1999 BMW Z3M Coupe

Finished in Arktissilber Metallic with a red and black leather interior, this 1999 BMW Z3M Coupé has been in the family since 2020 and presents very well indeed.

Built in December 1998 and still showing just 87,000 miles on the odometer, it’s got a good service record and history file and is said to be running and driving as it should.

While it is recorded as a Cat C write-off, the good news is that this was back in 2009 and it’s gone through several MoTs – and a pre-purchase check by

ProTech Cars, an independent BMW specialist in 2017 – without issue. Plus, of course, its status is reflected in the guide price.

While the Z3M’s iconic long bonnet hints at the inline-six nestled underneath it it’s the haunches that do it for us; swollen to cover the 9.6-inch wide rear tyres, quad exhaust tailpipes join the party to show following drivers they’re in the presence of greatness. It’s a deceptively simple design and the fact the driver and passenger sit just in front of the rear axle shows how well balanced the Z3M is.

The major panels and doors all align well, and the Arctic Silver Metallic paintwork shines nicely.

The seller is unsure of the circumstances surrounding the Category C status but the shutlines look good in the photos and the only bits we can see that don’t line up as they should are the forward edge of the nearside sill cover and the lower edge of the boot. Neither are very noticeable and it’s unlikely they’d draw attention otherwise and may well be nothing to do with any previous repairs.

The 17-inch alloy wheels are in a good condition and they’re fitted with Toyo tyres on the front and 235/40R17 Nankang on the rear.

The red and black leather interior is very nineties and all the better for being so; after all, if you’re going to buy a period sportscar then you want to go all-in, surely?

The door cards are good, as are the sill covers, usually the two places that show wear the most readily.

The headlining and carpets are in a fine condition too, and this extends into the boot, which is very clean.

The seats, ornate in their design and covering, look terrific and the only patina is to the edge of the driver’s seat, which is lightly cracked and slightly softened.

The controls and instruments are typical of BMW at the time, so they’re wonderfully clear and easy to read and understand; that modern BMWs should offer such clarity and ease of use…

The netting divider ‘twixt boot and cabin is still in place and looking good, and the glass sunroof floods the cabin with light.

Faults? Well, the switch panel below the three minor instruments in the centre console is cracked. That’s not a bad To Do list, is it?

As you can see, it runs and ticksover nicely and the seller tells us that it drives very well, but then you’d expect nothing less, would you?

The engine bay is very nicely presented being clean and tidy without being obsessively so. Just as it should be, in other words – and we love the way the bonnet reveals the wheelarches when it’s lifted, a feature that reminds us of Le Mans endurance racers.

The underside is clean and looks solid. Certainly, no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural corrosion but then this is a car from BMW’s glory years.

The BMW’s MoT certificate, which is valid until February 2024, was gained, like every one since 2018, with no advisories.

The service indicator shows three green bars, so it should be good for a while yet and the paper history is fulsome.

Please see the photos for the full history but the seller tells us that it is “almost full”.

With the best colour combination and a mileage of well under 90,000 miles, this is a rare opportunity to own a modern classic sportscar that doesn’t demand a degree in electronic engineering to keep it on the road.

Engineered at a time when producing a fast road car meant fettling mechanical components rather than programming an ECU, ongoing maintenance is likely to be largely analogue rather than digital. This, plus thoroughly modern performance and handling, really does mean that the BMW Z3M offers the best of all worlds.

But, the very best bit might just be the guide price of between £20,000 and £25,000, it seems like a bit of a performance car bargain to us.

And, as is always the case with our cars, the reserve is set even lower, making this a potential bargain for the canny bidder with an eye to future values as well as contemporary driver satisfaction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Newhaven, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.