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Photo of a BMW Z3

BMW Z3

Bond's roadster, born in South Carolina: BMW's first model built entirely outside Germany.12

Researched October 29, 2026 from 38 sources

Also called

  • clown shoeAn American nickname inspired by the M Coupé's unusual shape.3
  • bread vanCritics used it for the Coupé's unusual side profile.2
  • hearseA name some gave the M Coupe before it gained a cult following.4
  • turnschuhThe Coupé's German nickname, meaning 'sports shoe'.2

At a glance

0200400
114–321 hpPower
0200400
168–350 N·mTorque
07501,500
1,160–1,420 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.29

Engine
1.8–1.9 L inline-fours; 2.0–3.0 L sixes; M: 3.2 L S50/S52/S54 sixes23
Layout
Front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive2
Gearbox
5-speed manual; 4- or 5-speed automatic; M: 5-speed manual only2
Built at
Plant Spartanburg, Greer, South Carolina, United States2
Units built
297,088 reported; production totals disputed2

The story

Created to recapture 1960s open-top motoring, the Z3 Roadster used a shortened E36 Compact platform with E30-derived rear suspension. The family was BMW's first built entirely outside Germany.125

1993: Nagashima's roadster design is frozen19931995: E36/7 Roadster production begins19951996: 100 Neiman Marcus Bond roadsters19961997: 2.8 and M Roadster add muscle19971998: E36/8 Coupé reaches production19981999: Facelift reshapes the rear19992000: 3.0i and 2.2i replace the smaller sixes20002001: S54: 321 hp in Europe, 315 hp in the US20012002: Z3 production ends; E85 Z4 takes over2002 BMW 328: 1936–1940BMW 507: 1956–1959BMW Z1: 1989–1991BMW Z3 Roadster and Coupé (E36/7 / E36/8): 1995–2002BMW Z4 (E85): 2002–E85 194019501960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones1210232425
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1936–1940BMW 328
1956–1959BMW 507
1989–1991BMW Z1
1995–2002BMW Z3 Roadster and Coupé (E36/7 / E36/8)
2002–BMW Z4 (E85)
1993Nagashima's roadster design is frozen
1995E36/7 Roadster production begins
1996100 Neiman Marcus Bond roadsters
19972.8 and M Roadster add muscle
1998E36/8 Coupé reaches production
1999Facelift reshapes the rear
20003.0i and 2.2i replace the smaller sixes
2001S54: 321 hp in Europe, 315 hp in the US
2002Z3 production ends; E85 Z4 takes over
  1. 1993

    Nagashima's roadster design is frozen

    Joji Nagashima's early-1990s sketches pointed toward the E36/7 Roadster; its production design was frozen in 1993.26

  2. 1995

    E36/7 Roadster production begins

    September production opened with four-cylinder engines at Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina.2

  3. 1996

    100 Neiman Marcus Bond roadsters

    The James Bond Edition combined a 007 dash plaque and floor mats with special wheels and chrome trim; the Neiman Marcus run grew to 100 cars.2

  4. 1997

    2.8 and M Roadster add muscle

    The 2.8 delivered 189 hp. European M Roadsters used the 316-hp S50, while US M models received the 240-hp S52.2

  5. 1998

    E36/8 Coupé reaches production

    Production began in January. Developed by engineers in their own time, the Z3 Coupé was 2.7 times as stiff as the roadster.26

  6. 1999

    Facelift reshapes the rear

    April's facelift revised the wheelarches, trunk lid, rear lights and bumpers; M versions retained their original exterior.27

  7. 2000

    3.0i and 2.2i replace the smaller sixes

    M54 engines replaced the 2.8 with the 3.0i and the 2.0 with the 2.2i; the 3.0i Coupé gained an improved optional automatic.28

  8. 2001

    S54: 321 hp in Europe, 315 hp in the US

    M versions adopted the S54 straight-six, replacing Europe's S50 and America's S52.2

  9. 2002

    Z3 production ends; E85 Z4 takes over

    The Z3's production run ended in 2002, with the E85 Z4 succeeding it.2

Every generation

  • BMW 328
    BMW 3281936–1940
  • BMW 507
    BMW 5071956–1959
  • BMW Z1
    BMW Z11989–1991
  • BMW Z3 Roadster and Coupé
    E36/7 / E36/81995–2002
  • BMW Z4
    E85

Power over the years

From 114 hp to 321 hp in 6 years.

0100200300400 19941996199820002002 hp 1995 · 114 hp · 1.8 (M43B18)1995 · 138 hp · 1.9 (16-valve M44)1997 · 189 hp · 2.8 (M52B28)1997 · 240 hp · US M (S52)1997 · 316 hp · European M (S50)1998 · 170 hp · US 2.3 (M52TÜB25)1999 · 148 hp · 2.0 (M52TÜB20)2000 · 117 hp · 1.9i / late 1.8 (M43B19)2000 · 168 hp · 2.2i (M54B22)2000 · 184 hp · US 2.5i (M54B25)2000 · 228 hp · 3.0i (M54B30)2001 · 321 hp · European M (S54) 321 hp European M (S54) 114 hp 1.8 (M43B18)
210
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
19951141.8 (M43B18)
19951381.9 (16-valve M44)
19971892.8 (M52B28)
1997240US M (S52)
1997316European M (S50)
1998170US 2.3 (M52TÜB25)
19991482.0 (M52TÜB20)
20001171.9i / late 1.8 (M43B19)
20001682.2i (M54B22)
2000184US 2.5i (M54B25)
20002283.0i (M54B30)
2001321European M (S54)

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Four-cylinder Roadster (1.8, 1.9, 1.9i)

    Standard

    Four-cylinder Roadster (1.8, 1.9, 1.9i)

    1995–2002

  • 2.8 Roadster

    Standard

    2.8 Roadster

    1997–2000

  • 3.0i Roadster (Europe)

    Standard

    3.0i Roadster (Europe)

    2000–2002

    228 hp
  • 2.8 Coupé

    Standard

    2.8 Coupé

    1998–2000

  • 3.0i Coupé (Europe)

    Standard

    3.0i Coupé (Europe)

    2000–2002

    228 hp
  • M Roadster

    Performance

    M Roadster

    1997–2002

  • M Coupé

    Performance

    M Coupé

    1998–2002

    6,291 built

  • Special

    Individual editions

  • Limited

    Neiman Marcus 007 James Bond Edition

    1996

    100 built

  • Special

    V12 Roadster prototype

    1999

    322 hp

    1 built

  • Special

    M Coupé Millenium Edition

    2000

    1 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Roadster: long hood, squat tail and a short rear overhang.5
  • Grille-like front-fender vents amid exaggerated curves and bulges.21
  • Coupé: a shooting-brake body, nicknamed 'clown shoe' or 'bread van'.2
  • One exhaust outlet on four-cylinder cars; twin outlets on ordinary six-cylinder cars.2
  • M models add four exhaust outlets, special gills and reshaped bumpers and mirrors.2

Year by year

  1. 1997

    Early 2.8 Roadsters have wider rear fenders and a larger front air dam than the four-cylinder cars.212

  2. 1998

    The Coupe joins the range; optional rollover hoops appear behind the Roadster seats.212

  3. April 1999 facelift

    Non-M Roadsters gain L-shaped rear lights, a reshaped trunk lid and humped fenders; M Roadsters keep their original rear.21114

  4. April 1999 facelift

    Non-M four- and six-cylinder models now share the same wider rear fenders.211

  5. April 1999 facelift

    Non-M Roadsters gain chrome headlight rings, a finger recess at the trunk button and a cover over the third brake light.214

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a BMW Z3
    Z3
    Photo of a 1997 Porsche Boxster
    1997 Porsche Boxster

    1997 Porsche Boxster

    The 1997 Boxster has a single central exhaust outlet; look for the Z3's grilles in the front fenders.2122

  • BMW Z1

    The Z1's doors drop vertically into its sills; the Z3's front-fender grilles are another useful distinction.2123

Against its rivals

Prices

Value today $7.7K–$29.3K2930

Price when newAuction saleValue today
$0$20K$40K$60K 1995200020052010201520202025 Value today: $7,719–$29,250 1996 · $35,000 · US James Bond Edition2001 · $45,940 · US M Coupe, S54 2025 · $5,250 · 1998 Z3 2.8 automatic, 59k miles, BaT2025 · $23,005 · 2001 M Roadster S54, 70k miles, BaT2025 · $13,500 · 1996 Z3 1.9 5-speed, 17k miles, BaT2025 · $32,200 · 2001 M Coupe S54, 87k miles, BaT2026 · $29,250 · 2001 Z3 3.0i Coupe 5-Speed, 25k miles, Bring a Trailer2026 · $7,719 · 1996 Z3 1.9 5-Speed, 91k miles, Bring a Trailer2026 · $16,000 · 2002 Z3 3.0i 5-speed, 28k miles, BaT2026 · $28,750 · 2001 M Roadster S54, BaT2026 · $22,337 · 2002 Z3 Coupe 3.0i 5-speed, 56k miles, BaT $32.2K BaT, 2025
29192930333435363738
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1996Price when new$35,000US James Bond Edition
2001Price when new$45,940US M Coupe, S54
2025Auction sale$5,2501998 Z3 2.8 automatic, 59k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$23,0052001 M Roadster S54, 70k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$13,5001996 Z3 1.9 5-speed, 17k miles, BaT
2025Auction sale$32,2002001 M Coupe S54, 87k miles, BaT
2026Auction sale$29,2502001 Z3 3.0i Coupe 5-Speed, 25k miles, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$7,7191996 Z3 1.9 5-Speed, 91k miles, Bring a Trailer
2026Auction sale$16,0002002 Z3 3.0i 5-speed, 28k miles, BaT
2026Auction sale$28,7502001 M Roadster S54, BaT
2026Auction sale$22,3372002 Z3 Coupe 3.0i 5-speed, 56k miles, BaT
2026Value today$7,719–$29,250

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “8:22 at the Nordschleife, matching an M3”
    • “328 roots: a 166.7 km/h Mille Miglia victory”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 38 sources
  1. BMW Z3 (E36) model series bmwgroup-classic.com
  2. BMW Z3 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. BMW Z3 M Coupé buying guide, history, problems and what to pay - Octane Magazine octane-magazine.com
  4. BMW M Coupe (1998-2002) - review, specs and buying guide | evo evo.co.uk
  5. 2000 BMW Z3 M Roadster | Munich 2025 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  6. BMW Offers Rare Look At Early Sketches Of The Z3 Roadster bmwblog.com
  7. Used BMW Z3 (1995-2002) review: a modern classic | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  8. BMW Z3 Coupé 3.0i (E36) bmwgroup-classic.com
  9. 1999-2002 BMW M Coupe Collectible Classic %%sep%% %%sitename%% motortrend.com
  10. BMW Z3: History, Generations, Specifications motortrend.com
  11. BMW Z3 Club e.V. - der Z3 - Technik/Modelle - Modelle bmw-z3club.de
  12. Buyer's guide to the GoldenEye BMW Z3 | Bond Lifestyle jamesbondlifestyle.com
  13. BMW Z3 Club e.V. - der Z3 - Technik/Modelle - Motorisierungen bmw-z3club.de
  14. OnlyZ3 - Roadster & Coupé onlyz3.com
  15. Tested: 1999 BMW Z3 Coupe Isn't Quite an M Coupe caranddriver.com
  16. OnlyZ3 - Roadster & Coupé onlyz3.com
  17. 1998 BMW M Roadster vs. Chevrolet Corvette vs. Porsche Boxster caranddriver.com
  18. OnlyZ3 - Roadster & Coupé onlyz3.com
  19. Bonhams Cars : 1996 BMW Z3 Roadster 1.9L James Bond Edition Chassis no. 4USCH7322TLE00766 carsd.bonhams.com
  20. OnlyZ3 - Roadster & Coupé onlyz3.com
  21. BMW Z3: Buying guide and review (1996-2002) | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  22. Two Seats the German Way: 1997 Convertible Comparo caranddriver.com
  23. BMW Z1 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  24. BMW 328 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  25. BMW 507 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  26. 2000 M coupe: BMW Classic – The Ultimate Driving Museum theultimatedrivingmuseum.org
  27. BMW Z3 – The James Bond International Fan Club 007.info
  28. OnlyZ3 - Roadster & Coupé onlyz3.com
  29. No Reserve: One-Family-Owned 1996 BMW Z3 1.9 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $7,719 on June 15, 2026 (Lot #247,794) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  30. 25k-Mile 2001 BMW Z3 3.0i Coupe 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $29,250 on April 15, 2026 (Lot #237,999) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  31. 2002 BMW Z3 M Coupé | Munich 2025 | RM Sotheby's rmsothebys.com
  32. Z3 BUYERS GUIDE — Classic Coachworks classiccoachworks.org
  33. No Reserve: 1998 BMW Z3 2.8 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $5,250 on December 16, 2025 (Lot #223,733) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  34. Original-Owner 2001 BMW M Coupe S54 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $32,200 on June 25, 2025 (Lot #197,838) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  35. 28k-Mile 2002 BMW Z3 3.0i 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $16,000 on August 26, 2026 (Lot #259,807) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  36. 2001 BMW M Roadster S54 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $23,005 on August 9, 2025 (Lot #204,453) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  37. No Reserve: 2002 BMW Z3 Coupe 3.0i 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $22,337 on May 26, 2026 (Lot #244,570) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  38. No Reserve: 17k-Mile 1996 BMW Z3 1.9 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $13,500 on July 5, 2025 (Lot #199,253) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • bmwgroup-classic.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • octane-magazine.com
  • evo.co.uk
  • rmsothebys.com
  • bmwblog.com
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • motortrend.com
  • bmw-z3club.de
  • jamesbondlifestyle.com
  • onlyz3.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • carsd.bonhams.com
  • theultimatedrivingmuseum.org

Photo credits

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