BMW
Z8 (E52)

Why it matters

The Z8 was BMW's modern reading of the 1950s 507 roadster; the Z07 concept that preceded it even carried the 507 in its name. It combined a spaceframe chassis and aluminium body with the 5.0-litre V8 from the E39 M5 and a six-speed manual gearbox. Most of the car was assembled by hand in Munich to customer order, and a closing-year Alpina variant with an automatic gearbox added a second, rarer version.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

• BMW Z8 (Wikipedia article: BMW Z8)
  Photo: FR · CC BY-SA 4.0
• BMW Z8 (Wikipedia article: BMW Z8)
  Photo: nakhon100 · CC BY 2.0
• BMW Z8 (Wikipedia article: BMW Z8)
  Photo: Affemitwaffe · CC BY-SA 3.0

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

According to a Z8 owners' history, the decision to turn the 507-inspired idea into a production car was taken at a BMW board retreat in St. Tropez in May 1993. Chris Bangle, then head of design, passed the brief to his staff, and Henrik Fisker's proposal became the Z07 show car, which went on sale as the Z8.

Total Z8 production over the run is given as 5,703 cars. In the final year BMW added the Alpina V8 Roadster, with a 4.8-litre Alpina V8 and a five-speed automatic. It was reported as a limited edition of 555 cars, with 450 sold through US BMW dealers.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Standard Z8 cars carry the 5.0-litre M5-derived V8 with a six-speed manual gearbox. The Alpina V8 Roadster can be told apart by its 4.8-litre Alpina V8, five-speed automatic with steering-wheel shift buttons, 20-spoke 20-inch Alpina wheels, softer Nappa leather with Alpina logos, leather-covered dash top and a chassis plaque between the seats. Body shells were built and painted at Dingolfing and completed in Munich.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   zroadster.org – BMW Z8 (E52) 1999 to 2003 Level B

   • 5703 cars built

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Let's all stare at this gorgeous Z8 Alpina Roadster Level C Top Gear

   • 5.0-litre V8 up front
   • 5.0-litre V8 up front pinched from the E39 M5
   • good for 400bhp
   • six-speed manual and rear-wheel-drive
   • matched to a six-speed manual
   • rear-wheel-drive
   • top out at 155mph (limited)

   Accessed 2026-11-13
3. 3
   Alpina Roadster V8 first drive Level C evo

   • standard 394bhp M motor

   Accessed 2026-11-13
4. 4
   BMW press release 16 April 2003: end of production of Z8 and M5 (quoted on the same page as S1) Level A BMW AG · BMW AG · 2003-04-16

   • 394 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque
   • Being built almost entirely of aluminum
   • does this classic sprint in a mere 4.4 seconds

   Accessed 2026-11-13
5. 5
   Z8 History (Z8 Club production listings and technical notes) Level C not stated · bmwz8.us Z8 Club forum · 2023-02-06

   • The space frame is made of 6063
   • The exterior body panels are made from 6061

   Accessed 2026-11-13