・Highly desirable manual 3.0-litre model

・Low mileage example

 ∙Presents in excellent overall condition
 ∙E10 Fuel compliant

BMW’s Z3 was launched in 1995 and was initially powered by four-cylinder engines with the larger, creamy-smooth, six-cylinder units following in 1996. Famously used in the James Bond film GoldenEye it was unashamedly retro in its styling and used a combination of parts found in both the E30 and E36 3 Series models. It proved to be hugely popular with Z3 Roadster production reaching nearly 280,000 examples.

The Z3 has aged remarkably well and is now seen as a convincing modern classic – new enough to have plenty of mod cons but old enough to have plenty of classic kudos. In 3.0-litre form with the five-speed manual transmission it’s still a quick car, recording a 6.0-second 0-62mph time according to BMW. Low mileage examples in good condition are becoming increasingly desirable and hard to find.   

The first six-cylinder Z3 was badged as a 2.8 but this was replaced by the newer M54 straight-six engined car, the 3.0i, when the Z3 was facelifted in 1999. The new engine was an absolute peach and offered excellent performance. Further changes included a widened rear track with more curvaceous rear wings along with revised rear light clusters. 

The Sapphire black metallic example we have here was first registered in November 2001 and has had six owners in total. It covered 20,000 miles during its first five years and has subsequently been used sparingly by its owners, averaging just 2000 miles a year since then. The current owner bought the Z3 as we emerged from the first lockdown as he wanted a roadster that would be both eye-catching and fun to drive. 

He was thorough in his pre-purchase inspection, carrying out an RAC inspection and having any necessary rectification work carried out at a local garage. During the current owner’s time with the car he has pampered it, replacing one front wing that was showing signs of corrosion (a known Z3 weak point), completing routine servicing and having a ceramic coating applied to the paint to keep it looking smart.

However, he is now having to travel further afield for work and needs something a little more practical than the Z3. It has been sat in the driveway under a rainproof breathable cover, which is also included with the sale.

Please note the private number plate does not come with the car reverting to its original number plate of BD51FZO.

There’s a large file of paperwork to go with the Z3 including some old MoTs and some servicing receipts dating back to 2011. There is a full record of all the work that the current owner has had done to the Z3 while in his ownership. 

Paperwork from the last year includes the RAC report, Gtechniq ceramic coating, servicing and MoTs, replacement rear brake pads and discs and left rear calliper and the replacement front wing completed by BMW dealer Specialist Cars Stevenage. There are also two Vehicle Health check reports from Specialist Cars Stevenage.

The car is SORN and started weekly. There are two keys to accompany the car along with a V5C in the owner’s name.

The cockpit of this Z3 contrasts nicely with and compliments the Sapphire black exterior paintwork as it’s finished in a black and red two-tone combination. Being a Sport model means it has sports seats and the current owner believes that the leather seats have received treatment in the past and it shows as they look to be in great shape with no rips, tears or staining. The two-tone interior door trim panels are in similarly excellent condition as are the carpets and floor mats. 

All the switch gear is present and correct and in excellent order with no fading or scratching to any of the buttons or controls. This Z3 is well equipped with part electric seats which are heated, air conditioning that blows cold along with Dynamic Stability Control. The Z3 is equipped with cruise control but it should be noted that during one of its health checks at Specialist Cars it was found to be inoperative.

The original stereo has been replaced with a Pioneer DEH-3900BT unit with Bluetooth and USB connectivity and there is a microphone fitted to the dashpod to allow handsfree phone use. Additionally there is a Nextbase 312GW HD dashcam fitted by the rear view mirror which has been hardwired to the car and is included in the sale.

The glovebox and two small storage compartments behind the rear seats are in good order and all open and shut as they should. Overall the interior of this Z3 is in excellent order and with the mesh wind deflector fitted between the headrests and the heated seats switched on we should imagine it’s a great place to sit for some hood down frolics even on a winter’s day.

The boot is in great condition with an unblemished carpet. Underneath the carpet is the car’s toolkit which appears to be complete. The Z3 also comes with a fabric panel which covers the exterior of the boot lid if you wanted to spread a map or picnic while you’re stopped on a road trip. There’s also a boxed Burago model of a black Z3 with a red and black interior that comes with the car.

The Sapphire black paintwork presents in excellent order and has a deep shine to it, no doubt in part to its ceramic coating. Look very closely and there are a few odd very minor surface scratches here and there, but these don’t detract from how the car presents. There are no dents or ripples that we could see and overall it’s in excellent order.

As this is a Z3 Sport model it is equipped with 17-inch Style 78 light alloy wheels, 7.5-inches wide at the front and 8.5-inches wide at the rear fitted with 225/40 and 245/40 Avon tryes front and rear respectively. All the tyres have excellent tread remaining and the wheels are in good order with just some minor scuffing to the OSF wheel.

The hood appears to be in good condition with just some minor signs of wear that you would expect to occur in normal operation of a soft top. It is electric in operation and folds back neatly and rapidly on the button. There is a tonneau cover to cover the hood when it is in the lowered position. There is a little bit of a line running along the centre of the rear screen where it folds when the roof is lowered. All the stitching and seals appear to be in good order and the owner reports that it is watertight which is borne out by dry carpets and no damp smells inside.

Underneath the Z3 looks to be in good solid condition.

The M54 straight-six fires up on the first turn of the key accompanied with a suitably sporty growl from the exhaust and settles to a smooth idle. Under the bonnet everything is clean and in good order. With the Z3 having covered such low mileage and having been serviced recently (including a set of new spark plugs) it should provide many more miles of reliable and tuneful service.

There is one issue that the current owner is aware of, and that’s an ABS light that stays illuminated every now and then, indicating a fault with the system. The fault has been diagnosed as being a faulty RPM sensor, but knowing he’s selling the car the owner has decided not to have the fault rectified, especially as it is intermittent in nature. However, he wants to be as transparent as possible with regards to the car’s condition and was keen for this to be reported as a known fault with the car.

The seller also states this car is E10 fuel compliant.

Z3s, especially in the most desirable 3.0i Sport guise with the manual gearbox, are becoming increasingly hard to find and bar the intermittent ABS fault this example is an absolute peach. The Sapphire black paintwork has a deep lustre and the red and black sport leather interior is in excellent order. With its low mileage and recent expenditure it shouldn’t disappoint its lucky next owner.