Photos provided by the vendor
Highlights
- Blue leather interior
- 72,269 miles indicated
- Good service history
- Recently refurbished alloys
- Manual transmission
- Rare 3.0 model
The Appeal
The two-seat sports roadster has been a perennial market favourite since the early days of the motor car. Usually offering compact proportions, sweet handling and zingy engines, In recent decades the formula has been refined, resulting in gems like the BMW Z3.
When considering the Z3, the 3-litre model is the one you want. Smooth, torquey and powerful with classic proportions and stylish detailing, it offers everything you could want from a roadster. And this particular example is presented with a great specification, the desirable manual transmission, a good service record and well below average miles. So if you’ve been in the market for a modern classic roadster, then look no further!
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in December 2000
- Six owners from new
- Current owner since April 2022
- 72,269 miles indicated, confirmed by the MOT record
- Current MOT to March 2023
- Currently SORN since December 2022
- Comprehensive history, with stamped service book and two folders full of maintenance invoices
- Last service on 28th July 2022 at 71,731 miles
- Complete with the original owner’s handbooks
The Interior
- Blue leather upholstery is in very good order for the car’s age
- The seats are in fine condition, with just a little creasing in evidence, and some wear to the driver’s side outer bolster
- Grey carpet in the cabin and boot looks to be in fine fettle, with no significant wear, no damage and no staining we could see
- Electrically operated window, door mirrors and fabric roof
- Original BMW radio/cassette with 6CD changer
- Air conditioning
- All of the switchgear and instruments present well, with some signs of wear and use commensurate with the age and mileage of the car
- Metal ‘M’ pedal set adds a nice touch of sporting intent to the cabin
- The boot contains the factory toolkit
- A fabric mesh wind deflector is included, which fits across the rollover hoops
- We’re told by the vendor that everything in the car works as it should – the only thing they have not tested is the boot-mounted CD changer
The Exterior
- Topaz Blue Metallic paintwork in in nice condition, with a few minor stone chips and blemishes, and one light scratch to the off-side rear wheel arch
- The body panels appear to be straight and tidy, with no corrosion or noticeable damage and good, crisp lines
- Black fabric roof shows in very good condition, with little evidence of UV damage and no tears or rips we could see
- All of the trim, badging and light lenses look to be in good order, with some minor wear and blemishes as you’d expect, but nothing that would concern us
- The alloy wheels are factory BMW ‘Style 32’ 17-inch items that have recently been refurbished and show in very fine order, with no kerbing or lacquer peel
- A new pair of Firestone tyres were fitted to the front by the previous owner and a new pair of Hankooks to the rear in 2022
- Underneath the car looks clean and solid, with straight floor pans and sills, and no significant damage or corrosion we could discern
The Mechanics
- 3-litre, naturally aspirated, inline-six (M54)
- Manual five-speed transmission
- 228hp delivered to the rear wheels when new
- In a bid to improve the ride and handling, the last owner fitted a set of Spax adjustable dampers. The car rides very well as a result, with no harshness and more precise handling
- The owner assures us the car idles sweetly, pulls hard, has a precise gearchange and a good feel to the clutch
- We’re also told that there are no major knocks or rattles from the suspension or brakes when driving
Summary
Offering an engaging and thrilling driving experience, together with BMW’s legendary build quality and a good history, this Z3 makes a compelling case for itself.
If the idea of a smart little sports car for this summer appeals to you, then you should definitely give this a look.
If the idea of a smart little sports car for this summer appeals to you, then you should definitely give this a look.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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