Page 81 - Wayne Carini's Guide to Affordable Classics

BMW Z3
course, the Mazda Miata. Generally speaking, only the Porsche will be consistently more expensive than the Z3 today. The first generation SLK that was launched in 1996 suffered from reliability troubles that have depressed values, and it never caught on with the enthusiast market like the Porsche, BMW, Mazda, and Audi products.
Compared to those others, the Z3 doesn’t have the perfectly poised balance of a Boxster, nor the lightweight tossability of a Miata, or the sure-footed grip of an Audi TT with quattro all-wheel drive. What it has is BMW gravitas. The Z3 drives with the solid confidence of a 3-Series, but in a lighter and more lively package. At today’s prices, that’s an attractive combination.
The Knowledge
dThe rear window in Z3 roadsters is made of plastic and becomes scratched and cloudy over time. The only effective solution is to replace the window, and this can be done as a standalone repair, or as part of a total top replacement.
dEvery BMW Z3 was built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was the first BMW never to be built in Germany.
dThe most affordable members of the Z3 line are the 1.9-liter cars. Often derided, they are nonetheless reliable and fun. If you’re on a budget, it might be smart to buy
a well-kept four-cylinder rather than a six-cylinder that needs expensive work.
dIf a Z3 roadster is offered for sale with the optional removable hardtop, be sure to get it. They’re getting hard to find these days. Even if you have to spend a little more, the hardtop makes the Z3 a cozy coupe in the winter as well as an exciting roadster for the summer.
dIf you are dreaming of an M Coupe (and really, if you aren’t, then what’s wrong with you?) they start at about $20,000 these days, and quickly go to $40,000 based on mileage and features. Later S54 coupes from 2001- 2002 sell higher, around $50,000 typically, and some have broken six figures.
dThe Z3 2.8 and 3.0 coupes are still available and generally sell between $10,000 and $20,000. If you can’t afford the M Coupe, this is a great way to get started with the model.
dPerhaps the rarest Z3 (apart from the concept V12 model) is the 1996 Neiman-Marcus 007 edition. Featured in the store’s 1995 Christmas catalog, 100 cars were painted to resemble the car that Pierce Brosnan drove as James Bond in Goldeneye. They’re all standard 1.9-liter cars, but they have a special interior and a 007 dash plaque. You can tell if a 007 edition is genuine by the VIN number, which start at LE00700 and run to E00799. Expect to pay about $20,000 of one of these.
TOP: A Z3 Coupe in a particularly attractive shade of blue. MIDDLE: The Z3 hardtop is a rare and prized option.
ABOVE: The Z3 underwent a major facelift in 1999 which included engine upgrades as well as substantial design changes, including the L-shaped rear taillamps.
hardtop is an attractive unit and fits any Z3 roadster from the beginning of production through to the last car off the line. If you need to buy one on the open market today, they cost between $2,500 and $4,000, which is a significant percentage of the likely price of a Z3 with an included hardtop.
If you’re considering buying a Z3, the competitive cars include the Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Audi TT, and, of
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