torque--203 lb.-ft. at 3950 rpm, 70 lb.-ft. more than the 1.9-liter engine.
That's really more important than horsepower, because torque is the
low-down grunt that most of us drive most of the time, whether we're making
a stoplight launch or a fifth-gear pass on a two-lane highway. The Z3
2.8 is very good at the former--0-to-60 mph takes just over six seconds--and
outstanding at the latter. Rowing up and down in the excellent Getrag five-speed
transmission is part of the driving fun, but the engine's torque band is
so broad that fifth gear can cover a wide range of urban and suburban driving.
The gear ratios for the 2.8 differ substantially from the 1.9, of course,
to match its power characteristics. If you must, a four-speed automatic
is available with either engine for $975. The automatic operates in three
modes--normal, sport, which raises shift points for better acceleration,
and winter, which starts the car off in second gear to enhance the traction
control system (standard) in slippery going.
BMW did a good job of stuffing the 2.8's extra pair of cylinders under
the hood without making a significant change in weight distribution, which
is about 52/48 front/rear, a key element in the Z3's exceptional handling
response. However, the six-cylinder version is a little wider, to accommodate
its extra 2.5 inches of rear track. And as you'd expect, more engine means
more mass--143 pounds, to be precise. There's also a fuel economy price.
The 1.9 is rated 23/31 mpg city/hwy with the standard transmission, while
the 2.8 is 19/27.
More mass and more go requires better stopping power, which the 2.8
supplies with disc brakes all around. They're the same generous diameter
as the 1.9, but the 2.8's front rotors are vented for better fade resistance. Next Page