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=355481&f=181&h=0. Retrieved 2010-07-25. 
Type Series 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
Small family 3 Compact E36/5 E46/5
1 Series E81 / E82 / E87 / E88 F20
Compact exec 3 Series E21 E30 E36 E46 E90 / E91 / E92 / E93 F30
Executive 5 Series E12 E28 E34 E39 E60 / E61 F10 / F11
Luxury Coupé 6 Series E24 E63 / E64 F12 / F13
Luxury 7 Series E23 E32 E38 E65 / E66 / E67 / E68 F01 / F02 / F03 / F04
Roadster Z Series E30 (Z1) E36/7 & E36/8 (Z3) E85 / E86 (Z4) E89 (Z4)
M 1 Series M Coupe E82 M
M3 E30 M3 E36 M3 E46 M3 E90/92/93 M3
M5 E28 M5 E34 M5 E39 M5 E60/61 M5 F10 M5
M6 E24 M635CSi/"M6" E63/64 M6
M Roadster E36/7 (Z3) M E85 (Z4) M
M Coupé E36/8 M Coupé E86 M Coupé
Supercar/GT E26 (M1) E31 (8 series) E52 (Z8)
Sports Activity X1 E84
X3 E83 F25
X5 E53 E70
X6 E71 / E72
Progressive Activity 5 GT F07