Price: SOLD
Mileage: 34,500 Miles
Engine: 6-Cylinder S54B3 Engine
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Steel Grey Metallic Exterior (400)
Interior: Black Leather Interior (Q6SW)
VIN: WBSCK9348YLC91217
Additional features:
1 of 37 Steel Grey / Black 2002 M Roadsters (#36)
Steel Grey Hardtop
Black Power Soft Top
Heated Seats
BMW CD43 Business CD Radio
BMW HiFi Sound
Cruise Control
100% Stock
Shadow Chrome Style 40 Roadstar Wheels
Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
Hard and Soft Convertible Top Covers
Car Cover
Hardtop Cover
Clean Carfax
The BMW M Roadster was the M variant of the BMW Z3. The Z3 made its public debut in 1995 in the Bond film GoldenEye with a young and dashing Pierce Brosnan behind the wheel. The scene with 007 and Natalya (Izabella Scorupco), her hair blowing in the wind, was the picture of top-down motoring—except for the dirt road, the Cessna 172, and the villain’s evil layer in Cuba. Nonetheless, if you were 18 years old (as I was) and you saw that movie, you wanted a Z3—and Natalya!
Initially, Z3 sales followed suit, but it soon became apparent that a more aggressive iteration was in order. BMW M GmbH initially solved this problem in 1998 with the M Roadster. At its heart was the E36 M3’s 245-horsepower S52B32 inline 6-cylinder engine. Then for the 2001 and 2002 model years they upped the ante with the E46 M3’s S54B32, which produced well over 300 horsepower. Considered one of BMW’s best motors of all time, the S54 is a fire-breathing monster that, at the time, produced the most horsepower per displacement of a naturally aspirated engine. 2001 and 2002 M Roadsters also featured exclusive E46 M3 colors, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) over ASC, and subtle updates like grey instrument gauges. Power reached the ground through a manual gearbox (the only option), M-tuned suspension, and a limited slip differential. When it was time to stop, M3 brakes made short work of the job. Exterior treatment featured a bold front splitter, M badges, staggered Style 40 Roadstar wheels, and a quad exhaust—the first BMW M car to get one. Inside, the exclusivity continued with ///M doorsills, instrument cluster, steering wheel and gearshift badges, an illuminated gearshift knob, and chrome ringed gauges, including an oil temperature gauge. The end result was one of the best retro-classic roadsters ever made. It had the fluid and graceful lines of a proper British sports car, with the raw power and driving dynamics that can only be found in a BMW M car. And because it was based on the Z3, it was produced right here in the good ‘ole USA in Spartanburg, South Carolina. S54-powered M Roadsters are becoming highly collectible, but still represent fantastic value for what you get.
This 2002 BMW M Roadster is one of thirty-seven (#36 of 37) examples produced that year in Steel Grey Metallic—one of the best colors available. It was ordered with the CD43 Business CD player and a matching Steel Grey Metallic hardtop. The hardtop completely transforms the car ascetically and functionally, while adding slight rigidity. This is a two-owner car that has always been exceptionally well cared for. Both owners were BMW enthusiasts who spared no expense in their stewardship. It was used only in fair weather summer, hence its low mileage and impeccable condition with a nearly perfect interior and exterior. The original owner immediately installed sheepskin seat covers, but removed them annually to condition the seats. It comes with all service records, a clean Carfax, and a clean Colorado title. Extras include the hard and soft convertible top covers, and a hardtop cover for storage. In preparation for sale, we did an Inspection I, including the S54 valve adjustment. Fresh Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires are mounted. I am a long-term member of the Z3 M Roadster and M Coupe communities. I have owned and raced my own hardtop-equipped M Roadster and have had my S54-powered M Coupe for over a decade. I absolutely love M Roadsters and am super excited to have this example in our quiver. A Steel Grey M Roadster with a hardtop is the most beautiful of all of the Z3s. I would like to find a new owner who will enjoy and care for this M Roadster for years to come.
Titanium Silver Metallic (often called TiAG after the periodic table element names) is one of BMW’s best colors and looks fantastic on the M Roadster. Silver always looks good, even when dirty, and does an excellent job of accentuating the M Roadster’s long hood, side gills, and short trunk. The paint on this example is in excellent condition. There are no significant dents, dings, door dings, or the rock chips that Colorado cars get. There is no failed clear coat, zero rust, and all VIN tags are in place. The convertible top has no rips or tears and the rear window panel has been recently replaced. The Roundels have no crazed or faded paint. The M badges have very minor fading of the red stripe (an easy replacement). All trim and black-work are present and not UV faded. 2000 and later model year M Coupes received chrome rings around the headlight lenses. The outer lenses are clear and translucent. Daytime running lights are standard spec for Canadian market cars. All indicator lenses and taillight housings are clear and crack-free. The Style 40 Roadstar staggered wheels (17” x 7.5” front and 17” x 9“ rear) have excellent finish with no bends or curb rash. They are wrapped with fresh Michelin Pilot Sport AS tires that have less than 1,000 miles on them.
The interior is one of the M Roadster’s most striking design features. The point of a roadster is an undiluted driving experience. The interior is well appointed but unapologetically simple. Chrome-ringed analogue gauges and HVAC controls are a tribute to the great British roadsters (think Jaguar E-type). The center console is unfettered by iDrive or excessive technology—just heated seat buttons and the ASC traction control button for when hooliganism is in order. Open the door and you are greeted with that lovely Nappa Leather smell that only Z3 M Coupes and Roadsters have. I’m not sure why it’s different than other M models of this vintage, but it is. Sit down and it is apparent that this is a proper sports car. It has a cockpit-like feel, with a low seating position that lets you look out over the long hood out front. The carpets have no stains or tears and are protected my M factory floor mats. The seat leather is in excellent condition with no tears, stains, or failed seams. The seat bushings have minor rock (a common issue), but it is minor at best. All seat motors work, as do the seat heaters. There is slight creasing on the outer seat bolsters, but it is presentable. The 3-spoke steering wheel has no excessive wear. The instrument cluster has no blown out pixels and all gauges work correctly. An aftermarket Sony Stereo is somewhat dated, but the factory speakers and subwoofer sound great. It would be a plug and play job to replace it with a newer Sony head unit . The center HVAC panel and gauges have no burnt out bulbs. The lower switch panel has no cracks in the switch backing plate (a common issue). The glove box has very minor sag on the right hand side (another common issue). The auto-dimming rearview mirror has no fluid leaks, but I recommend preventative replacement with a solid-state auto-dimming mirror because they all leak eventually. All interior functions work correctly; power windows, power door locks, cruise control; the heat blows warm and the air conditioning blows cold. The factory wind deflector is present and in excellent shape. The convertible top headliner has no tears or sag. The trunk tool kit is complete and the owners manuals are present.
This is a turn-key M Roadster; all major and preventative maintenance is up to date. It has clearly been properly owned and benefitted from regular oil changes and routine maintenance for all of its life. I’ve already listed the recent maintenance items in the summary paragraph. The S52 engine is one of BMW’s reliable power plants, having none of the rod bearing issues or needing the valve adjustments that later S54 powered M Roadsters did. The engine idles smoothly, pulls strong, and has no Vanos rattle or lifter knock. It does not leak, drip, or spot. The clutch and shifter are crisp and precise. There is no 5th gear lean due to worn shift pins (a common issue). The brakes are firm, the suspension is compliant, and there is no driveline or wheel bearing vibration or whine. The suspension bushings are solid. The rear trunk floor has no failed spot welds and the rear differential ear has no tears. There are two welds sunken below the paint (pictured on our website), but in my experience this does not indicate imminent failure. I have priced it accordingly if a Randy Forbes rear subframe upgrade kit is desired in the future. Like any M Roadster, it will need and deserves the preventative care and maintenance that all BMWs of this vintage do, but at present it is properly sorted and ready for its new home.
BMW M Roadsters are one of the best buys in the M car market. They are the last of the old-school recipe, that is, a normally aspirated engine routed through a manual gearbox powering only the rear wheels. The M Roadster’s Z4 successor that followed had none of the grace and fluid classic roadster lines thanks to Chris Bangle’s flame surface design language. Bang for the buck, you can’t beat an M Roadster. We would like to find an owner who will continue to care for it and appreciate it as much as we do.
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