The Z3, born in 2002, 3.0L engine, all the extras.
There was not a seperate club for BMW roadster in NZ so one was formed it is called ZOG = Z Owners Group
For information on NZ Club (ZOG)
At Hamilton
ZOG Meeting at Whakamaru.
The first demonstrators arrived at the dealers in March of 1996.The original Z3 had its battery in the engine compartment, on the right side in front of the passenger. Throughout 1995 and to mid 1996, BMW officially denied that they would ever build a 6-cylinder Z3. Vic Doolan, then head of BMW NA broke the silence at the Pebble Beach Concours by telling the press that not only would there be a 6-cylinder, but that the ///M Version (shown that year at Geneva as a concept car) would go into production. When the battery was moved to the trunk in mid 1996 speculation was that this was to accommodate the 6-cylinder (2.8 litre) engine.
The Taupo run
1996 was a significant year for a number of reasons. (1) the first products were coming out of BMW's Spartanburg Plant. (2)The new Z3 was an exclusive product of that plant. (3)The Summer Olympics were held that year in Atlanta > close to Spartanburg.
Everyone who bought a Z3 prior to the opening of the Olympics received a license plate frame commemorating BMW as a sponsor of the Olympics. Not coincidentally, the signature colour for the Z3 - used in "Golden Eye" and all the ads was called Atlanta Blue. Since the dawn of the automotive era, light blue had been the colour of French racing cars, while dark blue and white were the colours of the US. Curiously, the light blue in BMW's palette took the name "Atlanta" while the dark blue became "Montreal Blue". Because of the number of orders received for Atlanta Blue Z3s exceeded the company's ability to produce them, it was withdrawn from the colour offerings in 1996. Arctic Silver became the most popular exterior colour, with the black and tannin leather interior. In 2000 BMW attempted to replace Atlanta Blue; however BMW received so many nasty letters that the colour was reinstated. Thus Atlanta Blue became (along with black, red and white) one of the few colours to span the entire production run of Z3s. The other colours besides these were: Boston Green, Dark Green and Violet Red and Turquoise.
More at Taupo
Late in 1996 the BMW Z3 Register was founded by Wayne and Amy Lester. This became the Z3CCA.The 1996 model year ended with a group of Z3'ers from Atlanta deciding to drive to Spartanburg over the Labour Day weekend to see the plant. Others from all over the country joined them. This became Homecoming. We all shared common experiences on the wait for our Z3 and what it was like to be the first one in your neighbourhood to have one.
Start of the Miranda- Kaiaua sea bird coast run
At Pokeno 19-02-06
It was there that it became evident that the Z3 stirred a passion in those associated with it not just owners, but factory associates would come up, ask your production date, then tell you what they did on your car. The Z3 created a family among those who owned them and those who made them. The reply to "Thank you for buying one" was "Thank you for building them.” The Z3 family has grown since 1996. The 2.8s. ///M's, Coupes, 2.3s, 2.5s and 3.0s have all joined the original Z3. If you are a new Z3 owner, from all of us who have been here since the beginning - Welcome to the family!
From An article by Fred Kern
Always an argument
Time for a rest
