When is a ‘wide body’ actually a wide body?

[SYMZ3]

When I bought my Z3, the research I did told me that a ‘wide body’ car was only on the 2.8i pre-facelift model.

In reading Mike Fishwick’s book The essential guide to the Z3, he makes the same point.

Yet, I see a lot of cars advertised as ‘wide-body’ including cars made after 2000.

is it something to do with the shape of the rear wings only or is this a BMW urban myth?

 

[Grumps]

When the Z3 came out originally it was only in 1.9 guise which was a narrow body version. When they introduced the 2.8 that was a wide body (noticable difference). These are both pre-facelift cars.
When they introduced the facelift in 1999/2000 they ALL became wide body.

 

[Dino D]

There is really only one , the original MK1 2.8 (an Z3M)

The facelift is ‘medium’ body-its not as wide but all models used the same size rear wing after facelift

It’s only the MK1 2.8 that has the same width as the M models and Coupe models.

 

[Dino D]

http://www.adkusters.dsmynas.com/Website mynas/BMW Z3 weetjes.html

 

[Redsheep]

Do all Mk1 2.8 models have staggered wheels?

What about facelift models?

 

[SYMZ3]

Thanks for providing some guidance on this

 

[mrscalex]

It's a widely misused term. I agree that the only wide-body is the 2.8 pre-facelift. All facelifts (and that includes 1.9s and the relatively rare 2.8 facelift) are the same size and I just call them facelifts but medium-body is a more contextual description.

It's the same with calling a car a 'Z3 Sport'. Most of the time the car is not a true Sport spec model and they just mean the Z3 is sporty or possibly that it has M Sport trim (eg steering wheel and gear knob).

The M name also gets misused. I've seen Z3s advertised as Z3Ms because they have M Sport trim (not the same as a Sport spec model btw).

 

[smiffy]

Think of it as

Pre Face lift 1.9 = Kate Moss
Pre Face lift 2.8 and M = Liz Hurley
Face Lift = Vicky Pollard

Off to hide now!

 

[Jack Ratt]

Someone once said "A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet" .......

 

[SYMZ3]

Love that response

Think of it as

Pre Face lift 1.9 = Kate Moss
Pre Face lift 2.8 and M = Liz Hurley
Face Lift = Vicky Pollard

Off to hide now!

 

[mrscalex]

Think of it as

Pre Face lift 1.9 = Kate Moss
Pre Face lift 2.8 and M = Liz Hurley
Face Lift = Vicky Pollard

Off to hide now!

Bit unfair on the 1.9s. I've always found Kate Moss to be a scrag. Think you need to swap the last 2 around if you're looking for a proper size analogy

 

[Nodzed]

Do all Mk1 2.8 models have staggered wheels?

What about facelift models?

I believe some had a square set up

 

[Nodzed]

It's a widely misused term. I agree that the only wide-body is the 2.8 pre-facelift. All facelifts (and that includes 1.9s and the relatively rare 2.8 facelift) are the same size and I just call them facelifts but medium-body is a more contextual description.

It's the same with calling a car a 'Z3 Sport'. Most of the time the car is not a true Sport spec model and they just mean the Z3 is sporty or possibly that it has M Sport trim (eg steering wheel and gear knob).

The M name also gets misused. I've seen Z3s advertised as Z3Ms because they have M Sport trim (not the same as a Sport spec model btw).

If its got an M badge on the steering wheel it must be an M

 

[Bonzeau]

Who is Vicky Pollard?

 

[smiffy]

Bit unfair on the 1.9s. I've always found Kate Moss to be a scrag. Think you need to swap the last 2 around if you're looking for a proper size analogy

I was trying to think of known characters with comparable rear views!

1.9 = boney ar5ed super model
2.8/M = mature with full and shapely figure
facelift = muffin top!

we could almost start a lockdown game, enter your own names! I'm sure the ladies could come up with their own lists!

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I was trying to think of known characters with comparable rear views!

1.9 = boney ar5ed super model
2.8/M = mature with full and shapely figure
facelift = muffin top!

we could almost start a lockdown game, enter your own names! I'm sure the ladies could come up with their own lists!

Careful now, I may have to get this out again.

 

[DrWong]

So the track of a facelift is narrower than a 2.8 wide-boy? I wasn’t aware of this. I thought facelifts were updated to have the same track as the 2.8

 

[Bonzeau]

Okay, but who is Vicky Pollard?

A Z3 2.8 is a wide-Boy?.... WIDE-BOY? .... How dare you! A Z3 2.8 litre Mk.1 is a gentleman's carriage...... Call it a wide - body if you must,..... but NEVER a wide-boy!

 

[Dino D]

Mmmm I like the term wide boy

Maybe @t-tony can find us an appropriate sticker

 

[Nodzed]

So the track of a facelift is narrower than a 2.8 wide-boy? I wasn’t aware of this. I thought facelifts were updated to have the same track as the 2.8

I am confident they are the same