1998 BMW Z3 R190

This red Z3 with black interior has been owned by the same person for over 20 years and is now being sold by her son, a man who is personally known and trusted by us. 

The car has been securely dry stored for quite some time and, before that, it was frequently under SORN conditions and used for high days, holidays and the odd day out.

It has recently been serviced and recommissioned by the people many of us here at HQ use to service and maintain our own vehicles. 

In May 2006 the mileage was recorded as being 77,014. 

Today it is 83,915.

The car seems to us to be in very decent and tight mechanical condition but there are a few minor cosmetic issues here and there.

The bodywork on this pretty little thing has not been dinked, dented or otherwise compromised by contact with large objects, either moving or static.

The door gaps and shut-lines are as they should be and the whole thing feels well screwed together.

For the most part, the paintwork is pretty good and the red hue has resisted the tendency of that shade to fade. 

That’s because it’s been kept warm and dry inside and looked-after properly.

Nevertheless, the paintwork is some distance from perfection.

The front bumper and valance is, variously, cracked, discoloured, blistered, scuffed and chipped in numerous places.

There are quite a few stone chips and a few signs of previous touch-up jobs on the bonnet.

The BMW bonnet badge has bubbling beneath the paint.

All four wheels have a few scuffs and evidence of kerbing to show for themselves and the matching Pirelli tyres have cracks in their sidewalls.

There are a couple of (non-MoT-threatening) chips on the windscreen and, elsewhere, the car is exhibiting the usual number and distribution of stone chips for a car of this age and mileage. 

The black fabric hood is good and goes up and down as it should. The fabric is starting to come away from the backing material beneath the rear screen and there are some residual marks from what looks like adhesive tape on the rear screen itself.

The interior has weathered the effects of time and use with impressive fortitude, and the only sigs of wear on the black leather seats are a few creases on the outer bolster of the driver’s seat.

The door cards are good. 

The armrest on the driver’s door looks to have what might be a small magnetic disc attached to it, maybe to hold a phone or something of that ilk. We don’t know. Either way, it can no doubt be removed if required.

The carpets and mats seem perfectly decent, and the car comes with a rather neat wind deflector which is also in very fine fettle.

There’s a little wear to the leather steering wheel rim and some of the chromium-effect finish on the gear knob has come off.

The boot is in very good condition and contains some add-on shiny chrome plates to bling-up the bonnet side vents, should you so desire. 

The steering wheel, gear selector and other controls look good, as do the other controls, dials and instruments.

We didn’t tweak every lever, press every knob or flick every switch, but those we did tweak, press and flick did as they were told. 

We have driven this car and can faithfully attest to its impressive solidity and all-round competence.

Nothing rattles, creaks, groans or squeaks.

It presses on with plenty of enthusiasm and handles in a balanced and predictable way. The gear change is notchy and slick and the brakes work as you would hope and want. 

Everything in the slightly dusty-looking engine bay appears to be in its right and proper place.

The car’s undersides look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and we saw nothing to make us tut or shake our heads. 

The car comes with a service book with main dealer and specialist stamps up to 2007. After that it’s spent most of its time under SORN conditions and has covered just 6,086 miles.

Its recent recommissioning and service included the fitting of new shock absorbers. 

The car comes with a user handbook and an MoT certificate that’s valid until 3rd July 2025.

A few stone chips and nicks aside, this BMW Z3 seems to us to be in very decent condition and it certainly starts, goes and stops impressively and competently.

If we ever get a summer worthy of the name, this could be just the car to have.

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £3,000 - £6,000. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.