BMW Z8 review. Why BMW's modern classic makes more sense today than it did when new.

The BMW Z8 arrived in 2000 and seemed a confused car at the time of launch but now Restomods are all the rage, has the BMW Z8 time finally arrived? Watch the video to find out..
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[@harezy]

Harrys is every boy's hero. Rich, Barn full of cars and bikes, A happy family life. But does not chuck it down your throat.

[@mmafiemc]

Class act from start go finish like most of his peers I suspect

[@herbie0408]

Harry always reminds me of Whispering Bob Harris from The Old Grey Whistle Test, are they related

[@stewartdouglass2774]

Don't forget Harry's farm as well

[@stevebluemed8163]

@AdrianSShole how many do you know, or is it simply an impression? 🤔

[@ElvenMans]

@@stevebluemed8163 Plenty can be seen on the internet, for example on instagram.. they are not exactly hard to find.

[@Thesketchmonkey]

Such a beautiful design especially the rear end. Perfectly captures the spirit of the 507 in a modern body

[@seanhershey3390]

I don’t think even you could make it better...;)..

[@tngilbert]

@@seanhershey3390 But I would watch a video of him trying :P

[@Herkulez1981]

This ...and no one Would think it looks old if they released today and its 2 decades old

[@timcollins380]

Yes, its a stunning design when you compare it with the other Bangle era cars. Don't mention the abominations comprising BMW's current line up.

[@WhuDhat]

@@timcollins380 "Bangle butts">Dukec Bucks (buck teeth)

[@shept.7736]

Really wish bmw would go back to clean designs like this, instead of what they have now…

[@Adam_Rosenberg91]

Yup, I reckon in a couple of generations they’ll do a full 360 and go back to timeless classic designs. Not this current crap designed simply to win over a certain demographic.

[@MrGaryGG48]

It pains me to say this, but after 14 BMWs in the family since 1969 (8 of my own), BMW design has lost my interest. I’m still driving an E46 330 Xi with 200K+ miles on the clock. They lost my interest after the E39 5 Series (had 2) and the E46. Nowadays the political climate and the current BMW management couldn’t introduce anything similar and still sell enough product to stay alive. Those who see the future cars anything like I do, will grab one of those ~20 year old examples and take really good care of them!

[@hessunator]

They won't because China is their main market nowadays and the hypermasculine design language in the modern BMW's with the aggressive designs, massive grills and logos sell really well there.

[@humanbeing1675]

Absolutely...

[@harryspeakup8452]

​Yep. I had 2x E39, 2x E46 and an E91, over a two decade period from 2000 to this year. The E91 was okay but it was no E39, so after a few years I found a good 530i manual Touring, had it comprehensively refurbished and sold the E91 . They are getting harder to run though now as hard-used daily drivers, sadly. ABS controllers are a problem to source amongst other many parts.

[@dominicrusho]

I once knew a guy who owned one of these. Complete nutcase behind the wheel. Decided to drive it to drive it to somewhere on the Caspian Sea to do some “business dealings” but the car ended up getting sawn in half and written off. He didn’t seem that bothered about the whole thing really, just made some witty remarks and never mentioned it again.

[@LarryKippings]

Hahaha. Great story,

[@stephencampbell2672]

Guess he was too busy dodging gunfire from Elektra Kings people no doubt

[@cliveadams7629]

Sawn in half? That needs some further explaining. Wrecked, stolen, burned out, flattened by falling masonry or even a grand piano maybe but sawn in half????

[@thegearknob7161]

He wasn't the guy who destroyed his 7 series by trying to drive it around a car park with his phone was he? He really didn't have much luck with BMWs.

[@bennycb6256]

What do you mean by the car getting sawn in half?

[@chickentonight22]

Such a gorgeous timeless design, can't say the same for bmw's current line up

[@douglasb.1203]

The new front end. Nope.

[@demonstructie]

Yeah I've personally always really liked the Chris Bangle era models but I think even his detractors wish he'd make a comeback at BMW now with the direction they're headed.

[@douglasb.1203]

@@demonstructie they literally look like Pixar designed the whole lineup.

[@powersliding]

@@demonstructie bangle started the toiletry

[@billholmes3462]

Yes it’s advantage is it does not look like a BMW more like a Jaguar.

[@antonoat]

The most stylish car BMW has made in thirty years! It never got the recognition it deserved. Perfect car for a road trip to South of France or Switzerland .

[@leonardoluc6362]

That and the 1998 Porsche 993 2S manual

[@naveennandigum8630]

Credit to Henrik Fisker, who has started a sustainable ev company once again.😎

[@basshead.]

@@leonardoluc6362 Nope

[@frankhall401]

I remember thinking journalists at the time had missed the point. They all marked it down because it wasn't an uncompromising performance, sports car. Something it was never intended to be.

[@GoldenCroc]

Yes, shocking how blinkered some used to be (and still are in some cases) and still passes for journalism.

[@AnderParis]

Exactly. I remember thinking the same thing about French journalists of the time. (I'm French) It seems none of them got what it was about. I wonder if BMW presentation of the Z8 to the press was not partly responsible for those expectations...

[@aaryeshg.6526]

I have the same feeling about the Merc SLR. They missed the whole point of the car. I think cars that have dual personalities (GT car and hardcore sportscar) always get marked down for weird reasons.

[@krissteel4074]

Also to be fair to BMW (as someone who doesn't normally like them) it wasn't the first time the motoring journos and EVO managed to completely miss the bloody point over the years. There's been some clangers!

[@WhuDhat]

Automotive journalists who want everything with even a mild performance pedigree to be the road equivalent of a hard-core GT2 ring record shattering race car that would break your back and teeth at just sight of a bad road, have influenced the current market to be quite strange imo, the obsession with lap times at a track most buyers will never see is a bit silly, but bragging rights am I right, who needs ride quality when you can have uncomprimising powweerrrr and performance

[@chiefsilverback]

"If they're not completely nerdy like you and me" - Harry knows his audience! As for the Z8, it always struck me as a car intended to cruise in the south of France, or along the PCH, not a B-road weapon.

[@davidt8087]

Yea I live in Malibu and I was imagining me driving this car with my wife (as seen in my profile photo). I have the new 2020 z4 m40i, tuned to 450wheel horsepower and 500 wheel torque, and it's stays planted better than thr m2 competition I had, but I do find myself imagining driving this GORGEOUS Z8 without tech gizmos, just cruising and enjoying it like an easy going gt car. South of France and southern Spain are also great places to drive, including most parts of Italy. Heck even Germany and Austria are nice..but Monaco would be a terrible place to drive as it's busy and narrow streets

[@asc23channel]

Might sound stupid, but when it came out, I immediately thought it would become a modern classic! Design was and still is timeless and beautiful!

[@rustyjeep2469]

No I think that's a very logical thought considering it was a pretty limited production car. Plus it was modeled after the 507 which was already a classic long before the Z8 came out. I'd say BMW knew they were designing a future classic. 👍

[@shanehnorman]

Agree. At the time, I totally 'got' the 507 references. As that is among my all-time hero cars, the Z8 won my admiration from the start.

[@albopastrami9269]

likewise

[@Beer_Dad1975]

It is beautiful, the engine is trash unfortunately. BMW can't make a decent V8 to save themselves - I guess though when it's worth 200,000, pulling the engine out to get all the crappy engineering sorted out is no big deal.

[@johnsmith1474]

What sounds stupid is you bothering to say.

[@irawlinson]

I think the term that Harry is seeking is "Grand Tourer". Not every car needs to break records, but to eat up the miles in a comfortable, beautiful space is the joy of the Grand Tour. What a gorgeous car, ageing so beautifully. I have found my new object of desire.

[@happy_camper]

The president of my university bought one of these for himself... Always thought something was a bit off about that.. But I loved walking by it on my way to class (he would park it very conspicuously near the campus lawn). Silver, with a hardtop fitted. He drove it year-round. He stepped down as president rather suddenly before I graduated.. As it turns out, he had been embezzling funds for years. I always wondered what became of the car after that!

[@JayMaverick]

He would've got away with it as well if his car choice was a Jaaaaag.

[@83luckyeddie]

@@JayMaverick Yep. Could have taken the silverware as well :-)

[@brokensync]

A university to the east of the country perhaps....?

[@cjc4765]

Sounds like the dean from the movie "Scent of A Women"

[@andersnielsen6044]

No university president in my country would be able to afford such car, not even used today.. lol

[@Kelveron]

Always thought the Z8 was unfairly maligned by reviewers initially. I guess some expected it to be an 'M' car of sorts, with full on sports car handling etc. But BMW never intended is as such. It was meant a gorgeous looking boulevard cruiser for owners to enjoy on sunny days with that rumbling v8.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

BMW have a long history of this, unappreciated when new but price them now.

[@Journey_to_who_knows]

This was as fast as Ferraris

[@noahderrington5156]

I saw Harry out filming this and went past him whilst driving in a classic Triumph TR2, I was hoping to spot myself in the video 😂. I must have seen Harry about 10 times on that road.

[@DoctorDARKSIDE]

4:33 yes, Harry - but that's an F40 right there, and you know we need to know more about it!

[@richardharrold9736]

Yeah, he's kept mighty quiet about that!

[@timc5969]

I think that motoring journos wanted the Z8 to be a sharp and sporty car, possibly confused by the fact that it had the M5’s engine. The car was always supposed to be a cruiser though, for rich men to use on sunny days. A sort of four wheeled alternative to a chromed Harley Davidson.

[@roadhouseguy]

Except it had a ride too stiff for a true GT cruiser, going on the words of journalists of the time. Pretty cool though.

[@jose7777777777777777]

dr.nefario stiff in the early 2000s is soft now. The “stiff” feeling ride is more because of the driver sitting so further back

[@GoldenCroc]

@@roadhouseguy I doubt it was too stiff for what they were going for. That doesnt include hooning about on British B roads. It was a statement car, a BMW built Mercedes SL if you will, if the SL would make even a minimal effort to live up to its name, with a classic touch. But yeah, it is pretty cool. Dont see how journalists were confused by it though, it is an M5 cabrio that looks nice/classic. Motoring journalist credibility is right about zero, save for a select few, if you ask me.

[@GoldenCroc]

I would say it is somewhat sporty, so the Harley comparison is a bit uncharitable if one is splitting hairs, because Harley certainly were abolutely zero sport at the time, and didnt really primarily focus on the same customers. I would rather say a classic looking air cooled Ducati such as a 900ss or some sporty Moto guzzi model is a more apt comparison.

[@VolkerHett]

Not to chromed Harleys. Those are made to bring you over your midlife crisis where you want to show your inner rebel. The Z8 is for people who enjoy a well mannered car :D Drive it to the mediterranean see, through France on speed limited roads. When you get to the alps when the sun sets, smell lavender and pine trees and hear the Gryllidae chirping and then, when you get over the alps, the smell of the sea. The next morning, when you wake up in Gruissan, you get into your car and drive to the market to fetch some baguette for breakfast and later you drive to Nice for a Pernod at the promenade de anglais. Then you know what this car was made for. Not to scrap of 10th of a second from your laps around the Nürburg Ring, no, to be enjoyed on public roads!

[@venom5809]

My father's friend had a green one when I was a kid, it was gorgeous and everyone loved it. He had also had a green 850 CSi, still one of my favorite cars to this day. That was peak BMW back then.

[@KevinKickChannel]

Bordeaux 850 CSi is the one that really floats my boat

[@SuperTank121212]

That man had taste

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

Your father's friend was an absolute pimp 🤣

[@EFRANEED]

Does he still have it? Must be an individual color. One of only 124

[@cosmic-tiger]

I love how tactile & well made the interior looks. Those clicky dials for the climate control look so nice to use.

[@Shyted]

A gentleman’s car, made without wanting to appease motoring journalists.

[@Lemma01]

Oh dear me no. No gentlemen would ever drive any BMW. For obvious reasons.

[@yomofoindahouse]

@@Lemma01 what, why?

[@fabioribeiro5071]

@@yomofoindahouse BMW are for cocks, or they have moved to Audi or Mercedes?! 🤔

[@PedroTRamos1]

@@Lemma01 So you´re saying 100% of BMW buyers are badge snobs? I think that makes YOU a badge snob.

[@Lemma01]

@@PedroTRamos1 You may have a point, Sir. 😏

[@DustinDriver]

Still one of the best-looking cars ever made! Thanks for walking us through it Harry!

[@TD1237]

That interior seriously surprised me. Goddamn it looks fantastic, especially with that body colour.

[@oneeleven9832]

Still looks great…nothing bad after all this time which is really unusual…rear looks fantastic 👏👏

[@JeepCherokeeful]

8 series still turns heads today and it’s 10 years older. Actually I’d prefer an 850csi.

[@anastasmateev]

I suddenly realized how much of the design is common with the Fiat Barchetta, where Bangle was involved with the team before joining BMW. His proposal named “Diavola” has very similar two-part front rear end with narrow taillights.

[@P.Galore]

If I could have ONE car ever - this would be it. Magnificent and immune from depreciation. I "understood" it in 2001 - and have been panting after it ever since.

[@dragospahontu]

I'd get a Lexus SC

[@Rob-rg7ix]

Totally agree! Same here!

[@MitchDenham]

Porsche 911 is literally the only car you ever need.

[@Rob-rg7ix]

@@MitchDenham nice but sometimes you fall in love with something a bit less ordinary

[@MWPompert]

One of Fiskers’ finest bits of work, and he has made a few at that.

[@naveennandigum8630]

The story is not done just yet. Fisker Ocean and then Pear are coming soon

[@augustortiz]

I always knew these would one day be appreciated. I always found it strangely beautiful. And with a E39 M5 V8 under the hood it is just a perfect cruiser

[@sixdonuts]

Great point - "no screen on it to date it". So sad that most of the cars made these days will have worthless and unsupported touch screens covering half of their dashes in 10 years.

[@PrimeMatt]

I absolutely despise them! I'm sure it is done intentionally.

[@furyofbongos]

Rendering climate control inoperable, no audio, no heated seats anymore, the list goes on...

[@enigmaPL]

They will become scrap. 10 years is also quite generous, with a 5-year predetermined obsolescence as the "new standard" in the industry. They claim they have to take away our normal cars and give us appliances because "eco friendly", while simultaneously altering the market to require far more frequent vehicle purchases, much more frequently, and thus far more production of throw-away vehicles. How is that more "eco friendly" again? We're being governed by imbeciles.

[@sixdonuts]

@@enigmaPL I agree 10 years is generous but was trying to be optimistic... hoping this tablet on the dash trend goes away soon.

[@oreilly1237878]

Intentional decrepitude with new cars

[@johnnyr25]

"An unrepeatable car". I like that phrase. Accurate. BMW will probably never do something like this again unless it's some kind of battery driven car. Hell, one could argue that the only reason the Z4 exists is because Toyota and BMW shook hands and agreed to share some of the costs.

[@DoctorJezz]

I remember when these couldn’t be sold at dealerships and were going for 80K new finally as a result in the UK. Couldn’t have bought one then, but wish I could have. Don’t like BMWs, but love this one. I remember Tiff on 5th Gear saying how fast 11.5 to 100 was and thinking I could live with that. 20 years on and I have a Lotus Emira coming to join my S1 Elise ... but you know ... it’s strange but I could easily see one of these in my garage despite not liking any other BMWs. Very, very beautiful car this one 👍😁😎

[@omerta2002]

Top work on the Emira! That car is absolutely glorious looking.

[@DoctorJezz]

@@omerta2002 Cheers 👍. I’m a happy bunny about this one 😁😁

[@andi-ih3jj]

Same with me, I don’t like BMW. I tried to overcome this dislike with an Alpina but even that didn’t work out. But this one I always thought to be so special that I could consider buying it.

[@omerta2002]

@@DoctorJezz I truly hope that it's a worldwide smash of a car for Lotus, which it looks like it's going to be judging by the interest it has received. I'm a Beemer Boy who would have a load of them, especially so in Alpina guise, and this Z has aged like a fine wine unlike alot of the modern retro cars that were produced around then.

[@DoctorJezz]

@@omerta2002 Nice one - hope you get many more Alpinas to come ☺️ 👍

[@snoopy10411]

Definitely ahead of its time. Really liked these when they came out.

[@PorscheDiddy]

The 1990s Fiat Coupé had the body colour running through on the inside, always loved that. Never been a fan of the Z8, I'd prefer a Z3M for almost a tenth of the Z8 price.

[@Rover200Power]

My dream car as a 13 year old, a yellow 20vT with the yellow stripe on the dash.

[@PaulPadoan]

My nephew has a metallic red Coupé 20V, great little car.

[@huwd2292]

Yes my thought too and the Bangle connection is the link between these cars.

[@Pyotr_Velikiy]

A lovely car that has aged well. The current BMW designers should take a long hard look at classics like the 2002, 3.0CSL, E28 M5, E30 M3 and even the Z8. I would take a shark nose and a Hofmeister kink over beaver teeth any day of the week. The Z8 just needs Alpina wheels.

[@LOTPOR0402]

E46 still the best looking of the 3 series

[@dragospahontu]

@@LOTPOR0402 amen

[@dragospahontu]

The Hofmeister kink is still present in modern BMW cars.

[@harryspeakup8452]

My styling taste is very similar to yours: sadly the Chinese market is what drives the car market now, and therefore styling. Money talks more than aesthetics

[@paulthorpe766]

Beaver 🐹 teeth on M3/4 are truly terrible agree - ps Don't forget the E26 M1 too, love mine !

[@terokaakinen7061]

It still looks like that it could come from production line today. What a beauty... 😎

[@thepericlesof8449]

I fell so in love with this car since the first day I saw it. Sheer beauty I'd say it tenuously inspired me to buy two E89 Z4's

[@winstonbunn4624]

As a TVR owner this car really appealed. I was delighted when the press rejected it, hoping the price would crash so I could buy one. But it never did, because the owners realised it was a very special car.

[@kristian5515]

One of the most beautiful cars ever! Long live Henrik Fisker!

[@SilojensenDK]

Enig!

[@costafilh0]

The interior and mechanics begs for a tasteful restomod. But the exterior is just PERFECT!

[@3dScience_uk]

in my humble opinion this 3 out of 5 stars from the magazine is kind of an epic fail - it is old and retro and modern still today Love your reviews Harry !

[@13Pandam]

Always loved the 507 shape, up there with an E type in my book, and the Z8 is a beautiful recreation of that car. Of all the cars you were comparing the interior with I’m surprised you didn’t mention the Fiat Coupe. The Fiat came out in 1995 and had a body coloured dash, minimalistic instruments, and later but still pre dating the Z8, a push button start. Perhaps Chris Bangle suggested to the Z8 designers that they take a look at the job Pininfarina did on his Coupe and that they start from there.

[@Wacoal34d]

This review is the one that made me want more than any other, beautiful car. Thanks for all of your reviews Harry!

[@gori277]

Having only owned one BMW but having fawned over quite a few over the years (until the 2010’s) I must admit there was never a BMW I’ve ever lusted as much as this one since it first came out. That design, at the time, just encapsulated all that I loved about car design since the 60’s but with modern tech and what I already knew was a timeless design. I was quite surprised with the lukewarm reviews and how quickly it fell out of the spotlight. So glad to see Harry returning it to its proper place and shine some much deserved spotlight on a beautiful concept that actually came to be. I’ll probably never own one but I have a great “smaller” sibling in the shape of an Abarth 124 which just puts a smile of my face looking at it or driving it. That was the most Italian car BMW ever made.

[@christopherharvey4284]

Was excited to have caught you out filming this one, you were liaising with your camera car. Always enjoy your videos and did not have to watch my subscription feed long.

[@harrysgarage]

Ha! This one was a bit of a rush to get completed in time thanks to the fact August weather has been rubbish for combining. Finally finished harvest last night, some 3 weeks later than last year..

[@mrmoss149]

@@harrysgarage 😳

[@billholmes3462]

I agree Harry I have classics but wanted a modern one. So purchased a 2013 DB9 convertible with very low mileage a few years ago. It’s my favourite modern shape and certainly better than the DB11. Also very good value for money to boot.

[@oliverlondon5246]

Stunning car. Almost like a sculpture

[@pdrawmer]

What a gift this video is! As an ex BMW Z1 owner I have always lusted after a Z8. It was the logical successor in that it was technologically advanced, but played with panache and style instead of shouting and trumpets. Thank you Mr M this has been a real trip down memory lane. The Z8 is restored to my 'want' list, I am older than Harry by a bit, and from this video, the Z8 would suit me nicely. (I might have to visit a chassis tuner to get a bit more out of the front end though)

[@stingray427man]

When BMW launched this car it had mixed reviews. Seems folks forgot what roadsters were & how much fun they are to drive.

[@stingray427man]

@Dominick The universal truth of cost complaints means “you can’t afford.” The Z8 was never built for the masses, its one of those head turn driver cars thats good at a lot of things but never a master at anything.

[@rtg0616]

I owned one a few years ago. I thought it was incredible. Quentin Wilson called it "Automotive jewellery". The sense of occasion this car has is fantastic. When I collected it, driving up the M1 people were slowing down to video it. My local BMW garage loaned it to launch the new Z4. They had a line up of all the Z cars in their showroom. When I went to collect it, they said that their plan had back fired. Nobody was interested in any of the line up, apart from the Z8 which stole the limelight.

[@rocketsock4297]

Let's also appreciate **Designer Andreas Zapatinas* , a greek designer who was dreaming up the BMW roadster very early. While Bangle and Fisker are the big Names that get dropped it really isn't like a car design is an one mans job. It's always a bunch of designers discussing the shapes and versions. If you put a FIAT Barchetta (Zapatinas personal handwriting at it's best) next to the BMW z8 you really start to realise what kind of genius Zapatinas is.

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

Team work is often required. Which shows later. Fisker's own works don't look so balanced. Bangle's Z4 was much more radical. Z8 indeed has a lot in common with Fiat, however Fiat is way too conservative.

[@joelness]

That's the car industry for you. The names who get the credit are so rarely the ones who had the ideas.

[@gori277]

Bang on! The Barchetta was a great looking little car only with a little less sleeker look because of its proportions being slightly shorter.

[@craigzaller107]

I got my Z8 in 2009 and love her. Amazing naturally aspirated manual convertible!

[@Kolinu2]

Loved it from the day BMW made it.

[@Rob-rg7ix]

I am in love with this car. For my 15 birthday I got a ride in it in 2001 (Friend of my fathers still has it! ). It still is one of my favourite cars. @harry. If you ask me, don’t look at it as a sports car. Look at it as a GT car and it is wonderful👍 thanks for the great review! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@morris2755]

It's for the driver who cares more about the way a car makes you feel than the stats or the journalists' opinions. I've always thought it was great.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I remember salivating over the Z8 when I saw it new in the showroom of the BMW dealer in San Francisco! Our 325i was the only car within our price range and just barely.

[@Unc0mmonSense]

Gorgeous car and still looks great and fresh. I think where they hit it out the park is the interior still looks good and didn't age. I can't believe these are trading for over $200k now.

[@rossmckenzie3436]

I can remember a silver one sitting in Douglas Park BMW Hamiltons showroom in around 2001. My dad was looking at a Volvo V70 at the dealer across the road and I recall thinking how classy and exclusive it looked, like nothing else around at the time. Timeless

[@russellrobson7632]

Love the Z8 too, those headlight covers could do with a polish!

[@chalkphil]

Lovely car - I liked it when it came out, but I think it looks even better now with, as you say, the context of those modern retro cars. Just saw it again the other night in "The World Is Not Enough" which was on TV.

[@biaggi150]

I couldn’t help a laugh watching the car behind disappear in the mirror when Harry did his 3rd gear squirt up the hill. Hope they appreciated the V8 soundtrack! Another great vid. 👍

[@paulkennedy477]

Just been reading the comments and saw the one comparing Harry to, 'Whispering Bob Harris' which is such a lovely image that I now can't shake off........

[@paulelverstone8677]

I loved the Z8 when it first arrived and never really understood why it wasn't more successful. The styling was very much Ferrari 250SWB at the front and XJ13 at the back but it had a Cobra quality to it too imho. It was almost like BMW's response to, say, a TVR Griffith but more.... german and less waccybaccy/Blackpool/LSD. Somehow I'd always hoped that they'd come down in price... *hohum*

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

It looked boring, very boring, too rounded and humble. That was a time of bright flashy designs like Peugeot 206 and Murcielago.

[@nickloftus4188]

As the owner of a Griffith I wholeheartedly agree! I absolutely adore these cars, always have, so much cooler than any modern supercar to my eyes.

[@Collateralcoffee]

I must be weird.... I always loved this car and thought it is just a total design icon, even when it was brand new.... Thanks Harry for doing this, what an absolutely amazing vehicle.

[@gordonkachuk5457]

20 years hence and it is still stunningly gorgeous.

[@brightbluesmurf]

I remember parking side to side at a petrol garage in my 1st gen BMW Z4 and someone in his Z8. We were admiring each other's cars. I said that's a lovely car and the gentleman said the same about my Z4, was in awe as there was the James Bond car. The Bangle designs (hated back then) are far better than the designs today.

[@AB-gb8lb]

I remember selling these new in 2001 , they were so hard to sell , the motoring press just didn’t like them , they were left hand drive and I would say most of the UK cars started life as a demonstrator. One of the issues was that there was only one place to repair them , from memory it was at Thorn in Doncaster. I really loved the car and remember saying to a disbelieving customer that they surely had to be collectable , which is not something we said when selling BMWs in general. Overall I thought it drove well , but being left hand drive , and in London , we all felt nervous to drive it so as a demo car it got very little use , kerbing a wheel would have put you in the sin bin for at least 3 months.

[@EbizzerHH]

This car is astonishingly beautiful! Saw one yesterday and couldn't stop admiring it!

[@TheLondonStoryteller]

On a day scuppered by F1's shambles, thank goodness for Harry's Garage...

[@MiataBRG]

Today? F1 scuppered itself 20 years ago.

[@MCoupeMike]

Context is everything. When this car came out, BMW was firing on all cylinders across their lineup. In that context, this car did seem odd and out of place. In present time, BMW is all over the map with their line up, it's crowded, confusing, and with some "WTF" styling, in present day BMW context, this car is now a breath of fresh air. Thank you Harry's Garage for the review!

[@Dome79nico]

I recall the reviews of this car back in the days: there was no point to compare it with the 360 (Italians media) or to make it drift (I think this was top gear). Bmw should make a modern version of this car, but first they must change their current designers…

[@gplusgplus2286]

BMW should first fire all their marketing because its them who are in charge.

[@rossilake218]

I agree, What the F are they thinking: Toyota’s/Nissan’s are nice looking cars. NOTTTTTTT!!

[@deloreanman14]

I remember getting to sit in one of these at a BMW dealer after my freshman year of high school in 2002 and I was just bowled over by it. I still have the pictures of me in it somewhere but it was silver with the red and black interior. These are even more beautiful to me now than they were then and this blue over cream and black was my dream color combo for this car.

[@christianholmstedt8770]

In short: The Z8 is a great GT cruiser and it took 20 years to understand it. I'd love to have one.

[@intranix]

It didn't take 20 years, it's been revered since it was discontinued

[@christianholmstedt8770]

@@intranix It took 20 yes for him. 😉

[@rwbb5757]

I saw one of these on the road for the first time last week. Feel like I've waited a decade to see it in the flesh. Stunning car.

[@petercarlsson6606]

When BMW still made beautiful cars instead of the monsters they makes now.

[@greatcolor]

I know this is a Fisker car, but I can't believe all the hate Bangle got. Dukec seems to have such a massive ego, and good god the cars are so ugly now.

[@codedeluxevids]

I saw it in BMW showroom 20 years ago and thought was the nicest looking car i've seen, and it still is

[@j0hnnykn0xv1lle]

Neil Peart of Rush said that his came with a Polaroid of the car coming out of the factory in the owner's manual. Would love to see this.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Blue Barchetta! 😁

[@daraghmorrissey]

I love it when Harry's videos show up in my feed. This car is absolutely gorgeous and especially in this blue/beige combo. The rear end is so cute, reminds me of an e-type. I love how timeless this looks and I always thought it was a shame it didn't get to do more in the bond movie before it got sliced in half.

[@AleksandrHalas]

Absolutely wonderful perfect interior!!!!

[@brianmessemer2973]

The placement of the ignition switch is stunning. Nothing else like it.

[@johnohare992]

I had one in triple black (black exterior, interior dash and seats - no pale colour inserts). I absolutely loved it. I bought it from a pawn broker just outside Atlanta for $78K. It had 10K miles on it. Sold it three/four years later for the same amount with 20K miles on it thinking I was a shrewd negotiator. Miss it to this day. I had problems with a VANOS failure and also, water ingress due to a blocked drain tube. The water backed up in to space behind the passenger seat, which is where quite a bit of electrical stuff was located, perhaps even a fuse box, but my memory is hazy on that. I've been fortunate enough to own some nice cars over the years but nothing comes close to the Z8 for me. It was a good time in my life and the car was a perfect companion for those hedonistic days.

[@johnohare992]

Remembering more as I watch. The leather on the dash shrank away from the windscreen a bit. Key replacements were about $350 each and there were only 10 mastered and once gone, you were in trouble. Had a bit of flat spot when accelerating hard.

[@Jackbyrne77]

Yeah Bangle clearly had no influence in the exterior design of the Z8. Thank god too!! The 7 series has never recovered from his disastrous aesthetics. Always loved the Z8. Cheers for the video Harry.

[@alechall7082]

Talking of it being ageless, I saw one last week in silver and it really stood out. Just hopelessly _cool_

[@LOTPOR0402]

From the back it looks like a cross between a classic boat tail Alfa spider and the more modern Porsche boxster

[@rossilake218]

I love the coach work on this car. All of us do! The blue car is tops. Loathe Silver cars, blaaa!

[@VirtualGuth]

Gorgeous. The Z8 has its own special thing going on that just works. While it might not tick every last box in terms of its sports car credibility, I find this to be an overwhelmingly desirable car. This design is stunningly beautiful with a truly timeless quality to it. That definitely won't be the case with any cars including an infotainment interface as they simply aren't going to age well - sadly no different than any other electronic appliance dependent upon a screen with an operating system.

[@nickpage2949]

If I were BMW I would concentrate on retro styling bearing in mind their recent efforts have been hideous.

[@harryspeakup8452]

agreed, the mid- 80s to mid noughties era is the height of BMW design, but also the height for so many other manufacturers, e.g. Mercedes in the Bruno Sacco era

[@rocket7389]

I first saw this car on a magazine when I was a kid. And all these years later it still looks strikingly beautiful to me!

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

The 90s retro wave was a golden age of car design

[@josephhardwicke6344]

So the unimaginative copying of 50s/60s/70s styling were better than 50s/60s/70s styling to you?

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

​@@josephhardwicke6344 Since time moved on since the 60s, some of these 90s cars (the upmarket ones, mind!) look stunning today. For example, both the DB7 and XK8 are timeless beauties. There are manufacturers which overdid it, I admit.

[@josephhardwicke6344]

@@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X the same amount of time has moved on since the 90s as the 60s were to the 90s, and I'm sorry but I'm not seeing any cars being designed now to resemble cars from then. And despite that we still have cars from the 60s/70s being remade today. I know the 1990s had a few nice looking cars, but calling it the golden age of car design is ridiculous

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

@@josephhardwicke6344 My point is that 60s cars can look dated by now, while the best of 90s design can still look "modern" through timelessness. I see your point, however.

[@LOTPOR0402]

Yeh designers lost the plot 15/ 20 years ago .To much useless tech and complications in modern cars .Going to get even worse with all this electric mumbo jumbo

[@ZKozak-hp5vb]

one of my favourite cars of all time, every time I see one it makes my day. When the "ultimate driving machine", made a sports cars.

[@justaddafan]

From your impressions of what the car is good at, and not, I wonder if the automatic Alpina version is a better fit to the overall character.

[@jobicek]

I would go for the manual. I don't know how good this particular gearbox is. BMWs were not exactly known for the best manual gearboxes. But manual boxes in that era were practically at their pinnacle, if not already in decline. On the other hand, automatic boxes with hydraulic torque converters were slow by modern standards. Anything before 8HP is best avoided in a sportscar, even a touring one. At 20 years old, it's not going to be any better. And it's just another thing to fail. Also, manual box just makes sense if you're buying this type of a car (something that can't be bought new today). That's the thing you can hardly buy these days. Better automatics are everywhere. Manual boxes in sports cars, almost extinct. You'd have to be, IMHO, supremely lazy or incompetent at manual shifting. The problem is the price. It's really hard to swallow if I can still buy a Boxster GTS new from factory. I know, it's apples and oranges a bit. I've always loved the look of classic roadsters, I adored Z8 right from launch exactly because of the styling. But I can get an open top, naturally aspirated GTS with a manual transmission for almost third the price. It's really hard to contemplate. For the price of this, I can have the LC 500 and a GTS and still some 20+ grand left over. The only really tempting aspect is that this is a gorgeous example. When you look around, it looks like most Z8 buyers had either no imagination or rather poor taste. I would probably have to repaint and reupholster it. Perhaps seeing some of the combinations in person would change my mind, but in pictures, it's a rather sad sight. This one might be one in a thousand. And another example like this might not appear for years by which time the car could be worth who knows what. I do wonder though, what it would have been like with the E46 M3 engine in it.

[@gregidour7315]

Even the indicator relay sounds fantastically retro

[@gsd4me00]

From every angle, the exterior looks absolutely beautiful.

[@dappergent9422]

100% Agree. It's a gorgeous work of art.

[@michaelhughes3302]

To my minds eye, this car has always been achingly beautiful. The wheels are a bit of a letdown. They're not ugly by any stretch, simply not special enough for this otherwise very special car. I suppose that is easily rectified by getting a set of the Alpina wheels. Gorgeous!

[@mcdick]

One car I would like to vicariously enjoy through Harry's review is Alfa 33 Stradale. It's by far prettiest car ever made and most likely I won't personally see one.

[@h3x6g0n6]

Yes indeed! In my book the quad-headlight prototype Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale is the single most beautiful car ever created and I would love to see Harry have a go in it and I'm quite sure he would as well. Too bad it would probably be impossible insurance-wise. Even if he would be able to find an owner willing to lend him an ultra-rare €20+ million car. But it would be absolutely epic! The Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato would come in second, by the way. Just ahead of the Jaguar XK13 and the Ferrari 250 SWB. I fell in love with the Z8 at launch and it didn't falter even slightly. So nice to hear Harry's view on it. Always thought it was reminiscent of the Alfa Romeo Duetto, which I like very much as well, especially in 'Osso di Seppia', with an 'Oxblood' interior.

[@jackleonard2088]

This checks all the boxes for me. Just visually clean and elegant.

[@sebeth]

Harry, do you think you could get a M Coupe (Z3 M coupe) in for comparison?

[@bucketheadothers2384]

Loving the classics lately

[@ydnallah1541]

Always had a soft spot for the Z8, the 507 it references is a beautiful car

[@marcmcsorley7707]

For years I read about poor handling and it’s not the car it needs to be , It’s a lovely looking individual design, nothing really out there like it . I would snap one up now if I could , Another Fantastic honest review .

[@maxandfergus]

I love the fact that Harry Metcalfe just called me a nerd.

[@mtb3743]

Always love Harry’s honest reviews. I own one of these Z8’s which I really enjoy & agree with the pro’s & cons pointed out in Harry’s video. Harry also did a review on the 79 Honda CBX again I own & again he nailed the review. Keep up the fine reviews

[@tomeisberg2356]

Instant classic, yet perpetually modern. With LED lights this car could easily be a 2022

[@georgiaguardian4696]

The 3/4 angle look is absolutely gorgeous.

[@axispowerdiesel]

The Z8 was the pinnacle of BMW, all down hill from there. Long live 2002 what a time period for them

[@apachehelicopter5001]

Not strictly true, they’ve made truly fantastic cars since the Z8, take cars like the e92 m3, the v10 m5 (despite the reliability), and more recent cars like the M2 and the M135i. sure the looks have gone a bit squiffy in the last few years, but they continue to make brilliant driving cars

[@axispowerdiesel]

@@apachehelicopter5001 E60 and E9x platforms are horrible compared to similar E39 and E46 variants. Honestly it is a very sad the path BMW took for the next generation of cars 2005ish+ with implementing so many short lifespan components in critical roles. We don't even need to talk E65!

[@saymyname218]

Beautiful car. It's amazing that in the 20 years that it has been on the road, i've never seen one.