In conclusion, the BMW Z8 roadster boasts a performance that combines pleasant touring with canyon-carving, as well as a vintage-inspired design that nonetheless appears contemporary. Furthermore, only 5703 units were produced by BMW, 2543 of which were sold in the US. And just 555 of those Z8s—450 of which arrived in the US—are Alpina variants.
The expense of the Z8 contributes to that rarity. It was originally priced at $128,000, which is almost $201,000 in modern currency. And the Alpina model cost $140,000 (approximately $211,500 today), which was even more costly.
But the Z8 hasn’t exactly become more affordable. These chic roadsters have increased significantly in value throughout the years for all the previously listed reasons. According to Hagerty, a BMW Z8 today costs between $163K and $209K in fair to outstanding condition. Additionally, according to RM Sotheby’s, Alpina vehicles frequently sell for over $300,000.
Undoubtedly, there are Bond cars that cost less, including BMW models. However, all it takes is a quick glance to realize why the Z8 is so expensive.
In This Article...
Watch the video to see why the BMW Z8 is so valuable.
Not exactly a roadster brand is BMW. Throughout actuality, it has only produced a small number of real roadsters in its 100-year history. The few that it has produced, nevertheless, have been exceptional. The BMW Z3 and Z4s have been pretty fun and sporty, and the Z1 was a quirky little ball of joy. The BMW 507 is one of the loveliest automobiles to ever lose its roof. However, the BMW Z8, which was developed by Fisker, stands out as having the best balance of luxury, performance, and flair. Learn more about the BMW Z8 and its rising value in this video.
Henrik Fisker created the BMW Z8 in the late 1990s as an homage to the 507 Roadster from the 1950s. It’s a lovely vehicle that stands out from other BMWs of the time. In actuality, the 507 is the only other BMW in history to resemble it in any way; this was done on purpose. Therefore, it truly is a unique vehicle that causes all BMW enthusiasts to stop what they are doing, gaze, and drool.
It has several classic design elements inside, but they don’t feel overdone. The controls for the climate and radio are positioned in the center, and the steering wheel has metal spokes. Despite being a straightforward, vintage vehicle, it never seems dated. It’s still livable and enough advanced to drive in with ease.
A 4.9-liter naturally-aspirated V8 from an E39 BMW M5 powers the vehicle. Thus, it generates around 400 horsepower (who knows how much power each Z8 has lost over the years) and transfers it to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. It is therefore an antique arrangement, which is excellent for it. The V8’s fantastic loudness adds to the dish’s delectable sound.
But don’t think the BMW Z8 is anything other than a cruiser. The Z8 was designed and engineered to be a long-legged, comfy GT car that could travel long distances in amazing style while still handling turns quite well. The Z8 may be the best long-distance GT vehicle that BMW has ever produced.
What makes it so valuable, then? There are a few causes, but rarity is the primary one. BMW produced fewer than 6,000 Z8s globally, and they were highly pricey at launch. So, when you consider its scarcity, outstanding elegance, popularity, and price, a good Z8 will run you almost $200,000 in today’s dollars. That’s a lot for a car that doesn’t appear to be particularly unique on paper. The BMW Z8 is a terrific choice of historic car, though, if you want something that will totally wow most auto fans while also being cozy, livable, and simple to cruise long distances in.
The cost of the BMW Z8 is skyrocketing.
We don’t typically spend a lot of time browsing eBay for used automobiles, but when we do, we become aware of our pricey taste and the fact that we can’t actually afford everything we’d like to have.
Consider the BMW Z8 as an example. A recent check on eBay revealed that you can’t actually own one unless you have at least $150,000 sitting around. Yes, that’s correct, $150,000 for a secondhand car that is 13 years old. While first you could believe thus about the Z8, a closer look explains why this expensive price tag might reach PS134,995 ($227,000) in Europe.
In the history of BMW, the Z8 was and continues to be considered as an iconic model. Codenamed E52, it was only offered as a roadster and was regarded as the 507 Roadster, another gorgeous (and pricey) vehicle to come out of Munich.
BMW originally had no intention of producing this car, but the too enthusiastic response of crowds to the idea persuaded them to do so and then market it to those who could afford it.
Few people are actually aware that it was created by none other than Henrik Fisker, the man behind the now-defunct Fisker company, who sought to create electric cars. Chris Bangle was a second man who contributed to the overall appearance. Even so, he was only involved with the interior.
It was contemporaneous with the legendary BMW E39 M5, which had a nice old 4.9-liter V8 naturally aspirated engine that used to create roughly 400 HP and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque from down low, at 3,800 RPM, since it was debuted in 1999 to celebrate the new millennium.
The Z8 was a delight to drive, especially with the top down, thanks to its gorgeous engine and manual 5-speed 6-speed transmission. Alpina joined the fray as well and unveiled their own variant soon before the car’s manufacture ceased.
Alpina V8 Roadster was the name of the vehicle, and it was offered with an automatic transmission and a detuned engine that, despite sharing the same architecture, produced 375 HP and 520 Nm (383 lb-ft) of torque.
The fact that there were only 5,703 Z8s produced, and even fewer made it across the Atlantic, is one of the main reasons why they are currently so pricey.
However, this model is also a joy to drive and looks just as contemporary and up to date today as it did back in the previous century, unlike other cars where just the rarity of the object makes it incredibly coveted and pricey.
Therefore, if the Z8’s curves are making you perspire and you really can’t sleep at night because you want you could possess one, you should expect to pay somewhere between $150,000 and $160,000. Können Sie es meistern?
With only 16,000 miles, This BMW Z8 Sold For Over $220,000!
Beautiful roadster with a nostalgic aesthetic, the BMW Z8 is a rising classic. This 2001 illustration just brought in almost $220,000.
We’d like to tell you about a costly European sports car from the early 2000s in case you’re sick of reading listings for pricey, low-mileage Japanese sports cars. One of the most distinctive-looking vehicles to come from the Bavarian manufacturer is the BMW Z8. With only 2,543 units produced, it is not frequently seen on the road. The BMW Z8 is currently a sought-after collector’s automobile, which is why a 2001 example recently sold for $220,900.
This vehicle was originally from Florida and moved to New York about 2005, where its current owner bought it from Bentley, Long Island. The odometer read 4,200 miles at the time (6,759 km). The Z8 comes with an impeccable service history, as befits a collectible automobile.
Why did BMW discontinue the Z8?
Occasionally, cars from reputable automakers are discontinued, but it always raises questions when it happens sooner than the firm typically does. BMW is known for not letting its vehicles linger too long, so the Z8’s end after just three years seems cruel to fans of contemporary roadsters. The BMW roadster never had huge sales. BMW sold a total of 317 Z8s in the United States in the first year of the model line, and only 5,703 Z8s were produced for the whole run, according to Hagerty.
The majority of people undoubtedly believe that the BMW Z8 Roadster’s manufacturing halt was caused by weak sales. However, BMW spokesperson Dave Buchko stated that the car “was never intended to be a high-volume automobile” in a late 2002 interview with Autoweek.
Buchko stated, “We’re not disappointed with the sales. “On the contrary, we were really happy with how the automobile was received and how much demand it had. It was never meant to last as long as our other cars do on average.” Buchko also asserted that BMW learned more about hand-constructing small production automobiles as a result of their experience with the Z8.
Since the Z8 Roadster had completed its mission on the automotive market, its production run effectively came to an end. The roadster had a small community of owners, but it had also taught the business a lot about exclusivity.