2003 BMW Z3 |

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2003 BMW Z3

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£4,000

Mileage~36,480 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine2.2L
LocationStrathaven

SOLD

2003 BMW Z3

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Colin Bashford

Professional Consigner

The Z3 was the first mass-produced Z car in BMW's range after the limited-run Z1.

BMW started to develop the Z3 in 1991, but it wasn't until 1995 that they introduced the world to their two-seater roadster in a press release. Built in Greer, South Carolina, making it the first BMW model to be built entirely outside of Germany. At launch, the Z3 was available with only 4-cylinder engines; 6-cylinder engines were introduced into the lineup in 1996. In 1998, the coupe version of the Z3 was introduced, affectionately known as the "Clown Shoe" by many.

This specific car is a 2003-registered (2002-built) roadster fitted with a 2.2L straight-six mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, a proper driver's configuration. It comes from ~4 years of ownership, has its original service book, previous MOT certificates, and a current MOT valid until 31.03.2025. It's been used in current ownership in good weather and is off the road in the winter months, as can be seen in the condition of the car.

This listing was written from information supplied by Colin after meeting Rob the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Driving the Z3 takes you back in time with very little electronics, steering with feedback and only five gears.

When Rob's wife was looking for a fun car for summer use, they found this Z3 after months of searching for a nice one. It had spent its life in the south of England with only ~26,000 miles on the clock. Having used the car for trips up to the north of Scotland to visit the islands and coastlines, Rob and his wife have enjoyed the great handling and magical tone from the 2.2L straight-six.

Due to downsizing their house, Rob and his wife will no longer have storage space for the Z3, so they have decided to sell it with us. Rob told us, "It will be a sad day when Z3 leaves; it’s been a pleasure owning her". Rob will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Rob

Vehicle Owner

Rob saved £0,720* when they
sold their BMW with us.

SELLING MADE EASY

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The long bonnet, curvy body, and side vents give the Z3 a unique look.

Wheels and Tyres

The 5-spoke BMW wheels looked in great condition. Rob told us they had been refurbished before he picked the car up, and they still look great today. We didn't notice any damage on any of the wheels.

A full matching set of Goodyear tyres were fitted to the car; all looked in good condition with a good amount of tread still remaining. Please have a look at the photos and video below to asses the condition of the wheels and tyres for yourself.

Bodywork

The bodywork around the Z3 looked in good shape. The doors, bonnet, and boot opened and closed with no issues, and the panel gaps looked tight. We did notice a couple of small dings on the driver's door and a small extrusion on the bonnet, which was hardly noticeable. You can see these pointed out in the photos below. Nothing of major concern was noted, though.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The "Black Sapphire Metallic| paint looked in good condition; we didn't notice any swirls across the car. However, we did notice a small area where the lacquer has peeled on the front offside wheel arch, pointed out when going around the bonnet edge in the photos. There was also an area with some stone chips on the nearside rear wing and a slight scuff on the passenger side wing mirror.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass around the car looked in good condition, with no discolouration or cracks. We did notice a couple of very small stone chips in the windscreen. Rob has had the rear window replaced in the soft top, and it looked great.

The roof looked in good shape, though we did notice some worn stitches, but nothing concerning. The trim around the car presented nicely too although some plastics have faded in colour with age, the badges looked good, and the chrome around the car looked good with no sign of damage. Please view the photos and video below to review the condition of the glass and trim for yourself.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Inside the Z3, the focus is for the driver, a smart layout with chrome flourishes.

Seats and Carpets

The black leather seats looked in great condition, with some age-related creasing on the driver's seat bolster, which is to be expected given the age of the car.

The carpets looked in great condition too; we didn't notice any stains on any of the carpets in the car. Please take a look at the photos and video below to decide on the condition of the seats and carpets for yourself.

Dashboard

The dashboard of the Z3 looked to be in top condition, with clear dials. The odometer displayed ~36,480 miles at the time of our visit. An upgraded Sony radio was fitted to the car in 2017.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The M badged steering wheel looked well-maintained, showing minimal wear.

The M badged gearstick also appeared well-maintained, with all lettering legible and the chrome and gaiter showing very little wear. Please take a look at the photos and video below to check the condition of the steering wheel and gear stick for yourself.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The 2.2L straight-six up front is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, powering the rear wheels, making it the ideal setup in a drivers car.

Engine and Gearbox

The 2.2L straight-six fired into life without issue on the first attempt, and it looked very clean, indicating that this is a well-cared-for car. On the road with Rob, the engine performed well, feeling like it had plenty of power to enjoy the local roads.

The 5-speed manual gearbox also performed very well; gears engaged smoothly as expected, with no crunching or other unwanted noises observed. Please take a look at the cold start video below to see for yourself the performance of the engine and gearbox.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension felt great; the Z3 held the road well and absorbed bumps with no unwanted noises heard.

The brakes performed well, bringing the Z3 to a stop without any pulling on the steering wheel or squeaking noticed.

The Drive

On the backroads with Rob, the Z3 was great fun. The straight-six grumble and involving manual gearbox give the sporty feeling you want in a two-seater roadster. The car held the road well, remaining composed over varying road surfaces, and the brakes felt trustworthy when needed.

To see the Z3 in motion please take a look at the on the road video below.

Electrics and Other

As mentioned above, the car has been fitted with an upgraded Sony radio. We didn't test everything in the car, but the windows did work. Rob told us everything was in working order to his knowledge.

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History and Paperwork

A low-mileage example, this Z3 has only travelled ~10,000 miles in the last ~4 years with Rob and his wife.

Kept as an occasional car, Rob told us it is only driven in nice weather, as it was designed to be. It is off the road for six months of the year. The car has had seven services over its life, with only ~36,480 miles covered in its 21 years on the road.

Rob bought the car from the south of England, where road salt is less of an issue. The car comes with its original service booklet, MOT certificates, invoices for work carried out, and two sets of keys. The brake fluid was changed in 2020, and a new rear window was fitted in 2022.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
01.04.2024	MOT	36,124
14.04.2023	Oil Service	33,602
18.03.2023	MOT	33,455
28.03.2022	Rear Window & MOT	34,162 (Inaccurate Reading)
23.03.2021	Oil Service & MOT	28,862
19.02.2020	MOT	26,072
18.02.2020	Inspection I & Brake Fluid	26,062
23.10.2018	MOT	25,845
02.10.2017	MOT	25,626
16.08.2017	Inspection Service	21,360
17.02.2016	MOT	19,895
20.12.2015	Oil Service	18,242
19.02.2015	MOT	16,970
17.02.2014	MOT	16,230
11.02.2013	MOT	15,484
20.02.2012	MOT	15,007
10.02.2011	MOT	13,762
19.02.2010	Inspection II & MOT	12,586
11.04.2008	MOT	10,295
19.02..2007	MOT	9,244
07.03.2006	MOT	7,448
17.08.2004	Oil Service	3,039
19.02.2003	Pre-Delivery Check