1997 BMW Z3

Description

A sporting and fun roadster, the BMW Z3, when new in the 1990s, is quite literally BMW looking to the future as the 'Z' in Z3 stands for 'Zukunft' or future in German. However, the Z3 also represents the spiritual successor to the glorious BMW 507 roadster from the 1950s. BMW designed the Z3 to carry two in high-speed Autobahn storming luxury. A near-perfect weight distribution allowed these cars to retain sharp, sports car handling, perfect as the road gets twistier. The Z3 was the first vehicle to be constructed in BMW's new production facility built in Greer, South Carolina. With a selection of four and six-cylinder engines with automatic and manual transmission options, there is no doubt that any enthusiast should be able to find their Ultimate Driving machine with the BMW Z3. 

RADwood Ready

RADwood is a festival that focuses on the culture and vehicles of the 1980s and 1990s. RADwood, and the "RADwood Era" are now commonly used to reference this period of bodacious automotive history.

Hagerty took stewardship of RADwood in March of 2022 to build on the company's purpose to save driving and car culture while expanding and supporting inspiring experiences for automotive enthusiasts.

Highlights

• Finished in marvelous Montreal-Blau over a two-tone Oregon and Sand Beige all-leather interior

• Service history from the seller shows the ECU, water pump, and valve cover was replaced in addition to servicing the air conditioning system, with the receipts available in the history file below

• Equipped with the M52B28 2.8-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that produces a sporting 190 hp

• The desirable five-speed manual transmission adds to the appeal of this Ultimate Driving Machine

• Having covered just over 36,000 miles from new, this BMW has been left well well preserved

• Hailing from the second year of production

• Developed by engineer Burkhard Göschel, with Joji Nagashima penning the sleek bodywork

Features

• Electric windows

• Heated seats

• HiFi speaker system

• Air conditioning

• Heated drivers door lock

• Fog lights

• Cruise control

• Automatic Stability Control

• Heated door mirrors 

• Burl wood trim

• Aluminum 16-inch wheels

• Limited slip differential

• Black soft top

Included

• Tool kit

• Rear window cover

• Owner's manual, service book, and pouch

Known Flaws

• Discoloration to the aftermarket steering wheel cover

• Sagging glove box

• Crack driveshaft flex disc

• Stone chips

Ownership History

According to the accompanying Carfax, the car was purchased new in Wisconsin, where it would stay with its original owner for over 23 years before it passed to the second owner with 30,989 miles. The consignor, located in Houston, Texas, acquired it with just 35,125 miles in the July of 2021.