For GoldenEye, Bond traded a British grand tourer for a small German roadster, and it caused a stir. Pierce Brosnan’s Bond drives a BMW Z3 in GoldenEye, and the car was a new model that nobody could yet buy. The BMW Z3 1.9 in Atlanta Blue is also one of the more attainable Bond cars: in our view it is the right car for a man who wants a roadster to drive rather than to polish.
In the film
In GoldenEye, Bond drives the Z3 with Natalya Simonova as a passenger to meet Jack Wade, and the car is parked as Wade lands a Cessna in front of it. It is seen twice in the film. One account describes it as a 1995 Atlanta Blue Metallic Z3 equipped by Q-Branch, with beige Nappa leather and a 1.9-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine; the equipment reportedly included Stinger missiles behind the headlights and a radar system. Bonhams calls it the first production car unveiled in a feature film, and the car was presented to the press on 13 November 1995, the day GoldenEye premiered in New York.
The details of the BMW Z3 1.9
Engine. A 1.9-litre four-cylinder with 16 valves, rated at 138 horsepower at 6,000rpm. The 1.9 was sold from 1995 to 1999 and is regarded by owners as the reliable one.
Size. Car and Driver measured it at 158.5 inches long, only 3.1 inches longer than the Mazda Miata, and about 2,600 pounds. It has a 6.3-cubic-foot boot, which is generous for a roadster of this size.
Layout. A conventional front-engined, rear-wheel-drive two-seater, using a trailing-arm rear suspension from the 3 Series. Car and Driver called it a shrewd execution and a “grown-up Miata”.
Colour. The film car is Atlanta Blue Metallic with a beige leather interior. Another source suggests a 1996 to 1998 car in Atlanta Blue with a tan interior and five-point grooved wheels if you want the look.
Owning it now
The Z3 is out of production and found second-hand, so the market is the used one. It is a good first classic: small, light, and cheap to run compared with the cars around it. Choose a car with documentation, a recent service and no rust, and put the film colour ahead of mileage if you care about the Bond link.
The 1.9. Reports on the 1.9 are favourable. Owners on forums describe it as dependable and say it is much more reliable than the larger engines, and listings for the 1.9 describe a five-speed manual.
Where to look. Our button takes you to an eBay search for the Z3 1.9 roadster, and classic-car listing sites show others. In our research, Carfax listed a 1996 Z3 1.9 with about 61,000 miles at US$6,800; condition varies a good deal.
The other Z3. A separate page covers the Neiman Marcus 007 Edition, a limited run of 100 built to celebrate the car in the film.
Specifications
| Model | BMW Z3 1.9 Roadster (1995 to 1999) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.9-litre 16-valve inline-four, 138hp at 6,000rpm |
| Transmission | Five-speed manual (typical for US 1.9 cars) |
| Dimensions | 158.5in long; about 2,600lb; 6.3cu ft boot |
| Colour on screen | Atlanta Blue Metallic, beige Nappa leather |
| Original price | US$29,320 for a well-equipped car in 1996, per Car and Driver |
Questions
What car does Bond drive in GoldenEye?
A BMW Z3 roadster in Atlanta Blue Metallic, seen in two scenes, including the one in which Jack Wade lands a Cessna in front of it.
Was the Z3 on sale when GoldenEye came out?
Not yet. It was introduced as a 1996 model year car, shortly after the film’s 1995 release, and BMW presented it to the press at the premiere.
How powerful is the Z3 1.9?
138 horsepower from a 1.9-litre four-cylinder, with a five-speed manual in typical US cars.
Is the Z3 a reliable car?
Owners describe the 1.9 as dependable, but condition and maintenance history matter more than the badge on a car of this age.
More from the film is on the GoldenEye page, and further cars are in vehicles.
