James Bond was the one who debuted it, and it was also the first BMW manufactured outside of Germany: the iconic Z3 turns 30.

It has been 30 years since production of the Z3 began at BMW 's Spartanburg plant in the United States . This compact roadster was the first BMW to be manufactured outside of Germany , and its history is full of success, with more than 297,000 units produced.

The first to wear it was 007

Its first driver wasJames Bond in the 007 saga film "Goldeneye." The film premiered in November 1995, and the BMW Z3 was the faithful companion of then-James Bond, Pierce Brosnan , in the most dynamic scenes. Interestingly, the car that appears in the film is in the BMW Museum in Munich.

That same year, the limited edition Z3 James Bond Edition, produced only 20 units, was launched in the United States. Its success was such that production had to be increased to 100. By early 1996, the entire annual production run of the Z3 (15,000 units) had been sold.

A classic BMW design

The Z3's body was designed by Joji Nagashima, who also created the lines of the E39 5 Series and the E90 3 Series . The Z3 continued the characteristic formula of BMW roadsters: long nose, short rear, very narrow overhangs, and a set-back driving position, almost at the rear axle.

Without a doubt, the Z3 was a worthy successor, in compact size, to the legendary 507 of the 1950s. The Z3's design perfectly combined bold, modern shapes with classic details like the side vents. Today, the Z3's design is considered a timeless classic aesthetic and is a roadster with fan clubs around the world.

A very complete range of engines

When the Z3 was launched, the engines available were the familiar four-cylinder engines with 115 and 143 hp. In April 1997, the unforgettable 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine with 193 hp arrived, and BMW M also introduced the Z3 Roadster M with a 3.2-liter engine producing 321 hp. With this engine, the same as the E36 M3, the Z3 became a high-performance sports car.

By 1999 , nearly 170,000 Z3s had been sold, and the model was slightly updated with a more muscular rear end, new taillights , and a front end that included chrome-rimmed headlights for a striking appearance. Mechanically, there were new features such as the 117 hp 1.9-liter engine and the 150 hp 2.0-liter six-cylinder. A 170 hp 2.2-liter six-cylinder was also introduced, while the top of the range was occupied by the 231 hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder and the 325 hp M version.

Z3 Coupé: a very special model

Within the history of the Z3, a special chapter must be dedicated to the coupé version that was launched in the summer of 1998. Its unique rear end has a BMW precedent in the legendary 328 Sportcoupé with which Huschke van Hanstein and Walter Bäumer won the 1940 Mille Miglia. Today, the BMW Z3 Coupé is a cult car with around 18,000 units built.

The Z3 Coupé was marketed only with six-cylinder engines: the 193 hp Z3 Coupé 2.8i, the 231 hp 3.0i , and the M versions with 321 and 325 hp. Interestingly, the Z3 M Coupé was the safety car used in MotoGP during the 2000 season. Another anecdote about the Z3 Coupé is the 'Millennium Edition' unit that was raffled off among readers of a German car magazine.

Within the roadster class, there's a very special one-off model: the Z3 M V12 . This 326-hp V12-powered unit was built to test the Z3's engine bay.

BMW also produced some special Individual versions with very exclusive color and equipment combinations. Some of these editions were the 'British Traditional', 'Dakkar', and 'Kyalami'. More common were the Sport Editions, which could be found on the Z3 1.9i, 2.2i, and 3.0i. This special version featured 17-inch wheels with Style 42 or Style 78 models, along with a lowered suspension (-1.5 centimeters compared to a standard Z3), rear differential lock, and an interior with sport seats and M details.

The Z3 is already a classic

The last unit built at the Spartanburg plant was built on June 28, 2002, and is on display in the factory museum. It's undoubtedly a tribute to a roadster that offered its drivers all the driving pleasure of a BMW. Sports car enthusiasts have considered the Z3 a classic for several years, and 2020 is a very special date, as it turns 30.