September 20, 1997
By: Robert Leidy

I had the pleasure of attending the 1997 Z3 Reunion. At this reunion I got to watch a video of Z3's being crash tested. I was very impressed with Z3's ability to protect the driver in an accident in all but one of the tests... the rollover.

I think my paranoia started there watching that video, but it was only a slight paranoia because I could tell myself "how would you ever roll a Z3". Later I remembered a story I heard about six months before the reunion. A Z3 owner was rear ended by a pickup truck going about 40mph. The pickup smacked into the back of the Z3 and crunched it pretty good, but the truck didn't stop when it hit the bumper. The truck's bumper hit the Z3 at about mid-trunk and basically jumped up onto the trunk and eventually stopped about a foot and a half behind the drivers head. If the truck had been going any faster it might have driven right into the back of the driver's head because there was nothing to stop it.

That was it, now my paranoia was real. I started noticing how many big pickups, and surburbans there were in Dallas and it was starting to really spook me every time one got behind me. Okay I'm exaggerating a little but my paranoia was real and it was taking away from the enjoyment of driving.

I have a 1997 Z3, starting with the 1998 models BMW added rollbars as a standard feature (well really they're roll-hoops not rollbars but basically the same thing PROTECTION). As a '97 owner I really only had one option and that was HMS Motorsport (Z3s built on or after 1/1/97 can get the rollhoops). The owner of HMS also owns a Z3, so he took the time and capital to design a rollbar specifically for the BMW Z3. The design is top notch with an emphasis on racing and safety.

Once I had the rollbar ordered and delivered I was left with the small task of installing it. Thankfully I had several friends who helped me do the installation (which really wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be).

So now my Z3 has rollbar installed and I am extremely pleased with it. I think it adds an aggressive look to Z3 and more importantly protects Robert from that evil suburban. I like the appearance but it does change the Z3's looks quite a bit and some may not care for the more aggressive look.

Sold By:
HMS Motorsport
www.hms-motorsport.com
(888) HMS-3BMW