BMW M Coupe

The original BMW M Coupe.

The original BMW M Coupe is a Shooting-brake styled high-performance based on the BMW Z3 Roadster released in 1998. (Shooting brake refers to bespoke 2 door estate style traditionally used by hunters and sports enthusiast). The coupe is 2.7 times stiffer than its convertible counterpart, resulting in superior handling.

In order to make production cost effective, many body panels are shared with the roadster, thus the doors and everything from the A-pillar forward are interchangeable between the coupe and roadster, as are most interior parts.

The Z3 coupe, which mates the M coupe’s body with the standard Z3 drivetrain, chassis and cosmetics was approved for production at the same time.

The original US models were fitted with the S52, a 240 hp and 320 Nm 3.2 litre inline 6 cylinder engine.

European models were fitted with the S50B32, a 321 hp and 350 Nm 3.2 litre inline 6 cylinder engine.

From October 2001, the M Coupe reappeared worldwide with the new 3.2 litre S54 engine from the E46 M3.

Due to the unique styling of the M Coupe, sales were especially weak as compared to the popular E46 M3 that were on sale around the same time. It has however garnered some sort of cult following due to its uncompromising (some would say extreme) look, performance and road manner which is completely at odd with the mainstream BMW character.

BMW Z4 M Coupe

In 2006 BMW released a limited production, newly redesigned, M Coupe based on the Z4. It has a 3.2 litre inline 6 cylinder engine (same as the M3) and produces a SAE rated 330 hp . It shares many components with the Z4 and with the E46 M3 as well as M3 CSL.