BMW Z3 M roadster (E36/4) in All About Eve

[Image from www.edmunds.com]

The BMW Z3

The Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, and the first BMW model assembled in the United States, manufactured and assembled in their Spartanburg, South Carolina factory. It was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie, GoldenEye. It received lots of press coverage from the controversy of James Bond, a British agent, shown driving a German car.

There were a few variants of the car before its production run ended in 2002, including a coupe version for 1999. The Z3 was replaced by the BMW Z4 introduced in late 2002 at the Paris Auto Show.

Seen in Episodes 02-04

In England Hyung-Chul drives a sporty silver BMW Z3 M Roadster. Although the time in the drama is early 1995, the Z3 actually was first manufactured for the 1996 model year, and the rare right-hand-drive “M” version that Hyung-Chul drives was not produced until the 1998 model year.

Unfortunately for sports car fans, upon his return to Seoul, along with trading in his carefree student life for the heavy responsibilities of the MBS executive suite, Hyung-Chul also gives up this sporty model for a more conservative ride.

Ep.02 – Hyung-Chul drops Yoo Joo-Hee off at her hotel near the famous Tower Bridge in London.

Ep.03 – Hyung-Chul enroute to his fateful collision with Sun-Mi at a cross walk in suburban London.

The M Roadster

From 1998 to 2002, the Motorsports division of BMW produced the M Roadster from the E36 M3, which was redesigned for the increased performance of the 3.2L S52 I6 motor. The M Roadster had slight differences throughout, including a quad pipe exhaust system, wider tires with larger rims, and suspension upgrades. A two-tone interior treatment also distinguishes the M version. Also in 1998, Rollover Protection, consisting of structural upgrades and a steel hoop finished with black molded-plastic behind each seat, became standard on all Z3s. In the five years from 1998 - 2002, BMW made approximately 15,000 M Roadsters / M coupes, but only produced a few hundred of the right-hand drive version roadster.

[text edited from Wikipedia]

Ep.03 – Sun-Mi and Hyung-Chul about to meet for the first time.

BELOW: Images of a 1998 Z3 M offered for sale on ebay.co.uk

Ep.03 – Sun-Mi falls to the pavement after she is hit by the Z3.

Ep.03 – Hyung-Chul sends Sun-Mi home after meeting her at the Arirang Korean restaurant operated by Sun-Mi’s aunt

Ep.04 – Hyung-Chul picks up Sun-Mi for the trip to the airport.

Ep.04 – Hyung-Chul leaves London’s City Airport after seeing Sun-Mi off.

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