What's so special about a Z3?

[Chris Hunter]

It seems that my tongue in cheek appraisal of the Z3 and Z4 has touched a few raw nerves and caused some farting in church. It was meant to be humourous. But since then I have taken another look at a Z4 and they don't look like a school mistress at all I concede they are a pretty car, just the Z3 is prettier.

 

[t-tony]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Chris, some just need educating mate is all.

Tony.

 

[Chris Hunter]

educating I don't need Tony, but a sense of humour wouldn't do you any harm

 

[t-tony]

educating I don't need Tony, but a sense of humour wouldn't do you any harm

If you knew me you would know I have one. But everyone can get sick of the same old crap Chris.

Tony.

 

[motco]

The Z3 is elegant with or without a hardtop, but in my eyes the Z4 Roadster looks as if it has its backside kicked. It reminds me of Clara Cluck with its odd upturn on the boot lid. The Z4 Coupé, on the other hand, is gorgeous...

The Z4 Roadster...

 

[t-tony]

It has been referred to as “the chickens ass” in the past.

Tony.

 

[RickyBobby]

It's all down to personal preference but having owned all 3 (E86, E85 and E36/7) let me give you mine:

E86 - lovely looking especially in the ///M variant but at the end of the day it's a coupe and if you can only own one 2nd car it has to be a roadster
E85 - always think it looks like your trying to hard and a classic case of "nice bum shame about the face"
E36/7 - super looking from all angles and excellent value for money with none of the roof motor issues. Seems to have aged really well and always attracts appreciative comments from other drivers.

So in summary like baby bears porridge the Z3 is just right and the member of the Zed family you should own - unless of course you can have more than 1.

 

[DrWong]

Agree the Z3 has aged beautifully. It just looks so dainty and effortless compared to any of its successors, especially the latest one.

 

[SYMZ3]

Having owned a Z4 and now a Z3, in my eyes, both have huge appeal.

The Z4 is muscular with some subtle swage lines that soften the aggressive look. Also, in my ownership experience, the Z4 is a real drivers car, beautifully balanced and encourages spirited driving. It’s a great point to point car across country.

The Z3 is achingly beautiful from almost every angle. A pal of mine who is a petrol head came to do some work on the house recently and spent his lunch break sat in the garage just looking at the car.

IMO, it’s a very analog experience driving a Z3, yet modern at the same time, either way, both are compelling cars…

 

[Sajk]

I love the look of both. I have a Z3 and when I consider changing it for a 4 I always get completely put off by that bland expanse of dashboard. So I stay with what I have.

 

[Dunkelgrun]

My favorite part about owning a z3 (aside from driving it ) are the comments I get wherever I go. It’s like walking around with a puppy, everyone is interested. I think it triggers some kind of nostalgia response, like “ I wish my life were so uncomplicated that I could drive one of those”... it’s like having an old 2002 or MG or Beetle that actually runs

 

[Jack Ratt]

Have to admit that it took a decade at least for the design of the Z3 to grow on me. I'm now firmly in the Z3 camp but never say never on an upgrade at some stage to a Z4 Coupe

 

[Rha]

The Z3 is elegant with or without a hardtop, but in my eyes the Z4 Roadster looks as if it has its backside kicked. It reminds me of Clara Cluck with its odd upturn on the boot lid. The Z4 Coupé, on the other hand, is gorgeous...

The Z4 Roadster...

At last a comment from other than a blind man.
I've been lucky enough to have had a Z3 first but now own one of BMWs best ever looking sports cars, just look for yourself.

Not much more to add only wish I could afford to own both.

 

[motco]

The Z4M Coupé in my post is my son's. I have driven it extensively both on road and track. Over the years he has added various mods but the most significant ones are KW Clubsport suspension which tames the understeer tendency, and a big brake kit because the first thing to show signs of distress on a track is the braking system. It also has Remus back boxes and the sound at full power is astounding. Sound on
Sadly it is now track day running in New South Wales as aforementioned son has married an Australian girl and now resides in Sydney.

I love the black Z3 Rha, too many are like mine in Titan Silver. I tracked my Z3 (2.2i Sport) once when it was too damn cold for my Westfield but even in temperatures of a mere 5ºC the brakes ran for cover after a few laps. When it still stoppable it handled pretty well though. The oft cited criticisms of its heritage and poor handling are ill founded IMHO. Mine has been in my ownership for twelve years and I have no plans to part with it.

 

[gookah]

I have a Z3 and a Z4, they are both fugly,

so I hate them each in equal measure .

 

[t-tony]

So you should.

Tony.

 

[Chris Hunter]

I think from the correspondence in this thread, we all love our respective cars and we can poke fun at each other without umbrage. However I am sure all of us at one time or another have lusted after some car, which has been beyond our reach, or have sold a car and regretted it. My regret was, as a newly graduated engineering student and hard up with marriage on the horizon, I sold my Porsche 365c which I was paying for on the drip feed and just couldn't afford, so I did the sensible thing and sold it. Isn't it awful having to be sensible. I still lust after that car. If I sold my Z3, my lotus Elan, my Ikarus c42 aircraft, maybe maybe no! Has anyone else regretted selling a car?

 

[SYMZ3]

I think from the correspondence in this thread, we all love our respective cars and we can poke fun at each other without umbrage. However I am sure all of us at one time or another have lusted after some car, which has been beyond our reach, or have sold a car and regretted it. My regret was, as a newly graduated engineering student and hard up with marriage on the horizon, I sold my Porsche 365c which I was paying for on the drip feed and just couldn't afford, so I did the sensible thing and sold it. Isn't it awful having to be sensible. I still lust after that car. If I sold my Z3, my lotus Elan, my Ikarus c42 aircraft, maybe maybe no! Has anyone else regretted selling a car?

I have always lusted after an air cooled Porsche and back in 2006, I finally had the money and found the car I had always wanted, a white 911 turbo bodies SC convertible with low low miles. But, at the same time, I had lost my job a few months earlier and wanted to start a new business.

So, the car or the business?

the car was £25k and I had £25k in cash guess what I did? The business got the money

Two years ago, that exact car up for sale again, the price? £67k

The business is still going strong, but a Z3 sits in the Porkers place, no regrets

 

[motco]

Isn't naming an aircraft after Icarus rather asking for trouble?

 

[Iamjonw]

I think from the correspondence in this thread, we all love our respective cars and we can poke fun at each other without umbrage. However I am sure all of us at one time or another have lusted after some car, which has been beyond our reach, or have sold a car and regretted it. My regret was, as a newly graduated engineering student and hard up with marriage on the horizon, I sold my Porsche 365c which I was paying for on the drip feed and just couldn't afford, so I did the sensible thing and sold it. Isn't it awful having to be sensible. I still lust after that car. If I sold my Z3, my lotus Elan, my Ikarus c42 aircraft, maybe maybe no! Has anyone else regretted selling a car?

I sold my Lancia Fulvia 1.6HF after owning it nearly 30 years. I don't particularly regret selling it, it was getting difficult to find any decent engineer to work on it and parts were becoming scarce and expensive. Even though from an engineering point of view it was pretty simple, it seems that there are very few engineers who want to bother with setting up carbs and such like. One even asked where he could plug in the diagnostics ffs

Anyway, I sold her to a Lancia enthusiast who has finished off the project I started and am glad to see her in a good home. And selling the Fulvia allowed me to buy an M2 and when I got that out of the system it ultimately led me to buying a Z3.