Description
The Z3 is a beloved modern classic, the perfect combination of open-top motoring, peppy 4 and 6-cylinder power plants are mated to a slick manual gearbox and the whole package is often finished in bright, 90s shades of Fiji Green and Dakar Yellow.
But what happens when a handful of skunkworks engineers, out of hours decide to take a tasteful two-door convertible sportscar and give it a roof, stiffening up the chassis and nabbing the 3. 2-litre engine from an M3? You’re left with a Z3M Coupe.
The M Coupe was launched to differing opinions in 1997, some loved it. Some rather didn’t. Its styling is often divisive, but its loveable clown-shoe design for those who truly love it, is incomparably special. The base Z3 is built on the E36 platform, which shares most of its underpinnings with the BMW 3-Series of the same era.
Externally, the Z3M’s lines are pumped up like a balloon ready to burst. This particular example is finished in a tasteful shade of Titan Silver. The paintwork is in great shape, and despite its comparatively tame nature, the silver shade complements the BMW styling. The long bonnet is adorned with BMW’s chrome kidney grilles, whilst the standard Z3 bumpers are replaced for sportier M variants.
The wheels are BMW Style 40 items, unique to the Z3M, they’re a staggered set meaning the rears are much wider than the fronts, helping to stabilise the car’s handling. The wheels are all in excellent shape and are wrapped in a full set of Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.
Inside, it’s everything you’d expect from a BMW M-Car. Three pedals and a gear lever are the central focus whilst a M-Sport steering wheel offers a tactful driving experience. No multi-function buttons, just pure driving. The gauge cluster is marked with that familiar // M logo and reads a mileage of just over 88, 000.
An extended leather centre console houses controls for the air-conditioning, heated seats and auxiliary gauges. The seats themselves, are all black leather. The dashboard is free from any cracks or warping and the interior retains a decent amount of light thanks to a rare optional tilt-only sunroof.
Under the bonnet you’re greeted with the venerable S50B32 engine, a 3. 2-litre 6-cylinder unit borrowed from the M3 Evolution that produces around 320BHP, it’s mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and the power is fed to the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential. The engine bay is clean, tidy and free from any damage.
It’s believed that just 6, 291 Z3M Coupe models were built throughout production, meaning that not only are these special cars hard to come by, they’re even hard to come by in such conditions. This car comes complete with an extensive history record and has been known to and displayed on behalf of the BMW Car Club GB.
The service records include:
03/ 2000 - 1, 497 miles - Rydale BMW
08/ 2000 - 8, 682 miles - Rydale BMW
11/ 2000 - 15, 272 miles - Rydale BMW
04/ 2002 - 23, 086 miles - Rydale BMW
02/ 2003 - 29, 017 miles - Rydale BMW
09/ 2003 - 38, 608 miles - Rydale BMW
03/ 2004 - 45, 603 miles - Rydale BMW
12/ 2004 - 56, 705 miles - Rydale BMW
02/ 2005 - 58, 258 miles - Park Lane BMW
08/ 2005 - 60, 364 miles - Park Lane BMW
02/ 2007 - 66, 245 miles - Park Lane BMW
05/ 2008 - 70, 230 miles - Park Lane BMW
06/ 2009 - 74, 920 miles - Park Lane BMW
09/ 2012 - 81, 626 miles - Specialist
11/ 2013 - 83, 182 miles - Specialist
08/ 2021 - 86, 375 miles - Specialist
08/ 2022 - 86, 990 miles - Specialist
08/ 2023 - 87, 360 miles - Specialist
This Z3M Coupe has everything that makes M-Cars great, raucous individual throttle bodies, balanced handling and a boat-load of power. Whether you want to cruise around or hear all 6-cylinder singing, you’ll be able to do it with the knowledge that you have one of the nicest and best maintained Z3M Coupes on the road in the UK.
As with all our vehicles, a full digital folder is available on request containing more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.
