Test Drive BMW M Roadster E36 1997 - 2002 Convertible

Very strong drink

What is a roadster? This is the sun, blue sky and, of course, flight - thoughts, fantasies, speeds.
A powerful roadster is a dream.
Three versions of the BMW Z3 can be compared with different stages of ripening of good wine. As wine acquires its properties over time and Z3 from year to year it becomes even stronger, exquisite and thinner taste.
Two-year exposure, which gives progressive humanity version with 1.9 and 2.8 liters engines can no longer satisfy gourmet. In the first appearance, Macho does not correspond to the chassis of the car, in the second - this difference is less, but in version 3.2 it is almost negligible.
M-Roadster on the basis of Z3 refers to the 1998 model range. But something suggested to us that in our, follenly loving BMW, this car should appear here about. And our searches were rewarded. The only copy of this vehicle in Russia provided the BMW Bavaria firm for the test.
This small, almost toy, double machine tipped under the hood in a row 24-valve six with a 3201 cubic working volume. See Power - 321 liters. With. Acceleration until hundreds takes less than 6 seconds. Maximum speed - 250 km / h. If it were not an electronic limiter!
A powerful front spoiler creates an additional clamping force. The main difference of the back is two pairs of chromed exhaust pipes, the type of which perfectly emphasizes the character of the car and which provide the sport sound of the engine, which is frightened from the road all those moving slower wind speed. And, of course, the letter m on board.
On the 1.9-liter version, 15-inch discs are installed, dressed in tires with a profile of 205/60. They would fit perfectly for Z3 with a 2.8 liter engine, but the Bavarians are installed as a standard on a 2.8-liter version of 16-inch discs and tires with a profile 205/50. And on the 3.2-liter there are already 17-inch, with ultrasound, like large, tires. The only plausible excuse for such replaces is huge arches in which huge wheels should stand, "the famous English magazine wrote. We will not argue with this. If comrades with left-sided movement have a desire to try how such a beast will keep the road on narrow tires with small disks, let them try.
At speed, the car showed itself stable, well-managed, with a sharp steering wheel. The overclocking of the car occurs smoothly, and only with a strong press on the gas pedal, by how it starts to go into the back of the seating, you understand that you deal with a very powerful apparatus. The M3 engine, which is standing on this car, like all the sports engines of this series, has a small initial torque, and more than 2.5 thousand gas pedal becomes acute, and the roadster is very aqueous. You get special pleasure when driving on the fourth gear, when there is a feeling that you are going with a box - automatic: the engine power allows you to move on this transmission from 50 km / h. In this case, the car remains very greedy.
When you deal with the hellish machine, the considerations of comfort, as it were to move into the background. The tiny, at first glance, the landing salon was very convenient: enough space for the legs, the seats can be adjusted exactly by itself, well read devices on the panel, good overview in the rearview mirror. The sound of stereo installation is designed - clean with high power, which is needed when driving in a cabriolet. In other words, everything, as in the present BMW.
At the same time, Roger is a car in order to show himself with all going and traveling by you. And BMW Z3 M Roadster is not the worst option for this.
Even when you rush under two hundred and no one has time to distinguish between Literon with you on board.
The editors thanks BMW-Bavaria (095) 488-1107 for the car provided to the test, as well as the Agency of Vyacheslav Zaitseva models, (095) 971-4141.

BMW-007.
Anyone knows that Z3 is a car James Bond. The question is how much it cost Bavarian firm.
Her leaders with naive appearance assure that Pierce Brosnan himself chose a car. But somehow it all successfully turns out - here the world premiere Z3, and James just chooses BMW, and it is the car whose sales have not yet begun in short, for the fact that the intelligence hero prefer the Z3 and the new roadster forever united in the buyer's Consciousness with a courageous, slightly stupid face of the famous agent, the Bavarian company had to pay, according to informal information, $ 2 million. Plus, of course, the free provision of the car. Or, rather, cars - who does not know how Bond handles appliances. But success surpassed all expectations. Hundreds of orders collapsed to the company, waiting for the delivery of a new car to people now for 4-5 months, regular customers are cautious, demanding a special approach. BMW even spends special lottery, the prize in which is not even the Z3 itself, but just the right to buy it without a queue!
In general, the idea was successful. And already known (again from unofficial sources) that in the next issue of James (everything is just as by chance) will move into the luxurious sedan of the 7th series, whose update is just prepare the Bavarians.
Interestingly, on the same way went and Mercedes. In the Spielberg lost world appears that the M-class SUV has not yet arrived. His participation in the filming did not share the company Neshoshaevo - at $ 7 million. The fact is that the inept actor smashed the first of the provided cars about the concrete wall, and Mercedes had to urgently send a replacement with a plane.
The leaders of the German automotive industry remains only to envy Porsche, which received a similar advertisement is absolutely gift and for a long time: in the 550th Spider, the famous James Dean crashed at one time.
By the way, it is Porsche that turns out to be a new Rhodster Z3 M one of the main rivals. Rostter BMW is closer to me, "says the owner of the BMW Bavaria car dealership. - It is accepted until hundreds of 5.4 seconds. This is two tenth seconds faster carren. The difference for a specialist is very significant. And in general, according to the dynamics of Z3 M ahead of Porsche. For the first time. But Porsche is prestige. In the Porsche club, meanwhile, they believe that one thing - the figures declared by the factory, and the other thing is that the car is capable of reality. And all the same carrer of Z3 do not overtake.
Not only in Russia, but in all the CIS, the owner of Z3 M is just one. To say until he can do anything, because he has not received anything yet: agreed to wait until the September salon. And the global press praises z3 (without special enthusiasm) and Z3 M (inspired). There was only one original with her special opinion. Here's how the Bavarian development defeated the Australian Daily Telegraph: someone launched the kindergarten group in the Designer BMW Studio, and then collected children's drawings, and what happened, launched into production. From the deformity of this car is capturing breathing. Blimey!
Model / Modification BMW Z3 M 3.2
Manufacturer Bayerische Motoren-Werke AG Germany
BODY
Type of roadster
Number of doors / seats 2/2
ENGINE
Type gasoline with multipoint injection
Location Front Overlit
Working volume, cube. See 3201.
Number, the location of the cylinders 6, in a row
Cylinder diameter x Piston stroke, mm 86.4x91
Compression ratio 11.3: 1
Power, kW (l.) At rpm 236 (321) at 7400
Moment, nm at rpm 350 at 3250
Number of valves / cylinder 4
TRANSMISSION
Rear wheel drive
5-speed gearbox, mechanical
SUSPENSION
Front independent
Rear independent
Torkemose
Front disc, ventilated
Rear disk, ventilated
ABS Standard equipment
Wheels
Front tire size 225/40 ZR17, rear 245/40 ZR17
Dimensions / About EMA / Weight
Length / Width / Height, mm 4025/1740/1270
Wheel base, mm 2460
Front track / pitch rear, mm 1420/1490
Curb weight, kg 1600
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed, km / h 250
Acceleration up to 100 km / h, sec 5.4
Economy
Fuel consumption, (l / 100km)
At 90 km / h 7.9
On the city cycle 16.6

And what else
Z3 M, of course, a great car for summer trips, but for those who would like to use a similar car all year round, makes sense to consider the acquisition option Mercedes SLK. The latter, although it is not so powerful as Z3 M-Roadster, - You can install the maximum power engine only in 193 liters. With. - on prestigidity is not inferior to VMW. The presence of a metal roof still attaches great confidence in the future in the event that you leave your car on the street even for a short time.
In fact, it all depends on your inclination to a particular brand. Let's say Porsche Boxster fully stacked in classmates, although the company installs a smaller power engine compared to Z3, but also its own weight of the car is less. So if you are a fan of the ideas of Ferdinand Porsche, you definitely have something to think about.
The third one in the row of classmates and the most exotic of them (only for complete picture of the picture) Rinspeed, accelerating to 100 km / h a little slower four seconds, and the easiest of mentioned models, of course, is the dream of many fans of fast driving. Which in the fatherland at least debugs.
 
Andrei Bakuta,
Dmitry Novokreshchenov (photo)

 

A source: "Autopilot"