2001 BMW Z3M COUPE - FULLY RESTORED

KEY FACTS

• A stunning example of the rare and characterful performance car, which is presented in excellent cosmetic and mechanical order thanks to a refurbishment costing more than €20,000.

• Under the sweeping bonnet is the 338bhp 3.2-litre ‘S54’ straight-six, which drives the rear wheels via an engaging five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential.

• It is understood to be one of only 123 UK-market M Coupes with the later S54 engine.

• The vehicle was in good order at the time of purchase by the current vendor in 2018 from a fellow enthusiast. However, the vendor wanted the car to be fully refreshed and so it was transported to Holland for a major refurbishment by The Engineer’s Garage.

• A unique opportunity to acquire an example which has been extensively refurbished as shown in the photographs (the vehicle has been driven less than 500 miles since the refurbishment).

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• This Z3 M Coupe left the factory finished in Black Sapphire Metallic with a two-tone Kiwi and Black leather interior, which has since been dyed and refreshed by reputable specialist Benchmark Leather Renovation, and is now fully black.

• Other equipment includes the Dynamic Stability Control system, heated seats, air-conditioning and a Harman Kardon sound system.

• During the refurbishment, cruise control was retrofitted using genuine BMW parts.

• The vendor has installed a Continental head unit for the stereo, which looks period-correct while providing modern functionality of DAB radio, Bluetooth audio streaming and Bluetooth hands-free for mobile phones.

• It rides on the correct set of 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels which are finished in ‘Shadow Chrome’ and are unmarked.

• Almost entirely standard, this non-sunroof car has been further enhanced by a Wiechers carbon-fibre front strut brace.

• Inside, aluminium AC Schnitzer pedals add a sporty touch, while providing some additional traction to the pedals during spirited drives.

• A weighted BMW shifter has also been installed to improve the manual gear change.

• The car will be accompanied by all four original keys and a substantial folder of documents, which includes invoices and photographs documenting its history and the extensive refurbishment.

CONDITION

• There is no known bodywork damage. The car’s sills and jacking points were replaced by marque specialist Munich Legends in November 2017 due to corrosion.

• Having been partly resprayed to a high standard in the past, the paintwork presents very well indeed, with light stone chips on the bonnet and front bumper. The sills were resprayed in November 2017 after they were repaired, and the bonnet, front bumper, rear bumper and rear spoiler were painted in 2018 during the car’s refurbishment.

• The exterior trim is also in very good order, and while there is some delamination at the edges of the rear windscreen, this is minor.

• The car’s engine bay and underside are also in exceptional condition, as many of its mechanical components were either replaced with new items or refurbished during its extensive overhaul.

• Inside, the leather upholstery has been dyed in black and is very smart, with some creasing on the seat bolsters but no significant wear.

• When the refurbishment was carried out, a large number of parts were replaced even if not actually required, at the vendor’s request (e.g. control stalks, fuel pump, fuel lines, radiator, oil cooler, etc.); the itemised list of parts is included in the attached pictures.

• There are no known electrical or mechanical faults.

• The car’s last MOT test was conducted on 16 July 2020 at an indicated 91,529 miles, resulting in a clean, first-time pass. The seller also notes that they will happily have the car re-tested before it is handed over to its next owner.

SERVICE HISTORY

• This rare modern classic’s most recent maintenance was a major mechanical overhaul, which was carried out in 2019 by marque specialist The Engineer’s Garage, Utrecht, at a cost of more than €20,000. The service indicator in the vehicle’s instrument cluster shows 5 green bars. 

• Work included replacement of virtually all of the suspension components and the installation of new Bilstein B6 shock absorbers, as well as refurbishment of the VANOS unit, replacement of the engine mounts, and a complete overhaul of the braking system.

• Furthermore, the entire cooling system was overhauled and the head gasket was replaced.

• Prior to this, an oil service was performed in May 2017 when the big end bearing shells were also replaced, and an ‘Inspection II’ service was carried out in September 2016.

SUMMARY

Benefitting from an extensive cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment and presented in excellent overall condition, this BMW Z3 M Coupe is a unique and wonderful example of the esoteric modern classic. As one of only 123 S54-equipped UK cars, this M Coupe is certainly one of BMW’s rarest modern vehicles, and will make an excellent addition to any collection as an iconic model from the BMW M division.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.