Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional
"clown shoe" example of this very desirable and eminently
collectible year 2000 BMW Z3 M Series 6 cylinder 5 speed manual
transmission Coupe with only 7,959 original miles! The BMW M Coupe
and BMW M Roadster were high performance models of the Z3 and Z4
models produced by BMW M. Today these are highly desirable and
collectible sports cars from the ultimate driving machine! Cutting
edge performers in the revered tradition of the original GT 'Gran
Turismo' sports cars. Right out of the gate the M Coupe attained
'Car amp; Driver's' "10 Best Cars Status" and 'Automobile Magazine'
named it as both "Best Sports Car of the Year" and "Design of the
Year" in the year 1999!With potent engines and unparalleled
responsiveness both the M amp; Z3 2.8 Coupes delivered both
head-turning looks and supreme driving pleasure. The original Z3
roadster was introduced in 1995 with the prototype featuring in the
James Bond movie of that year but the rarer Coupe version with a
chassis stiffening rear hatchback was introduced to much acclaim in
1999 with the Z3 Coupes only available with the largest 6 cylinder
engine offered, the 2.8L in 1999 and 2000 and the 3.0L in 2001. The
2.8L straight six was primed to deliver true GT performance with
193HP which pumped out 0-60 in just 6.2 seconds! It was replaced in
2002 with the BMW Z4. The first generation was based on the Z3 and
was produced between 1998 and 2002. The second generation was based
on the Z4 and was produced between 2006 and 2008. Almost every BMW
to bear the M3 moniker has served as a benchmark for driving
excellence, but the E46 generation M3 is widely considered the
pinnacle of the model's lineage. The E46 M3's high-revving
inline-six, better known as the S54, also found its way under the
hood of the Z3-based M Roadster and M Coupe. Despite its name, the
latter model is better described as a hatchback or shooting brake,
and its shape earned it the nickname "Clown Shoe"for its
distinctive styling. The M Coupe E36/8 manufactured from 1998 until
2002, was developed with increased torsional and structural
rigidity to the Z3 roadster's chassis with the majority of the body
panels shared with the M roadster, meaning the doors and everything
from the A-pillar forward are interchangeable between the coup? and
roadster, as are most interior parts. The M-Roadster E36/7 was
introduced in 1997 as the high performance version of the Z3. The
most significant cosmetic difference between the M-Roadster,
including the M-Coupe, is the substantially flared rear
quarter-panels ("fender flares") and the correspondingly offset
rear wheels. Additional external differences compared to the
standard Z3 models included front and rear bumpers, gills, quad
exhaust, trunk, and mirrors. For BMW enthusiasts and collectors,
few modern day Bimmers are as desired or as collectible as the Z3
coupe and Z3 M coupe community reflected by the low build numbers
and rarity of these "clown shoes". Rare colors and options add to
the value whilst the lack of a desirable sunroof can hurt.
According to the 'Z3 M Coupe Buyers Guide' and 'Z3 Coupe Buyers
Guide' websites, 2,858 M coupes were produced, of which 678 were
from the last years of 2001 and 2002 with the S54 engine. A total
of 458 came without a sunroof. Options for the M coupe were
limited, as the entire package was comprehensive. While the
1999-2000 Z3 coupes M52B28 engine was arguably one of BMWs most
reliable, the later M54B30 engine closed the gap on the S52-powered
M coupe with only a nine-horsepower difference (240 horsepower in
the S52 vs. 231 horsepower in the M54). At its launch in 1997, the
very appearance and design was both progressive and markedly
independent. The long bonnet, coupled with a compact rear and wide
wheel housings, was untypical for a sports car of this format. For
the press, first tests made clear that if there was anything the
BMW Z3 M Coupe stood for, it was pure driving pleasure. The design
by Chris Bangle, former design head at BMW was planned to be
independent from the very beginning. The BMW Z3 Coupe and the M
Coupe were planned to be real eye-catchers. The design of the Z3 M
Coupe consciously echoes one of the great BMW historic sports cars
- The line of the roof is reminiscent of the BMW 328 Mille Miglia
from the 1940s. Besides the wider track and four-pipe exhaust, the
top model had exclusive, characteristic accents like oval
overtaking mirrors, chrome gills that recall the legendary BMW 507
Roadster, and special air intakes in the front spoiler. The
powerful, unmistakeable appearance of the M Coupe was underlined by
its proportions: long wheelbase, long bonnet, wide track and short
rear end. Introduced by a striking line at the rear and arching
towards the back, the roof left a strong impression. With an
exterior length of just over 4m, the BMW Z3 M Coupe is one of the
most compact M automobiles of the brands history. The four
tailpipes under the rear spoiler are a clear statement about
maximum performance and the power concealed beneath the compact
sports cars hood. At its launch in 1997, the Z3 M Coupe was
equipped with the engine from the updated M3 E36. Developed by the
M Motorsport specialists, the straight-6 cylinder engine with 3.2
litre capacity had an output of 321 hp at 7,400rpm. For the first
time, it produced more than 100 hp per litre. The engine, also
known as S50B32, catapulted the rear-wheel drive M Coupe from 0 to
100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds which was extraordinarily for the
time.From 2001, the further developed 6-cylinder engine from the
BMW M3 E46 appeared under the long bonnet of the Z3 M Coupe. With
325 hp, the S54B32 slightly further improved the driving
performance of the two-seater and brought it into the vicinity of
much more expensive sports cars. The Z3 M Coupe also posted top
results in the 36m slalom and the ISO slalom test in comparison
with competition from Zuffenhausen and Maranello. With its
acceleration, the M Coupe left its competitors standing as
confirmed by the test crew from the German car magazine 'Auto',
Motor und Sport'. Using the already torsion-resistant chassis of
the BMW Z3 Roadster as a basis, the engineers had given the Z3 M
Coupe other characteristics which had a positive influence on the
cars handling. The frame of the windscreen was strengthened, with
further stability coming from two quarter-lights. Additional door
braces, a fixed roof and special reinforcements to the basic
chassis guaranteed not only optimal handling, but also an extremely
stable passenger compartment. The brake system was developed to
serve both safety purposes and driving pleasure in equal measure
and had compound discs with radial friction bearings. This system
allows the brake disc to freely expand and ensures consistent,
excellent braking power even under enormous strain. Low seating
position, three-spoke M steering wheel, stubby gear stick and all
instruments directly in the drivers view this cockpit makes no
bones about being focussed on the perhaps most enjoyable minor
matter in the world: driving. Under high lateral acceleration, the
sports seats, fitted as standard, offer ideal lateral support. The
seats were upholstered in leather and available in several colors,
while chrome trimmings in the entire interior gave additional
emphasis to the cars sporting aspirations. Today, the BMW Z3 M
Coupe is one of the most desired "youngtimers" of the late 1990s
and early 2000s. Its unmistakeable design and suitability for
everyday use, coupled with the extremely powerful power train of
the BMW M3, appeals equally to both sports car and GT fans. And
ultimately the low number of vehicles produ...for more information
please contact the seller.
