I started with a 2.8 98 and it was so much of a fun car that I recently picked up a 2000 M and it's been an absolute blast. I love how all the power is still usable and both cars have been incredibly reliable.
I've seen one of these for sale near me, and I solely blame the Tophers for making me want it! Looks like a great lil machine to go "bombing around in", as Jack Wade said in Goldeneye.
Research on rear subframe mount failure. And inspect before purchase or have the fund for repair. I think the lower power version are fine the Z3M is troublesome
That little thing is beautiful, he did a great job cleaning it up and showing it some love. I gotta say most BMWs from this time period are something else, they always feel like they have this special sauce that makes everything come together. I never owned one but my buddies always were getting old bmws and they were always amazing. A few e30s, my one friend had a e34 528 and it was awesome. My other boy got a 01 E39 M5 used and to this day is still one of my favorite cars, everything about it was just so well done. I respect new BMW's for their performance, but IMO they have lost that special sauce. I think they are starting to get it back with the G80s and others but damn are they a butter face. Thanks for the video guys this brought me back to my teenage/young adult years.
I used to have this as a 1:18 die cast model and loved it! My dad also had various 4-cyl BMWs and the engine sound reminded me of his cars. Good times.
Same 1.9L M44 Z3 with the Getrag 5 speed Manual transmission along with the same silver paint like mine but a 1997 with 222,200 miles with the original AC compressor made in Japan no wonder why they hold up so long. Highway driven and has been a daily driver it's whole life and been in my family for 21 years still running strong. Solid reliable E36 with less plastics under the hood to worry about with these 4 cylinder Austrian engines. These have very reliable Japanese AC compressors and evaporator cores that hardly ever break on these cars. The original 1.9L BMW E36 Z3s age very well even great for daily driving too.
Picked up an 98 m roadster after owning a 318i for a few years. Absolute blast to drive both of them still… Love being able to floor them wherever I go, and not get into trouble.
Topher2, TopherDrives, SubstituteTopher, it's hard to keep the team member branding straight in my mind. Great POV content, as usual. There was an era when enthusiast magazines would recommend the E36 318is (the same 138hp 4 cylinder as this Z3) over its powerful 6-cylinder brothers because the 4-cylinder lightweight up front gave the perfect chassis balance.
Damn my uncle had this car back in the days and I remember him kicking out his wife and let me drive. We drove to the bar and then he kicked me out because he was picking up another chick. Cheated on his wife and let me walk home
I have the exact same car! BMW Z3 1.9L 51kmi silver with the black and red interior, but mine has the original stock stereo with cassette AND a BMW 6 disc CD changer in the trunk! I love this car.
I bought one of these about 2 years ago because I couldn't find a Miata. I did enjoy it, but I did wish I had held out and bought an NA or NB Miata instead. Ive sinced replaced it with an ND and I enjoy it much more.
Coming from a few NA/NB Miata’s, it was fun having one of these (also a 96) for a few months as a project, but the overall build quality was just so much worse IMO compared to its Japanese counterpart mile for mile. Everything in the interior was hella fragile and didn’t feel made to last (door handles in particular). The M44 though was a surprisingly fun and efficient motor (I never saw less than 35mpg) though and I liked it more than the NA 1.8 I had.
@BrianEugeneLee-FJCruiser What is a MX-5? I think you're talking about a different car. The Miata is made by Mazda and it is a convertible roadster similar to the BMW Z3.
His driving was really bad i feel bad for the owner, he drives it without any regards . By the way i have the exact same car you can also enjoy cruisin' with it
I test drove one of these almost 20 years ago, but with the 6-cyl. While it wasn't a bad car by any means, it certainly had problems. The steering wheel feels like it belongs on a bus. The interior definitely has a parts-bin feel to it, with obvious bits of older BMWs on show. But mostly, the drive is just nowehre near as sharp as the equivalent age Boxster...which was what I bought.
Had a 99 Z3M. I still miss this car to this day.
I started with a 2.8 98 and it was so much of a fun car that I recently picked up a 2000 M and it's been an absolute blast. I love how all the power is still usable and both cars have been incredibly reliable.
I've seen one of these for sale near me, and I solely blame the Tophers for making me want it! Looks like a great lil machine to go "bombing around in", as Jack Wade said in Goldeneye.
The video is a minute ago, but this comment 1 day ago 😳💀
I saw one for sale close to me too and it was super clean and about a thousand dollars cheaper than a high mile rusted out frame 1996 toyota Tacoma.
@@cirno_bitingthecurb I'm a channel member, I get the videos early!
Research on rear subframe mount failure. And inspect before purchase or have the fund for repair. I think the lower power version are fine the Z3M is troublesome
I had one for about 2 years, they're fun, but I would've rather had a Miata.
Just picked up a 1996 Z3 with 30k miles. It’s amazing and as much fun (if not more) as my 996.
This is a special one for me. My mum had a '98. She loved that car.
love these videos. can’t wait for the day when i get my own car !!
OLD is GOLD
That little thing is beautiful, he did a great job cleaning it up and showing it some love. I gotta say most BMWs from this time period are something else, they always feel like they have this special sauce that makes everything come together. I never owned one but my buddies always were getting old bmws and they were always amazing. A few e30s, my one friend had a e34 528 and it was awesome. My other boy got a 01 E39 M5 used and to this day is still one of my favorite cars, everything about it was just so well done. I respect new BMW's for their performance, but IMO they have lost that special sauce. I think they are starting to get it back with the G80s and others but damn are they a butter face. Thanks for the video guys this brought me back to my teenage/young adult years.
I used to have this as a 1:18 die cast model and loved it! My dad also had various 4-cyl BMWs and the engine sound reminded me of his cars. Good times.
Same 1.9L M44 Z3 with the Getrag 5 speed Manual transmission along with the same silver paint like mine but a 1997 with 222,200 miles with the original AC compressor made in Japan no wonder why they hold up so long. Highway driven and has been a daily driver it's whole life and been in my family for 21 years still running strong. Solid reliable E36 with less plastics under the hood to worry about with these 4 cylinder Austrian engines. These have very reliable Japanese AC compressors and evaporator cores that hardly ever break on these cars. The original 1.9L BMW E36 Z3s age very well even great for daily driving too.
Let it flow majestically
I had a red 1996 1.9. It was built tight as a tank, but felt absolutely gutless, even when it was new!
Picked up an 98 m roadster after owning a 318i for a few years. Absolute blast to drive both of them still… Love being able to floor them wherever I go, and not get into trouble.
My dad bought me a 04 wrangler and my little brother a 97 z3. Not sure a man has ever nailed his boys first cars live he has. Goat 🐐
Topher2, TopherDrives, SubstituteTopher, it's hard to keep the team member branding straight in my mind. Great POV content, as usual. There was an era when enthusiast magazines would recommend the E36 318is (the same 138hp 4 cylinder as this Z3) over its powerful 6-cylinder brothers because the 4-cylinder lightweight up front gave the perfect chassis balance.
What a ritzy and awesome car to zip around town! I am thrilled to see the Topher drive this one.
What a fun review!!! More of this!! That ABS light could be a seat belt buckle receptacle fault. Cheap fix.
Damn my uncle had this car back in the days and I remember him kicking out his wife and let me drive. We drove to the bar and then he kicked me out because he was picking up another chick. Cheated on his wife and let me walk home
I have the exact same car! BMW Z3 1.9L 51kmi silver with the black and red interior, but mine has the original stock stereo with cassette AND a BMW 6 disc CD changer in the trunk! I love this car.
This is a lovely car and a fantastic video! Really good energy from both of you as well!
😮 It’s almost 30 years old 😮
I bought one of these about 2 years ago because I couldn't find a Miata. I did enjoy it, but I did wish I had held out and bought an NA or NB Miata instead. Ive sinced replaced it with an ND and I enjoy it much more.
Picked up a '97 1.9 a couple years ago - has to be one of the best ways to spend $5-8k on a car these days.
Coming from a few NA/NB Miata’s, it was fun having one of these (also a 96) for a few months as a project, but the overall build quality was just so much worse IMO compared to its Japanese counterpart mile for mile. Everything in the interior was hella fragile and didn’t feel made to last (door handles in particular). The M44 though was a surprisingly fun and efficient motor (I never saw less than 35mpg) though and I liked it more than the NA 1.8 I had.
Thats my dream affordable sports car
5:56 you cut out some choice words for that dingus? lol
Awesome car
The most important question- does the radio have a removable faceplate?
Yep that model does.
Does substitute Topher remind anyone else of Quentin Tarantino?
No
Please review the Z3 M Coupe, the clownshoe car.
Was this before the ridiculous gear overhang that E90s and later BMWs all suffer from?
I have a 2008 bmw z4 if you wanna review it
boof nice car. slow manual cars are the best
basically a miata with a bit more leather and a kidney grill lol
German Miata.
@BrianEugeneLee-FJCruiserI love Miatas!
@BrianEugeneLee-FJCruiser What is a MX-5? I think you're talking about a different car. The Miata is made by Mazda and it is a convertible roadster similar to the BMW Z3.
@BrianEugeneLee-FJCruiser Mazda Miata.
@BrianEugeneLee-FJCruiser Miata
@BrianEugeneLee-FJCruiser *_M I A T A_*
What happened at 5:56 ?
He crossed yellow light
almost got into an accident it looks like
His driving was really bad i feel bad for the owner, he drives it without any regards . By the way i have the exact same car you can also enjoy cruisin' with it
I test drove one of these almost 20 years ago, but with the 6-cyl. While it wasn't a bad car by any means, it certainly had problems. The steering wheel feels like it belongs on a bus. The interior definitely has a parts-bin feel to it, with obvious bits of older BMWs on show. But mostly, the drive is just nowehre near as sharp as the equivalent age Boxster...which was what I bought.
Hey, brother, review the new toyota CHR🎉😂
Ziata
You should do a 2025 Kia carnival plssss I really need to see one 😅❤
Find a A70 or A80 Supra
is sub topher the son ?