BMW Z1 (1988 - 1991)

Last updated 18 March 2013

Buying Guide

What's Good

• Classic from day one. Groovy drop-down doors. Sophisticated multi-link rear suspension. 12' 10" long by 5' 6" wide and weighed 1,338kg.
• Doors don't hinge open. Instead they drop into the sills.
• Iron block, single belt cam 171 bhp BMW six.
• Plastic body panels colour impregnated so stay looking good.
• Only 8,093 built. Cost up to £36,000 new.
• Good ones never really dropped much below £20,000. On 27-11-2007 BCA sold a very nice 30k mile 1989 Z1 for £18,885, including commission.

What's Bad

• LHD only.
• Go over a bump or humo-back bridge too hard and the doors can drop back into the sills.
• Many imported used from Germany so difficult to check history, and may be clocked.
• 'Old' single cam 325i engine needs regular cambelt changes, can suffer cracking of cylinder head. Panels hard to replace.
• From April 2002 BMW started to phase out production of official replacement parts for cars over 10 years old.

What to Watch Out For

• Badly fitting panels hiding old accident damage.
• Make sure the door mechanisms work properly.
• Cambelts need replacing every 3 years or 36,000 miles.
• Check header tank for signs of oil in coolant and look under oil cap for mayonnaise.
• Twin exhaust the most desirable. German TUV insisted that the rear be fitted with a towing eye, so most cars only had one exhaust outlet.
• Original AG supplied 'Z1' badged stereo system very desirable.

Recalls

• 1998: all Z1s recalled to fit new radiator cap.