Cheap BMW Z3 Crankshaft

The Z3 was produced from 1996 to 2002, and crankshaft fitment is driven almost entirely by the engine code rather than the model year — so if both cars share the same engine code (for example M43 or M52), the crank is very likely to be the same unit. However, BMW did introduce revised engine variants across the Z3's production run, so always confirm the engine code from your V5 or a VIN check before ordering. Share that code with the breaker and they can verify compatibility against their donor vehicle.

These two engines use different engine codes — the 1.8 typically uses the M43 four-cylinder, while the 1.9 uses the M44 four-cylinder — and despite the similarity in displacement the crankshafts are not the same unit. Engine code is the detail that matters here, not the badge on the bootlid, so check your V5 or run a VIN check to confirm your exact code before approaching a breaker. Give the breaker both codes if you are unsure, and they can confirm whether their donor matches yours.

No — trim level has no bearing whatsoever on crankshaft fitment for the Z3. The crank is determined by the engine fitted to the car, and the Z3 was sold in various specifications but the engine code is what the breaker needs, not whether your car is a standard roadster or an M Sport. Focus on finding your engine code from the V5 or a VIN check and supply that to the breaker.

No — the Z3 M Roadster used the S50 or S52 straight-six engine (depending on market and year), which is an entirely different unit from the four-cylinder M43/M44 or the non-M straight-six M52/M54 found in standard Z3 variants, so the crankshafts are not interchangeable. Each engine family has its own crank specification, and mixing M and non-M units is not feasible here. Confirm your exact engine code with a VIN check and give that to the breaker so they can source the correct crank from a matching donor.

Both the 2.0 and 2.2 are straight-six petrol engines but they carry different engine codes — the 2.0 uses the M52 and the 2.2 uses the M54 — and the crankshaft specifications differ between these families in terms of stroke and bearing dimensions. It is therefore unlikely these cranks are a straight swap, even though the engines are related. Confirm your engine code from the V5 or a VIN check and pass it to the breaker, who can check the exact spec of their donor against yours before you commit.

The BMW Z3 was sold exclusively with petrol engines in the UK — there was no diesel variant offered in this model — so fuel type is not a variable you need to worry about when sourcing a Z3 crankshaft. What does matter is your specific engine code, as the Z3 was available with several different petrol units ranging from four-cylinder to straight-six configurations, each with its own crank. Find your engine code on the V5 or via a VIN check and supply it to the breaker to ensure you get the right part.