RE: BMW Z3 M Coupe: Catch It While You Can
Discussion
That was my Dakar yellow one. S50 model from 2000.
At the time they were cheaper as not everybody can live with Dakar. I loved it. Full Black interior was a bonus.
I'd really recommend one, great sports car. Mega quick too. Taught me a lot about driving, after 18 months and 7,000 miles I was pleased to not join the 'hedge brigade'!
It got a nice reception wherever it went apart from picking up birds.... But what do they know!
Bought 2010 for £11,500 with 25,000 miles
Sold in Spring 2012 for £13,250 with 32,000 miles
I'd have another in a shot
At the time they were cheaper as not everybody can live with Dakar. I loved it. Full Black interior was a bonus.
I'd really recommend one, great sports car. Mega quick too. Taught me a lot about driving, after 18 months and 7,000 miles I was pleased to not join the 'hedge brigade'!
It got a nice reception wherever it went apart from picking up birds.... But what do they know!
Bought 2010 for £11,500 with 25,000 miles
Sold in Spring 2012 for £13,250 with 32,000 miles
I'd have another in a shot
Cheburator mk2 said:
Such a shame that in standard form the Z3M is absolutely pants to drive - understeers like a pig and mushy brakes to start with, and non supportive seats to finish. Loved the design though...
ow, I see thats why it was drivers car of the year? said:
The 2002 BMW Z3 M Coupe became Top Gear Car of the Year
said:
The BMW Z3 M Coupé became Top Gear's "Driver's Car of the Year" in 2000
and said:
AUTOMOBILE Magazine awarded the BMW M coupe its 1999 Design of the Year.
said:
The Z3 vehicle was highly desirable, and made several top ten lists, including the “10 Best” list by a top automotive magazine in 1999. AUTOMOBILE Magazine named the Z3 design of the year in 1999. The famous British automobile show Top Gear named the Z3 "Driver’s Car of the Year" in 2000. The Z3 M also earned Top Gear Car of the Year in 2002.
and if they were so "pants" to drive as you said (must have been a bad one) that must be why I already had 4 of them, ow makes sence 
and from the more then 116 cars I've owned in my live, the 4 M coupe's (2 x S50B32 and 1 S54B32) and the one I still have are about the best to life with all rounder sports car fro driving fun and special feel and great look(some see that different (looks) though)
yes some are faster or some can be more brute or some?? but those cars (a proper one with a bit lower suspension etc)
are among the best, they feel good, they drive good, they look 'good' and classic shape and timeless etc, love them.
Especially the one I still have, that one is the best of the cars I've owned, its a cross between a M coupe Z3 and a TVR Griffith,
the reliable and smooth engine through the rpm line etc from the BMW and the stonking/bruut performance (in a good way though) from a TVR Griffith V8.
Yes that one off Hartge 5.0 is my car, really love it, although I drive only 2.000km a year, its big fun when I wake it up and go through the short shift 6-speed gearbox.
here a fresh nice picture I found on the web made by someone when the car was spotted during a classic car and coffee meet (that spotting is also rare, my car lives always inside :-))
ah this one, the pictures in my ad were made with a cheap mobile phone
Edited by GTRene on Thursday 4th December 23:30
I love the Breadvan,
I have been driving an artic silver S50 lately, near on 80k miles and still runs and drives like it left the factory. A real hoot to drive and a proper head turner, so many peopl dont even know what they are,
However, having also owned a Z4MC, i do prefer the newer car - and i beleive the newer car to be the last proper 'M' car.
That said, they are both very special in their own way, alot of fun to drive and still take alot of beating vs modern metal!
I have been driving an artic silver S50 lately, near on 80k miles and still runs and drives like it left the factory. A real hoot to drive and a proper head turner, so many peopl dont even know what they are,
However, having also owned a Z4MC, i do prefer the newer car - and i beleive the newer car to be the last proper 'M' car.
That said, they are both very special in their own way, alot of fun to drive and still take alot of beating vs modern metal!
GTRene said:
Yes that one off Hartge 5.0 is my car, really love it, although I drive only 2.000km a year, its big fun when I wake it up and go through the short shift 6-speed gearbox.
What wheels have been fitted to it in lieu of the original Hartge ones? The new ones are much nicer IMO.ManOpener said:
GTRene said:
Yes that one off Hartge 5.0 is my car, really love it, although I drive only 2.000km a year, its big fun when I wake it up and go through the short shift 6-speed gearbox.
What wheels have been fitted to it in lieu of the original Hartge ones? The new ones are much nicer IMO.And ow, I also fitted new bigger brakes (CSL) and big but lightweight Brembo's and those were a bit to close against the inside wheel, even with a little spacer that came with he Hartge wheels.
Ordering bigger distance plates was difficult for the Hartge wheels (hart to get) but I got some, but in the mean time ordered those special wheels were the spokes go to the end of the rim? so you have lots of space left for big brakes and callipers
and that without spacers! so that all was that I choose those wheels.
anyways, the original Hartge wheel I've stored as long as I have these new wheels on, they are
XXR 527 wheels in black-chrome, see my order>
said:
Type velg: XXR 527 Black Chrome
2 x 18x8.75/ET35/114.3+120x5/BLK CHROME
2 x 18x9.75/ET20/114.3+120x5/BLK CHROME
But remember, those wheels have a 73.1 mm hole instead of the BMW 72.6(5) mm hole2 x 18x8.75/ET35/114.3+120x5/BLK CHROME
2 x 18x9.75/ET20/114.3+120x5/BLK CHROME
that means 0.5 mm difference so 0.25mm per side so to say.
There are no spigot? rings that size/small so i had to think of something, I wanted that filled up
even so small.
I used good Alu tape and made then in size, say 8<>10mm wide and ? long (do not overlap) so stick on say 3 layers (not overlap) make that very flat, and then you have your very thin spigot 'ring' works perfect.
edit to say, with those wheels you need Tuner Bolts, those are more slim and handy, you don't scrape the bolt holes with them (normal bolts wont fit) tuner bolts like this>> they also can be used as some wheel lock-bolt.
The front wheels in the size I ordered need no spacers, the rear does with a M coupe, you can go for 20mm per side as 'original' but I found that just a tiny bit to wide because of the wider wheels
so ordered after that the 15mm per side, and those are good for the rear, I don't like scraping wheelbases
when go through potholes.
Also ordered new coilover-set with adjustable camber plates and adjustable shock height, so you can make the chocks shorter, especially at the rear were the wheels drop to far for my liking when you lift the car.
Edited by GTRene on Saturday 6th December 12:13
Leins said:
^^^ I'm a massive Hartge fan and that, my good man, is awesome! 
Thanks 
And to ad something I forgot to tell about the wheels, those XXR 527 are lighter as well,
here my measurements.
Hartge Velg 8J en ET40 in 19" = 12 kg
Hartge Velg 9.5J en ET22 in 19" = 12.8kg
XXR 527 Velg 8.75J en ET35 in 18"= 9.5kg
XXR 527 Velg 9.75J en ET20 in 18"= 10kg
Hartge velgen = 49.6kg & XXR 527 velgen = 39kg so I saved on the wheels alone 10.6kg
so thats 2.65 on that less unsprung weight.
On the tire combo I saved also a bit, all in all precise 3kg per side unsprung weight,
so I was quit pleased with the result all in all, also the Nokian zLine are really good,
especially for the money, they are also pretty wide,
say their 225 wide is the same as say 235 wide from Dunlop Sport/Michellin Sport/Falken Sport/Continental sport 5P I had, and some others perhaps who are 225 in the real world, those Nokian are what they say,
instead of calling/naming it the 235 tires I mentioned above, what stands on the tire and what they sell those for, when you measure them they (most) are 225mm and not the promised 235mm.
Also very good grip those Nokia zLine, so would I buy those again, you bet.
of-course when going from 19 to 18 the side walls are a bit higher, but ad a bit more air
and thats good to life with me thinks.
I guess those tires will also be very good on 19"giving also still a bit comfort, so when
the conti sport 5P on my Hartge wheels are worn, I also put Nokian zLine on those.
Edited by GTRene on Friday 5th December 16:09
They do look very cool - especially from behind. Can't be alone as surely this is why they are practically double the size of the roadster?
I first came across the non M version at the Ring; never knew they existed! Owners had them lowered on wide wheels and they looked just as awesome as the M ones. How much power does the 2.8 have?
I first came across the non M version at the Ring; never knew they existed! Owners had them lowered on wide wheels and they looked just as awesome as the M ones. How much power does the 2.8 have?
andy97 said:
I have always liked these, their quirky looks being part of the appeal bu hen I do like Alfa SZs too.
One thing I could not understand was why they didn't have the E36 3 Series multi link rear suspension - packaging and space I suppose, but a bit strange.
Indeed, its a little shame, they did use it ala style e36 but then ala e36 Compact...or E30 M3 old.One thing I could not understand was why they didn't have the E36 3 Series multi link rear suspension - packaging and space I suppose, but a bit strange.
They also could have use the older BMW Z1 subframe sort, that looked better too...
but no they choose the e36 compact/e30 m3 stuff older style.
The front subframe and arms are the same as the e36 M3, so a bit sad they did not use it at the rear and made the
rear floor also a bit stronger in the same time.
here from the Z1, also 'old'(older then e36) but still way ahead me thinks.
Edited by GTRene on Friday 5th December 21:41
hondansx said:
They do look very cool - especially from behind. Can't be alone as surely this is why they are practically double the size of the roadster?
I first came across the non M version at the Ring; never knew they existed! Owners had them lowered on wide wheels and they looked just as awesome as the M ones. How much power does the 2.8 have?
192bhp and it weighs 1275kg, the later 3.0 engine that replaced it has 230I first came across the non M version at the Ring; never knew they existed! Owners had them lowered on wide wheels and they looked just as awesome as the M ones. How much power does the 2.8 have?
Z3 M Coupe is about the only car I'd consider as a replacement for my e30 M3. It's got the performance, but also the looks that confirm its ability whilst still being stood still. It shares that same look of purpose as the e30 M3 has.
LSB or Imola for me please. Only thing I don't like are the seats, but I'd rip them out and fit race seats and a cage anyway.
LSB or Imola for me please. Only thing I don't like are the seats, but I'd rip them out and fit race seats and a cage anyway.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff