BMW Z1 1989–1991 car dimensions: 3921 mm long, 1690 mm wide and 1277 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,250 kg. Boot space with the seats up is 260 litres.
The cabin has leather or cloth/leather sports bucket seats with integrated headrests, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, power windows, power mirrors, a cassette stereo radio with speed-dependent volume, and a digital clock. An efficient heater and ventilation system is fitted with a four-stage blower. ABS is standard. No air conditioning is offered due to space limits in the compact dashboard.
Boot space measures 260 litres by VDA standard without the spare wheel. As a two-seater roadster there is no rear seat folding option, though the passenger seat tilts forward for through-loading.
Payload is 210 kg with a gross vehicle weight of 1460 kg. No factory towing ratings or heavy-duty options are listed for this sports roadster.
The cabin is low-slung and functional with upmarket leather or cloth-leather trim on bucket-shaped all-foam sports seats that give strong lateral support. Driver seat has manual height adjustment. both seats adjust for length and backrest angle, with passenger seat folding forward. Three-spoke leather sports steering wheel is manually adjustable for reach. Soft-top roof folds easily by one person. Heating uses speed-independent fresh-air system with quiet four-stage blower and adjustable vents for front and side windows. No air conditioning.
Unleaded petrol, minimum 91 RON
Fuel tank capacity 58 litres
ABS standard with ventilated front discs and solid rear discs
Galvanised steel monocoque chassis
Crash test result: not tested
Maintenance easy as based on E30 325i running gear
The car runs on unleaded petrol with a minimum octane of 91 RON. A methanol content of up to 3 percent is allowed. Fuel tank holds 58 litres for a claimed range around 630 km based on mixed consumption of 9.2 l/100 km.
Servicing draws on shared E30 325i parts for the engine, gearbox and suspension, making routine work straightforward. The car has no onboard service interval indicator like later BMWs. Annual cleaning and conservation of the engine bay, underbody and axles by a BMW service centre is recommended for corrosion protection.
Safety kit centres on standard ABS, automatic seatbelts and a rigid monocoque with high side sills plus a transverse tube and windscreen-frame reinforcement that doubles as rollover protection. Front and rear crumple zones are designed in. Plastic body panels resist minor impacts and the chassis is fully galvanised.
Living with the Z1 means watching unique parts like the sliding doors, rear lights and alloy wheels, which can be costly if damaged. Soft-top fabric needs care around the fold points to avoid fraying. Seats and interior trim wear with use and UV exposure. original materials are hard to source. The plastic underbody and panels simplify some repairs but demand checks for cracks or prior accident damage on the chassis.
Length 3921 mm, Width 1690 mm, Height 1277 mm, Wheelbase 2447 mm (Z1 1989–1991)
Sources: manufacturer data, BMW Z1 Betriebsanleitung, 01 40 9 783 820), BMW Z1 1991 German sales brochure technical data: same length and wheelbase, rear track.