Z3 Width

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 15:50

I've just been looking at my copy of Mick Walters "BMW Z Series: The Complete Story," and noticed a discrepancy (?) between the widths of the 1.8 and 2.0 variants (2000) and the 2.2 and 3.0 (2001 onwards).

For those of you who have the book -

PPs 109 & 114 - 1.8 & 2.0 respectively - state :

Overall Width 1,858mm or 73 inches

PPs 121 & 122 - 2.2 & 3.0 respectively - state :

Overall Width 1,740mm 68.5 inches

Surely there is something wrong here??

I always thought that the 6-cyclinder variants had wider butts than the 4-cyclinder ones....and I thought that the 2.2s and 3.0s would have been the same width as the smaller 2.0 six.

Can anyone clarify, or do we all need to go outside with a tape measure? I certainly don't fancy the latter,.. it's not the warmest of afternoons!

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 16:48

Follow these instructions very carefully -
1) put the book down
2) gather all sharp objects together and lock them away
3) call a friend

Just a giggle, very slow day.

John Boy · Post by **John Boy** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 16:54

garythefish wrote:Follow these instructions very carefully -
1) put the book down
2) gather all sharp objects together and lock them away
3) call a friend

Just a giggle, very slow day.

Then put a warm coat on and meet friend down the Pub for lots of beer.

Ruud1boy · Post by **Ruud1boy** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 17:33

At last, somebody geekier than me!

We all love our cars, but you can go too far!
Having said that..........

I drive a Steel Grey 2.8 & it took me AGES to find one in that colour & with that engine. To satisfy my, admittedly slightly anal, curiosity I'd love to know how many 2.8 Z3's BMW produced in Steel Grey. Sad, I know. I've tried to ask BMW, but they're not able to tell me, so is there anyone else that's got as much time on their hands as Oxford_Gruen?

runningback · Post by **runningback** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 17:36

1740mm mesured from wheelarch to wheelarch
1850mm measured from mirror to mirror ?
not entirely sure but plausible, my documents say (1740mm) without mirrors.

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 17:44

Hmm, I don't know. I think your question might be equally geeky.

Steel Grey - VERY nice colour. Was looking at a 2.8 one of them myself a few months back before I bought my car.

As regards my question, I was just comparing the specification tables and happened to notice the difference and it struck me as bizarre.

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 17:45

Ah ha!!

Thank you runningback. Now the debate begins...

OliZ · Post by **OliZ** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 19:01

Overview of data from a BMW original catalogs:

Edit: removed HTML table and attached file instead.

Webmaster, why is it not possible to post tables?

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 19:57

OliZ,

Thank you so very much for taking the trouble--not only once but twice--to list this information.

Greatly appreciated matey.

Phoenix Nights · Post by **Phoenix Nights** » Sat 05 Nov, 2005 21:09

Actually, I don't consider that to be a geeky question at all. Knowing the width of a car can be essential when it comes to knowing if it'll fit in the garage. That's one of the reasons I've never seriously considered a Z4 - I don't think I'd be able to get out the door once it was in the garage. The Z3 / M Roadster, however, is a perfect fit.

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Mon 07 Nov, 2005 11:12

The facelift models all had the same width bodies, the only difference was the track widths with the 4 cylinder being thinner AFAIK.