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4-Star Car, 5-Star Fun!
I'm the third - and likely last - owner of our Z3. Paid well under the $7,500 asking price (125k miles) when a BMW Dealer pre-sale inspection (do this!!) found $6k in bad rear trailing arms and old/cracked/leaking critical engine parts/seals. A good independent shop did it for $4k. Was it worth it? OHMYLORDYES! This is the Roadster my old Miata always wanted to be. Takes my breath away every time I open the garage, and again every time I open the throttle. The S52 engine is the best of the bunch. Just be prepared to pay a premium to fix all the nits that crop up. Resale values are rising for later models in good repair. If you find one under $10k this looker is definitely worth a 2nd look. *update* Edmunds asked for an updated review. The only thoughts to add are frustrations with a shot rear transaxle now, and the realization that while it's fun, it's not an investment. For the money I've invested in purchase and repairs I could have gotten a very nice used Miata, with fewer headaches. *update* Drive shaft replaced at 165k miles, $1,500. Still mostly happy.
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My little "ugly" coupe
I bought my 2001 Z3 coupe about a year and a half ago. It has never stopped turning heads (one of the reasons I bought it in the first place). The car performs the way one would expect a BMW to perform... with elan and enthusiasm. The styling is what I love about the car, above performance. It's been described as looking "like a high top tennis shoe", but that's usually with an appreciative smile. The car has been very reliable, as one would expect from this manufacturer. I expect I'll keep this car forever... after all, since the coupe is no longer manufactured, it will only become more unique with the passing of time.
- 3.0i ConvertibleMSRP: $11,50047 mi away
- 3.0i ConvertibleMSRP: $9,99065 mi away
- 3.0i ConvertibleMSRP: $12,800140 mi away
Great looks & Great drive
Purchased 2001 Z3 3.0 June 2008. Car is in immaculate condition. Test drove in the rain well. Tight handling, stiff ride (fine with me!), and exciting response. Doesn't blow around on the interstate. Answers the need for speed quickly. The 5 speed manual transmission is great fun. I am enjoying driving it very much even though I have to keep wiping the drool from my friends off the car.
Fun car but....
Had a 318i for 7 years- never a problem with repairs, etc. Only got rid of it because it had 100,000+ miles on it and was worried it might start breaking down. Bought the Z3 as a preowned vehicle - with warranty. Have had it in shop countless times, last time being it needed a new radiator - have had lots of repair issues, it is now just out of warranty and I am hoping it will not break down any more. Love the car, it's cute and fun but disappointed in repairs so far. Other BMWs superior to this one :(
My first Bimmer, My first manual
First thing's first, and this goes without saying, the car is absolutely gorgeous. I found my 2001 on a Chevy lot, and it blew all of the modern designs of the new lines of Chevy out of the water. (except for the new 'vette, which the previous owner traded the z3 in for) Prior to buying this car, I only had practical experience driving a manual. It was years since I last tried. But within a week, I had it down with the Z3. This car performs so well, you can't help but drive it. The vehicle's handling is superb. You could do a turn on a dime with this thing, and NOW I understand why U turns and curved roads are just so damn fun to drive on. Nice low purr to the engine. The dealers told me the convertible top didn't work, but after actually reading the car's manual, I found out it worked just fine. The ride is smooth and the cabin noise is minimal. I'm not looking forward to the eventual repairs that I know are necessary for a 15 year old car, but I'll definitely thoroughly enjoy every day up until then. A couple of cons with my particular vehicle: Passenger side door won't open from the outside. In the car's maintenance history, there's a work order that showed repairing the door would be a $600 job that required disassembly of the whole door. Also, there's a slight leak in the roof on the passenger side. The CD player skips on bumpy roads. Minor inconveniences for a ride this exciting.
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Fun, Fun, Fun
This car has been great fun at a low cost. You can find a Z3 in great condition at a reasonable cost. It is a real enthusiasts car, with excellent power, great handling, and smiles every time you get behind the wheel.
I love it!
It took me 8 months to find the vehicle I really wanted. So there was nothing stopping me from flying to Florida and driving back to Georgia. I had the top down 80% of the way and loved every minute of it. This car is so much fun to drive! It zips in and out of traffic, plenty of get-up-and-go, grips the road and handles smoothly. More comfortable then I anticipated even after the 8 hour and 45 minute drive back.
My Fun Toy
Its a very fun car to drive and draws a lot of attention. But they have to upgrade the cheap plastic interior parts and rear window
ole blue...[non-permissible content removed]
absolutely love this car. i am 6ft 4 in. got the seat all the way back and no issues. runs like a dream. i did research and parts is parts concerning repair. i scrounge the parts yard and have scored on z3 interior parts. have a tool box full of mechanical parts also. so far only 1 coil pack went bad. interior is good so long as you stay on top of it. use leather conditioner and the seats will fit like a glove. there is a site for bmw's that give the build date and what options it came with. i actually traced it to the original owner and he was surprised to hear about it. don't plan on parting ways with this car any time soon.
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Instant classic
Bought my Z3 in December 2009 - have owned it for 8 months. Love the styling, performance, ride & handling. Purchased extended warranty & glad I did. It has already paid for itself. Issue with emissions, front bushings & ball joints, motor mount replaced, 1 window lift, fan clutch, alt tensioner, & water pump. All this would have cost $4500 - only $500 with warr. Key remote has been flaky - will not fail when at dealership. Having said that - it always starts and I drive it every day on my 70 mile commute. Love the car, gets lots of comments - a real head turner. Getting close to 25 mpg with mostly highway driving, some local (80/20).
Fun, Fun, Fun
This is my forth BMW having owned a 320iS, a 528e, an M3 and now my beloved 2001 2.5 z3. I have also driven a Porsche 911 and a Corvette and this z3 is perhaps better than all the others combined. It certainly handles as good or better than any car I have ever driven. The looks are classic "old school" roadster and the BMW marque is well respected throughout the world. I would not hesitate to recommend the z3 to anyone looking to add fun to their driving experience. And finally it has been a huge hit with our two teenage daughters and of course their mother. The pick up driving son is not yet convinced it is a fit mode of transportation.
sporty roadster
If you are looking for a FAST roadster that can take sharp corners at 80mph, this is your car. At least test drive this car before you buy any roadster. BMW's Z3 is about the ride...great performance, great turning capability, surprisingly smooth ride even when not going at high speeds, and plenty of luxury for a sports car (mine has a power convertible top, power seats, heated seats, cd player). I also test drove an SLK and liked it for other reasons...but really, they are entirely different cars so test drive both and you'll know how they are different.
Timeless roadster lines, a true pleasure to drive
It's the most fun I have had in a car, and I have driven a Porsche Carrera among other sports cars. The look of the car is the perfect blend of classic roadster shape and form with modern design and sleekness. It's not as fast off the start as I would prefer, but it has wicked acceleration at speed, dismissing some wannabe on the interstate while already doing 70 or 80. At 120 (the fastest I've dared take since it was a public road) it still has more to give. One time my wife and I were stopping in an art district shopping area. When we pulled over to park there was a young boy of 4 or 5 with his mother on the sidewalk, and through the passenger window we both clearly saw the boy say with a slow awe, "That's a *fast car*." That pretty much said it all; the classic yet modern look, with enough performance to back it up. It's pretty much a dream to own.
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Unique
Bought the car because it is so unique, not allot of people have one. Many may not like the way it looks, but I think it looks great. Added some DINAN upgrades and WOW, nice improvement! The car really involves you in driving. Met plenty of people at work and at the gym who first don’t like the coupe, but soon tend to change their mind. Its easy to follow the crowd, I wanted a car that helps me stand out.
A Rare Treasure!
In 2001 I had the good fortune to buy a like-new BMW Z3 3.0 from the dealer with less than 400 miles, CPO. It has been 18 years of non-stop driving joy! Have used outrageously expensive car wax products, and the paint finish still looks like new. As time goes on, these gems are becoming rarer to find on the street. Used to fly airplanes, and though I'm grounded now, cruising and cornering in the Z3 is the next best thing!
Awesome Ride!
There’s a reason why this car was picked for. James Bond movie. And that is for how beautiful, sexy and attractive this car is. My car is 2.5i liter with the M package. Metallic dark grey and rides like baby with 123 thousand miles. Could not think of anything better to spend my money on. Too conclude every time I get in my Z3 my cheek bone goes back with a tremendous smile. Highly recommend this vehicle.
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BMW Z3 2001 3.0L
I had a 2002 Z3 stick shift for four years the sold it ($14k) and purchased a 1999 Porsche 911 Tiptronic. Mistake! I then found a 2001 Z3 with only 26K miles and at $12K. Bought it and sold the 911. Not a mistake! The Z3 is just an absolute charm to drive, fast, great handling, performance without all the nonsense. A classic sports car from a bygone era. I have had the car two years and there has not been one single issue with it. Brilliant...
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Fun to drive
I bought my 2001 Z3 3.0 a month ago & have loved every minute of it. Very nice ride & comfort for a roadster. The I6 is very quick & responsive. Very tight and solid ride with no rattles. Averaging about 24 mpg mixed highway and city. Very quiet for a convertible. Top is very tight.
Sunday Cruiser, Backroad Buster
BMW's low profile, snearing, snarling front end is what attracted me to the Z3 model. With it's flared wheelwells, shark-gill slits and flattend eyebrow headlamps it just speaks motion. After two Corvettes (a 1970, and a 1980), the Z3 had to perform to keep my interest. WOW! Does it perform. With the 3.0 liter engine and AUTOstick tranny, full power burnouts are the norm with the DSC in the off position. The in-line SIX is both smooth and linear, it pulls right from idle and revs quickly. This car is by far the most FUN I've ever had out on the road. And, it turns heads where ever I go with it. Probably the best bang for the buck in sportscar driving! Try on a Z3 for yourself.
Review
Nobody builds engines like BMW. Strong, sweet, smooth, responsive, effortless all the way to redline. Quick and beautiful transmission. Handles incrediblely with balance and agility. Quality, quality, that's what it's all about.
my beamer
This car is so much fun to drive, my wife refers to it´s economy as "smiles per gallon". It has the feel of the road and agility of a sports car you would expect,but still rides like a much bigger car. There is no rough ride or road noise like you get from a Miata. It looks so damn nice parked in my yard it makes me smile just looking at it.
Can't beat a BMW
Sorry to Honda and Infiniti and all other cars, but nothing beats a BMW.
Never Selling It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I purchased this car from a dealer in distress, they got a shipment of Z3's in December, 2000, they had snow drifts up to 12 feet and the Z3's were not selling . I got the car delivered to my home, 1300 miles away, for about 60 % of what the local dealers were getting for this car . In a little over 16 years of ownership, no problems yet . I get offers to sell the car every time I take it out . Got a notice to update my review, well I finally had a problem !! The subwoofer speaker failed, the foam between the paper cone, disintegrated into a powder after almost 18 years of desert heat . This speaker is an unusual size, from the looks of it only BMW has the correct size . I purchased one from Crutchfield that was close in size and had to make up an adapter plate to make it work . Not bad for 18 years of ownership . Update 07DEC22 coming up on 22 years of ownership, fluid leak at the windshield washer reservoir, cracked hose on the pump, replaced 6 inch section of hose . Rear window rubber trim came off the last time I washed the car. The plastic window still seems to be secure but this is to expected with living in the Phoenix area rubber and plastic live a hard life here
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4mike
I purchased a "certified preowned" Z3 with 100K extended warrenty. Although I paid more, the peace of mind with the extended warrentey provided peace of mind. the car is fun to drive and plan to keep it a long time. I am very satisfied with my purchase.
Good California find
Great car, replacing wear items at my leisure ,fun to drive, rust Free, one owner. Good times
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My BMW
In general I love my Z3. It obviously has some flaws but the overall driving experience is very positive. If I had to do it over again I would probably purchase a Honda S2000 instead.
Handles like it's on rails
I have taken my z3 to Sebring, Robling Road and Road Atlanta race tracks. I love the way it would build momentum as you flow the track. My best times have been Road Atlanta 1:22.06 / Sebring 2:13.59 / Robling Road 25.98. The only thing that has been done is some computer work, and air intake with proper maintance care; before and after track days
fun vehicle
This is a fun vehicle. If you're looking for a top down driving with for 2 people, it's hard to beat this car. S2000 may come close but it doesn't have the comfort of Z3...
First BMW
I recently bought and certified this car. This is an ultimate driving machine. Not only does it run and feel like a roadster should, it comes with the looks and ladies too.
2001 Z3 Review
This is my third Z3, the others were a 1.9 and a 2.8. This car is awesome to drive and turns heads everywhere we go. The Harmon Kardon sound system is top notch. Performance is exciting with 225 hp and a 5.9 0-60. Fuel economy averages 21 miles per gallon. All hardware is solid inside and out. Very comfortable even on long trips thanks to great seats. Wind noise and motion is minimal with a windscreen option. Handling is near perfection in curves or any weather.
Love My 3.0i
It just snowed about 2" and the drive home was great. OEM Dunlops and DSC kept the car on the road with no issues. I tried turning the DSC off and nearly ended up in a ditch, I can't imagine driving in slick condtions without DSC. The top is very tight, no leaks, even when parked outside in blowing snow. 2 speed seat heaters work very well, just when it feels like 'HI' is too much, the seat has automatically turned the heat to 'LOW'.
Secret fun bargain
It was too expensive when new vs. the Miata but now it’s a great “sleeper” of a nice and reliable fun car. Sold my first at 165,000 miles. Loved it. Want another again as a second car.
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Most Fun w/o a women involved
Z3 Coupe is fast and responsive. Point and shoot steering. Great in the rain. More curb appeal than a Ferrari. No mechanical problems / only routine maint.
Awesome little car
For a 22 year old car it's a weekend drive for us. It hands exceptional well, the engine is quiet and smooth. The only big thing about it I don't like is the radio. It only works sporadically and the subwoofer blew out the other day. It's very difficult to find replacements for that speaker as it's only 5". Other than that, I'm extremely satisfied with the car and look forward to many more years with it.
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Fun to Drive
If you are considering this vehicle, don't hesitate any longer. The Z3 is FUN and the quality and workmanship is outstanding.
fun and exciting
A real drivers roadster.Push it hard,enjoy the fel of a great engine,and just what a roadster should be.This car makes me smile big time.
Black 2.5i Convertible
I purchased this one owner car for my wife. It is in amazing condition. The handling is great and it is a real head turner.
Great car
I purchased my Bimmer new and have driven it a little over 11,000 miles with out any problems. Fun to drive and sure makes heads turn. Don't know why they replaced with Z4. More room possibly. I love it and will cherish it for many years to come.
Bye bye Z3; I'm gonna miss you.
I've had the Z since 5/02 and have put 10K miles on it, driving in good weather only. It is drafty, noisy and uncomfortable. The sound system is boomy with the top up and muddy with it down. Buying a rear windscreen helped a lot. The M3 leather seats are too hot and too tight and it's hard to find a comfortable position. The plastic window is impossible to clean as are the premium wheels. It's hard to get in and out of. But... The paint quality is great; it really shines up. The torque is incredible; downshifts aren't required for highway passing. The 5 speed is smooth; the steering precise. The DSC helped me a few times. The car is just getting broken in. I'm gonna miss it.
exceeded expectations
Press the gas pedal and the car responds in any gear, at any RPM level. Acceleration is smooth not jerky, while the engine hums lowwww. Quiet for a convertible up to ~ 80mph. The wind guard (accessory) makes top-down driving comfortable at higher speeds and cooler weather. More room and comfort than the Boxster.
My second Z3
I owned a '00 2.3 for 3 1/2 years and just moved into the 3.0. In all that time I've never found a vehicle that can beat it for fun/ performance/value. Here's to another 3 years of driving pleasure.
I like it
I had Toyota spyer before this one. NO match. This is two class up. I have automatic. I wish I have manual shift. Some say about S2000 but it's not BMW. Everyone love the look around here (IDAHO!!!) With snow tire and DSC winter is no problem.
Zooooooom
Car is REALLY fun to drive! Handling is outstanding and with the 3.0 engine and sports package you go out of your way to find roads with hilly curves. I've been surprised at how comfortable the over-the-road ride is. Downside is it's terrible in snow...Eskimos look for an SUV.
I love this car. We have some great roads in the O
Parts tend to be expensive. You need to be able to do most of your service and repairs. I love the car and like to do what service and repair that I can. We don't drive it daily. It's fun for an evening ride or cruise in. We don't show the Z but we drive it to Car shows.
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Best car I've had
No factory defects, No down time, basic service only
Pilot
Fun car with plenty of power. Very quick. Have owned Miata's & a Porche 911. For the money, the BMW Z3 is a great car.
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Tradition of racing
The style of this car will always be one of tradition and class. The handling and responsiveness are exhilarating, but can be improved with a worthwhile $3,000 investment in a Dinan S Package.
You have to drive one
There is nothing bad to say, this car Handles(and I have raced professionally). And who can say anything negative about the style. I do wish she came with a glass rear window. One other thing is how quite (for a convertible) the car is with the top up, I have not been able to compare her with the Audi or Porchse but she is the quitest I have been in. Also with the rear wind screen up, it is surprisingly calm in the cockpit, and I have taken it up to 110 mph with top down. I store her in winters so I can not say how she handles in snow, but if your state uses salt on the roads why are you driving THIS car in the snow anyway!?!
I Miss My Girl
I bought my car in 2001 brand new! In 2009 some hater totaled it in the blink of an eye. I literally cried for 3 days. I didn't lease it I bought it as an investment. I had it 8 years and 3 of those years it was paid for. I loved driving my bimmer - we were one. Her turning ratio was fantastic, pickup speed fabulous and just and all around classy car.
The red baron flies again
I've owned this Z3 coupe for nearly 4 months and it just keeps getting better and better. It is like riding a guided missle - scary fast amazing! I honestly don't have the skill yet to get all the handling and speed of which this car is capable. It really draws the looks and questions too - total fun. Its even a bit more fun after I added the Dinan stage 2 cold air and chip.