The BMW Z8 had the briefest career of any Bond car, and it is one of the best-looking. In The World Is Not Enough, Pierce Brosnan’s Bond drives a Q-modified Z8 with missiles, a remote key chain and a tracking system, and loses it to a helicopter fitted with a large saw. The BMW Z8 from The World Is Not Enough is out of production, so this page is about the car and how to buy one now.
In the film
BMW announced the Z8 as Bond’s car in a press release ahead of the film. In the story Q has modified the roadster with missiles, a remote key chain and a tracking system, and it is cut in half by a helicopter’s saw. Our catalogue lists the car as a 5.0 litre S62 V8 roadster with the licence plate V354 FMP.
The details of the BMW Z8
A designer’s roadster. Henrik Fisker designed the car as a tribute to the BMW 507 of the 1950s. It first appeared as a concept at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show and went into production in 1999.
The V8. The engine is listed in different places as 4.9 and 5.0 litres, and produces 394hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, and one source quotes 0 to 60mph in 4.2 seconds.
A rare car. BMW built the Z8 from 1999 to 2003. At launch it cost almost £90,000, which one dealer blog puts at about £190,000 in today’s money, so the price was never modest.
Owning it now
Buy the best car you can find, and buy it with a full service history. Bring a Trailer calls the Z8 a truly collectible car, and examples change hands at auction and through specialist dealers. One CarGurus listing for a 2001 car with 57,008 miles asked US$179,000 at the time of writing, which shows how the market stands.
Driving it. Not everyone agrees that the Z8 is the perfect car. One Reddit commenter describes it as neither fast nor agile enough to be a sports car, nor comfortable enough to be a tourer. We would still buy it for the shape, the V8 and the way it looks parked outside a hotel, and use it on a fine afternoon.
Where to look. Search eBay for current and recent listings, then compare with the dealer and auction sites that list the car. Insist on an independent inspection before you pay.
Specifications
| Model | BMW Z8 (E52) roadster |
|---|---|
| Production | 1999 to 2003 |
| Engine | S62 V8, 4.9 to 5.0 litres, 394hp, 369 lb-ft |
| Gearbox | Six-speed manual |
| 0 to 60mph | 4.2 seconds (one source) |
| Design | Henrik Fisker, inspired by the BMW 507 |
| Launch price | Almost £90,000 |
| Example asking price | US$179,000 for a 2001 car with 57,008 miles (CarGurus listing, October 2026) |
BMW’s press announcement of the car’s Bond role is on BMW Group’s press site.
Questions
Which car does Bond drive in The World Is Not Enough?
He drives a Q-modified BMW Z8, which the film destroys when a helicopter cuts it in half.
Who designed the BMW Z8?
Henrik Fisker designed it, as a tribute to the BMW 507 of the 1950s. BMW built it from 1999 to 2003.
How fast is the BMW Z8?
Its V8 produces 394hp, and one source quotes 0 to 60mph in 4.2 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox.
How much does a BMW Z8 cost now?
One 2001 example was listed at US$179,000 at the time of writing, October 2026. At launch it cost almost £90,000.
More cars are collected under Vehicles, and the film is on the film page.
