∙One owner from new

∙Only 38,000 miles on the clock

∙Full service history

∙Enthusiast-owned, and maintained with no expense spared

The Z3 was an important car for BMW. The first mass-produced Z Series model, development began in the early 1990s as the cultural zeitgeist shifted to embrace retro-styled roadsters and, with the rugged and dependable underpinnings of the E36-generation 3 Series, there was much to enjoy with this pretty little drop-top.

The real magic, however, happened in 1997, with the emergence of the Z3 M Roadster. This was a clear effort to inject a whole bunch of extra ‘sport’ into the sports car;  the restyling job carried out under the watchful eye of lead engineer Burkhard Göschel was masterful, taking the wind-in-the-hair vibe of the Z3 and angrying it up exponentially; the proportions of it, particularly when viewed from the rear-three-quarter, suggest a caricature of a sports car – something so comically muscular that it almost looks cartoonish… and yet here it is in the metal – a profile that’s basically four huge wheels with a smattering of bodywork in-between. This subversion of proportion exists under the skin too, as the tiny little sports car has the full-fat engine from the M3 cunningly shoehorned into it. For the first couple of years of production, the M Roadster came with the E36 M3’s S50B32, a 3.2-litre straight-six serving up a vivid 316bhp – mated to a close-ratio 5-speed manual and an LSD, it made for a truly entertaining little tearaway. With a poised and balletic chassis and impressive levels of equipment within, this is a truly intriguing package; analogue thrills with a massive grin factor. And as we’re about to discover, the example we have here is no ordinary M Roadster…

There are certain phrases that can really make a used car purchase attractive, and among them are ‘one-owner car’, ‘low mileage’ and ‘full service history’. This Z3 offers all of these things. Its owner is a keen petrolhead who has owned the BMW from new, and she’s always been careful to ensure that it’s fastidiously maintained and serviced. It’s always been kept garaged, and while the car has been regularly exercised, the fact that it only has 38,000 miles on the clock shows that this was a cherished treat rather than an everyday runabout. With all the right paperwork kept in a neat folder, we’re offered total peace of mind, and with the car in all-original spec and lovely condition throughout, this isn’t the sort of M Roadster you’re going to stumble across every day. This is a rare treat, an honest and genuine example of a rare and increasingly collectable machine.

Sadly, given how recent world events have changed routines for so many of us, this keen and eager owner is finding that she’s just not using the Z3 very much these days – and so, after 23 years of enjoyment, its time to bid her old friend a fond farewell so that another enthusiast can enjoy the Beemer as its maker intended.

There’s a large and impressive file of documentation here. The V5 is present, showing the car to have zero former keepers, having been first registered on November 13th 1998. The original books and manuals are here and – as proof that this is owned by a true enthusiast – various clippings from contemporary magazine features that served as research and inspiration. The service book is fully stamped, showing that the pre-delivery inspection was carried out by the importer in Belgium (these models weren’t mainstream BMW fare – the Z3 M Roadsters and M Coupes were actually built in South Carolina, USA), and the car was serviced by BMW main dealers until 2017, and since then it’s been looked after by Turner Automotive, a respected independent BMW specialist based in Twickenham. We can see that the Inspection II service was carried out in July 2019, when the mileage was 38,333 – this level of service includes all engine fluids, filters and plugs, cam cover gasket, valve clearance check and adjustment, and new fluid for the gearbox and differential. A year later it had only covered 40 miles and was treated to a brake fluid and coolant change. The mileage at time of shoot in August 2021 was 38,574.

There’s a sizeable sheaf of receipts for servicing and work carried out, the most recent being from July 2021 and showing that almost £1,200 was spent on a fan clutch, belt tensioner, rear suspension springs and tie-rods. It’s evident that the car has been maintained on a no-expense-spared basis, and this is a thread that continues back through all of the old receipts.

Also in the file we find the purchase documentation and manuals for the aftermarket stereo head unit that’s been fitted – a voice-activated Sony unit with dedicated column stalk.

As you’d no doubt expect of a car with such low mileage, the interior of this M Roadster is extremely fresh and in superb condition throughout. The seats are heated sports items trimmed in nappa leather, and are free from marks, holes, stains or damage; there’s just a very little sign of wear to the driver’s side bolster, but this would be very easy to perfect with a leather treatment.

The level of factory-fit equipment is strong, with an M Sport steering wheel and matching gearknob, M Roadster-branded kick plates, BMW immobiliser, electric windows, cruise-control and air-conditioning. The owner has also had professionally fitted a quality Sony stereo system that’s voice-activated and has its own tastefully integrated column stalk; this is the only deviation from standard specs, with everything else throughout the car being the correct factory specification.

The carpets are in great condition, the dash-top is free from cracks or sun damage, and the gauges are all working correctly with no warning lights illuminated. Everything is functioning as it should, with each button and switch doing its job correctly.

Inside the boot it’s all extremely tidy and completely dry. Within we find the original BMW tool kit along with the tyre repair kit, warning triangle, jack, tools, fire extinguisher, BMW first aid kit, BMW leather cleaner, and BMW soft-top window cleaner.

Finished in gleaming Cosmos Black, the M Roadster has a muscular style that really sets it apart from lesser Z3s. The eagle-eyed will spot that the wheelarches are more pumped-up, the rear number plate has been relocated to a higher position so that the bumper can accommodate the quad exhaust tails, and the front bumper has a more aggressive depth to it.

The bodywork is in very good condition indeed throughout; this is evidently a car that’s never been knocked or bumped, all of the panels sit straight and true and there’s no evidence of repainting. The only visible blemishes are a smattering of stone-chips across the nose and an extremely small ding in the passenger-side door from where someone has presumably opened a door into it while parked; aside from those barely discernible details, it’s truly superb.

The light lenses and window glass are all in good condition, all of the correct badges and trim are in place, and the Z3 wears the correct 17” BMW Style 40 (Roadstar) alloy wheels in staggered widths. These have some very light kerbing to the rims here and there, along with a little lacquer peel around the nuts, but are generally nice and presentable. The fronts are shod with 225/45 Dunlop SP Sport tyres, and the rears have 245/40 Goodyear Eagle F1s – all with plenty of tread.

The roof is in exceptional condition. It’s a power hood that raises and lowers correctly, latching and unlatching easily, and has no wear, holes, or marks of any kind.

The drivetrain in the Z3 M Roadster is a real Jekyll-and-Hyde proposition. If you’re just pottering around town then it can be docile, relaxing and relatively frugal – but when the passion starts to flow on your favourite B-roads, it’s an absolute animal. The idea of fitting an M3 engine to a smaller and lighter car was a masterstroke, while the manual transmission is a joy to use and the limited-slip differential perfects the power delivery in fine style.

As you’d imagine from such a well looked-after car, everything is tip-top here. The supremely low-mileage S50 engine fires on the first turn of the key, idles evenly, and pulls very impressively through the rev range. There are no issues to report with the transmission, steering, brakes or suspension, it’s a properly joyful thing to drive. It’s also received a raft of new parts to ensure that the fact that it hasn’t been used a lot in recent years isn’t making the car unhappy; with new brake calipers, a recent battery, fan clutch, belt tensioner, rear springs and tie-rods, everything that could need addressing has been taken care of. This isn’t a car with a list of jobs to stick on a to-do list. This BMW is an absolute peach that’s ready to enjoy.

The M Roadster really is the connoisseur’s Z3; indeed, it’s so different to the base car that it deserves plentiful recognition and praise in its own right. It’s also something of a hidden gem; as the values of 1990s M3s soar ever-higher, here’s a car that uses the same engine and fuses it with playful agility and top-down thrills.

And if you’ve always fancied an M Roadster, this one is the one you want. How often do you find a car of this age boasting such an impressive service history, such low mileage, and no former keepers on the V5? This is unobtainium stuff.

What’s particularly endearing about this BMW is that it’s so honest about its roots as a driver’s car: it’s not in concours condition, but honestly it really isn’t that far off if the next owner decided to take it in that direction. But the crux of the matter is its usability – it’s always been looked after, and everything that needs doing has been done. Quite simply, this is an excellent example of an excellent car, that’s just begging to be enjoyed. 

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