Friday 7th December 2012

SOTW: BMW Z3 2.8

Shed finds winter's an opportune time to make purchase of a six-pot roadster

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Lest anyone should doubt the selling power of the James Bond franchise, consider this: the entire first year’s production of the Z3 was sold out pre-release, thanks to its fleeting use by Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye.

2.8-litre engine gives this Z3 some credibility

It’s a fair distance from a sun-kissed Bond island to a damp back street in Gorton, Manchester, but that’s where we find this enticingly-priced reminder of glories past, this final transfer of a marketing man’s dream to the greedy paws of the gimlet-eyed Shedman.

Yes, we know there’s little to recommend the basic 140hp 1.9 Z3, but this one has leather in the cabin, some service history and a long MOT in the glovebox, and – most importantly – a 2.8 six-cylinder motor under the bonnet.  

Hmm, yes, the bonnet. The Z3 is not the most elegant BMW. To pinpoint its stylistic awkwardness, simply use your hand, credit card or sandwich to conceal the area directly ahead of the front wheels.

0-60 in 6.7s means this Z is no slouch

The Z3 (and the E36 3 Series, from which it was developed) was penned by Tokyo-born BMW designer Joji Nagashima. Here’s something. Motorcyclists of a certain age may remember how unremittingly ugly Japanese custom bikes of the 80s and 90s were. A British custom bike designer told me that this was because of a curious cultural difference between Japan and the West in terms of our perception of beauty in a line. The Japanese like reducing-radius curves, he told me, whereas Europeans don’t.

He may well have been tugging my chain, and that cultural variance has certainly gone now, but the designer’s provenance might give us an insight into the Z3’s ‘interesting’ styling. At least this Shed’s silver paint hides its blobbiness better than darker colours, and the 2.8’s wider rear track adds a sense of purpose.

Black interior looks right with the silver paint

But is it a sports car? In 2.8 format, most definitely. Our Shed dates from 1997, the first year of the M52 2.8-litre engine (all-aluminium, in Z3 guise). That gives it 190hp, which with 1,360kg to push makes it good for 0-60 in 6.7 seconds, with a 140mph top end. 30mpg is well within reach. Better yet, it’s single VANOS, which opens up more tuning options above and beyond the usual remapping and throttle body/manifold upgrades (identify 98-onwards dual-VANOS cars by their slightly squashed tailpipes).

You can supercharge 2.8s up to 400hp-plus, but you’ll be well out of Shed territory there. Why bother? The standard torque will take it from 80 to 100mph in top gear in under 10 seconds – more than three seconds quicker than the same exercise will take in a Boxster.

Yes, the Z3 does use the E30’s semi-trailing rear suspension rather than the E36’s multilink setup, but it’s still a proper performance convertible from one of the world’s best auto makers. In its day it was the ‘Editor’s Most Wanted Vehicle’ at respected US buyers’ guide Edmunds.com.

A grand for all this... doesn't seem such a bad shout!

Nasties to look out for? Not the dreaded Nikasil bores: they weren’t part of the six-pot Z3 package. Air-con was, but its presence at this stage of the game may be more notional than real. Coil springs snap. BMW timing is by chain, not belt, so that should last a lifetime, but camshaft position sensors can fail. Manual 2.8s like this one can also experience problems with the gearlever failing to centre itself: a bush repair kit should sort it.

We can see a scuff on our Shed’s rear wing, but the hood (which should be power operated) and plastic rear window both look to be split-free. We can’t see the state of consumables like tyres and brakes, or the proximity of the next service. Such startup costs are in the lap of the Bavarian gods. Place your bets.

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Original ad reproduced below.

• 1997 (R reg)
• Convertible
• 124,319 miles
• Manual
• 2.8L
• Petrol

2 Doors, Manual, Petrol, 124,319 miles, Metallic Silver, MOT-08-2013, 4 Owners. ROAD TAX, SERVICE HISTORY, DRIVE AWAY INSURANCE, 07864635455, www.ttwcarsales.co.uk, VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.ttwcarsales.co.uk, AROUND 200 CARS INSTOCK, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Radio/Cassette, Traction control, Electric door mirrors, Alarm, PAS, Trip computer, Drivers airbag, Front electric windows, Electrically adjustable drivers seat, Service indicator, Electrically adjustable passenger seat, Front fog lights. Insurance Group:16, DRIVE AWAY INSURANCE AVALIABLE. £999 +VAT

[legalknievel]

Good shed.

[legalknievel]

legalknievel said:

Good shed.

I suppose not reading the article and just posting something vaguely positive and non-descript just to be first is not really in the spirit of a forum, but I'm slightly chuffed to be there. I think I might need to get out more.

[legalknievel]

rastapasta said:

legalknievel said:

legalknievel said:

Good shed.

I suppose not reading the article and just posting something vaguely positive and non-descript just to be first is not really in the spirit of a forum, but I'm slightly chuffed to be there. I think I might need to get out more.

yeah maybe. but now that you have read the article what are your thoughts?? This should be a quick car in my opinion.

Well I was actually just wondering whether the handling issues could be sorted by going down an aftermarket coilover route. It's certainly a lot of engine for a grand...

But on the negative side, I always thought it strange though how the z3 can look like such a noddy car and the fairly similar looking coupe has the feel of a prohibition era mean-ass hotrod. I know people on here may think the coupe is marmitey, but I've always thought they were eccentric but beautifully proportioned.

[legalknievel]

Martin 480 Turbo said:

Excellent shed. Now wrap it up in some interesting foil for Christmas.
Hint: not matte black

Matte purple?

Edited by legalknievel on Friday 7th December 09:45

[legalknievel]

kambites said:

legalknievel said:

Well I was actually just wondering whether the handling issues could be sorted by going down an aftermarket coilover route. It's certainly a lot of engine for a grand...

A roll cage would be a better bet - it feels like most of the problem is lack of structural rigidity.

I suspect it would make a pretty good track car for that very reason - you'd be fitting a cage anyway.

Starts to get pretty serious when you're fitting a roll cage on a convertible, though...