Atlanta Blue Metallic 2003 BMW Z3 Rodaster with top down and red recumbent without wheels on bike rack on the trunklid, MGOC banner on recumbent frame

2000 BMW Z3

Felix Wong's avatar
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Welcome to the page dedicated to Lina, the brand new Atlanta Metallic Blue ’00 BMW Z3 2.3 I had from February 2000 to February 2003. She’s German but the vintage British sports car spirit was there. In fact, as BMW even owned the MG marque for much of the 90’s, we can even consider her a distant cousin of the MGF!

In many ways, she was similar to Goldie, with similar length, driving position, round gauges, wooden center console and gear-shift knob. However, the melodious and torquey 2.5L inline-6, toggle-switch-like stick and so-easy-to-put-up-or-down power top put her in a class of her own. What beautiful sounds she made! This was vintage sports car motoring at its finest!

Lina’s 15 Words of Fame

Yes, it’s true, Lina’s famous! Well, not really, although her collector’s license plates have gotten special mention in the Wheels section of the Northern California Ang Newspapers. They benefit the National Arts Council.

Lina's "GMN ART" license plates got a mention in the Argus newspaper.
Lina's "GMN ART" license plates got a mention in the Argus newspaper.

So why “German art”? Because that’s what she is!

blue BMW Z3 with GMN ART license plates, Lombard Street
Driving down Lombard Street with my friend Kat.

Pretty Good Gas Mileage

Despite having a six-cylinder engine, Lina did not get terrible gas mileage. Most of the time she averaged around 26 MPG for mixed city/highway driving. She even achieved 31 mpg going down from Yosemite to the Bay Area once.

Official 2000 BMW Z3 Promotional Material

2000 BMW Z3 & M Roadster Technical Guide (scanned PDF, 3.2 MB)
2000 BMW Z3 Roadster Brochure, partial (scanned PDF, 2.0 MB)

[Feb 2003] Lina and Goldie, inside the Garage Majal when it was about 25% complete.
[Feb 2003] Lina and Goldie, inside the Garage Majal when it was about 25% complete.
Detail of Lina's classic gills, reminiscent of the BMW 507s of the 1950s.
Detail of Lina's classic gills, reminiscent of the BMW 507s of the 1950s.
Because she is "German Art"...
Because she is "German Art"...
Lina's classic wood- and chrome-trimmed interior, somewhat reminiscent of my 1969 MGB's custom interior.
Lina's classic wood- and chrome-trimmed interior, somewhat reminiscent of my 1969 MGB's custom interior.
Lina in what I dubbed, "Sports Car Alley," as it seems like half of my neighbors have sports cars.
Lina in what I dubbed, "Sports Car Alley," as it seems like half of my neighbors have sports cars.
A view of Lina's instruments while navigating thru Palomares Canyon, one of my favorite local drives.
A view of Lina's instruments while navigating thru Palomares Canyon, one of my favorite local drives.
Lina at the top of Palomares Canyon on a beautiful February day. Classic motoring at its finest, in the finest vehicle I've ever had the pleasure of having up to now.
Lina at the top of Palomares Canyon on a beautiful February day. Classic motoring at its finest, in the finest vehicle I've ever had the pleasure of having up to now.
[Mt. Whitney, Sep 2000] Flashback from the past: Lina stops in Yosemite after our Mt. Whitney adventure.
[Mt. Whitney, Sep 2000] Flashback from the past: Lina stops in Yosemite after our Mt. Whitney adventure.
[Point Reyes, Feb 2001 "German Art" meets "Brit Boxster" at the parking lot just south of the Coast Trail.
[Point Reyes, Feb 2001 "German Art" meets "Brit Boxster" at the parking lot just south of the Coast Trail.
[17 Mile Drive, Sep 2001] Pretty Lina along the coast.
[17 Mile Drive, Sep 2001] Pretty Lina along the coast.
[Sep 2001] Doing a little (well, over 12 miles) of off-roading in Tahoe to get to a climb. She was a tough little car!
[Sep 2001] Doing a little (well, over 12 miles) of off-roading in Tahoe to get to a climb. She was a tough little car!