The technology of the E36 M3, but in a small two-seater without a roof. That's exactly what BMW has done with the M Roadster. The result? A very entertaining car, which, due to the low production numbers is also quite rare. If this sporty German is also equipped with a black body, black/red leather, and only 39,000 kilometers on the clock you know for sure that you are dealing with a unique car.
In 1996 BMW came up with a 'Z' model for the first time after the Z1. The platform of the E36 generation of the 3 Series was used. It turned out to be a fun, accessible convertible with a sporty character. But where the 3 Series had a top model, this one of the Z3 was not yet available. The Germans changed that in 1997 by placing the famous S50B32 six-cylinder engine under the long hood of the Roadster. The car also got a limited slip differential, the rear track became a lot wider and BMW installed larger brakes that came from the E36 M3. The only thing that didn't come from the M3 is the gearbox. The six-speed gearbox did not fit, as a result of which all M Roadsters received a manual five-speed gearbox from ZF.
The appearance of the 'M Roadster', as the car is officially called, was definitely not forgotten. A modified front bumper gives the two-seater a sportier look, but the biggest difference can be seen at the rear. Because the rear track of the car has become much wider, the M Roadster has significantly wider hips than a normal Z3. The redesigned rear bumper, specific to the M trim, accommodates four distinctive exhaust tailpipes. Combine this with the wide five-spoke wheels – also unique to the M – and it is clear that this is the top model of the Z3 series. Despite the fact that the car is actually not even called Z3! The car is absolutely unique, because with only 5070 copies produced, an M Roadster is certainly not a sports car that you will often encounter.
If the appearance of the car did not betray its potential, the sound of the 3.2 liter six-cylinder does. This wonderful-sounding block produces 321 hp, allowing the Roadster to hit 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill in just 5.5 seconds. The BMW accelerates to a limited top speed of 250 km/h. That was seriously rap in 1997. Those who wanted to buy the fastest two-seater roadster at the time actually had no other choice than to shop at BMW. Other (German) brands did offer sporty convertibles, but none equaled the power of 321 hp that the M Roadster does have. Only in 2001 did the competition come with cars that had more power, but BMW in the meantime had a model update ready for the M Roadster. This increased the power to 325 hp thanks to the S54B32 from the E46 M3. However, due to the slightly lower weight and a different transmission, the BMW was just as fast as its competitors. Finally, in 2002, the curtain fell for the Z3, and production of the M Roadster also came to an end.
This example of the M Roadster is a very unique one. Not only is the car beautifully finished with a black paint job and black/red leather, the BMW is also in very good condition. This is partly because the car has 39,000 kilometers on the counter. It is an original Dutch delivered car that, including the current owner, has had two (!) owners. They have treated the BMW with care, so with only a few sign of use.
Equipment
This car is factory equipped with:
0209 Limited slip differential
0243 Passenger airbag
0302 Alarm system
0314 Heated exterior mirror / driver's lock
0380 Hardtop Preparation
0388 Hood black
0395 Rollover protection system
0410 Electr. operated front door windows
0423 Floor mats velour
0441 Smoker Kit
0481 Sports seat
0494 Seat heating driver/passenger
0502 Headlight cleaning installation
0510 Headlight height adjustment
0530 Air Conditioning
0548 Mileage Speedometer
0687 Radio preparation
0710 M Sports steering wheel multifunction
0806 Third rear brake light
0818 Battery main switch
0863 Dealer list Europe
0877 Expired combined operation
0886 On-board documentation Netherlands
0925 Dummy SALAPA
0999 Command Control “HEA”
Modifications
The speakers in the doors have been upgraded with Jehner speaker panels. Apart from that, this M Roadster is completely original
Remarks
This BMW is in very neat condition. Of course, the car has minimal signs of wear that can be expected from a car that is 23 years old:
Slight damage on the right front bumper.
Small scratch on the right door. Small dent along the fuel cap.
Minor damage to the rims.
A small piece of the plastic frame is broken above the air conditioning button, a well-known Z3 ailment. It has been replaced with a small piece of black plastic.
Service history
The most important points from the recent maintenance history are:
02-03-22 - 39,130 kilometers - MOT - no remarks
29-01-2021 - 38,524 kilometers - service at Dusseldorp BMW. (including brake pads front and rear and fluids replaced)
25-01-2021 - 38,496 km - delivery at Dusseldorp BMW. (including MOT and oil service)
Included with sale
Included with the sale of this BMW M Roadster:
Two keys
Hardtop
About the seller
The seller of this special M Roadster is a collector and true petrolhead. This BMW was purchased as a summer car earlier this year. The first owner had owned the Roadster for more than 22 years and only drove it for just over 38,000 kilometers. The car was even moved to Belgium with the first owner, and later came back to the Netherlands. In the 14 months that the current owner had the BMW, he only drove 200 kilometers with the car. In his own words, he has driven it so little because the M has such a uniquely low mileage that he thought it was a shame to make serious miles. That will undoubtedly also be due to the other Collectables in his garage.
Summary
Seller - Patrick Seller type - Private Location - Netherlands VIN - WBSCK91050LD20175 Year of production - 1997 Mileage - 39.160 kilometer Warranty - No Margin/VAT - Margin car Body type - Roadster Engine - 3.2 liter in-line six-cylinder engine with 321 hp Lay-out - Rear wheel drive Transmission - Manual transmission Exterior colour - Cosmosschwarz Metallic (303) Interior colour - Q6IM black/red Upholstery - Leather Smoker's car - No Owners - Two (including current) Tires - Continental Conti SportContact. Before: 225/45/17. Rear: 245/40/17.
The description of this Collectable has been created with the utmost care, based on information from and validated by the seller. The Collectables performs a (pre) selection based on the information provided and consults public sources for any irregularities. However, bidders themselves must ascertain the correctness of the description and can, if desired, have a personal investigation carried out. All Collectables on our platform can be subjected to any possible inspection, investigation or valuation by buyers in advance, of course in consultation with the seller. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for more details.
