BMW Z3, 1996 - 2003
4.553Rating4.35% worse than average rating of competitors (4.5)Review number: 3 RecommendsYes 0% No 100%
The BMW Z3 became the first modern BMW roadster. Introduced in 1996, the car debuted in the famous agent James Bond film GoldenEye and immediately became very popular. The Z3 is built on the E36 3 Series BMW platform. The rear suspension is taken from the older 3 Series E30 model, not the more advanced multi-link E36 suspension. The smallest engines, the 1.8 L, 1.9 L, certainly didn’t show dynamism, but the most powerful versions had a large 6-cylinder in-line 3.2 L engine. Inside, the car wasn't special - poor-quality plastic looked cheaper than other BMWs, and the plastic rear window looked worse than the glass that the cheaper Mazda MX5 had. However, the advantages of the Z3 are other: it is a small sporty, well-operated car. That's what BMW has to do. The car has become popular and appreciated, maintaining its value well. The Z3 proved to be quite reliable with a few minor issues.