BMW Z1
Encyclopedia
The BMW Z1 was a two-seat roadster
developed by BMW
and produced from March 1989 to June 1991. The Z1 featured doors which dropped down into the door sills. A total of 8,000 cars were produced.
The BMW Z1 was designed over a three-year period by an in-house division of BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH. The development of the Z1 is attributed to Dr. Ulrich Bez
, not to forget the core of his team at BMW Technik GmbH (Alexander Pregl, Rudolf Müller, Lutz Janssen, Wolf-Henryk Menke, Dieter Schaffner, Klaus Faust, Sabine Zemelka and Stephan Stark). Control of the project was turned over to Dr. Klaus Faust when Bez left for Porsche
in October, 1988.
The BMW Z1 was used to develop and debut several technologies. Z1 designer Harm Lagaay
mentioned that Z1 production helped generate patents for BMW's high-intensity discharge lamp
, integrated roll-bar, door mechanism, and underbody tray.
for future) and would later be used on other cars in the line: the Z3
, Z4
, and Z8
). All of these vehicles (including the Z1) are two-door roadsters (except for the few M coupe and Z3 and Z4 hardtop models).
The chassis was specially designed for the Z1 and features a number of innovative features: removable body panels, continuously zinc welded seams, a composite undertray, and the unusual dropped doors. Parts of the car (including the engine, gearbox, and front suspension) were borrowed from the BMW E30
325i, but the Z1 remains largely original.
The body was made from plastic and could be removed completely from the chassis. The side panels and doors are made of General Electric
's XENOY thermoplastic
. The hood, trunk, and roof cover are GRP components made by Seger + Hoffman AG. The car is painted in a special flexible lacquer finish developed jointly by AKZO Coatings and BMW Technik GmbH.
During the Z1s launch, BMW suggested that owners purchase an additional set of body panels and change the color of the car from time to time. The car could actually be driven with all of the panels completely removed, similar to the Pontiac Fiero
. BMW noted that the body could be completely replaced in 40 minutes, although Z1 owners have reported that this may be optimistic.
The entire vehicle was designed with aerodynamics in mind.
In specific, the entire undertray is completely flat and the muffler
and rear valance were designed as integral aerodynamic components to decrease turbulence and rear lift. The front end reportedly induces a high-pressure zone just forward of the front wheels to increase front-wheel traction. The Z1 has a drag coefficient
of 0.36 Cd with the top up or 0.43 Cd with it down.
The body with its high sills, offers crash protection independent of the doors, the vehicle may be legally and safely driven with the doors up or down, although they are not legal in the U.S.
The windows may be operated independently of the doors, although they do retract automatically if the door is lowered. Both the window and door are driven by electric motors through toothed rubber belts and may be moved manually in an emergency.
(the Getrag 260/5) were sourced from the E30 325i. The 2.5 L (2,494 cc) 12-valve SOHC straight-six engine sits tilted 20 degrees to the right to accommodate the low hoodline. The engine produces 170 hp at 5,800 rpm and 222 newton metre of torque in its original form. Several tuners have programs for increasing the performance of the Z1 by either upgrading or replacing the engine.
. In the 1990s, the Z-axle would be used on a variety of BMW Group vehicles, including the E36
BMW 3-Series and the R40 Rover 75
.
The Z1 was outfitted with 15 in (381 mm) diameter by 7 in (178 mm) wide wheel
s on both the front and rear, shod with 205/55VR-15 tire
s.
The instruments on the Z1 are styled like motorcycle gauges, and the tachometer
on the Z1 has a red needle, whereas all other gauges have a white needle.
There are reports that BMW built 12 Z1 vehicles during 1986 and 1987, bringing the total to 8,012 vehicles. However, most sources report the 8,000 figure.
More than half of all Z1 vehicles (specifically, 4,091) were produced for the 1990 model year. Seventy-eight Z1 vehicles were reportedly used as test mules, although most were later sold without a warranty and, presumably, at a lower price.
The Z1 was available in six exterior colours and four interior colours, although the vast majority (6,177) were red, black, or green with a dark grey interior. Light yellow exterior (fun-gelb in German
or fun yellow in English; 133 examples made) or red interior (38 examples made) are the rarest Z1 colours. The colours swimming pool blue and oh-so-orange were reserved for the car's designers, Bez and Lagaay.
Reportedly, some 1,101 Z1 vehicles were delivered without a factory radio installed. In these vehicles, BMWS AG installed an aftermarket Sony radio in its place.
None of the Z1 vehicles were sold with air conditioning. The vehicle's dashboard is very small and there was no room for both heat and cooling units. Some Z1 vehicles were converted using BMW E30 parts to have air conditioning, but reportedly the heater elements had to be removed.
BMW Z1 vehicles officially imported to France for sale there have yellow headlights instead of the clear ones found elsewhere.
or between €42,000 and €45,500. As of 2001, used BMW Z1 vehicles were selling for between FF
125,000 and 250,000 (between €19,000 and €
38,000) in France including a 19.6% VAT. One example fetched just over £20,000 at Bonham's 2004 Olympia auction. In 2006, cars could be bought in France for a price between €25,000 and €30,000 the upper being reach for cars in perfect condition with low mileage.
245 hp 2.5 L engine. Schnitzer did the 2.7 conversion with 200 bhp, delivered a five-stud conversion with bigger brakes and lower suspension in combination with their Rennsport wheels. Kelleners' included a 286 to- 3.0 L engine.
Alpina had a special arrangement with BMWS AG to modify BMW Z1 vehicles into the RLE (Roadster Limited Edition). Alpina built 66 of these , although BMW notes that up to 82 Z1 can be tracked through "tuner cars" (most of them delivered to Alpina). About half of the Alpina RLE were delivered to Japan). The RLE featured an upgraded 200 hp 2.7 L engine, sport muffler, new springs (front), 17-inch rims/tires, and assorted (numbered) plaques (at steering wheel, shift knob and wheels) and the typical Alpina-Stripes. The 0 to- time dropped from 8.4 seconds to 7.1 seconds, top speed increased from 219 km/h (136 mph) to 228 km/h (142 mph), and price increased to 116,000 DM.
The Engine was also offered as an upgrade - and about 7-8 Z1 were upgraded by Alpina in Buchloe to the RLE-Specs (without the 17-inch Wheels and numbered plagues). Manufacturer of the RLE is Alpina, the updated versions still shows BMW as the Manufacturer in the papers with all changes approved by the TÜV
in Buchloe.
At least one Z1 has been modified with a 330 PS E34
M5
engine.
, Schabak
, Revell
, and Herpa have made die-cast and plastic models of the Z1. Additionally, 16,000 phone cards (10,000 in February 1992 and 6,000 in November 1997) featuring pictures of the Z1 were issued in France.
The BMW Z1 also had a very small part in the Jackie Chan
film, Armour of God II: Operation Condor
.
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
developed by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and produced from March 1989 to June 1991. The Z1 featured doors which dropped down into the door sills. A total of 8,000 cars were produced.
History
The first example of the Z1 was released by BMW to the press in 1986 and later officially presented at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show. Initial demand was so fierce that BMW had 5,000 orders before production began. However, demand dropped significantly around 1988 and BMW ended production in 1991. There is speculation that the drop in demand was due to the early inflated demand from speculative investors. In 1988, however, BMW was quoted as saying that they had 35,000 orders for the Z1.The BMW Z1 was designed over a three-year period by an in-house division of BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH. The development of the Z1 is attributed to Dr. Ulrich Bez
Ulrich Bez
Dr. Ulrich Bez is a German-businessman and currently CEO of Aston Martin motorcars.-Life:He holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Stuttgart...
, not to forget the core of his team at BMW Technik GmbH (Alexander Pregl, Rudolf Müller, Lutz Janssen, Wolf-Henryk Menke, Dieter Schaffner, Klaus Faust, Sabine Zemelka and Stephan Stark). Control of the project was turned over to Dr. Klaus Faust when Bez left for Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
in October, 1988.
The BMW Z1 was used to develop and debut several technologies. Z1 designer Harm Lagaay
Harm Lagaay
Harm Lagaay is a Dutch automobile designer. Educated in the Netherlands he completed the studies at the IVA and went to work for a Dutch company Olyslager in Soest....
mentioned that Z1 production helped generate patents for BMW's high-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamps are a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. This tube is filled with both gas and metal salts. The gas facilitates the...
, integrated roll-bar, door mechanism, and underbody tray.
Z line
The Z in Z1 originally stood for Zukunft (GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for future) and would later be used on other cars in the line: the Z3
BMW Z3
The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first new BMW model assembled in the United States. The Z3 was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie,...
, Z4
BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German car maker BMW. It follows a line of past BMW roadsters such as the BMW Z1, BMW 507, BMW Z8, and the BMW Z3. The Z4 replaces the Z3. First generation production started in 2002 at BMW USA's Greer, South Carolina plant, with production of both...
, and Z8
BMW Z8
The BMW Z8 was a roadster car produced by German automaker BMW from 1999-2003. It was given the E52 BMW model code.The Z8 was the production variant of the 1997 Z07 concept car, which was designed by Henrik Fisker at BMW's DesignworksUSA in Southern California. The Z07 originally was designed as a...
). All of these vehicles (including the Z1) are two-door roadsters (except for the few M coupe and Z3 and Z4 hardtop models).
Chassis
BMW E30
The BMW E30 was a compact executive car produced by BMW. It was replaced by the BMW E36 in 1990. BMW continued to produce the cabriolet E30 well into 1993. The Touring remained in production until 1994 when the E36 touring replaced it...
325i, but the Z1 remains largely original.
The body was made from plastic and could be removed completely from the chassis. The side panels and doors are made of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
's XENOY thermoplastic
Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic, also known as a thermosoftening plastic, is a polymer that turns to a liquid when heated and freezes to a very glassy state when cooled sufficiently...
. The hood, trunk, and roof cover are GRP components made by Seger + Hoffman AG. The car is painted in a special flexible lacquer finish developed jointly by AKZO Coatings and BMW Technik GmbH.
During the Z1s launch, BMW suggested that owners purchase an additional set of body panels and change the color of the car from time to time. The car could actually be driven with all of the panels completely removed, similar to the Pontiac Fiero
Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero is a mid-engined sports car that was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1984 to 1988. The Fiero—meaning "proud" in Italian and "wild", "fierce", or "ferocious" in Spanish—was designed by George Milidrag and Hulki Aldikacti as a Pontiac sports car...
. BMW noted that the body could be completely replaced in 40 minutes, although Z1 owners have reported that this may be optimistic.
The entire vehicle was designed with aerodynamics in mind.
In specific, the entire undertray is completely flat and the muffler
Muffler
A muffler is a device for reducing the amount of noise emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. A US Patent for an Exhaust muffler for engines was granted to Milton and Marshall Reeves in 1897....
and rear valance were designed as integral aerodynamic components to decrease turbulence and rear lift. The front end reportedly induces a high-pressure zone just forward of the front wheels to increase front-wheel traction. The Z1 has a drag coefficient
Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
of 0.36 Cd with the top up or 0.43 Cd with it down.
Doors
The doors retract vertically down into the car's body instead of swinging outward or upward. The inspiration for these doors came from more traditional roadsters which often feature removable metal or cloth doors. Because removable doors did not fit within BMW's design goals, the retractable doors were installed instead.The body with its high sills, offers crash protection independent of the doors, the vehicle may be legally and safely driven with the doors up or down, although they are not legal in the U.S.
The windows may be operated independently of the doors, although they do retract automatically if the door is lowered. Both the window and door are driven by electric motors through toothed rubber belts and may be moved manually in an emergency.
Driveline
Both the engine (the BMW M20B25) and the five-speed manual gearboxManual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
(the Getrag 260/5) were sourced from the E30 325i. The 2.5 L (2,494 cc) 12-valve SOHC straight-six engine sits tilted 20 degrees to the right to accommodate the low hoodline. The engine produces 170 hp at 5,800 rpm and 222 newton metre of torque in its original form. Several tuners have programs for increasing the performance of the Z1 by either upgrading or replacing the engine.
Suspension
The rear suspension, called the Z Axle, was specially designed for the Z1. It was one of the first BMWs to feature a multi-link designMulti-link suspension
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms....
. In the 1990s, the Z-axle would be used on a variety of BMW Group vehicles, including the E36
BMW E36
The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still...
BMW 3-Series and the R40 Rover 75
Rover 75
The Rover 75 is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK...
.
The Z1 was outfitted with 15 in (381 mm) diameter by 7 in (178 mm) wide wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
s on both the front and rear, shod with 205/55VR-15 tire
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
s.
Interior
The instruments on the Z1 are styled like motorcycle gauges, and the tachometer
Tachometer
A tachometer is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute on a calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are increasingly common...
on the Z1 has a red needle, whereas all other gauges have a white needle.
Production
BMW only produced 8,000 Z1 models. The majority of these (6,443) were sold in BMW's native German market. The country to receive the second-greatest number of Z1s, Italy, received less than 7% of the total sold domestically. BMW was reportedly unable to build more than 10 to 20 Z1 vehicles each day. None were initially sold in North America, although examples have been independently imported since the car's launch.There are reports that BMW built 12 Z1 vehicles during 1986 and 1987, bringing the total to 8,012 vehicles. However, most sources report the 8,000 figure.
More than half of all Z1 vehicles (specifically, 4,091) were produced for the 1990 model year. Seventy-eight Z1 vehicles were reportedly used as test mules, although most were later sold without a warranty and, presumably, at a lower price.
The Z1 was available in six exterior colours and four interior colours, although the vast majority (6,177) were red, black, or green with a dark grey interior. Light yellow exterior (fun-gelb in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
or fun yellow in English; 133 examples made) or red interior (38 examples made) are the rarest Z1 colours. The colours swimming pool blue and oh-so-orange were reserved for the car's designers, Bez and Lagaay.
Reportedly, some 1,101 Z1 vehicles were delivered without a factory radio installed. In these vehicles, BMWS AG installed an aftermarket Sony radio in its place.
None of the Z1 vehicles were sold with air conditioning. The vehicle's dashboard is very small and there was no room for both heat and cooling units. Some Z1 vehicles were converted using BMW E30 parts to have air conditioning, but reportedly the heater elements had to be removed.
BMW Z1 vehicles officially imported to France for sale there have yellow headlights instead of the clear ones found elsewhere.
Price
New Z1 vehicles sold new for 83,000 to 89,000 DMGerman mark
The Deutsche Mark |mark]], abbreviated "DM") was the official currency of West Germany and Germany until the adoption of the euro in 2002. It is commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark"...
or between €42,000 and €45,500. As of 2001, used BMW Z1 vehicles were selling for between FF
Franc
The franc is the name of several currency units, most notably the Swiss franc, still a major world currency today due to the prominence of Swiss financial institutions and the former currency of France, the French franc until the Euro was adopted in 1999...
125,000 and 250,000 (between €19,000 and €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
38,000) in France including a 19.6% VAT. One example fetched just over £20,000 at Bonham's 2004 Olympia auction. In 2006, cars could be bought in France for a price between €25,000 and €30,000 the upper being reach for cars in perfect condition with low mileage.
Modification
German motor tuners Hamann-Motorsport, Schnitzer and Kelleners had programs for the enhancement of the Z1. The Hamann program included a 220 hp 2.7 L or a turbochargedTurbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
245 hp 2.5 L engine. Schnitzer did the 2.7 conversion with 200 bhp, delivered a five-stud conversion with bigger brakes and lower suspension in combination with their Rennsport wheels. Kelleners' included a 286 to- 3.0 L engine.
Alpina had a special arrangement with BMWS AG to modify BMW Z1 vehicles into the RLE (Roadster Limited Edition). Alpina built 66 of these , although BMW notes that up to 82 Z1 can be tracked through "tuner cars" (most of them delivered to Alpina). About half of the Alpina RLE were delivered to Japan). The RLE featured an upgraded 200 hp 2.7 L engine, sport muffler, new springs (front), 17-inch rims/tires, and assorted (numbered) plaques (at steering wheel, shift knob and wheels) and the typical Alpina-Stripes. The 0 to- time dropped from 8.4 seconds to 7.1 seconds, top speed increased from 219 km/h (136 mph) to 228 km/h (142 mph), and price increased to 116,000 DM.
The Engine was also offered as an upgrade - and about 7-8 Z1 were upgraded by Alpina in Buchloe to the RLE-Specs (without the 17-inch Wheels and numbered plagues). Manufacturer of the RLE is Alpina, the updated versions still shows BMW as the Manufacturer in the papers with all changes approved by the TÜV
Tuv
Tuv may refer to the following geographical locations:*Töv Province in Mongolia*Tuv in Hemsedal municipality, Buskerud, Norway*Tuv in Bodø municipality, Nordland, NorwayTUV may also refer to the following:*Tuvalu, a Pacific Island nation...
in Buchloe.
At least one Z1 has been modified with a 330 PS E34
BMW E34
The BMW E34 is the version of the BMW 5 Series automobile built from February 1988 to 1995 with the Touring model ending June 1996. It replaced the BMW E28 in 1988 and was replaced by the E39 in 1996....
M5
BMW M5
The first BMW M5, based on the E28 5 Series, made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1984. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon , but the overall performance of a sports car. It utilized the 535i chassis and an evolution of the engine from...
engine.
Paraphernalia and other information
MinichampsMinichamps
Minichamps is a die-cast car producer founded as Paul's Model Art GmbH in 1990 in Aachen, Germany, best known for its 1:43 scale models. The company grew out of the Danhausen trade catalog of miniature vehicles and specially made Danhausen releases during the 1970s.-The Danhausen Legacy:Danhausen...
, Schabak
Schabak
Schabak is a die-cast toy producer based in Nurnberg, Germany. The company is well known for its line of German cars and commercial airline models.-A Rebirth of Schuco?:...
, Revell
Revell
Revell is the brand name today of two manufacturers of scale plastic models. The original US company merged with another, Monogram, but now trades only under the Revell name. European Revell Germany separated from the US company in 2006.-Early history:...
, and Herpa have made die-cast and plastic models of the Z1. Additionally, 16,000 phone cards (10,000 in February 1992 and 6,000 in November 1997) featuring pictures of the Z1 were issued in France.
The BMW Z1 also had a very small part in the Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
film, Armour of God II: Operation Condor
Armour of God II: Operation Condor
Armour of God II: Operation Condor is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts-action film, directed by and starring Jackie Chan. It is the sequel to his hit Armour of God. It was produced by Golden Harvest / Paragon Films....
.
External links
- Rowan Atkinson on the BMW Z1 is a commentary on the Z1 written by Rowan AtkinsonRowan AtkinsonRowan Sebastian Atkinson is a British actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is most famous for his work on the satirical sketch comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News, and the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean and The Thin Blue Line...
and which appeared in The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
on February 4, 1990. - BMW Aktuell: Panorama Is BMWBMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
's official German languageGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
history page describing the Z1.