1996 BMW Z3 Review

The long-awaited BMW Z3 sports car drives like a bigger, heavier Mazda Miata, but lacks the emotional punch expected from such a zoomy looking car.

To be sure, the Z3's perfectly proportioned, nicely sculpted styling and BMW nameplate alone will ensure its success--not to mention the car's fairly reasonable $28,750 base price.

Just a spin around the block in the solidly built, high quality, comfortable Z3 will cause many to yank out their checkbooks.

But you won't find bags of personality here. While the $18,450 Miata two-seater sounds downright sporty, the Z3's raspy exhaust sounds as if it is from an economy car. One must shift gears a lot to get the best acceleration from the small, 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine in the Z3, which has components from BMW's 3-series hardtop parts bin to keep the price down.

No matter how much you shift, the 138-horsepower Z3 motor doesn't make the fairly heavy, 2,690-pound car a fireball. A four-speed automatic transmission is a $975 option but makes the car heavier (2,767 pounds) and slower. And the automatic really is out of place in a BMW sports car. The Z3 does 0 to 60 m.p.h. in a ho-hum 9.1 seconds with the manual and in 9.7 seconds with the automatic. Top speed is electronically limited to 116 m.p.h.

The Z3, which I recently tested in pre-production form, is built only at a new BMW plant in South Carolina. It's the first BMW sports car offered in America since the 1956-59 BMW 507, which is the car Elvis Presley drove while in the Army in Germany.

BMW got lots of publicity when presenting the white 507's keys to Presley, who mistakenly thought he had bought the car when he only had signed a leasing agreement--in German--for it. BMW thus was angry when it came time for the 507 to be returned and found Presley had painted it red, partly to discourage fans from putting lipstick messages on it.

Moreover, Presley's father, Vernon, nearly got himself and his son killed after leaving the BMW showroom, where the 507 was temporarily left behind, in a Mercedes sedan. Photographers recorded the fact that Vernon got the Mercedes trapped on a railroad crossing, where the car was nearly wiped out by a train.

Presley is long gone. But BMW also got plenty of publicity for the Z3, which has 507-style side vents, by putting it in the latest James Bond movie, ``GoldenEye,'' with actor Pierce Brosnan at the wheel.

The result? People are waiting in line for the car, which goes on sale at the end of this month. BMW says it ``can fill orders in 1996 for the 12,000 Z3s ordered by Americans, and will ship 23,000 to customers overseas.''

In short, don't look for discounts when trying to buy a Z3, which is much safer than Presley's 507--with items such as dual air bags and anti-lock brakes.

The Z3 has no power top, but its manual top is easily lowered and raised. The beautifully painted car is well equipped. Standard are air conditioning, power seats, cruise control, AM/FM stereo/cassette with six speakers, central locking and power steering, windows and outside mirrors.

Major options are a $1,150 leather interior and $500 heated seats. BMW says a removable hardtop will be offered ``in the second half of the year,'' but gives no price. Too bad no adjustable steering wheel is offered, although the wheel is fairly well positioned.

Also optional is a $1,100 traction-control system. It's highly recommended because the Z3's rear-wheel-drive setup and huge tires aren't a good combination for slippery winter roads.

On dry pavement, the Z3's steering is quick and precise, and the car's handling is so good it is nearly in the race-car class. A supple suspension provides an excellent ride, and braking is impressive.

The manual shifter works with a smooth, short-throw clutch, but sometimes gets notchy during quick shifting. Economy with both manual and automatic transmissions is an EPA-estimated 23 m.p.g. in the city and 31 on highways.

Unlike the Miata, the Z3 offers plenty of room for two tall adults and has a fairly big trunk. The seats provide great support, gauges are easily read and most controls are well-placed. The interior looks a little drab, but can be dressed up with an optional wood-rim steering wheel, wood console trim and wooden shift knob.

The Z3 is hard not to like. But some may want to wait for a powerful six-cylinder version due next year. Hopefully, that Z3 will have a sporty exhaust sound.