2001 BMW Z8 - The Flagship Roadster - GT Sport | Reviews By Gil

Based on the iconic BMW 507, and the star of James Bond's The World is not Enough, the BMW Z8 offers thrills on and off the screen.

2001 BMW Z8

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Interior

The dashboard, finished in beautiful aluminum, slants away from you making the interior feel very spacious. The 3-spoke steering wheel reminds you of the days of yesteryear and is a nice addition to the cabin. Interestingly, the ignition is directly in front of you on the dashboard while the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge are in the center of the dashboard. Climate controls sit right below the gauge cluster and have an aluminum backdrop. If you're wanting for storage space, BMW has thought of that and provided you with 2 storage compartments on each door for your Rolex's and TAG Heur's. Between the seats is another plate finished in aluminum with Z8 embroidered onto it to remind you that you're sitting in BMW's premiership roadster.

Exterior

What does the Aston Martin DB9, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and BMW Z8 have in common? They were all designed by Henrik Fisker. With that portfolio, it's safe to say he knows his way around a pencil. There's something incredibly wonderful about that side profile. They’re almost no deviations, and it makes the Z8 look much longer than it is. It brings a certain elegance that was once lost in top shelf luxury convertibles. Then, there's the way the rear bumper and the trunk lid come together to make a continuous curve around the back end. Perch two brake lights on either side of that rear and you get a squint that is incredibly memorable.

Power

Powering the 2001 BMW Z8 is BMW's S62 V8 producing 394-hp and 369 lb.-ft of torque. Sound familiar? It should because this is the same power plant that is present in the E39 BMW M5. We're already at a great starting point. Power delivery is linear and there's always more whenever you need it throughout the rev range. Then there's that glorious sound. The aluminum block and head combination make it sound metallic, and the S62 screams at the top of the rev range. The S62 also uses variable valve timing on the intake and exhausts camshafts commonly known as double-vanos. It's quite an engineering marvel on the track while also having an attractive, low hum at normal speeds. It makes cruising down Bayshore Boulevard quite an attractive prospect.

2001 BMW Z8

How does it drive?

There was a lot of chatter about the Z8 not really knowing what it was when it first arrived on the market back in 2001. Most regarded it to be too soft for a sports car and too harsh for a long-distance cruiser. However, I think the BMW Z8 makes an excellent canyon carver. Turn in with no power on and the back slides around effortlessly. It's quite easy to hold the slide, but there isn't quite enough power to hold the slide. Even with your foot to the floor, 369 lb. Ft of torque isn't enough to keep the wheels spinning on this 3400 lb. convertible. However, you can get into a steady rhythm with enough practice.

Reliability

You've probably heard the horror stories about reliability issues with old German power plants. I would like to give the S62 V8 the benefit of the doubt and assume that this is the result of lack of maintenance. I'm sure there are owners out there who have had many trouble-free miles on their S62 V8's. The rudimentary things apply here: use the engine oil designated by the manufacturer, change the oil at the applicable intervals, let the engine warm up properly before beating on it, and perform any other maintenance items at their applicable intervals. As the saying goes, take care of the car and the car will take care of you. These German V8's are very sophisticated and do require some tender love and care. Rod bearing failure can be the result of not adhering to the rudimentary things previously mentioned. Other items that may need to be replaced over time consist of timing chain tensioners and guides, electronic sensors, and gaskets.

Value

Only 5,703 BMW Z8's were produced between 2000 and 2003 at a price of $128,000. A short production run immediately made the BMW Z8 a rarity in the automotive industry.

As you can imagine, prices have only appreciated. The cheapest BMW Z8 on Autotrader at the time of this article sprouts $160,000. Prices go all the way up to $250,000 for a mint example with less than 5,000 miles on the clock. Collector status has surely set in for the BMW Z8's.

If you can't cough up a quarter of a million for a mint BMW Z8, but you still want a front-engine V8 convertible - what are your options? Well at $128,000, the Z8 was priced closer to the Aston Martin DB7 than the Mercedes SL class. Options from Audi and Lexus ceased to exist yet. The Mercedes and Aston haven't appreciated nearly as much as the BMW Z8. Mint condition examples of the 2001 Mercedes SL will set you back $30,000 on the high, while you can pick up a lesser example for as little $4000. The Aston Martin DB7 has held its value slightly more than the SL with mint examples being available for $50,000 on the high end and $20,000 on the low end. However, neither of these choices hold the rarity and prestige that the BMW Z8 brings to the table.

Should you buy one?

You'll be hard pressed to get into a BMW Z8 for less than $150,000. If you're a collector and looking for a V8 roadster that's surely going to appreciate, you can't go wrong with a BMW Z8. Unfortunately, most of the examples on the market have very low miles, so putting many additional miles on them would most likely less decrease the value. It's such a shame because the Z8 is too spectacular not to be driven.

2001 BMW Z8

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the BMW Z8 is stunning to behold and a hoot to drive. With an engine as sweet as cotton candy and handling to match, the BMW Z8 is one of the best roadsters ever made.

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