BMW M Coupé and Roadster

Z3 M Roadster

The Z3 M Roadster was introduced in 1997 as the high performance version of the BMW Z3. Cosmetic differences between the Z3 M and the standard Z3 models included front and rear bumpers, gills, boot and mirrors.

The standard Z3 models received a facelift in 1999. The appearance of the Z3 M was not changed.

In the 6 years from 1997 to 2002, 15,322 M Roadsters were produced.[1]

The M roadster is electronically limited to a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

The M Coupé, manufactured from 1998 until 2002, was developed under the leadership of engineer Burkhard Göschel with the intention of adding increased torsional and structural rigidity to the Z3 roadster's chassis. The development team had a hard time convincing the Board of Directors to approve the model for production, but it was eventually given the green light as long as it remained cost-effective to produce. To achieve this goal, majority of the body panels had to be shared with the M roadster, thus the doors and everything from the A-pillar forward are interchangeable between the coupé and roadster, as are most interior parts. The Z3 coupé, which combines the M coupe's body with the standard Z3 drivetrain, chassis and cosmetics was approved for production at the same time.[2][3]

Sales were slow as it didn't generate much interest between the enthusiasts. As a result of their relative rarity, M Coupes (especially S54 powered models) retain much of their value. The M Coupe powered by the S54 engine is one of the lowest production BMWs with only 1,112 built.[4] It was given nicknames like "hearse" and "clown shoe" because of its distinctive styling.[5]

The Z3M Coupe and Roadster were initially powered by the 3.2 L version of the BMW S50 engine, while North American models initially used the less powerful BMW S52 engine. The S50 is rated af 236 kW (316 hp) at 7,400 rpm and 350 N⋅m (260 lb⋅ft) of torque at 3,250rpm, while the S52 engine is rated at 179 kW (240 hp) at 6,000rpm and 320 N⋅m (240 lb⋅ft) at 3,800rpm.[6][7] A total of 2,999 cars were built with the S50 engine and 2,180 cars were built with the S52 engine.[8]

Starting in September 2001, the engines were upgraded to the BMW S54 engine from the E46 M3. In most countries, it is rated at 239 kW (321 hp) at 7,400 rpm and 354 N⋅m (261 lb⋅ft) at 4,900 rpm, while North American models have 235 kW (315 bhp) at 7,400 rpm and 341 N⋅m (252 lb⋅ft) at 4,900 rpm. The difference in peak power and torque is due to the catalytic converters being located closer to the engine on the North American spec cars, which allows the catalysts to heat up faster and reduce cold start emissions.[8]

The Z3M Coupe had the following OEM color options: Alpine White III, Imola Red II, Dakar Yellow II, Evergreen, Laguna Seca Blue, Cosmos Black, Black Sapphire Metallic, Arctic Silver Metallic, Titanium Silver Metallic, Estoril Blue Metallic, Boston Green Metallic, Oxford Green II Metallic, Steel Grey Metallic, Phoenix Yellow Metallic.

The gearbox is a ZF Type C 5-speed manual. The final drive is either 3.23:1 (S52) or 3.15:1 (S50 and S54). A limited slip differential with a maximum locking of 25 percent is standard.

Like all Z3 models, the M Coupe and Roadster's suspension is made up of MacPherson struts in the front and semi-trailing arms in the rear. Compared to the six-cylinder Z3 roadster, however, the M roadster included modifications such as wider front and rear tracks (by 0.4 in (10.2 mm)), reduced ride height (by 1.1 in (27.9 mm)), modified front suspension geometry, firmer springs and shocks, thicker anti-roll bars, stronger semi-trailing arms and a reinforced subframe.

When the M roadster switched to the S54 engine (2/01 production), the chassis was upgraded to the stiffer springs and shocks developed for the M Coupé.

The brakes from the E36 M3 were used: four-wheel vented discs measuring 12.4 in (315.0 mm) on the front and 12.3 in (312.4 mm) on the rear. In most countries, the front discs were a two-piece "floating rotor" design.

Unlike the US market where the two-piece floating rotor brakes were not available, the Canadian market cars were equipped with the floating discs.

Front tyres were 225/45ZR17 and rear tyres were 245/40ZR17. The wheel sizes were 7.5x17-inch at the front and 9x17-inch at the rear. Early M coupes (S50 and S52 engines) had a silverly chromeline finish, whereas the later models (S54 engine) had a darker Chrome Shadow finish.

The coupé model was introduced to the public first in concept form at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show and then in production form at the 2006 Geneva International Motor Show[9] with production starting shortly after.

The Z4 M Coupé has a fastback coupé design, resulting in a different body shape to its Z3 M Coupe predecessor. The Z4 M Coupé also did away with the controversial iDrive system. The roof added an additional weight of 5 kg (11 lb) as compared to the roadster.

The official 0–97 km/h (60 mph) acceleration time is 5 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 249 km/h (155 mph). The Z4 M Coupé set a laptime at the Nürburgring Nordschleife of 8 minutes and 15 seconds.[10]

Z4 M Roadster

The roadster model was launched in late 2006.

Weighing 1,450 kg (3,197 lb), the M Roadster has a 0-97 km/h (60 mph) time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). Unlike the Z3 M Roadster, the external dimensions of the Z4 M Roadster are the same as the standard Z4.

The M Coupe and M Roadster are powered by the BMW S54 straight-six engine from the E46 M3. The engine has fly-by-wire throttle and double VANOS (variable valve timing).[11] In most countries, the engine is rated at 252 kW (338 hp) at 7,900 rpm and 365 N⋅m (269 lb⋅ft) at 4,900 rpm- the same outputs as in the M3. The engine has a redline of 8,000 rpm. Cars sold in North America produce 250 kW (330 bhp) at 7,900 rpm and 355 N⋅m (262 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,900 rpm.[12][13]

The engine was mated to a new 6-speed "Type H" ZF manual transmission since the M3's original 6-speed transmission did not fit the Z4's chassis.

The Z4 uses the same limited slip differential as the E46 M3.

The suspension system consisted of a strut design at the front and a multi-link design at the rear. The springs have higher spring rates and the dampers have a more aggressive setting as compared to the Z4 M roadster. The car achieved a lateral acceleration of 0.89g on the skid pad.[12]

The Z4 M uses hydraulic power steering, unlike the electric power steering used by the rest of the Z4 range and has thick rimmed steering wheel.[12] Other changes include a wider front track, revised front suspension and steering geometry.[13]

Many components were shared with the E46 M3, including the rear subframe, front suspension control arms and the Continental ContiSport Contact tyres.

The braking system shares many parts in common with the E46 M3. The brake calipers are from the M3 Competition model and the brake discs (consisting of aluminum hubs, stainless steel pins, cross drilled iron floating rotors) are from the E46 M3 CSL.

Production began on 4 April 2006 and ended in 2008 when the E85/E86 Z4 was replaced by the E89 Z4. A total of 4,275 M Coupes were produced, and 5,070 M Roadsters.[14] This included 1,815 M Coupes for North America and 3,042 M Roadsters for North America.[15]