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Z1 Construction
The BMW Z1 is a two-seat soft top roadster. It uses the engine and transmission from the E30 325 mounted in a specially designed base frame or chassis which is made from galvanised steel. The sports body which is made from various types of composite resin panels is fixed onto the base frame. The front suspension is re-worked 325 components, with a wider track. The rear suspension is the specially designed 'Z axle'. The most distinctive features of the body are the electrically powered doors, which in the open position drop down into the side sills, this creating the ultimate 'open car' when the soft top is lowered underneath its' flat cover.
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The Z1 chassis unit. This is made from hot dip
galvanised steel. The seams are all continuous zinc welded, and with the
addition of its composite undertray endows the Z1 with exceptional
torsional rigidity. (stiffer than the Z3) |
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This is the Z1 complete apart from its' plastic body parts.(below) |
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The ultimate kit car? |
At the launch, BMW suggested that owners mght like to buy a spare set of body panels, so that they could change the colour of the car from time to time.
The original suggestion was that taking all the body panels off would take about 40 minutes for a skilled mechanic. The reality is that to take them off, AND PUT THEM ON AGAIN(!) is a good 2 day's work.
There are about 5(?) different types of plastic used in the body, and BMW and AKZO coatings developed a new 'Varioflex' paint system to cope with applying paint to the different flexible materials.