1998 BMW Z3 review - Bavarian Mazda Miata?
2024 ж. 15 Қаң.
13 637 Рет қаралды
I've always thought the BMW Z3 was quite a pretty car, but I always dismissed it as not being very good to drive (without having ever driven one). But now that I have driven one, I've discovered that with some modifications, you can turn a Z3 into the sports car it looks like it's supposed to be (and never was from the factory, unless we're talking about the M variant).
Written, presented, shot, and edited by Andrei Nedelea.
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I just bought a 98 Z3 2.8L at the start of the year, great car - always a pleasure to drive
I bet! The 2.8 is the engine I would also go for.
Shhh… don’t tell anyone.
Best car ever, love it. keep up the good work!
The car is absolutely adorable! Thanks for watching!
Great video! You seem very informed and knowledgeable. I really enjoyed your review
I try, I try. Thank you for watching!
Thanks, great filming! I've been wanting this one for a long time, I can't afford any car right now, but it is one of my biggest desires for the first car. Cheers!
Thanks for watching! When you do decide to get one, make an effort to find a six-cylinder one. It makes a big difference
@@OneTireFire thanks, I'll try. But I'm still thinking about E39 being a really perfect car, especially a first one, plus it's much more safe than conventional "economical small first cars".
Thanks for sharing the drive and information 👍
Thanks for watching!
Hey, thank you for a great video. I used to have an NBFL for years before I had to give it away. Now I'm in process of choosing my next car, looking for similar vibes (I loved everything about it), I wonder how Z3 may compare. Would be my weekend drive in central Europe, maybe some weekends 2-3 hours drive from my place (this is where Miata was a bit subpar).
Thank you for watching! I think a Z3 will feel a little bit more grown-up than an NB, with better build quality and slightly more refinement. It won't feel as agile or connected to the road, though, so if ultimate road feel and connectedness are your priorities, you should get another MX-5.
@@OneTireFire Thank you ! I'm older indeed but Miata's connectedness is something from an parallel universe - I secretly hope to find an "Mx5 but better" one day, and looks like it's not Z3.
very cool video, still can not decide if z3 or z4... Best Greetings from Germany!
Danke, thanks for watching! I have exactly the same dilemma. On some days, I feel very strongly that a Z4 is the answer, but then someone in a Z3 goes past and it instantly makes me reconsider. I'd have more faith in a Z4 as a car I know I'd drive in a sporty fashion because, in the event of a crash, it should offer much better protection. But that Z3 design, though... so timeless.
Nice movie!! Can You tell me what is the size of the wheels? Looks like Styling32 is20 8j17. Correct?
Thank you for watching! Yes, they are Style 32 17-inch wheels. Not sure about the width, but it probably is 8J.
Ok. Thx!
@@michadabrowski8778 is 8j is20 and 9j is22
Can you ID the top? Looking for a hardtop for mine and it’s near impossible to find one
It's either the OEM one or the Wiesmann one. I can't remember :)
Where can I get that rear boot spoiler?
That exact one nowhere. It's custom-made by the owner.
@@OneTireFire Well, he did a beautiful job! I’d love to have one like it!
Incomparable! In motorcycles a Z3 felt like a lame heavy cruiser bike while a Miata (at least) "felt" more like a Ducati sports bike. Not that this made the Z3 the worse decision back in the days. All depends on where you wanted to go. On a long vacation to Côte d’Azur or just riding a quick tour around the block to impress the little girls. This blue Z3 tries to look and sound like a sportscar but with that noisy exhaust you wouldn´t want to drive more than 50 miles. Ever driven a lowered down Z3 with two persons and 2 weeks lugguage on B or C-roads through Italy? NOT a good idea. With a "mostly" series car it was fun. We made 3.500 miles 3 weeks vacations with our Z3 through Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland and came back without any physical damages. Even 3 weeks through Scotland and even Outer Hebrides (on little paved roads, where others took their overqualified Landcrushers or Defenders for) were no problem.
You make very valid points. Thanks for sharing & watching!
p.s. Not to get me wrong: I still enjoy driving our 1998 Z3 on curved little roads as a modern classic. It drives and steers pretty responsive and not like „wired“ todays cars which are much heavier and require double the power for having the same fun. So reliable to keep in the stable compared to the much more „diva-esque“ cars of it‘s era. While the other cars start to bother me the Z3 remains a keeper which aged with us.
what is that ducktail? looks cool
It's a complete replacement of the factory trunk lid. I don't know who makes it, but I agree it looks cool. I'll ask the owner.
@@OneTireFire I made fiber glass ducktail for my Z3, but the lid on that one looks waaaay better. Would be great to know if there is a chance to buy one!
The owner says it's a custom piece and that if you're interested, he could scan it for you :)
@@OneTireFire I would definitely be interested 😊
@@OneTireFire that would be awesome!
Frumosă mașina
Salutare, Recomand un test comparativ Z3 versus Mx5 NC. Test pe sosea, cantarite la cantar abele, ridicate pe elevator, filmate pe sub ele si concluzii. Z3 pare frumoasa, dar tenologic vorbind para mai arhaica ca un mx5 cand vine vorba despre suspensie, utilizarea materialelor usoar ca aluminiul etc. E doar o sugestie, ca de reviewuri cu blabla e plin internetul din pacate.
Mersi pentru sugestie!
Z3 a fost lansat cand inca se vindea NA si a iesit din productie cu 3 ani inainte sa apara NC, deci comparatia cea mai potrivita ar fi cu NB. Suspensia arhaică de pe spate a fost o solutie economică atat financiar, cat si pentru considerente de spatiu, semi-trailing arm e foarte plata si compacta comparativ cu double wishbone, motiv pentru care portbagajele au acelasi volum, desi la z3 spatele este mai scurt. In plus, chiar daca nu e la fel de precisa, puntea cu semi-trailing arms ofera un caracter specific la condus, cu tendințe supraviratoare. La utilizarea materialelor, Z3 poate ca nu foloseste aluminiu, insa are o structura monococa, iar toate elementele de caroserie sunt prinse cu suruburi, nu sudate si sunt extrem de bine galvanizate, dovada ca Z3urile foarte rar ruginesc. La materialele folosite in interior diferenta este colosala. Z3 si MX5 sunt doua abordari diferite pentru o situație similara, nu cred ca este o problema de “care este mai buna”, ci una de tipul “care imi place mai mult / care e mai potrivita pentru mine?”
style 32 wheels came from factory on the Z3, and all Z3s has electric seats
Just part-electric-front/back and up/down, but the backrest is still manual. I didn't know the style 32s came on the car. The owner of this Z3 said he got them off a different BMW.
@@OneTireFire oh Yeah that’s true :) the style 32 came, but not the size on this car i believe. I’ve struggled so hard to get them, but i finally got some last week
I thought I wanted one, until I researched the maintenance issues. I think I'm gonna buy an LS1 Camaro instead...
That’s quite a leap, and a very different car/driving experience.
@@OneTireFire In some ways, yes. But they're both manual, RWD, convertible sports cars. And similarly priced where I live.
Never giving up my '98...original owners. 118k miles. Joy
Nice, nice! What engine?
1.9
E36/7 roadster e36/8 coupe
Right, thanks, that's what I wanted to say but something else came out 😅
i would not call this the Bavarian Miata. it is the closest thing they came to one, but not really on par with the level the Miata is at on pure chassis. it's actually a shame, because BMW was technically more than capable of outdoing Mazda, but the accountants got their grubby little fingers all over this. Mazda: bespoke double wishbone all 4 corners; BMW accountants: screw that, lets put a 20 year old outdated design to save cost. the only thing the Z3 has over the MX5 is looks, vibes, a better interior and a possibility for a 6 cyl engine maybe even the M. however comparing the Z3M to a miata is kind of stupid anyway. I also understand from a business perspective how the money needed to let the engineers have fun and create a true Bavarian Miata would have been lost anyway, the looks, interior and brand sold 90% of why someone would buy it in period anyway
Yes, I totally agree with your assessment, but with the four-cylinder under the hood and some of the handling-enhancing mods, it felt like a slightly bigger Miata to me. Nowhere near as fun to drive as the Mazda, especially on the limit, but still a decent roadster (even despite its archaic suspension setup, especially in the rear).
@@OneTireFire i'm mainly just angry at BMW for not giving us a car they absolutely could have XD i guess we can at least appreciate they made a z car at all
if you want another very sports like car from bmw with a 6 cyl just get the z4.
Which six-cylinder version of the Z4 is the one to get?
@@OneTireFire id say anything above the 2.5 The 3.0 has even more hp coming in at around 230 but they also come with a bigger pricetag. i chose a 2.5 from 2004 since in my country we have hp tax and i dont want to afford the price for 230hp. but really any version is good it just depends on how much hp you need
@@mrturtle3531 Thanks for sharing. I'd love to try a six-cylinder if I can get my hands on one.
It’s more like the bavarian s2000
Hmmmm, maybe, why do you say that?
@@OneTireFire the Miata was offered in a 4 cyl and price point and quality put in a place for people who couldn’t afford an s2000 or z. The s2000 was offered in a 4 cyl but built more for racing the z has all of the qualities and as far as look, proportions and performance is much closer to the s2000 than Miata. However the z was superior. It had race and roadster luxury with a 4cyl and 6cyl option and now they come straight 6 with twin turbos. The s2000 is known as a legend because its rarer and has a high reving 4cyl that Honda enthusiasts hyped up.
Don't call it a miata. Z3 is a league above that overhyped Japanese shit box.
I disagree. I think the Miata is fantastic. Not overhyped at all. Have you ever driven one?
@@OneTireFire the z3 is closer to the s2000 than a Miata.
The i8 and M1 are the closest bmw has come to a sports car. Zs are not sports cars.
Yep, that makes sense