Car comparison

BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0ivsBMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i

Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.

New comparison

BMW Z3 (E36/7)

3.0i

231 hp2979 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedRoadster2000-2003
VS

BMW Z4 (E85)

3.0i

231 hp2979 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedRoadster2002-2006

Comparison overview

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Best choices

BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i

  • Fastest top speed
    260 km/h
    162 mph Unrestricted
    250 km/h
    155 mph Restricted
  • Most powerful
    231 hp
    172 kW
  • Highest torque
    300 Nm
    221 lb-ft
  • Lightest
    1,305 kg
    2,877 lb
  • Best power-to-weight
    177 hp/t
    132 kW/t
    5.6 kg/hp
  • Lowest city consumption
    13.0 L/100 km
    18.1 mpg US
    21.7 mpg UK
  • Best performance score
    60/100

BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h
    5.9 s
  • Lowest highway consumption
    6.6 L/100 km
    35.6 mpg US
    42.8 mpg UK
  • Largest trunk
    300 L
  • Best overall score
    50/100
  • Best economy score
    87/100
  • Best practicality score
    32/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
ModelBMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0iBMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
Power
231hp172kW
231hp172kW
Torque
300Nm221lb-ft
300Nm221lb-ft
Curb weight
1,305kg2,877lb
1,365kg3,009lb
Gross weight
1,575kg3,472lb
1,590kg3,505lb
Top speed
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Calculated
244 km/h
152 mph
To 99% top speed
76.2s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph
Calculated
69.9s99% target: 242 km/h / 150 mph
Calculated
0-100 km/h
6.0s
5.9s
0-200 km/h
20.9s
Calculated
22.6s
Calculated
0-60 mph
5.7s
Calculated
5.6s
Calculated
Fuel consumption-
7.5L/100 km31.4mpg US37.7mpg UK
Fuel consumption city
13L/100 km18.1mpg US21.7mpg UK
13.5L/100 km17.4mpg US20.9mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway
7.5L/100 km31.4mpg US37.7mpg UK
6.6L/100 km35.6mpg US42.8mpg UK
Quarter mile
14.1s
Calculated
14.0s
Calculated
Power-to-weight
177hp/t132kW/t80hp/1000 lb
Calculated
169hp/t126kW/t77hp/1000 lb
Calculated
Torque-to-weight
230Nm/t154lb-ft/ton
Calculated
220Nm/t147lb-ft/ton
Calculated
Estimated range-
733km456mi
Calculated
Displacement
2,979cc182cu in
2,979cc182cu in
Length
4,050mm159in
4,091mm161in
Width
1,740mm69in
1,781mm70in
Height
1,306mm51in
1,299mm51in
Wheelbase
2,446mm96in
2,495mm98in
Front track
1,413mm56in
1,473mm58in
Rear track
1,494mm59in
1,523mm60in
Trunk volume
165L
300L
Doors
2
2
Seats
2
2
Fuel tank
51L
55L

Performance charts

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Dyno simulation

Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.

BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0iBMW Z4 (E85) 3.0iPowerTorque
  • BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i: Power / Torque
  • BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i: Power / Torque
Dyno simulation data table
VehiclePeak power RPMPeak torque RPMMax engine speed
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i5,900 rpm3,500 rpm6,150 rpm
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i5,900 rpm3,500 rpm6,150 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
MetricBMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0iBMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph
0-97 km/h
5.7 s
5.6 s
0-100 km/h
0-62 mph
6.0 s
5.9 s
0-200 km/h
0-124 mph
20.9 s
22.6 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Likely limited
244 km/h
152 mph
Drag race simulation
60 ft
18 m
2.4 s
2.3 s
330 ft
101 m
6.2 s
6.1 s
1/8 mile
201 m
9.3 s
9.2 s
1000 ft
305 m
11.9 s
11.8 s
1/4 mile
402 m
14.1 s
14.0 s
Trap speed
1/4 mile
402 m
167 km/h
104 mph
165 km/h
102 mph

Power comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
231 hp
172 kW
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
231 hp
172 kW

Torque comparison

Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
300 Nm
221 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
1,305 kg
2,877 lb
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
1,365 kg
3,009 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
244 km/h
152 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i6.0 s
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i5.9 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i and BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i: 0.1 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
177 hp/t
132 kW/t
5.6 kg/hp
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
169 hp/t
126 kW/t
5.9 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
VehiclePowerAccelerationTop speed
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
231 hp
172 kW
6.0 s
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
231 hp
172 kW
5.9 s
244 km/h
152 mph

Most attractive quadrant

Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.

Chart data table
VehiclePerformance scorePracticality score
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Power
231 hp
172 kW
0-100 km/h6.0 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
165 L
5.8 cu ft
Length
4,050 mm
159.4 in
Height
1,306 mm
51.4 in
BMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
Power
231 hp
172 kW
0-100 km/h5.9 s
Top speed
244 km/h
152 mph
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
300 L
10.6 cu ft
Length
4,091 mm
161.1 in
Height
1,299 mm
51.1 in

Detailed score breakdown

Detailed score breakdown
VehicleBMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0iBMWZ4 (E85)3.0i
Power
231 hp
172 kW
231 hp
172 kW
Torque
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
Acceleration
6.0 s
5.9 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
244 km/h
152 mph
Lightness
1,305 kg
2,877 lb
1,365 kg
3,009 lb
Fuel consumption
-
7.5 L/100 km
31.4 mpg US
37.7 mpg UK
Practicality
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
165 L
5.8 cu ft
Length
4,050 mm
159.4 in
Height
1,306 mm
51.4 in
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
300 L
10.6 cu ft
Length
4,091 mm
161.1 in
Height
1,299 mm
51.1 in
Range score
-
733 km
456 mi
Trunk score
165 L
5.8 cu ft
300 L
10.6 cu ft
Power-to-weight score
177 hp/t
132 kW/t
5.6 kg/hp
169 hp/t
126 kW/t
5.9 kg/hp
Overall
Fixed score
Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.

LC = Local Currency

Fuel cost and annual usage
VehicleBMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i
Consumption7.5 L/100 km31.4 mpg US37.7 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km13.13 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi21.12 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used1,125 L297 US gal247 UK gal
Annual fuel cost1,969 LC/year

Head-to-head comparisons

BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i

  • Is 60 kg lighter
  • Has 16 km/h (10 mph) higher top speed
  • Has 8 hp/t better power-to-weight

Pros

  • Highest top speed
  • Most powerful
  • Highest torque
  • Lightest
  • Best power-to-weight ratio

Cons

  • Slowest 0-100 km/h
  • Smallest trunk

BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i

  • Is 0.1 s quicker from 0-100 km/h
  • Has 135 L more trunk volume

Pros

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h in this comparison
  • Largest trunk

Cons

  • Heaviest
  • Lowest top speed

Choose cars to compare

Brand
Model
Generation
Engine or modification
BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i
BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i
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2 vehicles selected

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BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i vs BMW Z4 (E85) 3.0i - car comparison - FastVsFaster