I owned a 1999 model between 2001 and 2005. I absolutely loved it. The way it rumbles at low rpm and screams "mooooooore!!" when you push it above 7000 is something I still miss today.
The S54 has to be one of the greatest engines ever; not just BMW. It has torque everywhere and screams at the top-end. The sound changes continuously right through the rev-range so there's always something to listen to. In case it wasn't obvious: I'm a fan. The bread-van still looks a beast these days.
I am not a BMW fan boy, but this little roadster tourer, is right up my street. Yes, it looks a little odd, but that’s part of its appeal. It is definitely distinctive. Who doesn’t love a clown shoe LOL 😊
I’ve always been a fan of the MGBGT. When the Z3 Coupe was available, I went to a BMW dealer and asked to take a look at the Coupe. Salesman said… yeah. We have 8-9 of them. And pointed at the convertible with a hardtop. 😂😂😂
I'm glad you like it. I still maintain that 3.2 is the most amazing sounding engine ever produced, especially in csl guise. Followed by the S2000. High revving, NA. I miss them
Since I've been a kid I've always wanted to own a six cylinder BMW. My love of Fiat, Alfa and Japanese stuff kept me away from them. Three weeks ago I bought an E46 320CI M Sport convertible from my friend and I love it. It's not fast, my Alfa 166 V6 and Alfa 145 cloverleaf are faster, but it sounds just wonderful. It's also very well put together and doesn't feel like a soft top. I have a significant b'day next month and just wanted to scratch an old itch, but this smooth beautiful car is growing on me.
I love these Z3 M Coupe's! Almost bought one 12 years ago, wanted to trade in the quattro but the seller backed out at the last moment, he didn't want an old Audi on the lot. Still got the quattro to this day (22 years now) and I will never sell it. Great review Matt, awesome car.
The Z3M Coupe makes me think of it as a Germanic 1990s take of a Triumph GT6 Mk3. Same formula really - coupe based on a two seat roadster with a nice straight six up front. I chuckled about the chrome bezels on the dials because that's what my 1973 GT6 Mk3 had when I owned it in the lat 90's. What could have been if BMW brought back Triumph (as they retain the rights to the marque) with a reskinned Z3M Coupe and called it GT6. An opportunity lost? Maybe...
My late father had ine of these new in Estoril Blue. Lucky as warranty claims for Vanos and a couple of other issues totaled 15k. Wonderful car so sad he sold it but the offer of a new Cooper S and 10k change was too good to resist. Story behind its Birth is common to numerous BMW and Mercedes cars built after hours and then put into production. 1st 2nd change is heavy but from there on in it was a joy.
What a fabulous looking and sounding car from an era when BMW epitomised a Drivers Car. Who can't love a rear end like that , straight from the Lancia back catalogue, pure Beta HPE copy!
I have 2000 dark gray sun roof delete with 136000 miles. BMW only made 10 special order coupe. I have number 6. Greatest car ever built. No as fast a my e92 m coupe, but total blast to test your driving skills. Enjoy your car. Cheers from the states
I remember the Z3 roadster coming to market and of course controversially being the car of choice for the then new face of James Bond. The clown show I always felt looked a bit odd and BMW must have thought so too with the Z4 coupe having a sportier looking rear end. That said the Z3 coupe should really be the ultimate Z3 with its rigid coupe body. Having already reviewed a Mercedes R170 SLK (which was often compared to the BMW in period) I would really like to try a Z3 at some point to see how they compare.
Ask SCC to test drive that Silvia they've had for sale for about 3 years! I see they've moved to Banbury now. I think it was a Z3M Ant Anstead had to put some rear chassis bracing on, on Wheeler Dealers.
I always had a soft spot for the Z3M Coupe. I went for the Z4M Coupe (even then 4’s were cheaper than 3’s) which turned out to be a bit of a disappointment….
A few years ago i emailed Autocar magazine to correct them, and they published it (I have the magazine at home still) They said the M coupe came with the 321hp e36 M3 evo engine. I let them know that the back end of production of the M coupe came with the later E46 343hp lump. My only claim to “fame” 😂😂
Can I have a 2nd comment please ? I’ve watched it now. If I ever won the lottery (cliché) one of these would definitely be in my garage, I absolutely love them. Last year me and wife went to Moffat 🏴 We stopped at Tebay services for a brew and there were a few people “racing the train” ???? They said up to somewhere. They were in BMW’s, 2 of them were the M Roadster, I was yapping with them for a while. I got obligatory photos of them. 😁 Edit… I’ve just created a post and tagged you to it.
Nice car! If you want to try out the less common Z4M Coupe just shout! (In sweden that is) 🙂 Z3M Coupe: 6291 produced Z4M Coupe: 4275 produced Shame I couldn’t fit in the Z3 Coupe, in the successor I can - just.
What an iconic car, odd looks and slightly bonkers... wow I want one too! I guess this is as close as I will ever get to experiencing one, so thanks for that! This car is added to my wish list, oh well, still I can dream..........
Puny S52? Have you driven one? or raced one? ask me how i know.... I've raced several s54's and the difference really isn't much to speak of. Once you get into very illegal speeds yes there's a more noticeable difference but it's hardly worth the premium people are paying these days. The reliability and ease of maintenance are a serious plus for the S52. A few basic bolt -ons like mine do help quite a bit too.... Biggest and best difference is that the S52 sounds way better than the rattle can S54.
"I want it quite a lot. Unfortunately I dont think i can afford it." Think being the word here. Make it happen. The last BMW i truly liked. But anyway, enough about The Bread Van, what was going on at that place you were filming? A pug 205, a lime green Metro and a rally Fiat 124??? Was that at Stone Cold Classics?
Wrong. American M3 and Z3M got a version of the M52, NOT the S52. The S52B32 is the Motorsport engine in the E36 M3 Evo and the M Coupe. The later car got the S54 from the E46 M3 but with a slight reduction in power
I have to admit I hate everything about BMW and it's treatment of Rover (after BMW got their grubby little hands on Rolls Royce whilst Rover later went bust), but this car is superb, a bloke used to have one next door to where I used to work, I had a tatty GT6 Mk3 and I always thought this particular car was quite an incredible looking machine, let's say BMW's answer to the Triumph, one of the very BMW I would consider. How they laughed at the time the fools.
![2000 BMW M Coupe Review: Ugly Duckling or Future Classic [Kennan]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_t7fD4KPTk4/mqdefault.jpg)
I owned a 1999 model between 2001 and 2005. I absolutely loved it. The way it rumbles at low rpm and screams "mooooooore!!" when you push it above 7000 is something I still miss today.
The S54 has to be one of the greatest engines ever; not just BMW. It has torque everywhere and screams at the top-end. The sound changes continuously right through the rev-range so there's always something to listen to. In case it wasn't obvious: I'm a fan. The bread-van still looks a beast these days.
I am not a BMW fan boy, but this little roadster tourer, is right up my street. Yes, it looks a little odd, but that’s part of its appeal. It is definitely distinctive. Who doesn’t love a clown shoe LOL 😊
I’ve always been a fan of the MGBGT. When the Z3 Coupe was available, I went to a BMW dealer and asked to take a look at the Coupe. Salesman said… yeah. We have 8-9 of them. And pointed at the convertible with a hardtop. 😂😂😂
Despite people saying the clown shoe isn’t great design, I love it!!!
I 1St fel In Love wIth when I 1St In ( 1998 ) when TIff Needel On bbC2 Now Called Them2 before he DId 5thGaer
I'm glad you like it.
I still maintain that 3.2 is the most amazing sounding engine ever produced, especially in csl guise. Followed by the S2000.
High revving, NA. I miss them
Since I've been a kid I've always wanted to own a six cylinder BMW. My love of Fiat, Alfa and Japanese stuff kept me away from them. Three weeks ago I bought an E46 320CI M Sport convertible from my friend and I love it. It's not fast, my Alfa 166 V6 and Alfa 145 cloverleaf are faster, but it sounds just wonderful. It's also very well put together and doesn't feel like a soft top. I have a significant b'day next month and just wanted to scratch an old itch, but this smooth beautiful car is growing on me.
I love these Z3 M Coupe's! Almost bought one 12 years ago, wanted to trade in the quattro but the seller backed out at the last moment, he didn't want an old Audi on the lot. Still got the quattro to this day (22 years now) and I will never sell it. Great review Matt, awesome car.
The Audi has probably been a better investment one term
@@furiousdriving Cool Car 👍😁 👍 I have Loved from when I 1St Saw TIff Needell DrIve beautIful
red-1
The Z3M Coupe makes me think of it as a Germanic 1990s take of a Triumph GT6 Mk3. Same formula really - coupe based on a two seat roadster with a nice straight six up front. I chuckled about the chrome bezels on the dials because that's what my 1973 GT6 Mk3 had when I owned it in the lat 90's.
What could have been if BMW brought back Triumph (as they retain the rights to the marque) with a reskinned Z3M Coupe and called it GT6. An opportunity lost? Maybe...
My late father had ine of these new in Estoril Blue. Lucky as warranty claims for Vanos and a couple of other issues totaled 15k. Wonderful car so sad he sold it but the offer of a new Cooper S and 10k change was too good to resist. Story behind its Birth is common to numerous BMW and Mercedes cars built after hours and then put into production. 1st 2nd change is heavy but from there on in it was a joy.
I used to get passed by a Tobacco Brown one of these every morning on my way to work. An unusual colour for a Beemer but it did suit it.
I've always called it 'The Flying Bread Van'. But if I owned one Clown Shoe would make me name it Krusty. I always name my BMW's.
What a fabulous looking and sounding car from an era when BMW epitomised a Drivers Car.
Who can't love a rear end like that , straight from the Lancia back catalogue, pure Beta HPE copy!
We have one in silver with 26k miles and a z3m.24k miles in estrol blue both are fantastic little cars ...Great video 👍💯🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I have 2000 dark gray sun roof delete with 136000 miles. BMW only made 10 special order coupe. I have number 6. Greatest car ever built. No as fast a my e92 m coupe, but total blast to test your driving skills. Enjoy your car. Cheers from the states
I remember the Z3 roadster coming to market and of course controversially being the car of choice for the then new face of James Bond.
The clown show I always felt looked a bit odd and BMW must have thought so too with the Z4 coupe having a sportier looking rear end.
That said the Z3 coupe should really be the ultimate Z3 with its rigid coupe body.
Having already reviewed a Mercedes R170 SLK (which was often compared to the BMW in period) I would really like to try a Z3 at some point to see how they compare.
Im trying to convince my mate to buy one of these. He already has a porsche 911 and a series 2 Clio V6, so this would be a great addition!
Ask SCC to test drive that Silvia they've had for sale for about 3 years! I see they've moved to Banbury now. I think it was a Z3M Ant Anstead had to put some rear chassis bracing on, on Wheeler Dealers.
I did a drive around the old yard the it arrived
I’ve always loved this car, just saw one at a local dealership. 90k for a 26 year old BMW is a little out of my price range right now though
Never heard it called the clown shoe before 😅 it was always the breadvan to me! Lovely cars, so wish I'd bought one before the prices went silly!
I always had a soft spot for the Z3M Coupe. I went for the Z4M Coupe (even then 4’s were cheaper than 3’s) which turned out to be a bit of a disappointment….
Could this be the ultimate driving machine for Matt?? I think so.
Excellent review as always.
What are you saying? lol ;)
A few years ago i emailed Autocar magazine to correct them, and they published it (I have the magazine at home still)
They said the M coupe came with the 321hp e36 M3 evo engine. I let them know that the back end of production of the M coupe came with the later E46 343hp lump.
My only claim to “fame” 😂😂
Can I have a 2nd comment please ? I’ve watched it now.
If I ever won the lottery (cliché) one of these would definitely be in my garage, I absolutely love them. Last year me and wife went to Moffat 🏴
We stopped at Tebay services for a brew and there were a few people “racing the train” ???? They said up to somewhere. They were in BMW’s, 2 of them were the M Roadster, I was yapping with them for a while. I got obligatory photos of them. 😁
Edit… I’ve just created a post and tagged you to it.
Nice car! If you want to try out the less common Z4M Coupe just shout! (In sweden that is) 🙂
Z3M Coupe: 6291 produced
Z4M Coupe: 4275 produced
Shame I couldn’t fit in the Z3 Coupe, in the successor I can - just.
So glad you loved it Matt - but its sold already!
Come on, give me a chance to buy a lottery ticket!
What an iconic car, odd looks and slightly bonkers... wow I want one too! I guess this is as close as I will ever get to experiencing one, so thanks for that! This car is added to my wish list, oh well, still I can dream..........
i always loved this model. But i also liked the looks of the PT Cruiser, so i guess my opinion is null and void. 🤣
Puny S52? Have you driven one? or raced one? ask me how i know.... I've raced several s54's and the difference really isn't much to speak of. Once you get into very illegal speeds yes there's a more noticeable difference but it's hardly worth the premium people are paying these days. The reliability and ease of maintenance are a serious plus for the S52. A few basic bolt -ons like mine do help quite a bit too.... Biggest and best difference is that the S52 sounds way better than the rattle can S54.
"Coupe"? Surely this is a hatchback.
Compared to the feckin *rap that they design today, this is one beautiful BMW motor vehicle. Great review Matt, well researched and produced.
Dream car !!!!
It's rare, it's unique, and it's actually quite a reliable & usable classic M car.
Bet that American engine less power remark felt GREAT Matt 😂 after the Crown Vic debacle 😉👍🏻.
Fabulous. I briefly drove one of these back in 2001 and was wowed by it. The sound of that engine is amazing!
A lot of MX5 vibes from this car, but with a lot more power. A pity that 70's rear subframe can't handle the power and will selfdestruct.
Matt no offence but if you didn't have to spend so much repairing the rest of your fleet you probably could afford to have one.... 😂😂😂
Great classic BMW , quite a trip for you now to review Wayne’s cars but well worth it when you get 😅to drive to a car like this
"I want it quite a lot. Unfortunately I dont think i can afford it." Think being the word here. Make it happen. The last BMW i truly liked. But anyway, enough about The Bread Van, what was going on at that place you were filming? A pug 205, a lime green Metro and a rally Fiat 124??? Was that at Stone Cold Classics?
Yes, yes and yes. I'll have mine in Dakar yellow, thanks.
Blimey, the tweeter was loud in that car!
Well, that's pure shooting brake IMO. Coupes mostly have 4 seats or at least 2+2 configuration.
If the owner reads this , the car is a credit to you, looks fantastic 👌
What happens when John Dodd describes The Beast to a BMW engineer down the telephone from Malaga...
Still not really sure if you liked it Matt? Sounds good though.
Wrong. American M3 and Z3M got a version of the M52, NOT the S52.
The S52B32 is the Motorsport engine in the E36 M3 Evo and the M Coupe.
The later car got the S54 from the E46 M3 but with a slight reduction in power
6:38 honk! honk!
Clown shoes ❤ heavily underrated and glad people got to it to ruin with with distasteful mods
I have to admit I hate everything about BMW and it's treatment of Rover (after BMW got their grubby little hands on Rolls Royce whilst Rover later went bust), but this car is superb, a bloke used to have one next door to where I used to work, I had a tatty GT6 Mk3 and I always thought this particular car was quite an incredible looking machine, let's say BMW's answer to the Triumph, one of the very BMW I would consider. How they laughed at the time the fools.
It's actually a shooting break
You got me thinking, mentioned the rear tailgate i think its from a BMW E36 compact. I could be wrong
I'm not really a German car fan but I would love one of these.
Great cars, have always liked them and would choose the coupe over the roadster.
Fabulous!! Of all the BMW M's this is the one I want!! I love it!!!.
Great cars, honestly can’t remember the last time I saw one on the roads
Lovely car and another good video Matt 🚗🚙🚘👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️👋👋👋👋
Gorgeous. OEM exhaust?
BMW might build an all-new Z4 coupé?
One of my all time favourite BMWs
Engineering wise, wonderful! Styling wise, horrendous!
I bet anyone could very easily frighten themselves silly in a Z3M!
Wundervar tea shelf?
Not an ashtray in the door!😂
Stevie Wonder loves it.
I wonder if Snickettygate ever met Pickettywitch? 😋👍
Roy orbison was looking at buying one of those because someone told him it was a nice looking car
You could try the 2.8 coupe. I own one. It is a underfull machine..
suppose does look bit like that ah
Great looking/sounding Car.
Great car, although I would prefer the less conspicuous 2.8 😏
OEM exhaust?
A very chatty Chaffinch in the background.
How much the price...Dude 😎
Cars just don't sound like that anymore. Real induction noise.
3:52 lol
Buy it. Definately buy it.
Great video and channel 👍
sweet sweet car
I want one too!
Is this one of your dream cars obviously this BMW didn't disappoint
awesome car
Clown Shoe ? Does that mean it belonged to Ronald McDonald or Coco the clown before 😁 just curious.
Super video! Super car!
I share your desire for 1 of these and the lack of readies to buy 1 😭
No idea what happened to people's eyes who think this is cool or good looking
BMW has not made a good looking car since the 1980's
I hope your not going to suggest that the E30 is a good looking car. The E21 was the high point.
Clownshoe ❤
WTF?🥴
Sell the wife, kids and kidneys😂 you must buy it Matt!
6:38 LMAO
Can’t fault a shooting brake. For the practically-minded cad.
Yipee I'm 1,006th today.
Ugliest car in the world, next to the Cybertruck. I have owned several BMWs, including the Z4.
It’s ugly
Rare and great craic.