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There’s an exception to every rule. And for a surprising number of rules, that exception is the BMW Z3. It was the first BMW model built outside of Germany and one of the cheapest cars Agent 007 has ever driven. Despite being a Bimmer, it’s quirky enough to make Miata drivers smile. But despite being a roadster with no cargo space, it can weigh in at 2,900 pounds. For all that weight, you do get a beefy powertrain. But after one year of owning my Z3, I’m finding it’s the only “beefy” part of the flimsy little car.

How does a truck guy buy a BMW Z3?

After moving to Detroit, I began longing for something fun to zip around town in. I went over every modern sports car, considering all kinds of options. Then a green-over-tan-leather 1999 BMW Z3 popped up in my neighborhood. One drive, and I was in love. And it doesn’t hurt that you can currently get a nice six-cylinder BMW Z3 for the price of a rusty Miata.

I will admit I found myself referring to my new car as “the roadster,” “the convertible,” or anything but the “BMW.” But that’s another article altogether.

I got it home, changed the oil, went over all the other major mechanical components, and was very happy with my new car. But by the third time I put the roof up/down, it began to shed rubber gaskets and other pieces of the top. I googled it and spent a Saturday taking the entire thing apart and putting it together right. On Sunday, my driver’s side mirror fell off.

I thought, Old cars have quirks, this poor thing’s been neglected. I found the aluminum assembly inside my mirror had corroded and broken (very common in BMW Z3s). So I needed to buy a brand-new one. To eBay! Turns out BMW used three different dark green colors throughout the run of the Z3, but nothing an experienced automotive researcher can’t handle.

Next weekend, I was coming back from dinner in the city when a summer thunderstorm hit…and soaked my date. So much for a second date. Turns out there are these little channels built into the A-pillars, tiny gutters to clear water. But after about six months on the road, they completely clog and overflow—into the car’s interior.

Everyone on the forums told me the best solution is to buy some rubber glue and seal the drainage channels completely. So there I am outside my apartment in Midtown Detroit, keeping an eye on my car for the afternoon so no one closes the doors and messes up my drying glue. All part of the adventure, right?

So how does the BMW Z3 drive?

Like a dream. From autocross to twisty country roads to highway road trips (with a small to medium amount of luggage), my BMW Z3 does it all. Whenever I’m in third gear, the engine revving above 6,000 RPM, I forget all the time I’ve spent swearing at mechanical quirks. Needless to say, I found some good driving roads in Michigan and had a few adventures. And I discovered more problems.

Whenever I hit the brakes, both seats rocketed forward, loose on their tracks. Again, I turned to the forums. This is a “standard” issue, and you can buy modern plastic bushings on eBay that will fix them—after you completely disassemble both seats. But be careful disassembling the seats. The plastic seatbelt guides will snap if you sneeze on them. And if you lean on the center console to pull a seat out, that will crack too. Don’t ask me how I know.

Hit the brakes or accelerate, and the glovebox rattles open as wide as a Muppet’s mouth—even while latched. Again, a soft plastic piece that you just need to replace with a modern metal band.

If you believe every German car ever built has exceptional build quality, buying a BMW Z3 will convince you otherwise. But you probably shouldn’t believe blanket statements anyway. Not about cars, or really anything in life.

Will I keep my BMW Z3?

I’m typing this at the end of February. My BMW Z3 is all tucked away for the winter while I sit at my table with a pad of paper and write a to-do list for the thing. I’d love to autocross it next summer.

But I have a taillight that blows out a fuse whenever I put a bulb in it, and something (wheel position sensors? ABS computer?) lighting up my dashboard like a Christmas tree. In this case, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the traction/stability control warning light, ABS warning light, and a wonky speedometer. And that’s just the beginning of the list.

My to-do list has me wondering if someone who wants a BMW will trade me even up for a Miata. But the truth is, I know I’ll take my Z3 out of mothballs in a month or two, and after my first drive around the lakes of Dexter, Michigan, I’ll be in love all over again.

Here’s the scoop on German sports cars—the build quality is never guaranteed to be perfect. But at least in the case of my BMW Z3, the concept was flawless: a lightweight RWD roadster with a powerful I6 and a good manual gearbox with an overdrive. It’s a truly perfect formula. Now, if I can just work out the arithmetic.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.