The 1999 Z3 is an important vehicle to BMW for the convertible market segment. The Roadster is a member of a series of four trim levels for the Z3 which include Coupe, M Coupe, and M Roadster. The two-door car with its rear-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for BMW. There is strong competition from vehicles from Kia.

Performance

The Z3 Roadster is equipped with a BMW 2.5 liter six-cylinder engine that utilizes 24 valves. The engine is mated to a GMC 4-speed Transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for BMW.

The fuel system for the 1999 Z3 is a Siemens MS design, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel flow is regulated by a electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The storage capacity of the fuel tank is 13.50 gallons.

The Z3 uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.

Z3 Roadster Statistics

The dimensions of the Z3 Roadster are 68.50 inches wide by 158.50 inches long. It sits a comfortable 50.90 inches off the ground. It seats a standard two passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 96.30 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $36,200 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $31,895. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Convertible.

There is a 50,000 mile, 48 month warranty with this vehicle, including a powertrain warranty of 50,000/48 miles/months. This is normal for this price range.

Fuel Efficiency

The Z3 Roadster received a miles-per-gallon rating of nineteen in-city driving and twenty six when it came to long-distance. Being a gas-powered non-green car, this was subpar.

Conclusion

There are several reasons why the BMW Z3 Roadster sold well in 1999. Mainly the increase in availability and a marked improvement in quality meant the buying public was more apt to choose a BMW, specifically a Z3.

Tags: 2-Door, BMW Z3, Convertible, Roadster, United States market

This entry was posted on Friday, May 8th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under 1999, BMW, Z3. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.