2002 BMW Z8 With 9,000 Miles Appears on Bring a Trailer

A 2002 BMW Z8 with 9,000 miles is listed on Bring a Trailer, featuring a 4.9L S62 V8, manual gearbox, and documented history. Explore full details and analysis.

A 2002 BMW Z8 with just 9,000 miles has surfaced on Bring a Trailer, immediately standing out as one of the week’s most closely watched listings. The roadster has remained registered within the original owner’s family in California since new and is now offered in Nevada with a clean California title and an accident-free Carfax report, which also notes a duplicate title issued in April 2023.

Finished in Bright Red (314) over black Nappa leather, this example comes with a color-matched removable hardtop and a black soft top. The Z8’s bodywork, designed by Henrik Fisker and inspired by the BMW 507, is formed from aluminum panels mounted over an aluminum spaceframe. Production of the model was limited to 5,703 units, underscoring its exclusivity.

Power comes from the 4.9-liter naturally aspirated S62 V8, shared with the E39-generation M5 and factory-rated at 394 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels. Period performance figures cite a 0–60 mph time of approximately 4.2 to 4.7 seconds, with top speed electronically limited to 155 mph.

Equipment reflects the model’s flagship positioning in the early 2000s: xenon headlights with washers, 18-inch split-spoke wheels, Dynamic Stability Control, a Harman Kardon sound system, navigation, heated seats, air conditioning, and leather trim extending across the dashboard and center console.

The listing also details age-related imperfections, including a sagging headliner and delaminating leather on the dashboard, along with scuffs on the seatbacks. In the comments section, participants discuss the finish of the front-end components and the absence of the Z8 Performance Package—a factory reinforcement kit developed after reports of front strut tower deformation. The seller states that localized repairs were performed rather than a full front bumper repaint.

It is further noted that the windscreen and tonneau cover are currently not located, although the car retains its factory literature, car cover, and hardtop cover. For a model with established collector status, completeness of accessories can be a meaningful consideration.

Interest on the platform has been strong, with thousands of views and hundreds of watchers tracking the auction. Beyond its specifications, the Z8 carries broader significance: limited production, aluminum construction, M-derived power, and a design legacy reinforced by its appearance in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough have cemented its reputation as a modern classic.

This particular example combines low mileage, long-term family ownership, and documented history with openly discussed condition details. That balance is likely to shape bidding as the auction progresses, highlighting how nuance can be just as influential as specification in the collector market.