BMW Z3 roadster - AutoWorld.Com - The Accurate Information and Pricing Source

1999 BMW Z3 SERIES: TWO ROADSTERS AND A BRAND-NEW COUPE, ALL WITH SIX-CYLINDER POWER

Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, ...When the BMW Z3 roadster first burst upon the scene, it was an instant hit with critics and customers alike. "BMW's designers have opted for a look that combines just the right degree of retro-styling...with plenty of contemporary detailing," raved Car and Driver in September '95. "A roadster reminding us of fun we've been missing," wrote the Los Angeles Times. "It has a superb all-of-a-piece chassis, razor-sharp handling, great BMW steering, and styling that's all its own," joined Road & Track in the chorus of praise December 1996.

Now, three model years later, there are not one but three Z3 models - one of them a brand-new closed-body coupe whose design (once again) is "all its own." And unlike the original 4-cylinder model, all are powered by classically smooth BMW inline six-cylinder engines.

How did we get from there to here? The first step was adding a second model, powered by a six-cylinder engine, about a year after the Z3 debut. At this time the 4-cylinder model became known as the Z3 roadster 1.9, and the new six-cylinder model was called the Z3 roadster 2.8 - the new designations referring to their engine size. The 2.8 model didn't merely get a bigger, more powerful engine; it also incorporated a stronger transmission; strengthened and upgraded rear suspension with wider track; a special limited-slip differential; some exterior styling distinctions and standard leather upholstery. Again, the critics raved: "It transforms the car," reported AutoWeek on December 30, 1996, "with wonderful, wide bands of torque in every gear." And once again, buyers showed their approval. In fact, through March 1998, the Spartanburg, South Carolina BMW plant where Z3s are produced had turned out more than 122,000 of the roadsters (1.9 and 2.8) and exported over 81,000 to markets abroad.

Which brings us to 1999 and a pivotal further evolution of the Z3: into a three-model line of two roadsters and a coupe, all powered by six-cylinder engines. In fact, while the Z3 roadster 2.8 model continues for 1999 with significant updates, the other two Z3s are truly new models: Z3 roadster 2.3 and coupe 2.8.

As the new entry-level model, the Z3 roadster 2.3 is a significant departure. In place of the former entry model's 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine, it has a 2.5-liter six-cylinder unit, which boosts power from 138 to 170 hp, increases torque from 133 to 181 lb-ft., and makes a quantum leap to the turbine-smoothness and exciting sound of the BMW inline six-cylinder engine.

But these fundamentals are only part of the new model's power story. Thanks to the six-cylinder engine's aluminum cylinder block, overall vehicle weight is up by only 176 lb. over the previous "four." A new Double VANOS1 system steplessly varies valve timing on both overhead camshafts, while a dual resonance intake system and turbulence intake passages further contribute to this engine's satisfying blend of low- to medium-speed torque and high-end power. Longer-life (100,000-mile) sparkplugs and extended oil/filter-change intervals (15,000 miles) mean fewer trips to the BMW Center for scheduled maintenance².

Like all other Z3 engines for 1999, this one meets Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards. And with EPA mileage ratings of 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway with manual transmission, or 19/26 with automatic, this most affordable BMW roadster continues to deliver excellent fuel efficiency.

With its torque and smoothness, the new engine is as well suited to an automatic transmission as a manual. The available 4-speed automatic has been upgraded with Adaptive Transmission Control, which automatically "learns" and adapts its operation to how the car is being driven, road and environment conditions, etc. The driver can also select a Sport mode, or a Manual mode that allows at-will selection of the individual gears. For those who prefer to maximize their sports-car driving experience, a precise-shifting 5-speed manual transmission remains standard; it is improved by the incorporation of a new self-adjusting clutch, which promises even longer clutch service life than has been typical of BMWs.

Another bonus of the new 2.3 model is that it incorporates the same chassis upgrades as the 2.8. These include beefier, more rigid semi-trailing arms and a 2.5-in. wider rear track; differently calibrated spring rates and re-sized anti-roll bars front and rear; and enlarged, strengthened wheel carriers and bearings. A specially engineered limited-slip differential enhances dry-road handling. And the front disc brakes are ventilated, versus the solid discs of the previous 1.9 model.

Outwardly, the increased rear track is covered by rear fenders that flare out almost an inch more at the sides, resulting in a 1.9-in. overall increase in vehicle width. The bumper/spoiler ensemble incorporates a larger, grid-style air intake, and the housings for the available foglights are newly shaped. Each Z3 is newly identified with a badge on the rear, "2.3" in this case, and dual exhaust outlets are also new to the entry model. And as a safety bonus, side-impact airbags, an option in 1998, are standard in this and all other '99 Z3s.

And why, some may ask, is this model called "2.3" when its engine is a 2.5-liter? This naming logic originated with last year's new 323is coupe and 323i convertible, and continues with the new 323i sedan. Though the engine shares its size with the previous (through '95) 325i models, the engine is tuned for greater low- to medium-speed torque and less high-end power than that of the 325s. BMW wanted to communicate this difference with a more modest designation.

The performance, however, is anything but modest. Although official performance data aren't yet available, the same engine in the 254-lb.-heavier and taller-geared 323i sedan yields a 0-60-mph time of 7.1 seconds. The Z3 roadster 2.3 certainly should do at least as well. And in case that is not good news enough: The Z3 roadster 2.3 is base-priced at just $29,950 - up a mere $425 from its 4-cylinder predecessor and a better value than ever.

Still more refinements update not only the new 2.3 model, but the other two Z3s as well. The molded soft cover for the folded roadster top has been modified for easier use. Side-impact airbags are standard, vs. optional in '98, and the safety belts now incorporate force limiters. Maintenance requirements are further reduced by a new no-maintenance battery that goes well beyond what has been termed "no-maintenance" before. Newly available Cross Spoke wheels bring a popular BMW tradition to the Z3 for the first time, and chrome-plated versions of the standard wheel design are also a new option. A removable hardtop for the roadsters, formerly available as an accessory at BMW Centers, can now be ordered for factory installation; a brand-new option is a single-disc in-dash CD player.

Even though the engine size of the Z3 roadster 2.8 does not change for '99, its engine does receive the same technological updating found in the 2.5-liter unit. Shared with the six-cylinder engines of the E46 3 Series and the 528i models, these include Double VANOS steplessly variable valve timing, dual resonance intake system, reduced maintenance requirements, emission control to LEV standards, structural refinements for smoother running, and other advances. The aluminum cylinder block, though new to the E46 and 528i models, was already present in the Z3 roadster 2.8; indeed, it was first introduced in that model in '97.

As a result of these changes, the 2.8 engine generates stronger torque at low to medium engine speeds; its torque peak is up by 3 lb-ft. to 206 lb-ft., and occurs 450 rpm earlier than before at 3500 rpm. Similarly, peak power is up from 189 to 193 hp. EPA mileage with the manual transmission is unchanged at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway, but the Z3 2.8 with automatic transmission delivers the same 19/26 mpg - up from 18/24 in '98.

In addition to the larger engine, the Z3 roadster 2.8 distinguishes itself from the 2.3 model in several ways:

For this model, too, official acceleration data aren't yet in, but the 1998 0-60-mph times of 6.3 sec. with manual transmission and 6.7 sec. with automatic give an idea of what the newly powered '99 model might do. And with all its improvements, the '99 Z3 roadster 2.8 is up just $300 from its '98 price, to a $36,200 base price that continues to represent excellent value.

After coursing through the "spy photos" coverage of auto publications around the world for the past year or so, a bold new shape is now officially unveiled: BMW's own, contemporary Gran Turismo coupe, reviving a tradition BMW itself helped create some 60 years ago. It arrives in the form of two new closed-body sports cars, the M coupe (see separate release on the M Cars) and the Z3 coupe 2.8: a shape that truly dares to be different.

BMW isn't formally applying the term "GT" to the new coupe. After all, over the 45 years or so since the Italians coined the term Gran Turismo (Grand Touring) and perfected the breed, it has been diminished by application to hotted-up economy sedans. But if you take the term in its original context - a closed-body version of a purebred sports car - then the new coupe is rightly a GT - or, perhaps more correctly, the GT. For this new coupe truly takes up the tradition of great Gran Turismo automobiles, from BMW's own 328 Le Mans racing car of 1939 to the sleek and tasteful European coupes of Fifties and Sixties, in a way that has been pretty much dormant for a couple of decades now.

In the GT tradition, a closed coupe - most often a pure 2-seater - shares its mechanical platform and front-end sheet metal with a companion roadster. The Z3 coupe 2.8 follows this tradition, sharing its mechanical platform and front end with roadster 2.8. The coupe also differs in significant ways from the roadster in its driving qualities, but let's first consider its most apparent distinction: the new coupe body.

A little bulldog of a car, this purebred 2-seater with a snug fixed-roof body is bound to generate controversy. It is not some bland addition of a roof to a roadster. Instead, BMW has created a totally new shape from the windshield back, and it's an eye-catcher. The Germans have a word for such a shape: eigenwillig, or "determinedly going its own way." It's going to generate emotional reactions.

The coupe's rear flanks are its most striking aspect. Above wheel arches swelling out to house the wide rear track and beefy tires, the body tucks in sharply to rear-quarter windows that help afford the driver a good outward view. The roof terminates at the top of a rear hatch that includes a spoiler and LED third brakelight at its top and a wiper/washer combination on the rear window. Taillights shaped specifically for the coupe body complete a rear view that will undoubtedly be the most frequently seen. A second spoiler, integrated into body shape, spans the rear end between the rear window and taillights.

For effective sealing of the frameless door windows (and thus low wind noise), the top weatherseal holds the window firmly when it is closed. When a door handle is actuated and the window is up, the window immediately lowers slightly to allow the door to be opened; as the door is again closed, the window automatically returns to its closed position. Familiar from E36 3 Series coupes and convertibles, in the Z3 Series this refinement is exclusive to the coupe.

Inside the cabin, wood console trim and a wood shift knob are standard. Premium-grade Nappa leather is found on the seats and door panels, and sport seats are standard (both these features are upgrades from the Z3 roadster 2.8). Standard interior colors include Black plus 2-tone combinations with Tanin Red, Beige and (a new color) Walnut. Optional is Extended Leather, with leather trim appearing on additional areas such as the instrument panel, console sides, armrests/door pulls and upper door ledges.

A unique option for the coupe cabin is aluminum-look trim. The attractive new material appears on the console, steering-wheel spokes, shift knob, and the face panel into which the main instrument cluster is set. Also unique to the coupe in the Z3 line is a power glass tilt roof panel; larger than the typical moonroof, this panel adds more than an inch of head room.

A specially configured Harman Kardon audio system is standard, and includes the following premium features:

With no pretense at "+2" seating, the BMW designers could concentrate on making the space behind the seats just what it should be in a pure GT coupe: a practical cargo area with enough space for the belongings of two persons on a weekend (or longer) journey. Easily accessible through the rear hatch, the cargo floor is covered in the same high-grade carpeting as the footwells, and can be raised for access to the spare tire, toolkit and concealed storage space. A cargo cover can be rolled back and hooked into place to hide belongings from curious eyes; a snap-in net is available to assist in the placement and stability of cargo objects. The cargo area also offers itself for another use: It will carry two fully loaded golf bags.

So far, we have concentrated on the exterior and interior esthetics and amenities of the new coupe body; after all, these do set the stage for the unique motoring experience that awaits the lucky occupants. But the new body has another, expressly performance-oriented quality: immense structural rigidity, resulting from the close-coupled fixed-roof body.

In fact, say BMW engineers involved with the coupe's development, this is the most rigid body BMW has ever built - and it is well known that BMW bodies are always solid and strong. The new coupe derives from the Z3 roadster, which like most open cars has extra reinforcements in the floor area to compensate for its lack of a fixed roof. What may be surprising here is that these reinforcements have been retained in the coupe; the resulting torsional rigidity of 16,400 Newton-meter per degree is a prime factor in a handling feel that is surely unique in all the world. BMW engineers use the term "go-kart-like"; certainly, he or she who snugs in behind the coupe's steering wheel will discover agility and obedience that not merely re-create, but re-define the Gran Turismo experience.

Of the Z3 roadster 2.8, Sports Car International reported that "it doesn't matter whether you point the 2.8 up a mountain, down a steep pass, into a flying corner, or through a narrow cliffside tunnel - no matter where you are the well-chosen Michelins claw away at the asphalt, the tight brakes faithfully keep you out of trouble, and the self-assured Six slingshots you from one apex to the next."

Every word of this hymn of praise applies to the new Z3 coupe 2.8 - and then some. The closed body (which altogether weighs only 33 lb. more than that of the roadster) shifts the weight distribution somewhat toward the rear, resulting in front/rear balance even closer to optimum. This, combined with the additional agility and tautness conferred by the ultra-rigid body structure, will surely elevate the state of the art in combining sports-car exhilaration with utter civility.

The Z3 coupe 2.8's wheels are in a new Double Spoke design, exclusive to this model; the standard size is 16 x 7.0, with 225/50ZR-16 performance tires. Optional 17-in. Radial Spoke wheels, 7.5 in. wide at the front and 8.5 in. at the rear, carry 225/45ZR-17 tires at the front and even lower-profile 245/40ZR-17s at the rear. The Z3 coupe includes a space-saver spare tire.

At $36,200, the Z3 coupe 2.8 is priced identically to its roadster stablemate. It promises to create a whole new market niche for itself, appealing to buyers who want a small sports car with strong performance, spectacular handling, BMW elegance and quality, and closed-car comfort. In today's market, it is a truly unique automobile.

BMW strives to produce its motor vehicles and other products with the utmost attention to environmental compatibility and protection. Integrated into the design and development of BMW automobiles are such criteria as resource efficiency and emission control in production; environmentally responsible selection of materials; recyclability during production and within the vehicle; elimination of CFCs and hazardous materials in production; and continuing research into environmentally friendly automotive power sources. Tangible results of these efforts include the recycling of bumper cladding into other vehicle components; water-based paint color coats and powder clear coats; and various design and engineering elements that help make BMWs easier to dismantle at the end of their service life.

BMW of North America, Inc. was established in 1975, at which point the company assumed marketing and distribution responsibilities for BMW automobiles in the U.S. from the previous private distributor. Motorcycle marketing and distribution were added in 1980. Since then the company's North American operations have grown to include marketing, sales and financial-services organizations in the United States and Canada. BMW is represented in North America through a network of BMW Centers in the U.S. and Canada, including more than 375 for automobiles and 190 for motorcycles. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the brand's North American headquarters, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Copyright © 1985-2001 Auto World / VIS. All rights reserved. *Values are subjective opinions based on the Staff of NABA / VIS and recent market conditions. National Automobile Bankers Associates / Vehicle Information Services is not responsible for actual or claimed deviation. Copyright 2001 NABA/VIS. Auto World a service of VIS. 561-394-0610.