Bmw Z3

[mstngcobrasvt98]

How nice is the kit and what brand of aftermarket rims can I put on it?
Tamiya 24166. Deep blue with black interior...should be interesting.

[MPWR]

Great little kit. Fit is good even by Tamiya standards, shake the box and it practically falls together. It will take any Tamya rims, but Fujimi rims would have to be modified (a lathe makes quick work of this! ). I used some Fujimi BBS rims, which were later offered by BMW as an option. If I were to start one now, I'd be sorely tempted to do the bodywork to convert it to the 2.8 litre version, instead of the 1.9 litre version the kit depicts (the only difference is the 2.8 has a larger airscoop under the front bumper, and therefore the bottom lip of the air dam is lower- so it looks more 'lowered' than the 1.9).

Dark blue was not a factory color for the Z3 (if it matters)- it was reserved for the M3.



Mine in Atlanta Blue.

[mozli]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Mine in Atlanta Blue.

Damn MPWR! cant get enough of your paint job

[360spider]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Great little kit. Fit is good even by Tamiya standards, shake the box and it practically falls together. It will take any Tamya rims, but Fujimi rims would have to be modified (a lathe makes quick work of this! ). I used some Fujimi BBS rims, which were later offered by BMW as an option. If I were to start one now, I'd be sorely tempted to do the bodywork to convert it to the 2.8 litre version, instead of the 1.9 litre version the kit depicts (the only difference is the 2.8 has a larger airscoop under the front bumper, and therefore the bottom lip of the air dam is lower- so it looks more 'lowered' than the 1.9).

Dark blue was not a factory color for the Z3 (if it matters)- it was reserved for the M3.



Mine in Atlanta Blue.

I agree, the kit is great.
Airscoop is not the only difference between the cars. Starting in 2000 (when BMW introduced 2.8 version) all Z3's received different front bumper with larger airscoop, wider rear bodywork (curved upwards rear fenders too) to accomodate wider rear tires, different trunk lid, and L-shaped taillights. Rear bumper was also new, to fit wide body. So the conversion will be a bit more complicated than this, but I still want to do this! Oh, and after 1998 Z3 was also offered in dark blue - called Estoril Blue.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by 360spider

I agree, the kit is great.
Airscoop is not the only difference between the cars. Starting in 2000 (when BMW introduced 2.8 version) all Z3's received different front bumper with larger airscoop, wider rear bodywork (curved upwards rear fenders too) to accomodate wider rear tires, different trunk lid, and L-shaped taillights. Rear bumper was also new, to fit wide body. So the conversion will be a bit more complicated than this, but I still want to do this! Oh, and after 1998 Z3 was also offered in dark blue - called Estoril Blue.

Wellll, not exactly. The 2.8 was availible in the '97 model year, at which point the only visual difference between it and the 1.9 was the lower airscoop (and a two pipe exhaust, instead of the single oval). In 2000, BMW stopped making the 1.9 engine, replacing it with a 2.3- at which time they updated the bodywork on all Z3's. The bodywork to do one of these would probably not be worth the effort, unless you were trying to recreate a personal car or the like.




The original 1.9 version, as depicted in the Tamiya kit. One of the few pics I've ever seen of a Z3 on the wheels that Tamiya includes in the kit.


The original 2.8, with only the front airscoop changed.

Estoril blue (kind of a medium metallic blue) was reserved for the M3 and the M powered Z3, which again looked distinctly different:



Different front end, wider rear, different tail lights, etc. Revell Germany made (makes?) a kit of this one, but it's prepainted red (nothing a bit of isopropyl wouldn't fix). Estoril was a very popular color amongst bimmerheads, so there were likely some (those that were unconcerned about being labeled heritics by their peers) that custom repainted their non M powered Z3's, but I believe they never left the factory in this color.

BMW loosened up about the colors a bit after the E36 M3 was discontinued (yellow finally became availible on other models), but dark blue was never seen on a factory painted pre 2000 Z3 (like in the tamiya kit). Course, you can always paint the kit as you please....

(Not to split hairs, but I am a bit of a bimmerhead.... )

mozli- Thanks! I mixed it from Tamiya chrome silver and metallic blue acrylic.

[360spider]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Wellll, not exactly. The 2.8 was availible in the '97 model year, at which point the only visual difference between it and the 1.9 was the lower airscoop (and a two pipe exhaust, instead of the single oval). In 2000, BMW stopped making the 1.9 engine, replacing it with a 2.3- at which time they updated the bodywork on all Z3's. The bodywork to do one of these would probably not be worth the effort, unless you were trying to recreate a personal car or the like.

I stand corrected. 2.8 was available in 97. And yes, the body update was done on all 2000 models. I've built 1.9 model when Tamiya kit was released, but I always wanted to make an updated model, since I own 2000 2.3 in Impala Brown/Black. I know it won't be easy, but hey.

Originally Posted by MPWR

BMW loosened up about the colors a bit after the E36 M3 was discontinued (yellow finally became availible on other models), but dark blue was never seen on a factory painted pre 2000 Z3 (like in the tamiya kit). Course, you can always paint the kit as you please....

I always wanted a 3.0 Dakar Gelb!

Originally Posted by MPWR

(Not to split hairs, but I am a bit of a bimmerhead.... )

Me too actually!