Thank you for reviewing my Roadster! Its been a lot of hard work to get it where it is, but worth it!

The first Gen Z3 has always been gorgeous. It's aged really well!

I’m the new owner of this amazingly built z3

I've owned a Z3M (with the hardtop) and NC Miata. The Z3 is a much more "muscle car". It's no where near as agile or controllable, the body is significantly more loose, and the car just doesnt feel anywhere near as pointy or auto-crossy.

This example is modified, with aftermarket caster, nice coilovers, full stiffening etc. That changes the equation, as now we are comparing modified cars to stock. Throw a set of Xida's on an MX5 or JRZ's on an S2000 and the game changes again.

Regardless, I do love the Z3 (never liked the Z4) but sold mine as, despite the weight, it didnt feel "safe" in an accident due to the skittishness, thin A pillar (which carries the weight) and vintage feeling steering. I now on a 24 ND3 that I am modding and not looking back, but, the Z3 is a lovely car and one of my fave BMWs (along with the E46 M3!)

The Z3 is my dream car 🙂 it’s not the fastest, nimblest or most reliable car out there but there’s something about it I absolutely love

Z3 3.0 and M are underrated cars for sure. I think they styling has aged very well.

I REALLY miss my Z3 3.0i. It was a deeply flawed car, but the basics were spot on. Hydraulic steering, NA straight 6, good power, great throttle response, stick shift, and inline 6 howl. I regret selling that car every single day. I still talk to the guy that I sold it to, he has taken very good care of her.

Oh and I almost forgot about the diff/gear wine at high speeds. Just another "flaw" that connects me to the experience. I loved my car.

The Z3 and Z4 are so underrated, even in base forms. Not to mention those interiors are leagues nicer than whatever came out in the og miata/s2k/even the 986 boxsters.

Platform is phenomenal for age/price. M54 motor is sublime. They'll run if you take care, highest example I've seen is 374k mi on original chassis/motor.

Hard-core road & track MX5 guy here… These old Z3’s growing on me… 👍😊

You know you're an OG when you've got a Best Motoring T-shirt.

Finally some love for the z3 !!

Cheers from brazil. Love your channel. I own a 2.8 five speed z3 for five years now. It was my first weekend toy so i have lots of love to this car. I have other roadsters from the 90s (for me the golden automotive era) such as a miata na and a 986 boxster s. I have been driving the z3 hard all this years and i can say: the z3 offers a lot for its price. The solidness of the engine...easy maintenance...gorgeous looks. It sits right between the miata and the boxster: the miata is the pure bare bones roadster and the boxster is a more refined sports cars. The z3 is the great cruiser. I love mine z3 and i will keep and maintain her as i can

I miss my Z3 2.8 so much!.. having also owned a NA Miata, I'd choose the Z3 every single time. Put on coiloivers, it was marginally more fun than the Miata mainly due to its inline 6 and stock LSD

I’m in the middle of restoring a 2001 2.5 Roadster. It was a DUMP when I got it. I’ve done a full overhaul.  FCP Euro and the forums are your besties when you work on these. The engine is great but the interior plastics are ridiculously brittle. I’m proud I only lost two knuckles when replacing some rear vacuum lines. It’s a love/hate relationship for sure.

I do prefer a z3 to an NB but it's a lot more of a hassle to keep it running

Need a comparison vs the S54 M Roadster!! 2001-2002

Can confirm the clownshoe coupe is a marvelous car.

Fun video. Good job. Tell Sebastian, very nice car.

Nice review Fenton!😊