October 25, 1998
By: Robert Leidy

In the United States, BMW recently stopped selling the 1.9 Z3 and with the 1999 model year started offering a new 2.3 Z3. Despite the name, the new 2.3 Z3 actually has a 2.5 liter straight six cylinder engine. To keep the base price of the new 2.3 Z3 down close to where the previous 1.9 Z3 was selling, BMW started making some features optional that used to be standard. They also saved a few dollars changing the standard tires.

The 2.3 Z3 has a base price of $30,520 (with destination), which at first seems pretty impressive considering the 1.9 Z3 had a base price of $29,995 (with destination). But then you start going through the options and realize how many there are and how expensive a 2.3 Z3 can get. Fully loaded, the MSRP on a 2.3 Z3 can climb as high as $37,430. To help future 2.3 Z3 owners evaluate the cost/benefit of all the various options, MZ3.Net polled current Z3 owners to see what they thought of the various 2.3 options and if they where worth the upgrade price. Following are the results of that survey.

Is the premium package for the 2.3 (power top, leather seats, wood trim) worth the $2000 upgrade price?  [37 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	2(5%)
	Nice but too Expensive	24(64%)
	Waste of Money	11(29%)
Is the power top worth the $750 upgrade price?  [49 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	6(12%)
	Nice but too Expensive	9(18%)
	Waste of Money	34(69%)
Is the on board computer worth the $300 upgrade price?  [44 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	12(27%)
	Nice but too Expensive	17(38%)
	Waste of Money	15(34%)
Is the wood console for the 2.3 worth the $400 upgrade price?  [34 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	3(8%)
	Only with the Tan Interior	2(5%)
	Nice but too Expensive	12(35%)
	Waste of Money	17(50%)
Are the fog lights on the 2.3 worth the $260 upgrade price?  [38 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	10(26%)
	Nice but too Expensive	23(60%)
	Waste of Money	5(13%)
Is the in dash CD worth the $200 upgrade price?  [31 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	27(87%)
	Nice but too Expensive	3(9%)
	Waste of Money	1(3%)
Is the HK stereo upgrade worth the $675 upgrade price?  [35 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	3(8%)
	Nice but too Expensive	12(34%)
	Waste of Money	20(57%)
Are the heated seats worth the $500 upgrade price?  [48 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	29(60%)
	Depends on Climate	16(33%)
	Nice but Expensive	1(2%)
	Waste of Money	2(4%)
Are the sport seats worth the $400 upgrade price?  [42 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	31(73%)
	Nice but Expensive	8(19%)
	Waste of Money	3(7%)
Are the leather seats for the 2.3 worth the $1150 upgrade price?  [38 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	8(21%)
	Nice but too Expensive	24(63%)
	Waste of Money	6(15%)
Is the cruise control for the 2.3 worth the $475 upgrade price?  [44 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	8(18%)
	Nice but too Expensive	28(63%)
	Waste of Money	8(18%)
Is the chrome trim package for the 2.3 worth the $150 upgrade price?  [35 votes total]
	Worth Every Penny	14(40%)
	Only with the Black Interior	7(20%)
	Nice but too Expensive	2(5%)
	Waste of Money	12(34%)

So from the survey results it appears the most desirable/cost conscience 2.3 Z3 would be a base model with heated sport seats, an in-dash CD, and maybe the chrome package. A Z3 equipped with these options would MSRP for only $31,770.