1998 BMW Z3 Review

Picture an upscale Mazda Miata sports car and you have a pretty good idea of what the BMW Z3 two-seater is all about.
The racy Z3 arrived in 1996 with a four-cylinder engine. It was the first BMW sports car since the classic 1956-58 507, which is valued at a cool $225,000.

There's no telling if the Z3 ever will command such a price. Probably not, because it's not a limited-production car; they only made 253 BMW 507 models. But the Z3 looks as good as the 507, and is faster with its available six-cylinder engine.

The entry level model is the $29,425 Z3 1.9, which has a 1.9-liter 138-horsepower four-cylinder. This Z3 is fun, but requires an awful lot of shifting with the standard five-speed manual transmission for just-average acceleration.

And the optional $975 four-speed automatic transmission stifles performance--not that an automatic belongs in such a sporty roadster.

I'd pass on the Z3 1.9. It's well-equipped, with air conditioning, traction control, anti-lock brakes and power windows, locks and driver's seat. But this model is slower than the far less costly $19,770 Miata, which recently debuted in revamped form as an early 1999 model.

The upscale, $35,900 Z3 2.8 is much better than the base Z3. It has--you guessed it--a 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine. The 2.8 produces 189 horsepower and really makes the Z3 come alive--although the manual transmission version still is faster than one with the automatic.

The 2.8 is the Z3 model to get. It not only has a smoother, more powerful motor--it also adds these features to the Z3 1.9 equipment list: leather upholstery, upgraded suspension for superior handling, limited-slip differential to get power to the pavement more effectively and a killer sound system.

There is a new ``M'' version of the Z3, but it costs a whopping $42,200 and is for affluent, hard-core auto buffs with its 240-horsepower six-cylinder.

I mean, enough is enough. The Z3 2.8 has more than enough power and torque for a BMW two-seater: 0 to 60 m.p.h. in a scant 6.3 seconds. The dual-overhead-camshaft six-cylinder is smooth as silk. It produces a nice textural growl, but the exhaust unfortunately sounds as if from a UPS truck.

The ``six'' generates so much torque that it allows one to leave the gearshift lever in fifth and still accelerate easily to highway speeds, where the car is a comfortable cruiser. Lazy drivers can shift from first to fifth gear in town with no protest from the engine.

Fuel economy is an estimated 19 m.p.g. in the city and 26 on highways with the manual, which is pretty good for a high-performance sports car weighing 2,844 pounds.

A nicely designed all-independent suspension and nearly 50/50 weight distribution help give the rear-wheel-drive Z3 2.8 catlike handling. And its nearly perfect steering seems precise enough to allow a driver to steer around ants on the road.

The supple suspension provides a ride that is surprisingly smooth for a car with only a short 96.3-inch wheelbase.

The interior is narrow at the elbows and rather cramped for tall occupants. Brake and clutch pedals are positioned too close to a driver. And the nonadjustable steering wheel is mounted rather high--as in a classic Ferrari.

Getting in and out is a bit of a chore for larger people. But it's like a private plane in there, with well-placed gauges and controls and supportive seats.

The trunk is tiny. But, after all, this is a sports car and the trunk lid smoothly opens with hydraulic struts.

The top goes up and down easily, but such an expensive car should have a glass--not plastic--rear window. At least the interior is fairly quiet with the top up. And many will like the new power top option--although it's costly at $750.

The manual transmission shifts crisply, with only a touch of notchiness and works with BMW's typical long-throw clutch, which can be a pain in heavy traffic. The brakes are easily modulated and stop the car with authority.

The Z3 2.8 performs like a traditional sports car, which means it has charm to spare.