I am going to keep writing about BMW Z3 M Roadsters until I can no longer afford to buy one. The reason is that the M Roadster represents not only the best value to be had in a BMW M car, but it is also one of the best values of any 2000s sports car available today. My Pick of the Day is one of these cars, a 2000 BMW Z3 M Roadster offered on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Winnetka, Illinois.
When these cars were new, journalists raved about the high levels of grip from the tires and the eagerness and tractability of the engine. The brakes were also a noticeable improvement over the standard Z3’s excellent hardware. The reason for all the positive press was that BMW took the best bits from the M3 and put them on the M Roadster.
If you search the web, you will see a lot of discussions about the earlier Z3M being a poor choice when compared to the later one. This is because the original 1998-2000 Z3 M Roadsters had the 240-horsepower US-spec E36 M3’s S52 I6 engine. The ones built in 2001 and later were powered by a (slightly detuned) 315-horsepower S54 I6 from the E46 M3. Having driven both, I will say the difference in performance between the two is marginal. Doubt that? Then consider that the first-generation Z3 M Roadster was quicker than the E36 M3 and, when new, had the quickest 0-60 time of any US-spec BMW ever. The Z3 M Roaster is also one of the funnest cars to drive on a winding road that has ever been built.
This Z3 M is painted in its original Estoril Blue over a blue and black leather interior. Both the exterior and interior look to be in excellent shape, which makes more sense when you consider that this Z3 M Roadster has only covered 25,750 miles from new.
Recent service work on this Z3 M includes new drive belts and assemblies, new spark plugs, a new ignition coil, a new valve cover, a new coolant expansion tank, a coolant flush, a brake fluid flush, new sway bar links, and a new rear window for the soft top.
All this adds up to a car that likely has zero current needs and is ready for some spirited driving immediately. I guarantee that if you are a sports car fan who loves a classic roadster driving experience with modern-day performance, this Z3 M Roadster is hard to beat.
Finally, the best news: Due to the Z3 M Roadster being overlooked for so long, the asking price for this stunning specimen is only $29,900, making it one of the best deals out there. My advice is to buy a nice example like this one right now. If you wait, you are likely to pay more later.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
