The first Z3 BMW made available when it was launched in 1995 had a weedy 1.9 litre with around 118bhp. Far from the "Ultimate Driving Machine" as BMWs ad's would have you believe! However, within 2 years several engines had been added to the range, including the 2.0 (later a 2.2) and 2.8 litre straight sixes familiar from the 3 and 5 series. These engines endowed the Z3 with considerably more power and turned it into more of a serious sports car than the underpowered 1.9 litre base model. The ultimate Z3 however received the fantastic 321bhp Motorsport straight six engine from the M3 resulting in a small roadster with lightening fast performance. The rear wheel drive chassis was essentially the same as the pre-1991 3 series platform, a car known to be tail happy in the wet, but the huge tires and good chassis tuning by BMW made the Z3-M a fine handling car.
The ultimate Z3 was never a big seller, as it was expensive new and expensive to run, especially as it attracted high insurance premiums. However it had it's fans, including Tiff Needell from the BBC show Top Gear, who pronounced it and it's coupe sibling "Top Gear drivers car 2000".
UT made this model of the Z3 M-Roadster, and consequently it is no longer available new, as UT stopped making models in 2000. Unlike the rather poor Bburrago Z3 M-Roadster, the UT model is on scale, (the Bburrago model is too big, more like 1:17th scale rather than 1:18th) and looks far more realistic. The interior, lights and wheels are quite well done on this model, but the brakes consist of nothing more than painted silver plastic discs without any callipers, the boot does not open and the engine detail is not that great. UT also released the coupe version of this car which I also have in my collection.
At present (Jan 2006) this model for all it's faults is the best 1:18th Z3 M-Roadster available (if you can find one!) and as such has a welcome place in my collection.
53.75%
