BMW M Roadster coupe

[Alan®]

Just wanted to get others opinions. I have always thought that they were uber sessi. What are their capabilities? Just curious since I don't know much about them.

[BobbyFresco]

Z3 or Z4 chassis?

[Alan®]

Z3

[BobbyFresco]

Overall, it is a great car that has been overlooked. Stiff ride, corners well, great acceleration.

[2turbo4u]

In the Z3 body it was the fastest bimmer they had out @ the time.

[87 Turbo II]

Just call it the M Coupe or the Z3 coupe, nothing can be a roadster coupe.

[Kyle]

From what I'm told it's horrifically unreliable.

I wanted one until I talked to a former owner who told me horror stories.

[Alan®]

Just call it the M Coupe or the Z3 coupe, nothing can be a roadster coupe.

sorry i mean to put coupe/roadster lol. My bed.

[rizzler]

i want one. they're fast and "uber sessi"

[BIG WORM]

From what I'm told it's horrifically unreliable.

I wanted one until I talked to a former owner who told me horror stories.

well that's a lie.

[Alan®]

well that's a lie.

not neccessarily. There is always one bad egg in the bunch.

[BobbyFresco]

well that's a lie.

Werd.
As with any car, if you take care of it, it will treat you right in return.
It's a hell of a whole lot more reliable than say, a GTI.

[Kyle]

well that's a lie.

what incentive do I have to come in here and spit bs? shut your mouth.

[BIG WORM]

your incentive is your post count, so you made up some bs just so you could have another post.

While others are riding in their bimmers your stuck in front of the computer hating on them. Your "homeboy" probably had a 1.9 z3 and pretended it was a M roadster.

[Elbow]

well that's a lie.

Yeah really...

[BobbyFresco]

The M Coupe was overlooked and underrated for sure. If you can find one at a good price ( because they still fetch a premium) and in good condition, scoop it up quick.

[BobbyFresco]

Ive seen quite a few running scca's races and I was impressed what these guys have done w/minimal mods..

[redpanda]

yes please

[2turbo4u]

These guys got a bunch of them http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dd...r_id=100015904

[Kyle]

Werd.
As with any car, if you take care of it, it will treat you right in return.
It's a hell of a whole lot more reliable than say, a GTI.

Omg burn, this guy doesn't like my car.

your incentive is your post count, so you made up some bs just so you could have another post.

While others are riding in their bimmers your stuck in front of the computer hating on them. Your "homeboy" probably had a 1.9 z3 and pretended it was a M roadster.

I could give two shits about my post count, wipe it out, I could care less.

I could be riding one of those if I chose, I have the cash right now, seriously kick rocks you douche bag.

But I was at a vw meet talking to a mk5 gti owner and we were looking at my friends m roadster and he said he used to have a coupe, I told him I wanted one, he told me horror stories, now I don't want one. End of story.

[nreggie454]

I love them. Apparently the rear subframe is pretty weak, but that is the only common problem I have heard of for that car.

[OnURleft]

My best friend had one for several years. I liked it enough when I was younger to make my username on Bimmerforums S52Mcoupe. This particular car I know up and down as i've done everything to autocross in this one to almost die multiple times in one (while being a passenger).

So to add some information. He bought the car with 40k miles. Sold it with around 80k of the hardest mileage i've ever seen put on a car. I swear to you as much as I loved that car i'd of never buy this particular one. He'd average about 3-4k out fo Z rated rear tires and we used it as a demonstration car for the high performance driving school we worked for, so every instructor romped on it all day long, slide around in it and auto cross it all weekend for once a month for almost two years for student rides...Also, the owner was somewhat excessive about sliding around town in it. (The car was that much fun to drive to him).
Through it's journey, it held up incredibly well...as it has that badge on the hood. Just about any BMW can put up to any amount of high performance abuse and this one did just that. This is why i.m.o they hold so much respect from all car enthusiasts who know cars. No other car with 200k can go road racing all day. Don't believe me...go to the track. Open your eyes. RingTaxi's on Nurburgring (runs laps all day) typically use a BMW. So, as far as reliability.. it was incredible and anyone who nay-say's a BMW talked to someone who knows nothing about them or they legitimately got a lemon.

As far as problems..E36/8 M coupe's had E30 rear ends, so the front was an E36 and the rear was an E30. Therefor, they slide very well, but as far as turning they were outdated compared to an E36, but they still are very very fast and more predictable than an E36. They make excellent track cars but you need to get the subframe reinforced. My friend ripped his subframe literally out of the car with all the dry sliding and launching he did and i'd expect any other M coupe to do the same. This is not that expensive to fix or have done to prevent a break.
Also, his oil pump lug nut backed out, a problem that was common on early production models (or so I heard on 1999's) which was a bitch to fix. However, even with running/driving for several mintues with no oil pressure the car ran like a champ at the track once it was fixed (could've been expensive).
Some more info...1999-2000 was the S52 M coupe. Basically an E36 M3 3.2 240hp/230ish tq. Some dyno as has as 226whp stock. They have run 13.4's with simple intake/exhaust/reflash mods. They are torquey and great fun. You can find them for $17-25k+ depending on their rarity of there color options and conditions.
In 2001 they got teh madness. 315 HP S54B32 out of the E46 M3 which just came out. They made less power because of exhaust restrictions. It WAS BMW's fastest car at the time. High 12's at 107-108 have been done in stock form to give you a perspective. They were sick. Only 800 M coupes made for the U.S in 2002...Rare, BMW sex, anyone will look at one at a meet. However, some E36/7/8 (roadster/coupe's) with the S54 had engine failure problems. After all it was literally a race motor (11:5:1) compression from the factory. This is why BMW imposed a 100k warranty on all cars with an S54. This "failure" problem was only really a problem on 01 MCoupe's and Roadsters (not M3's) for reasons I don't know why.
They typically don't go for less than 23k or 24k and still sell for 30k plus. They fetch a huge permium and get taken up fast. Someone is pretty much doing you a favor if your buying one from them for a good deal so good luck finding one close by!



Here is a picture of the rear rotors glowing after what was probably a 45 minute straight autocross session on a 4-5 minute course. We just hot lapped and switched drivers when we got tired. (we connected all 3 courses at the end of the weekend). The rear wheels obviously are not from an M coupe (we eventually would just mount different wheels with cheaper tires because would eat a set of new rears in two days). The dirt is because of the soap/water we put down on the parking lot with the soap and water trucks (not because he went though dirt).

[BIG WORM]

Good post ^^^^

I could be riding one of those if I chose, I have the cash right now, seriously kick rocks you douche bag.

Then do yourself a favor, Trade your Hitler hatch and get a BMW.

[Kyle]

Good post ^^^^



Then do yourself a favor, Trade your Hitler hatch and get a BMW.

Not worth it. I'm lovin the dub, next addition to the garage will be an 95ish nsx.

Thanks for your input though.

[Kaiser]

M roadster/coupes have very few engine reliability problems, and besides the rear-subframe (Which is terrible) They have very few structural problems.

Do NOT cheap out though. The Z3 was simply not as well put together as the M roadster/coupe and does not handle abuse well. Maintenance is a must with either, or else you end up with an engine that sounds like a beaten dog. Fabulous cars.

Kyle: Keep the dub. Skip the NSX. Buy a 964/993 Turbo.

[Kyle]

M roadster/coupes have very few engine reliability problems, and besides the rear-subframe (Which is terrible) They have very few structural problems.

Do NOT cheap out though. The Z3 was simply not as well put together as the M roadster/coupe and does not handle abuse well. Maintenance is a must with either, or else you end up with an engine that sounds like a beaten dog. Fabulous cars.

Kyle: Keep the dub. Skip the NSX. Buy a 964/993 Turbo.

I like how you think, 993 turbos are one of my all time favorite cars.

Glad to hear other input, I may eventually have to look back. into m roadsters now.

[matthewAPM]

if i had the money i would get one with no hesitation.

[DinanM3atl]

In the Z3 body it was the fastest bimmer they had out @ the time.

Um no....

The BMW M5 was available at the same time...

From what I'm told it's horrifically unreliable.

I wanted one until I talked to a former owner who told me horror stories.

I know a guy had he had a lemon honda civic... Ok?

roflmao

One guy had problems and the car sucks? Seriously?

[Thighs]

ian, you are one of the biggest BMW leg humping nutswinging homos i know. bmws are great cars, but not even close to the best cars.


ANYWAYS, m coupes are badass. dont let the bad reliability and expensive maintenance cost myths turn you off. these are mostly developed by people who owned an automatic tranny 5 of 7 series, in which case there can be truth to the myths. they are great cars and will run forever if maintained, and are well worth the money.

[Kyle]

I know a guy had he had a lemon honda civic... Ok?

roflmao

One guy had problems and the car sucks? Seriously?

Never did I say one owner is representative of the cars reliability as a whole.

Note that I said "from what I'm told", did I say they are all unreliable because of one? NO. Seriously, read a post before you decide to pick it apart.

Don't lump me into the dumbass/unable to form a logical thought group with 99% of IA.

-Kyle

[EJ25RUN]

I have meet a few owners and they love them.

[DinanM3atl]

Never did I say one owner is representative of the cars reliability as a whole.

Note that I said "from what I'm told", did I say they are all unreliable because of one? NO. Seriously, read a post before you decide to pick it apart.

Don't lump me into the dumbass/unable to form a logical thought group with 99% of IA.

-Kyle

Why don't YOU read what you said. You said that you wanted one, then ONE owner told you horror stories and now you don't.

Thus you have assumed that because this one car was bad you don't want one now. Understand? I did read and comprehend what you wrote...

[bandydesign]

Someone I know had one for awhile. He got fed up with the $6000 services that he had to bring it to to maintain warranty. The dealer service work that was required added up to 10s of thousands a year. If I were you tho, I wouldn't try to keep up with that. I feel safe changing my own oil and air filter lol.

[OneSlow5pt0]

Z3 coupes are very ugly imo,Z4 coupe look great though

[BIG WORM]

Someone I know had one for awhile. He got fed up with the $6000 services that he had to bring it to to maintain warranty. The dealer service work that was required added up to 10s of thousands a year. If I were you tho, I wouldn't try to keep up with that. I feel safe changing my own oil and air filter lol.

If you buy certified pre owned it's not that bad. and after the warranty is up, maintenance on a BMW is not any harder than any other car. I do all my maintenance on my 330

[OnURleft]

ian, you are one of the biggest BMW leg humping nutswinging homos i know. bmws are great cars, but not even close to the best cars.


ANYWAYS, m coupes are badass. dont let the bad reliability and expensive maintenance cost myths turn you off. these are mostly developed by people who owned an automatic tranny 5 of 7 series, in which case there can be truth to the myths. they are great cars and will run forever if maintained, and are well worth the money.

Honestly, my best friend had the car during my most influential years. I was 15 when he got it...17 when he sold it. First nice car I kicked sideways, first car I ran from the police in (as a passenger and driver), first nice car I autocrossed, first car I drove sideways well, first car I did over 130 in, first car I ever did a 3 honk race in, first nice car I launched, first nice car I did dohnuts in, in my school parking lot etc.I got to autcross it unlimited times for 2 days straight for once a month??? etc. etc.Need I say more?
....I was meant for this thread it's not the brand.
Although, I do admit i am crazy for BMW's. Sorry but best performance track ready to go cars period and nothing takes a beating better. Although, i'd much rather have an Audi for DD..excluding the new M3.

WTF is Thighs you phaggot?

Um no....

The BMW M5 was available at the same time...

Meh, I was referring to on a circuit because I think I mentioned that too. There is some discrepancy about that though because several magazines were able to get the S54 coupe/roadster to a 4.4/4.5 0-60 and a 12.9-13.1 &107-108 vs the M5's 4.6 and 13.0@108 (best recorded run for a mag), and they claimed the Coupe to be "fastest" (probably 0-60 based) even though the M5 would run away up top.

[Kyle]

Why don't YOU read what you said. You said that you wanted one, then ONE owner told you horror stories and now you don't.

Thus you have assumed that because this one car was bad you don't want one now. Understand? I did read and comprehend what you wrote...

You still misread it.

"From what I'm told they're horrifically unreliable."

He told me his story and then told me they were all pretty bad. Thus, I made no inferences, I am just reiterating what he told me.

thats it.

[Ran]

I'd take the new Z4 coupe over the "clownshoe" anyday of the week.

[OnURleft]

I'd take the new Z4 coupe over the "clownshoe" anyday of the week.

Me too. They are pretty amazing looking but..slower.

[DinanM3atl]

Someone I know had one for awhile. He got fed up with the $6000 services that he had to bring it to to maintain warranty. The dealer service work that was required added up to 10s of thousands a year. If I were you tho, I wouldn't try to keep up with that. I feel safe changing my own oil and air filter lol.

Um what?

6,000 dollar services to maintain warranty? Someone took your friend for a fun ride on his dime...

Considering the car has lifetime diff and trans fluid(not really) I can't think of much else you would be required to do for warranty. Oil changes maybe?