With 1 recalls and 49 complaints, the 1997 BMW Z3 rates as elevated on the safety concern scale. Always run the VIN through NHTSA's lookup tool before signing.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

97V1310001997-19-08

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.

THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 1997 BMW Z3's biggest weak point? AIR BAGS. It leads 49 total complaints spanning 1 years. Budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially in that area.

01Air Bags11

02Seats11

03Seat Belts7

04Power Train3

05Engine And Engine Cooling3

49 total across 1 model years (1997–1997)Full data at NHTSA.gov

BMW Z3 Fuel Economy

19–24mpg combined

16-20city

23-29hwy

$3,550-$4,300/yr

Fuel economy for the 1997 BMW Z3 ranges from 19 to 24 MPG combined across 6 setups. The table below breaks it down by trim so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

By Trim

Z3 Roadster - Automatic 4-spd

23mpg

1.9L 4-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

20 city29 hwy~$3,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Z3 Roadster - Manual 5-spd

23mpg

1.9L 4-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

20 city29 hwy~$3,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Z3 Roadster - Manual 5-spd

20mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

17 city25 hwy~$4,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Z3 Roadster - Automatic 4-spd

19mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

16 city23 hwy~$4,300/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 1997 BMW Z3

33States

27%in top 3

The biggest cluster of inventory is in Texas (10%), but the remaining listings are spread across 32 other states nationwide.

TXTexas

1010%

GAGeorgia

88%

FLFlorida

88%

WAWashington

66%

CACalifornia

66%

PAPennsylvania

55%

NCNorth Carolina

55%

DEDelaware

44%

ILIllinois

44%

TNTennessee

44%

NHNew Hampshire

33%

OHOhio

33%

MOMissouri

33%

MAMassachusetts

22%

MIMichigan

22%

MNMinnesota

22%

INIndiana

22%

AZ2

CO2

OK2

HI1

ME1

UT1

AL1

RI1

VT1

NM1

NV1

SC1

OR1

KS1

KY1

DC1

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 1997.

1997 BMW Z3 Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 1997 BMW Z3 a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 1997 BMW Z3. There are 1 recall to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 1997 BMW Z3?

NHTSA shows 1 recall campaign for the 1997 BMW Z3. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 1997 BMW Z3?

You'll get between 19 and 24 MPG combined from the 1997 BMW Z3, depending on engine and drivetrain. That's a meaningful difference over time. The fuel economy table shows exactly which configs get what.

What are common problems with the 1997 BMW Z3?

AIR BAGS problems top the list with 49 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.