The BMW Z1 Is More Than Some Fancy Doors 

I have to disagree with your statement "there's nothing special about the engine". The M20 engine is one of the most legendary combustion engines ever. Not because of numbers, but because of engineering. Its a simple straight 6 with 12 valves and one overheadcamshaft, electronic fuel injection, lightly tilted to the right side, with an aluminum zylinder head and a turbine-styled intakemanifold, wich compresses the air a bit and gets some more oxygen into the zylinders. There are 2 main factors why these engines are highly praised: 1. If you gently warm them up and have all the services done regularly, an M20 engine goes and goes forever, it will never let you down. 2. The reason why these engines are infamous and gave BMW the reputation about their six-zylinders: an M20 runs smooth as a jet engine, there is almost nothing else on the combustion engine market that runs so smooth like an M20. It's literally like having a turbine under the hood when accelerating. But you achieve this with a small straight 6 that is cheap and has low running costs and consumption rather than a big, heavy, expensive, inefficient V12. Wich all combined together in an affordable, compact E30 sedan, that does just about everything for everyday driving perfectly, is complete nuts.

I’ve had 2 Z1s. One thing I really appreciated about them was that in 20,000+ miles of driving all over Europe and using them as near daily drivers, neither gave me one single iota of trouble. Very tidy handling and a lovely noise, too. Plus a nifty, easy to use roof with what remains one of the best tonneau arrangements ever. Damn. A third Z1 might be looming. I’ve had a Z8 as well, and the fact that journos and pundits didn’t get it was fantastic. I bought mine new and the dealer gave me almost 15% off list to get it out the door. Yay. It was a fantastic, thunderous bit of kit and hearing one roar past at full chat is like being strafed by a Messerschmitt 109. Lairy and manual as well. Those were the days.

Ok, get this guy some more subscribers! This is quality content!

Great intro clip and I love the logo, this gives a genuine holiday feel

Great video. I love the fact that you do something different! Its not all about wrapping cars, buying and selling every six months etc. Keep up the great work!

The engine is a peach! I remember driving it in the E34.

Just bought a Z1. An incredibly special car. Lovely to own, to drive, to show

My granddad had one for a bit in Northern Ireland. Granny hated it because every time he went to overtake he had to go into the middle of the road to see if something was coming.

LJK Setright (RIP) loved that car and he knew a thing or two about motors.

The older 12v 6s sounded more bassy low down and less metallic and raspy than the later cars I always found.

Forget the Z1... Look at that Daf coupe! :D

Enjoyed my Z4 very much, I even kept it for 2 years, but that Z1 looks in a different league, lovely. Nicely put together video.

As a kid I went to a motor show many years back and saw one of these. Beautiful and loved them from that day.

The price of those Z1’s today though. I remember when they had one on wheeler dealers, and the way they’ve shot up in value is unreal. You remind me of Alan Partridge with that shirt when he worn that Castrol GTX jacket at Tony Hayers funeral

I'd completely forgotten about this car. Particularly enjoyed this video James.

Nice comprehensive review

James's presenting style has really changed in 4 years !

Three years ago I was lucky enough to win a BMW hosted day driving their Heritage range of cars. Z8's, Z1's, 330Ci . The last car I drove was a Z1 and it was brilliant. So different from everything else. When I returned home I looked on the internet and low mileage models with a view to buying one. They were £25k in 2015. So they really have shot up in value. Sadly my driving weekend was ended by another prize winner slamming into the back of the Z1 I was in. Causing a lot of damage.

A good explanation and guide to the car, thanks. The only one I've seen in person was in the garage of a hotel in Italy just south of the Austrian alps. We were doing a tour in a kit car and the hotel owner offered the use of their private garage rather than parking a seven outside, seeing the Z1 in there was just a bonus.

Thanks for posting a video about such an interesting car.

Great video! Love my Z3, cool to learn about it's heritage

Love the Z1 and always have.

Great content. Thanks.

There’s something beautifully old fashioned about your videos, that intro was pure 90s BBC cookery program 😂

If your after one, the only company who can get hold of one in the Uk, is Munich Legends in East Sussex. They are highly desirable cars, and sell so fast, that you have to be on their waiting list, but its worth it. My friend bought one five years ago, from them, paying a very high £32,000, but its worth considerably more now. The seats are some of the most comfortable ive ever sat in, and were designed by Recaro for BMW An appreciating asset, a car that will always retain its value

This is the first video I’ve seen from Jay. I picked up on it because I have the same car. I thought this was a great, well proportioned and informative video, very much enjoyed watching and I’ll be definitely be watch more. Whilst I agree the M20 is a great classic engine, the Z1 was about the future and should have had the M50 engine in my opinion, love the car all the same. Couldn’t agree more on your comment about the I8, it is the only car to go where the Z1 dared.

Great video mate, keep up the unusual motors, far more interesting than the latest super car

Nice video. Great content

Great video, great car! When I'll be able to afford it, I'll take a Z1 for sure!

Highly enjoyable review!!!!

I never knew car heaven is replete with R16s!

Great car.

the only time I saw one in real time was at the Ipswich BT Labs (Adastral Park) in the 2000's and yes the owner was showing the door function off

One summer I did 2500km in it going from one side of France to Spain and back and it was definitely very enjoyable although I was not as enthusiastic as you at driving with the door down. This car does feel much more modern than its contemporaries. Also worth nothing this was described as a « front-mid engine » as the engine is much more in the middle than on other cars and you can see how short the back is which gives it a much better balance than most other front engine.

The z2 for sure

Wow the interior looks so clean in that Car!! Wish mine looked that good!! Think I need to invest some time and Money next Year. My Z1 is now going into hibernation as Winter draws in :-( :-(

Thank you Jay, for a great video as always. So Glad I found this channel in the last year. Love this video. I always felt this car found a bit of its way into the Z3. I Bought a used z4, and loved it until an older fellow tried to do a left hand turn in front of me that led to a head on accident. The convertible was totaled but it did me pretty well in the crash, only broke my ankle(stomping so hard on the brake pedal). I replaced that car with a Z3. I always loved the styling of the Z3 so I decided what the hell. Well the styling is beautiful for sure, but the car is definitely, more primitive then the Z4. Most enjoy the styling of the 3 over the 4, but I am in the minority, and find the Z4 as the prettier car. Not having the M model on either car, they both lacked much performance, just enough to put a little smile on your face when the top is down. I still have the Z3, less than 70,000 miles on her, and she drives beautifully. Never had any problems with the car in any way. Only problem I had with the Z4 was the motor for the top going bad. Poor design, as the motors sat in a tray, and if the drain holes become clogged, the motors would sit in water. Problem solved with the Z3 for me. I am the motor. I may be a little lazy at times, and use the top a slight bit less. But for the 2 times less I put it down in the summer. The simpleness of not having to replace the motors, and the service to do it ($1300 charge at a dealer) is well worth it.

This is BMW engineers’ (in the ‘80’s at least) senses of humor coming out. I remember Clarkson saying his wife had one for a while. I also remember him saying it was a bit awkward helping the ladies out of the car because of those wide sills.

The doors actually melt into the underside of the car and go into the depths of hell to stop them from freezing and then they rise up safe and sound because they dry as soon as they rise up

I hope you manage to get something really unique on the channel like a Vector W8 or an Isdera Imperator. Two of my favourite late 80s early 90s supercars and very few videos on them here on youtube.

Lovely video! If I were to pick a Z-car, I might want to cheat bit. I would go for the BMW M Coupé.

Those doors are delicate and extremely expensive to fix

Great video.....you know what's next don't you.

I know it's hard since those type of cars can come in various trims and engines, but will you ever review a Westfield ? As a french fella it seems quite interesting to see those track eaters for such a bargain ! I don't mind the RHD for 7k pounds

What a great video describing the merits of this wonderful little car. Currently seeking one if anyone can help me ! Piley

Never knew about the plastic body panels.... Similar I guess to the original Renault Espace! Z4M is my poison

great job James i wish you more subscribers (insta) thank you from Liverpool watch Wheeler Dealers they bought (allegedly) a yellow Z1 and painted it Red stripping off all those plastic panels!

I get those annoying radio mic spikes, usually at the wrong times as well, helps to do scan (Sennheisers G2) before filming.

basically an E30 it is cool

Does iit have a soft top?

Do a review of the Lotus Elan M100. It seems like it's the misfit of the brand and has been forgot about.

Is it the holidays or were you on Valium? Where is the usual shouting an staccato of words? I prefer the regular JayEmm. Great review though, as ever.

Ed China fixed a Z1 years ago .

I is different people!

Yvette Carte-Blanche: What is happening? Maria Recamier: We were both aroused by the banging. Edith: I too was aroused by the banging. Roger Leclerc: I was aroused when I saw the girls with the candles. René: Edith, the Germans *take* the staff upstairs from time to time. If they took these two upstairs, do you not think that their suspicions will be aroused? Herr Flick: This is very serious! The Gestapo is only insured for third party! You must be very careful with the painting of the Fallen Madonna with the Big ...Boobys Renee 🤣👍🏽

As usual in France there is someone tailgating you in a white van...

As always, just a bit of disjointed rambling. The Lotus Evora will be remembered, if it is remembered at all, as the car Cletus loved, and XXVII couldn't get shut of. It might have been an idea to mention why the Z1 required such unusual doors - frame rather than monocoque - but, then again, perhaps not. I see la belle France has her own van blanc hommes. The Z1 and the E30 M3 are the two BMWs I desire. The area of France you're in looks depressingly like Anywhereville, U.K. Kudos for your righthand gear changes. When I've got to drive on the wrong side, I always hire an automatic. I liked the introduction. It was very stylish. Another great video, well done.

James,I been watching couple of your videos now and u pretty car enthusiast guy.So I stumbled upon a pretty interesting video/news about Porsche: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BXm4IZgPeaE.html And I want your point of view and make a video about it.it is pretty interesting to see u cover this news because many people don't realize this.

first

What’s up with the slow talking style?

It's so ugly, also considering the Mazda MX5 of the same era is so sexy. What a flop BMW.