June 7, 2023 Update – The high bid did not meet the seller’s reserve price, so we’ve moved this vehicle to our “Rides Still Available Page.”  Click the blue button above or below to navigate to this ride’s bid page, where you can either select the green “Buy Now” button or place a realistic counteroffer in the “Bid” box.

GuysWithRides.com is excited to offer Lot 215, an Artic Silver over Black Leather, 31.3K-Mile, 1996 BMW Z3, on behalf of the current caretaker.

We will offer the car in an online, reserve-price auction.  Bidding will open Wednesday, May 24, 2023, and continues through Wednesday, June 7, at 5:00 PM Eastern.

This 1996 BMW Z3 is part of a private collection in Kingwood, New Jersey.

The Deets

High Bid: $3,600

Buy Now For $12,900

The 1996 BMW Z3 is a two-seat sports car that marked BMW’s entry into the roadster market. Introduced in 1995 as a 1996 model, the Z3 was designed to capture the spirit of classic British roadsters while offering the performance and luxury expected from a BMW.  The Z3 features a timeless and elegant design that combines smooth lines with muscular contours. Its compact size and low-slung profile give it a sporty appearance. The front end showcases BMW’s signature kidney grille flanked by stylish headlights. The long hood adds to the car’s sleek look, while the short rear overhang emphasizes its sportiness. The Z3 is available as a convertible, featuring a manually operated soft top that can be easily lowered or raised.

Inside the Z3, the focus is on driver-centric design and premium materials. The cabin offers a snug and comfortable space for two occupants. The seats are supportive, providing excellent bolstering during spirited driving. The dashboard layout is clean and intuitive, with all controls within easy reach of the driver. High-quality materials, such as leather upholstery and brushed aluminum accents, give the interior a refined feel. BMW offered the 1996 Z3 with a range of engine options, providing different levels of performance to suit various driving preferences. The base model, known as the Z3 1.9, is powered by a 1.9-liter inline-four engine producing around 138 horsepower. It delivers a good balance of power and fuel efficiency.

The Z3’s driving dynamics were finely tuned to deliver an engaging and spirited driving experience. The car’s low center of gravity, wide track, and responsive steering contribute to its agility and nimbleness. The suspension system strikes a balance between sportiness and comfort, allowing the Z3 to handle corners with confidence while still providing a relatively smooth ride.  While the 1996 Z3 focused primarily on driving pleasure, it still offered several features and technologies for convenience and entertainment. Depending on the trim level and options, the Z3 could be equipped with amenities such as air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, leather upholstery, a premium sound system, and cruise control. Safety features included driver and passenger airbags, antilock brakes, and stability control.

The 1996 BMW Z3 1.9 roadster featured in this auction is an Artic Silver over Black Leather convertible powered by BMW’s 1.9-liter M44 inline-four paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Equipment includes a matching removable hardtop, a black soft top, integrated fog lights, chrome-finished fender vents, power windows, sixteen-inch alloy wheels, and an aftermarket in-dash Alpine CD stereo (Note: the original factory radio is not included in the sale).

The car was originally registered in New Jersey and later spent time in Pennsylvania before a dealer acquired it in August 2021. The selling dealer auctioned the car online in September 2021 to the current third owner. Since his purchase, the third owner added only a total of 750 miles, only on nice weather days. When not in use, this 1996 BMW Z3 is stored in a climate-controlled garage. During his brief ownership, the current caretaker replaced all four tires with a brand-new set of Michelins.  In preparation for the sale, this BMA Z3 features a fresh detail and an oil change.

This 1996 BMW Z3 1.9 Roadster comes with manufacturer’s literature, a hardtop stand, an optional hardtop, the factory wind stop in its original soft case, a branded BMW soft window protector, a clean Carfax report, and a clean New Jersey title. Also included is a high-quality cover the seller uses when the car is not in use.

Here is a complimentary CarFax® for this 1996 BMW Z3 1.9 Roadster confirming the ownership by the first two caretakers combined with the fact that this car has never been in an accident. To review the CarFax, please click on the picture below. When finished, click on your browser’s back button to return back to this listing:

Rudy personally photographed and inspected this survivor-quality 1996 BMW Z3 1.9 Roadster and will post his Pre-Purchase Inspection findings here, so please check back soon.

To help you make informed bids, we’re providing you with access to Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the Classic Car market, that provides an interactive graph of recent comparable sales year-to-date. By clicking on the green dots, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you make an educated bid on the car we are featuring for auction here:

Exterior Gallery

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Interior Gallery

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Underhood And Undercarriage Gallery

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Tires And Wheels Gallery

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Windows & Mirror Gallery

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Documentation Gallery

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If you have any questions about this 1996 BMW Z3 Roadster, please comment below or call Rudy directly at 877-468-6497.  Thank you for looking, and happy bidding!