2000 BMW Z3 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

I fell in love with this model because of the sporty look and the sleekness. It is low in mileage easy on the gas. And lord knows that gas is going up great for to show off to your friends or nit. But who cares you look good no matter how messed up your hair can look. Its great I am sure you would love this this car as much as I did from far. Happy hair day lol just kidding you will look great .. Have fun ! Apr 24, 2024

I have has two Z3s. First was a 1.9, 5mt and later I got a 2.8, 5 mt. Shared traits. The Z3 is small, but roomy for a roadster. My 6’3, 240, hubby comfortably fits in a Z3 but not any year of Miata. The interior is dated by today’s standards, but has decent fit and finish. These cars, if you don’t choose a ragged out example are very reliable and especially by BMW standards. They have relatively few problems and they are mostly nuisance things like sagging glovebox and seats become wobbly: both are easy fixes. (The M cars, especially the S52 cars can have expensive vanos problems and an issue where the torque causes a floor pan separation). This car is set firmly, but not harsh like a first gen Audi TT. Although it is a small roadster the trunk is large enough for two to take on a weekend or short road tip. So it makes a comfortable GT as well. I enjoy the heated seats on cool nights. The 1.9 This version is Miata slow, but gets exceptional mpg. It doesn’t have as sharp handling as a Miata, but feels quicker than an A or B. A sport exhaust is necessary as the engine is nigh on silent on the oem exhaust. My husband put an Ansa on ours and it sounded much better. This would be a great first car since they are cheap, slow, and have rollover bars, and airbags. The automatic 1.9 transmission version is rumored to be anemically slow. 2.8 The inline 6 transforms the Zed into a quick car. With a sport exhaust, the engine noise is lovely. It is a far more capable cruiser than the i4 and I imagine if you want an Automatic any of the six cylinder cars will have enough torque to pull the Zed along nicely. The six is not exactly thrifty though. I would imagine around 25mpg. Mar 12, 2022

The Z3's low end acceleration is weak but the high end acceleration is quick and responsive. The braking capabilities are fair unfortunately pads and rotors wear out quickly. Handling is very tight and responsive, it is comfortable at high speeds and solid in corners. The car is fun to drive and the overall performance is satisfying. It is very well built and designed. The engine is solid and rarely has any mechanical issues and I have yet to have a problem with the drive line.The worst problem I've had mechanically is the mass air flow meter. Apart from routine maintenance it rarely needs any attention. The body is aerodynamic and responds well to wind and high speeds. The top is the weak point to the exterior, the stitching has an annoying habit of coming undone and the plastic back glass is easily scratched. The interior doesn't respond well to age and has far too many weak plastic pieces. The overall appearance is pleasing. The paint has nice depth and compliments the curvature of the body. The roadster version has a body designed to be an instant classic, with the top down it is very sporty and aesthetically appealing. The interior is sporty and comfortable for a sports car, there is plenty of leg room. It has just the right amount of accents, although I don't care much for the mock wood grain. The cost of owning the car is less than I originally expected. Fuel mileage is fair for the straight six under the hood, you can expect 24 mpg in the city and roughly 30 mpg on the highway. Fill up from empty is acceptable as the fuel tank caps out at 10 gallons. The oil change has a tendency to be a bit expensive as it requires 6.5 quarts of full synthetic oil and the filter averages out at 14 dollars. The wear items wear according to the driver. It is very low maintenance for a BMW. The BMW Z3 is very fun to drive and has a lot to offer. Whether you like to drive around town, glide down curvy roads, or even drift through corners then the car is a thrill to own. However, if running red light to red light or running the drag track is your preference then this car is not for you. Over all the Z3 is very fun to drive. Oct 25, 2010

it was 9 years old when I bought this 2.8 with the M interior and I installed a new rag top, invested in some Doc Baileys Leather cleaner, new mats, BMW 75,000 mile service and I'm estatic about how she handles and performs on the open road. This is a car for drivers, real drivers. Handling is snappy. Changing lanes is quick and discreet. The road never felt so good. Around town performance gets over 20 mpg. Highway driving kicked it up to 27 when on cruise control at 73-75 mph. All around, exceeded my expectations by 100%. This is no TR6 like I had in College. Awesome, sums it up nicely..Dec 17, 2009

It's a great car that I'd recommend. It could definitely use a boost in Acceleration, so I'd recommend the 2.8 or Z3M over this car. Cost of ownership is great. Mass produced car with plenty of parts available on eBay at low costs. Lots of do it yourself guides. This car gets more attention than a lot of the newer BMW'z (barring the newly redesigned Z4). The Engine sound is melodic. Handling is superb (just make sure you over- inflate your tires slightly. Around 35- 36 psi) The standard Pleather seats are a true drag and take away greatly from the overall feel of the car, so make sure you get one with the real Leather seat upgrades (believe me...very important. pleather = slip and slide, dry and cracked). Absolutely would buy another one, although with the Z3M model for the bigger engine. The only reason I got rid of this one is because I crashed it just last night. :(Oct 19, 2009

I just love the looks. When it was launched, it gave me associations to old english roadsters, that no BMW has ever made since (well the Z8 too actually). The engine was old, the chassis was old, but the cool factor was brand new. The first convertible I ever thought of buying (and did). If i had the means to keep my former cars in a large garage, this would be the first one that I would keep forever. I still turn my head to watch, when I see one in the streets today. It's simply a classic in my view.Jul 07, 2009

I have longed for this '00 BMW M Coupe ever since I bought my '99 M Roadster (which was a reasonably good car but could certainly be better). The difference was immediately noticeable - tight, tight chassis where everything were so connected. Power slides were made easy without that "wheel hop" found in the M Roadster. Even the engine sounded better due to the better resonance characteristics of the closed cabin. The rare and unique fastback design also gave this car a most distinctive sillouette not found in any previous BMWs or otherwise, a design that will never grow old with trained or untrained eyes. The handling performance of this vehicle was the function of its shorter wheel base (vs. the e36 M3) and the dated semi-trailing arm rear suspension. As a result, cornering was always an adventure requiring a great deal of efforts to keep the rear end planted - any uncertainty on the part of the right foot will cause the rear end to step out violently (a result of the ever changing rear camber during suspension travel). This was why stiffer spring rates (to limit suspension travel) and lowered ride height (to increase neg. camber) would be highly recommended for driving this car beyond 8/10th on the track. This car tolerated no mistakes on the driver's part, but was exceptionally rewarding to negotiate around the track. It turned better and tighter than an M3, and it also out accelerated and out braked the same (for its 200 lbs. weight advantage). Track pads, however, will still be necessary as any BMW brakes were not meant for performance driving and would be most apparent usually after 2 hot laps. While the S52 engine was hardly considered exotic nor powerful (240 hp) and lacked immediate throttle response (no individual intake butterflies here), the flat torque curve and low maintenance requirement made this engine more than bullet-proof for track use, and exceptional for street driving. The 5-speed transmission was one of the best BMW had employed with positive engagement every shift, the limited slip differential also worked transparently, all what BMW was so famous for. As a daily driver, the ride was never objectionable, the chassis had the stiffness to handle any road imperfection. Interior room was more than adequate for 2 (and will not accommodate a 3rd) with exciting visual thanks to the chrome ringed guages, contrast stitched leather console, and the clamshell hood line. Build quality was adequate with wider than average panel gappings. Sheet metal were wave free like any other less curveous BMWs, but unfortunately, the clear coat also exhibited the same level of orange peel just the same. Overall, this car ranked 3rd over the 9 BMWs I owned but is by far the most focused.Apr 15, 2009