Specifications
Highlights
• One of BMW's Greatest Designs
• 2 Owners From New
• Includes Original Window Sitcker
EAG Impressions
The Z8 roadster was BMW's modern interpretation of the iconic 507 from the 1950s. As a limited-production halo car, the Z8 was one of the first BMW models to launch with near-identical specifications in both European and U.S. markets. Both regions received the same 4.9L V8 engine derived from the E39 M5, producing 400 horsepower. The only significant differences were in the bumper designs and lighting equipment to meet varying safety regulations. The Z8's consistent global specification foreshadowed BMW's future approach to high-end performance models.
Overview
This 2002 BMW Z8 was sold new at Ralph Schomp BMW in Littleton, CO and stayed with its original owner until 2012, at which point it passed into the consignor’s possession. Finished in Titanium Silver Metallic over an all Black Nappa leather interior, the car shows just 24,023 miles at the time of cataloging and remains in exceptional stock condition. The Z8’s exterior is one of the most beautiful designs to ever come out of BMW and looks particularly good on this car, given the removable hardtop, which is affixed. Standing as the Halo car for BMW at a time when they were producing arguably the best lineup of cars across the board in the brand’s history, it is no wonder that the Z8 never really depreciated from its original price and good examples like this have been rapidly on the rise in recent years.
Black Nappa leather covers the seats, door cards, center console and lower dash on this example, which appears largely untouched. The Z8’s interior leans in on the retro-modern aesthetic of the day, with its centrally-mounted gauge cluster and sweeping central dash that is color-matched to the car’s exterior. The steering wheel is another throwback design with a round central hub and four metal tines making up each of the three spokes. The only modification to the interior is the addition of a ZHP shift knob, doing away with the overly-lightweight plastic unit that came on the car, and adding some nice heft to the shifting.
Powering the Z8 is the much-loved S62 V8 out of the E39 M5. Displacing 4.9 liters, this V8 produces 395 horsepower and 359 lb-ft of torque, which was quick in the M5 but makes the 500lb lighter Z8 particularly sprightly. Contemporary road tests were able to run 0-60 times in the low 4-second range, and the top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. All of BMW’s Z8s were fitted with the same 6-speed manual gearbox found in the E39 M5 which offers a pleasant shift feel thanks to a UUC short-shift kit and the ZHP shift knob on top. Additionally, an Eisenmann exhaust has been fitted to open up that beautiful sounding V8 which is extra nice when the top is down!
From the day the Z8 came out in 1998, pretty much everybody agreed it was an instant classic. This is a very high quality example of the model and would be the perfect addition to any collection.
History
As you would expect from any car at EAG, when this vehicle arrived to us, we set to work seeing what needed to be addressed. We started by doing our standard checks on the S62 V8 to make sure that was in order, at which point, a rear main seal leak was detected. This is almost a given on cars of this age and we end up doing a lot of them - and while you're in there, might as well swap out the clutch too, which we did. The EAG Extra Mile service replaced fading badges, rubber trim, clips and gaskets around the car, and an alignment was carried out as well. The result is a car that feels like the day it rolled out of the showroom and is ready for its next owner to enjoy.
Gallery
Documentation
