I'd say get the Coupe, and I'd agree that the S54 is the one to go for if you can afford it... but don't discount the S50 B32 cars. They're excellent too.

The Roadster... well, once it got the DSC and some suspension tweaks, it was a better car but the damage was already done. It costs less to buy than the Coupe and will not hold its value as well.

Imola Red, Estoril Blue and Carbon Black are good colours for the M Coupe. Phoenix Yellow is the funny greeny-gold colour that some E46 M3s come in. Dakar Yellow is the colour the old E36 M3 used to come in and actually, an M Coupe in this colour looks pretty but it will be an S50 car if it's Dakar.

Check for Vanos issues with the S50 cars. A loud rattling from the front of the car will indeed be a Vanos unit on the way out

 

with the grunt the coupe has got you dont have to wait to be " let out "

 

I am clearly in a minority but I liked all 6 cyl z3's and the M roadster is one I've considered every time I've changed cars (but never gone and bought obviously!).

 

I'd give one a go. Drove my mate's Z3 3.0 and the grunt was incredible. He was in my S2000 and I kept up easily.... until we came to a corner! Then it all got a bit wobbly!

I'm sure with the better setup of the Z3M it would be great fun.

But the looks are still not great... and he did complain about mpg. Value for money I reckon.

 

3 things

1) Carbon black on an S54, Cosmos Black on an S50
2) Loud rattling from the front end will be the engine VANOS going out creates a VERY loud rattle when you rev the engine up to 5k and let it run down. Rattle occurs at about 3krpm. The S50 engine sounds pretty noisey compared to other more modern 4 cylinder cars, so don't let a general tappety rattle put you off.
3) I had 1 set of rears (which were part worn when I got them) on my car for about 16-17k miles and they were still legal when I sold it (just). That was after not a lot of motorway miles and a fair bit of They were the OEM Dunlop 8080Es which most folk think are too hard, but they were a bit like the SO2. Hard when cold.. but as you can see they wore pretty well.

 

I've owned both an S50 and S54 M Roadster. Covered a total of 70,000miles.

The later car is technically better (M Coupe suspension (stiffer), stiffer chassis, E46 M3 front brakes etc etc) and I preferred the smoked chrome alloys and interior/exterior improvements. There is a strange appeal about the ealrier car that was refined out of the later car though...

Loads of character in both and you WILL NOT go appreciably faster for the money.

The handling is actually very good but requires a different approach to fully appreciate it and most people don't drive the car for long enough to understand this (you'll probably be suprised to hear, and 'most' will refuse to accept that you won't out-corner one in a S2000).

I can remeber the very second I handed the keys of my last one over (I sold due to an iminent change of personal circumstances that never materialised ). I absolutely regret that moment everyday.

A stonking car in my opinion and a very wise buy for those who are prepared to look past all the scare-mongering that goes on and actually give the car a chance.

Andy

 

I understand that the poor torsional rigidity is the cause of a lot on the handling inconsistencies, which are unfairly blamed upon the suspension.

Like the S2000, it responds well to teh fitment of chassis braces.

 

I'd have the roadster

cheap rapidity imo

 

You could put it in the boot of the M5 Pete

 

they are very good cars for winding up other drivers of supposedly fast machinery

in any typical road driving conditions they are going to be faster than most things

and they look like a cooking Z3 from most angles