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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster - lots of air and lots of sound in a nutshell

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Created on July 25, 2019

Reading time 9min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

BMW AG

BMW Group

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

BMW AG

BMW Group

Archiv

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - kein anderer BMW sah wie der Z3 aus

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - die Farbe wirkt fast wie "Stealth" - hätte für James Bond gut gepasst

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - James Bond musste 1995 mit der Vieryzlinderversion vorliebnehmen, die Sechszylindervariante wäre dem Aston aber viel näher gewesen

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - für heutige Begriffe sehr kompakt

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - beim Facelift im Jahr 1999 änderten die Rückleuchten ihre Form

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - bereit zur Losfahrt

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - viel Licht, wenig Schatten

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Farbe Sterlinggrau

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - zeigte manchem Konkurrenten die Endrohre

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - stramme Heckansicht, der Sechszylinder wirkt deutlich kräftiger als die Vierzylinderversion

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - erschwinglicher Roadster-Traum

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - tiefe Gürtellinie, kurze Überhänge

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - die Motorhaube öffnet weit

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - alles klar beschriftet

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - das Filetstück

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - der längs eingebaute Reihensechszylinder

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - vom Motor sieht man leider vor allem Kunststoffabdeckungen

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Chassisnummer

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Lackierungshinweis

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - sportlich-schwarzes Lederinterieur

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - sportliches Cockpit, nur wenige Unterschiede zum Z3 Coupé

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - da will man sich niederlassen

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - M-Sport-Lederlenkrad

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - schön gezeichnete und sehr gut ablesbare Rundinstrumente

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - chromeingefasste Instrumente

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - mit Klimaanlage und Sitzheizung

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Mittelkonsole ohne Holzverzierungen

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - mehr Sicherheit mit Überrollbügeln

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - amerikanisches Leder

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Reminiszenzen an den 507

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - erinnert an die Vorfahren

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Bremsleuchte im Heckdeckel

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - BMW-Zeichen auf dem Heck

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Hinweis auf den Dreilitermotor

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - schöner Schriftzug

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - eindeutig beschriftet

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BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster (2001) - Doppelauspuff

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BMW Z3 Roadster (1994) - auf dem Titelblatt von Auto Motor und Sport, 1,5 Jahre vor der offiziellen Vorstellung

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BMW Z3 1.9 (1995) - der Roadster mit Vierzylindermotor

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BMW Z3 2.8 (1996) - der E36/7 mit Reihensechszylinder und dicken Backen

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BMW Z3 2.8 (1996) - der E36/7 mit Reihensechszylinder und Doppelauspuff

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BMW Z3 2.8 (1996) - der E36/7 mit Reihensechszylinder

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - unterwegs auf Madeira bei der offiziellen Vorstellung

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - bei der Vorstellung auf der Ferieninsel Madeira

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - in den Radhäusern gibt es auch Platz für breitere Räder

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - mit Sechszylinder deutlich schneller als die Vierzylindervarianten

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - sportlich unterwegs

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - zu jenem Zeitpunkt waren bereits rund 170'000 Autos gebaut

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - von vorne hat sich kaum etwas gewandelt

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - der Reihensechszylinder im Bug des Z3

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - kurvenfreudig

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - mit chromeingefassten Instrumenten

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - nun mit Holzeinlagen

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - Tacho für die US-Version mit grossen Meilen-Angaben

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BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster (1996) - Warnung auf dem Rückspiegel

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Bis fast in die Neuzeit - BMW Z3 der ersten Generation auf dem Club-Stand - Retro Classics Stuttgart 2017

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BMW-Roadster-Klassiker Z1, Z3, Z8 und Z4

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Summary

There are only a few two-seater roadsters/convertibles in the history of the BMW company and none were built more frequently than the Z3, which offered a wide range of engines and a lot of air above the head. The six-cylinder models in particular also stood for sporty stature and performance, so it is no wonder that they are still popular today. This driving report is about a BMW Z3 3.0, but tells the whole evolutionary story and shows the Z3 in historical and current pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Intro as Bond car
Top dog
Great enthusiasm
Six-cylinder presentation on Madeira
Not quite up to the sportiest
Attractive, but ....
Continuous refinement
Finally, a three-liter
Sovereignly motorized
Further information

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

BMW fans had to wait four years after the Z1 before they were allowed to drive a sporty two-seater from the brand again. After the BMW 328, the 507 and finally the Z1, there was a break. But as early as June 1994, Auto Motor und Sport reported on the future BMW Roadster, which was to roll off the production line in the newly built plant in Spartanburg, USA. The drawings already showed the car quite realistically, only in details did the later production version appear somewhat more attractive. Even before the official launch, Pierce Brosnan was allowed to sit in the BMW Z3 Roadster as James Bond during the filming of the movie "GoldenEye".

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