With the drivetrain taken from the E36 M3, the Z3M is the perfectly 50:50 balanced Coupé from BMW, which delivers in every aspect of motoring. Quite a rare car with just 1,000 right-hand drive cars thought to have been produced.
This 1999 model has been with the vendor for the past ten years and has been thoroughly enjoyed. Finished in what's probably the best colour choice of Estoril Blue, the Z3M has been well cared for, as you can see from the paint finish. It has also received some upgrades, with a remap to the 3.2 litre straight-six and adjustable suspension fitted to further improve the already excellent handling.
Unfortunately, when it comes to paperwork, the BMW’s handbooks and service book were stolen after being stored in a briefcase which was taken a few years ago. However, there are some invoices for work carried out and a good selection of previous MOT certificates which back up the mileage history. In addition, two keys are present along with the V5, which shows three previous keepers.
The interior is finished in black/blue Nappa leather which is generally in good condition. The electric seats are working as they should and show light wear and creasing as expected. Usually, the bolsters are a high wear area, and it’s nice to see that these are in good condition with minimal wear. The door cards are also in good condition, with a small amount of age related marks on the handles but no excessive scuffs to point out.
Sitting in the driver's seat, you are faced with the Alcantara steering wheel. This has some wear to it, and typical of Alcantara, it has gathered some grime over the years but would benefit from a clean. The instruments show an odometer reading of 158,059 miles and the vendor reports that the outside temperature reading and the clock don’t work. The rest of the instruments in the centre console are working correctly, and the switchgear is in good order with minimal wear to the buttons. The standard BMW business head-unit remains in place and working as it should.
The carpets are in good condition; there is some age related wear by the sill as you get in and out. The headlining is in good order with no sagging or staining. Inside the boot, the original tool kit and first aid kit are present, the roller parcel shelf extends and retracts as it should, and there is a net which extends up as a dog or luggage guard.
Finished in the original colour of Estoril Blue, the car presents extremely well. Looking from the front, there are the usual stone chips you would expect to find. The bonnet seems to align as it should with the wings, and the headlights are in good order with no chips or cracks to mention.
Around to the sides, the Z3M is free from any dings or dents, and the doors have an equal panel gap around them. The door handles have some slight perishing to the rubber gaskets behind them. The quarter panel on the passenger side had been repainted before the seller purchased the car, but now there is some blistering at either end of the passenger rear quarter wing and the lower part of the driver’s side. The seller has been quoted £600 to repair these, which included the bodyshop totally removing the wings, the repair and repaint. The windows have no apparent scratches to mention, and the seals look to be in good condition.
At the rear is where you can really appreciate the huge hips of the Coupé body, and it looks fantastic! The four tailpipes match those of the more common M3 and sound equally as good. The light lenses are in good condition with no splits or cracks, and the correct badges are in place. The wheels are all in good order with just a small amount of flaking paint on the rear rim, and the matching tyres have a good amount of tread remaining.
Out of the box, the 317bhp and 258lb-ft of torque is impressive enough from the 3.2 litre straight-six. This has been improved with a remapped ECU carried out by Evolve Motorsport, which was carried out as a live data remap rather than a generic map programme. There is also a Simota carbon fibre air-box fitted to improve performance. The car fires up as you would expect and has no untoward noises coming from the engine to raise any concerns. Reported by the vendor is a small oil leak from the pressure relief valve, which is said to be common on these engines.
The gearbox is a five-speed manual which is precise when changing gear. This has had a weighted shift change fitted to improve the throw, making it engage gears that little easier. The suspension has been improved with the addition of Koni adjustable suspension, and the rear subframe has been fully overhauled and re-powder-coated.
Stopping the car is a set of fully refurbished brake callipers and grooved discs. The vendor reports these to bring the car to a stop in a straight line with no juddering through the pedal.
This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of one of the best Coupés produced by BMW. With approximately 1,000 right-hand drive models made, you will be one of a few to experience the fantastic 50:50 weight distribution creating an excellent driver's car powered by, in this case, an improved 3.2 litre straight-six with a few more horses than the 317bhp it left the factory with.
A well engineered car offering performance and handling through raw mechanical power rather than electronic wizardry to keep you on the straight and narrow.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
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1999 BMW Z3M Coupe
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