BMW Z3
BMW
Photo: MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The 1990s roadster. Inline fours and sixes, and the cult M Coupe "clown shoe" variant.
The BMW Z3 is the brand mass-market roadster of the late 1990s, built in South Carolina and famous for its appearance in the James Bond film GoldenEye. It offered everything from modest four-cylinder engines to the punchy inline-six 2.8 and 3.0 models, with the M Roadster and M Coupe at the top. The M Coupe (1998-2002), with its distinctive shooting-brake roofline, earned the affectionate "clown shoe" nickname and is now a cult collectible, pairing the S52 or S54 inline six with a rigid hatch body. The Z3 helped popularize the affordable rear-drive roadster. On WhipJury, Z3 submissions favor the inline-six roadsters and the prized M Coupe.
Z3 highlights
Roadster (1995-2002). Four- and six-cylinder open-top two-seater, built in the USA.
M Roadster and M Coupe. S52 then S54 inline sixes. The M Coupe "clown shoe" is the cult collectible.
Z3 on WhipJury
The inline-six cars and the M Coupe draw the most enthusiast interest.
Frequently asked questions about BMW Z3
What is the Z3 M Coupe clown shoe?