Autohunter Spotlight: 1998 BMW Z3

This may sound a bit surprising but one of my very favorite cars I have ever owned, and the one I owned the longest, was my 007 edition 1996 BMW Z3. The car was a perfect mix of old and new, classic styling mixed with modern reliability. That car traveled with me from Connecticut to Monterey twice, and it was shown at the Hilton Head Concours, The Quail Motorsports Gathering, and took me to the Amelia Island Concours to celebrate 100 years of BMW. It also went to a number of 007 events including one movie premiere and a Sheena Easton 007 concert. The car took me to so many fun places and I enjoyed every mile behind the wheel.

Featured on AutoHunter, the online platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1998 BMW Z3 2.8 with only 1,000 miles from new.

According to the listing this Z3 is 100 percent an original time capsule. It is powered by a 2.8-liter inline-six mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and has the optional limited-slip differential. The car spent 20 years of its life in Oklahoma and was relocated to Florida in 2022. Highlights include fog lamps, a two-tone cockpit, Harman Kardon audio, and power convenience features. Finished in Arctic Silver Metallic (BMW color code 309) over its original Red Oregon leather interior, this Z3 is equipped with a power black soft top and is now offered by the selling dealer with a clean CARFAX report and a clear title.

Every inch of this Z3 is absolutely immaculate, with the only note being a slight impression under the front bumper. The Oregon Red Leather interior shows no wear in the photos, and every switch and knob in the interior look as they did when new.

The dash layout of the Z3 is pure 1960s classic roadster and the driving position will be comfortable for just about anyone. Heck I’m 6’4″ tall and found mine to be comfortable enough to take cross country twice.

The engine compartment is the same, with all original finishes intact, all the typical cosmoline removed (likely when new), and looking just as good as it did when it was delivered from the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant where it was built.

Finding a Z3 in this condition, with what is just a bit more than delivery mileage, is practically unheard of today and what you are basically bidding on with this car is a brand new 1998 Z3 roadster. Now, I am not at all promising you that you will have the opportunity to show it all the places where I had mine, but I will tell you that a Z3 this immaculate is truly something special and a roadster that you can enjoy for years to come.