@@90lxfox3 sorry but you dont know anything. I had a z3 3.0 and with very small mods it would dust camaro SS and challengers and mustangs. Extremely light car and a gear box and clutch thats like butter. That thing felt like I was driving a toy
@@jonathanmunar3005 Lol we have the same taste in cars. I had a 300c Hemi and it felt great with lots of room. Now if you can compromise that extra room and get the 3.0 Z3 in manual it just is a way way lighter car that zips around much quicker then a heavy American powered V8. You might want to act quick though because the prices on a clean original one or even tastefully modified one are going up
Yes and no on being a better chassis. The trunk floors pull apart in the rear of the z3s. And the rear suspension is outdated. Miata and z3 are essentially the same, the z3 just has more ass and brute torque and the miata is more nimble and easier to yank around. They're all around the same on the track or a backroad. Z3 pulls on the straight but miatas don't oversteer as easy
@@joun888pwn let me know what platform it shares? Either I'm retarded or there's a secret car that matches the same E36 generation on a 114" long roadster
All the six cylinder z’s are an awesome car one of the more fun cars to drive like the s2000 and boxster. I’ve spent a lot of time in all three. Anyone that says different is just plain wrong or biased
I have a 2001 Z3 3.0i, and with only 225hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, it will get up faster than almost any common car from that time. 0-60 in 5.9 seconds, to be exact. However, I will say that the Z3’s shining characteristic is its handling. Its ability to take corners is uncanny. I’ve put fear on a few passengers’ faces, one at a time, of course. 😁
David, you shat on his car for 5 minutes before saying anything interesting. $500 for supercharger oil isn't a BMW expense; its HKS or some other co. You literally tried to scare anyone from buying one, then at the end said its better than modern BMWs. Come on man, you can do better at sharing your thoughts.
Convertibles are usually very heavy anyways, manufacturers usually beef up the chassis to try and keep the rigidity of the car the same as that of a normal hardtop car, not to mention electric motors for rooves and all which would probably add a little weight too
2:41 It´s so heavy because the hole purpose of the James Bond movie was just to test the armour of the car. So after that BMW was sure its good enough for all the average costumers to be safe. So now all Z3´s got armour as standard! :D
Love your reviews man, gotta say I kind of feel like you hated on the Z3 a little bit though. A lot of people love the Z3 I get a ton of compliments on my M roadster. Such a beautiful classic looking roadster. Also as far as the weight it feels like your driving a go cart, yet at the same time whenever you shut the doors you feel that tank like “Ca-thunk” that lets you know you’re not in a tin can like my Honda Accord.
I think I paid around $30 for 3 bottles (3 oil changes) for ECS 1500 SC (also a centrifugal self lubricated sc). Same thing that goes into Vortechs. Germans sometimes...
I don't know what's wrong with me. The Z3 roadster and coupe were both love at first sight for me. I have a '97 2.8 5spd and an '00 2.5 Auto. Selling the '00 to get an M roadster. I love looking at it from every angle. It's a timeless masterpiece, work of art, museum grade, I want one in my living room. So many cars just look good from one or two angles. Really don't know what's wrong with me!
My dad had a 2001 M roadster model. I was wrong on the horsepower it had 315 but close enough. Same engine as the E46. It was fun to drive but the car had a lot of issues. I think BMW had some quality issues back in the early 2000s, I know my uncle also had issues with his back then.
Elite3665 The first model was 240 HP. The 2001-2002 models used the E36 M3 engine with 300+ HP that's what my dad had at the time. I will say that the engine was fantastic. Yeah it was rapsy but it had a great feel mechanically. www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/bmw-m-roadster-vs-chevy-corvette-m-b-slk32-amg-porsche-boxster-s-comparison-tests
The design behind a 5 speed standard H pattern manual transmission is that you can't go straight from 4th to 5th. You only go straight from 1st to 2nd and from 3rd to 4th. The very nature of an H pattern manual transmisssion is that you have a bit of a jog going from 2nd to 3rd and from 4th to 5th. Nothing wrong with this transmission if that is your only complaint.
Love my z3 it’s lasted for 20 years no problems with my mom and dad beating the living crap out of it. Such a fun car to drive I’ve it 108 with me driving it and 120 with my dad. Such a fun little car it’s like a go kart. I love it with all my heart.
This car came with many different engine codes. M52, M45, S50, S52 and S54 were all options for the Z3. It doesn't really sound like you know much about this specific BMW.
Im a z3 owner. All the extra weight is a double plated hood, and underneath everything has and extra layer of protection, like exhaust has two pipes around it. I don't know why bmw did this lol
We have an S54 estoril blue Z3M roadster which is car 72 of 73 produced, they are very rare and very different to the Z4M but the S54 Z3M is starting to appreciate and become a classic and so will the other low mileage S54 engined cars!
browsing cheap cars, looks good for getting into small parking spaces and adding the blower might give it enough kick that i won’t be pissed off driving it
I used to eat 'M' cars for lunch back in the day with my turbocoupe, but I have always had an appreciation and respect for these vehicles. Especially M roadsters.
No, I ran my 3,000lb 1987 T-bird TC in SCCA group production class regional racing sometime back in a group A class. (I think those designations have changed since) And I ran down every production German car I came across. Like I said though, I have mad respect for their engineering and capabilities. You are right though, on the streets, my other TC an 88' model was way faster than any German car being produced at that time...Way faster.
ChemicalNBC hi, I have a 2001 bmw z3 roadster 3.0i (M54)and am looking at getting a VF supercharger vortech blower 6psi boost that would take it from 225 stock to 330. Although, I have a stage 3 didnan upgrade throttle body/CAI and catback exhaust. Do you you think it’s a bad idea to drop 4,500 plus 1000 into for a super charger? What additional upgrade would I need down the line if any? I know that I wouldn’t get my money back out of the Zed, but it’s low mileage and I like the idea of a sleeper. Thoughts? Ty
I have a 2002 BMW Z3 M roadster and the motors fully built and I have a 6speed SMGii with some major light weight modification getting mine to 2100# looks ‘stock’ too. The turn has it at 330rwhp/300tq the rear subframe had major work because it ripped the shock towers. Love my Z3M and after 17 years with her I want to turbo or supercharge for road corse racing and add weight with a full cage. Great video and my rear bumper look like hell too lol. If I put the ‘stock’ tire 225 wide vs 285 I keep on it there is no traction and grip goes is a nope
I have a z3 and my clutch engagement changes a bunch with temperature. So on cold starts I look like a damn rookie. My engagement goes up as it gets warmer.
According to Automobile-catalog my 1997 BMW Z3 2.8L weighs 2,778 lbs. and my 1995 Mazda MX5 1.8L weighs 2,182 lbs. They just don't feel 600 lbs. apart. I'm no expert, but the z3 doesn't feel 27% heavier, just more solid. If I was on a slower constantly turning road, the mx5 would keep up. But on the mountain roads I drive in the Smokies the z3 runs away from my stock mx5, and Mustangs, and Civics, and, well pretty much whatever I encounter... except my 2000 Boxster 2.7 which weighs 2976 lbs., it sticks like a toy slot car, but it spins like a slot car if you go past it's limits, too. I've found that the better a car sticks to the curves, the less exciting it feels. So from funnest/scariest to most boring on public mountain roads: Z3, MX5, Boxster. But then, my 1988 Dodge Caravan short body was the funnest/scariest on mountain roads. So if it's fun you want, get a minivan and drive it like you don't care.
I also have a 986 and a z3 and when I was younger I spent a bit of time in a gen 1 and gen2 Miata. All are fun cars but I enjoy the boxster and z3 a bit more than the Miata and there is no comparison in looks. I get a lot more attention in the boxster and z3 and those are the ones people want to ride in the most. The Miatas just get looked over by most people except teenage girls they love the Miata
Bmw z3 2.8 and above, are a great Summer car. Fast enough to get into bother with the law but trouble free and great fun to drive. Don't listen to the haters, they've probably never owned one. Buy a low mileage one, their cheap and you won't regret it.
Any of the z3’s with a six are fun. Don’t leave out the 2.5’s those are great engines too easy to make just as fast as the 2.8. I highly recommend any of the six’s I highly recommend the 2.3’s that are actually a 2.5 those are the m52 and that’s a fun engine they are all easy to tune for extra HP and plenty fun stock. I don’t notice hardly any difference between the 2.8 and 2.3 fun fun cars
I owned one and repainted one I took off all the body panels the heaviness comes from the giant inner bumper rails they are over 50lb each and tha chassis is bulky but stock they are closer to 2700lb
few month ago I saw you at a car show in Virginia (when you lived there) and I asked someone who you were and they told me your channel name and I checked it out and I have been a subscriber since then ☺👍
Small lip spoiler would look alot better. These M cars especialy Z3 M looks really nice in person. Wide fenders and quarters really pop in person quad exhaust outback.
These Z3's and Z4's are sleepers only because they're smaller and roadsters and nobody probably expects them to be quick cars. They're very very quick.
Z3’s look great altough its not your style, when i drive it i get so many looks and compliments about it. Timeless look and a future classic, keep up the reviews and vids!
The Z3 M came with two 3.2l inline 6s, the S50B32 (the shitty 240hp S52B32 for the US), from the E36 M3, and at the end the S54B32 (325hp) from the E46 M3 that was also used in the E89 Z4M E8x. You can probably get 360hp NA with the S54 and a couple tweaks tbh, as the CSL has 360 stock with the same engine.
really solid around corners... except that it pretty much has the same suspension has an E30 from 1985 lol ...which is not really impressive having owned one myself.
There was a blue Z3 for about 3 minutes (Bond lands on some grass airstrip, gets in and drives off). The Z8 was a movie's main bond-car, although the ones they used were silhouette cars running Chevy drivetrains, since BMW couldn't provide cars on time.
Hey David i hope you read and respond! Just wanted to let you know that you inspired and motivated me so much since the day i started subscribing to you(roughly a year ago) Thanks to you i bought myself a project car, a Nissan 200sx S13 :) i hope you have an awesome day!
There's a black one just like it in Boston for sale. But it has a way better blower a Vortech from Dinan and some Dinan suspension. I don't know what he wants for it? But if tuned right with a blower you could clean house. Super sleeper!
Z3M is super rare and they are very fast cars stock.They look like a sport roadster. I agree that its crazy how heavy they weight for a little the car is. My dad owns one so I'm a little bias I suppose but even then I still think this car would turn my head in real life otherwise.
im really thinking of charging my 4.3 not sure if it would be ok to daily and what companies make one for my 1997 gmc sonoma the 4.3 has the bearing problem and not sure if it can be done reliably
So funny listening to "speed or nothing" car guys. Everything is pure garbage unless it snaps your head back. I get it, but there are also some great cruising cars that are amazing. Even if they don't do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. I've owned 4 roadsters in my life, and I think the 2002 z3 3.0i (not even an M) is probably my favorite. But hey, to each his own. Nice vid.
HP has no bragging rights anymore. You got stock electric cars beating anything but the craziest gasoline cars out there. Either you focus on fun where HP is not the main ingredient, or lease a Tesla if you just want acceleration. Building a 1000hp LS engine makes no one raise an eyebrow so might as well spend the money on some fun crap.
Tyler Wallace According to test drivers they´re not as bad as you would think as the batteries are down low providing one one of the lowest CG heights on any car. Now I am not promoting it as a drivers car but it sure doesn´t shame itself.
bingoberra18 all that is fine but im saying it's a prius on steroids and car enthusiasts don't run and go get one maybe someone who is super earth friendly but not gear heads
damn David, I just watched the gears and gasoline video, the emotions, we love you #nohomo and about the video format I like the current format but a bit more personal would be great plus keep doing that q&a videos once a week (like Saturdays) to keep the interest high
Had a Z3M. Yep, always did wonder why the hell is it so freaking heavy. And I always felt that the Z3M and Z4M with the S54 were so much better than the S52 with a Supercharger.
Synergy Viola It's not just about the speed, it's also the Character. The S52 doesn't really rev high and feels lazy wheras the S54 is like a Honey Badger... with it's tail on fire. It adds some excitement that the S52 really lacked. Besides, at the pricepoint of the Z3M when new or even now, the C5 Corvette will always shit on it when it comes to direct performance numbers.
NorCalGamer Still can't remove the fact that the S52 was rather poor in the excitement criteria which is the sole reason for the Z3M... I would say LS Swap but the C5 Vettes are there for the same price as a Z3M so it's kinda redundant...
A Bmw vid, yea I had to watch this. I'm not a big Z3 fan, I mean they're alright. I love the Z4 M tho. But it was cool to see that thing lift every time you floored it haha.
5 years later... and my modified ‘02 E36 drops mouths at every light... it is the quintessential modern classic, the last analog bmw and the final note in raw, visceral euro performance. You can talk shit all you want, but fast forward another another 20 years and I guarantee I’ll be having the last laugh as you search eBay desperately for one! 😂🤙
Michael Rawlins hi, I have a 2001 bmw z3 roadster 3.0i (M54)and am looking at getting a VF supercharger vortech blower 6psi boost that would take it from 225 stock to 330. Although, I have a stage 3 didnan upgrade throttle body/CAI and catback exhaust. Do you you think it’s a bad idea to drop 4,500 plus 1000 into for a super charger? What additional upgrade would I need down the line if any? I know that I wouldn’t get my money back out of the Zed, but it’s low mileage and I like the idea of a sleeper. Thoughts? Ty
I wish the owner could see this comment! If he puts some turtle wax sticker remover on that scuff on his rear bumper, like 95% of it will go away. Happened on my truck one time and you can't see the scuff at all anymore.
Let the bodies hit the floor, Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the FLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR
Also, oil catch can with these motor's low tension rings makes for a good power boost. My car is 15% more powerful with a catch can. also, stopped my oil burning!
