1996 BMW Z3
1996 to 2002 · Convertible
Price history
Recent sales
99 sales
2000 · Oxford Green Metallic · 119,700 mi · automatic2026-06-12 · zeethree$8,500
2000 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 46,900 mi · manual2026-06-12 · MonicaMag$21,000
2000 · Steel Gray Metallic · 103,000 mi · automatic2026-06-10 · Usmotoreum$5,500
1999 · Imola Red II · 28,000 mi2026-06-05 · PurMotive$29,000
1999 · Estoril Blue Metallic · 52,000 mi · manual2026-05-31 · Lengrep$23,500
2000 · Sienna Red Metallic · 102,700 mi · automatic2026-05-28 · DRW_Auto_Sales$6,600
1997 · Alpine White · 42,000 mi2026-05-28 · jvangemert$12,750
2001 · Estoril Blue Metallic (335) · 95,000 mi · manual2026-05-27 · Abraham_e55$17,000
2001 · Topaz Blue Metallic · 34,000 mi · automatic2026-05-25 · ddt1066$10,500
2000 · Cosmos Black · 96,000 mi · manual2026-05-22 · kevinf2p$10,350
1996 · Atlanta Blue Metallic · 69,000 mi · automatic2026-05-20 · alanaja$6,200
2000 · Estoril Blue Metallic · 60,600 mi · manual2026-05-14 · hihighost$20,250
2002 · Estoril Blue Metallic · 41,000 mi · manual2026-05-12 · bsewel12$16,750
2000 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 113,700 mi · manual2026-05-08 · ts77$6,975
2001 · Siena Red Metallic · 85,200 mi · automatic2026-05-05 · aydtk$8,400
2001 · Dakar Yellow · 54,200 mi · manual2026-05-01 · PlanetPeterson$10,400
2001 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 30,000 mi · manual2026-04-22 · RickyT$16,350
2000 · Evergreen · manual2026-04-16 · FloridaLou$21,000
2001 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 40,700 mi · manual2026-04-14 · Jlena$11,500
1996 · Arctic Silver Metallic · 34,400 mi · manual2026-03-30 · Porsche51$7,400
1999 · Dark Green (307) · 80,000 mi · manual2026-03-30 · CZcarsnetLLC$5,300
2001 · Atlanta Blue Metallic · 29,000 mi · manual2026-03-25 · greenerdays11$11,850
2001 · Jet Black · 19,000 mi · manual2026-03-20 · nexusautobrokers$16,750
2001 · Dakar Yellow · 30,900 mi · manual2026-03-19 · jlawver$20,500
1997 · Arctic Silver Metallic · 154,700 mi · manual2026-03-18 · bigkahunaaj$6,500
2001 · Hellrot · 31,400 mi · manual2026-03-02 · draywheat$16,258
2001 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 31,700 mi · automatic2026-02-27 · ThePhotographersGarage$9,000
1997 · Atlanta Blue Metallic · 71,100 mi · manual2026-02-13 · Jamesrcbh$6,200
2000 · Estoril Blue Metallic · 78,900 mi · manual2026-02-09 · danaw123$17,250
2001 · Jet Black · manual2025-12-31 · SCoastMotors$5,600
2001 · Hellrot · 92,400 mi · manual2025-12-11 · carlandllc$7,200
2002 · Sterling Grey Metallic · 109,600 mi · automatic2025-11-20 · littlejulesman$4,400
1998 · Arctic Silver Metallic · 86,600 mi · manual2025-11-11 · diegolimausa1$9,200
1998 · Alpine White · 75,300 mi · manual2025-11-10 · mjposner$8,300
2001 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 75,700 mi · automatic2025-10-21 · ravemotors$8,000
1997 · Montreal Blue · 31,800 mi · manual2025-10-14 · asingh39$6,395
2000 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 62,700 mi · manual2025-10-10 · leozebian$19,100
1999 · Evergreen · 114,700 mi · manual2025-09-30 · RHannay$17,266
2001 · Steel Grey Metallic · 42,400 mi · manual2025-09-26 · draywheat$15,050
1996 · Jet Black · 29,700 mi · automatic2025-08-07 · jasterhsk$6,600
1999 · Atlanta Blue Metallic · 44,500 mi · manual2025-07-15 · pguerra$10,000
1996 · Arctic Silver · 105,500 mi · manual2025-07-10 · joeacordi$5,600
1998 · Alpine White · automatic2025-07-09 · Ian_lopatin$4,200
2001 · Estoril Blue Metallic · 56,970 mi · manual2025-06-20 · MRoadsterMike$24,000
2002 · Impala Brown Metallic · 66,200 mi · manual2025-06-19 · UmarCharto$14,626
1998 · Montreal Blue · 73,500 mi · manual2025-05-22 · WheelsForReels$6,500
2001 · Black Sapphire Metallic · 142,600 mi · manual2025-05-21 · NoTempoLimit2001$10,250
2000 · Topaz Blue Metallic · 103,500 mi · manual2025-05-07 · Anshan$5,600
2000 · Steel Gray Metallic · 78,200 mi · manual2025-04-23 · carlandllc$7,700
2000 · Dakar Yellow · 28,800 mi · manual2025-03-25 · VOKS7780$14,400
1998 · Gray · 56,000 mi2025-03-14 · Collectibleclassics$10,850
1998 · Dakar Yellow · 60,700 mi · automatic2024-12-17 · ezbuyer$7,003
2000 · Estoril Blue · 113,900 mi · manual2024-11-27 · in2dwww$9,000
2001 · Topaz Blue · 85,100 mi · manual2024-11-21 · Indy117$5,900
1996 · Arctic Silver Metallic · 135,400 mi · manual2024-11-07 · Werswaldo$3,600
1997 · Boston Green Metallic · 110,000 mi · manual2024-11-06 · Jstn$5,700
2001 · Atlantis Metallic · 81,700 mi · manual2024-09-24 · Divots$13,000
2000 · Siena Red Metallic · 61,300 mi · manual2024-09-03 · SHDeven$7,000
1998 · Boston Green Metallic · 190,300 mi · manual2024-08-28 · CMLounge_891$13,200
1998 · Arctic Silver Metallic · 28,800 mi · manual2024-08-27 · brooklynguy$24,250
1999 · Violet Red · 59,800 mi · manual2024-08-26 · DZine82$5,600
2001 · Black Sapphire Metallic · 83,400 mi · manual2024-08-23 · Wilnnet$6,300
2001 · Green · 47,000 mi2024-08-22 · TheTraynor$15,000
2002 · Green · 84,000 mi2024-08-14 · Dpinkerton$10,450
2002 · Gray · 86,000 mi · manual2024-08-10 · Car-junkie67$18,500
1997 · Montreal Blue · 104,365 mi · manual2024-08-02 · CraigZimmerman$7,750
2000 · Impala Brown · 136,500 mi · manual2024-07-31 · 02ascents$5,455
2000 · Oxford Green Metallic · 87,000 mi · automatic2024-07-25 · tigerman20$6,500
2001 · Oxford Green Metallic · 54,200 mi · manual2024-05-10 · sellmyz3$21,500
1996 · Jet Black · 27,800 mi · manual2024-03-04 · MotorcarsOfTheMainLine$23,000
1996 · Atlanta Blue · 74,300 mi · manual2024-02-14 · bubbahyde$9,400
2000 · Red · 36,000 mi2024-02-12 · axlerod23$13,500
2001 · Red · 65,000 mi2024-01-05 · jdecedue$12,550
1996 · Arctic Silver Metallic · 78,700 mi · manual2023-11-09 · ZGerrit$5,400
1998 · Cosmos Black Metallic · 86,600 mi · manual2023-10-26 · weekendgenius$16,500
2000 · Topaz Blue Metallic · 82,600 mi · manual2023-10-12 · NAI$7,100
1998 · Alpine White · 73,300 mi · manual2023-09-18 · InternationalHorsepower$6,600
1999 · Cosmos Black Metallic · 103,200 mi · manual2023-09-15 · mattysterling$15,600
2000 · Atlanta Blue · 28,700 mi · manual2023-08-31 · ekjohnson22$10,500
2000 · Topaz Blue Metallic · 46,900 mi · manual2023-08-24 · Danielciochia$13,300
2000 · Gray · 21,000 mi2023-08-12 · Garyrds86$17,250
1998 · Dark Green · 86,700 mi · automatic2023-08-02 · oldschoolcarclass$6,200
1998 · Boston Green Metallic · 126,100 mi · manual2023-07-24 · 98Z3M$12,500
2001 · Sterling Gray Metallic · 53,800 mi · automatic2023-07-18 · mmarian$9,600
1998 · Dark Green · 91,000 mi · manual2023-07-06 · pmccorkle$5,750
1999 · Dakar Yellow · 39,900 mi · manual2023-07-05 · YellowBeamer$20,615
2000 · Oxford Green Metallic · 84,300 mi · automatic2023-06-02 · VBAutosports$7,600
1998 · Imola Red · 22,800 mi · manual2023-05-19 · MiDA$25,250
1998 · Cosmos Black Metallic · 86,900 mi · manual2023-05-12 · MrJimmy47$12,100
2001 · Titanium Silver Metallic · 45,400 mi · manual2023-05-11 · DJS033$9,500
1999 · Imola Red · 6,400 mi · manual2023-03-09 · gkm616$37,250
1998 · Montreal Blue · 144,600 mi · manual2023-02-10 · Disco_Doc$6,999
1997 · Red · 62,000 mi2022-11-23 · manydubs$8,625
1999 · Gray · 118,000 mi2022-11-08 · av.volkan$16,000
1998 · Bright Red · 26,603 mi · manual2022-09-27 · 11JM$15,400
1997 · Gray · 39,000 mi2022-09-13 · PrimeSales$11,500
2000 · Cosmos Black Metallic · 74,500 mi · manual2022-09-09 · SwagonGuy$17,750
1996 · Montreal Blue Metallic · 168,500 mi · manual2022-09-06 · David_S$5,139
1998 · Gray · 53,000 mi2022-08-24 · Rarecars$11,000
Specifications
- Engine
- Inline-4, 1.9L
- Power
- 138 hp
- Torque
- 129 lb-ft
- 0 to 60
- 9.1s
- Top speed
- 118 mph
- Transmission
- Manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Original MSRP
- $28,750
Common questions
How much does a BMW Z3 cost?
A 1996 BMW Z3 cost $28,750 new. Over the past 12 months, 58 have sold publicly at a median of $13,525. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $11,000. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $5,600 to $20,350, depending on mileage, color, and history.
What is a 1996 BMW Z3 worth today?
The Shifty Estimate is $11,000, down 8.7% over the past 12 months. That sits below the $13,525 median of actual sales because the estimate weights the most recent results most heavily, and recent sales have come in under the longer-run median. Confidence is high: 58 public sales in a year gives a firm read.
Is a BMW Z3 a good investment?
It has depreciated 62% against its $28,750 list price. Values are down 8.7% over the past 12 months. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $3,600 to $37,250, and mileage explains most of that.
What has a BMW Z3 sold for at auction?
The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:
- $8,500Jun 12, 2026Oxford Green Metallic · 119,700 mi
- $21,000Jun 12, 2026Titanium Silver Metallic · 46,900 mi
- $5,500Jun 10, 2026Steel Gray Metallic · 103,000 mi
The Z3 marked BMW's return to affordable roadsters after a 30-year hiatus, launching as their first mass-produced car built outside Germany at the Spartanburg plant. While purists initially dismissed it as the 'hairdresser's BMW,' the Z3 has quietly matured into a compelling entry-level classic. The base model's naturally aspirated inline-four delivers honest, lightweight fun reminiscent of classic British roadsters, though the inline-six variants offer more satisfying performance. Chris Bangle's controversial styling has aged surprisingly well, and the Z3's starring role in GoldenEye cemented its cultural significance. With over 297,000 produced, they're still accessible, but clean examples with the desirable five-speed manual are becoming harder to find. The Z3 represents BMW's last truly analog roadster before electronic intervention became standard, making it increasingly relevant for collectors seeking pure driving experiences. Values remain reasonable, particularly for well-maintained examples with service records.
