1999 BMW Z3 M Coupe

First registered in January 1999, this 2-owner, fully main-dealer serviced, S50-engined Z3M is finished in Arctic Silver Metallic with two-tone Imola Red and black leather interior trim.

Our Z3M is now showing 106,700 miles which means it is far from being a “Garage Queen” but is by no means one of the highest mileage Z3Ms for sale in the UK . The most recent MOT which runs until June 2020 required only replacement bulbs to gain a pass and in its recent history it has been a similar story of new bulbs or new rubber.

The vendor, only the second keeper of the Coupé, has owned the car for over 14 years enjoying more than 80,000 of the miles on the clock by using it for his daily commute. Recently it’s been more of a weekend ride, although never for track days, so since 2014 it has averaged only three to four thousand miles a year. In the time he’s had it the vendor says it has always started first time and has been very reliable.

Although kept outside, the car has been covered when not in use so the lustrous Arctic Silver bodywork seems in great condition and appears rust-free.

The “Roadstar” alloy wheels, bespoke to the M variants, appear unmarked and are shod with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres which are mostly in good order although the rear driver-side rubber is starting to perish.

In the lower corners of the front windscreen we can see the beginnings of some delamination, which isn’t a cause for immediate concern but is something to watch.

We understand that the rear windscreen was replaced a couple of years ago and the technician may have over-indulged with the bonding adhesive as it seems to have smeared beyond the edges of the glass.

In contrast to the understated elegance of the silver exterior, the two-tone Imola Red and black nappa leather covering the cockpit and the heated sports seats inject some drama to the well thought-out cabin. More theatre comes from the additional analogue dials in the centre console echoing the three heater controls above and giving the feeling of an old-school sports car instrument panel.

The interior is very tidy with a light buttock-polishing of the leather but no scuffs or tears to the seats that you’d expect from a car which has been enjoyed to this extent. The steering wheel and gear knob are solid although burnished by the enthusiastic grip of drivers revelling in the car’s spirited performance.

The whole cabin ambience and condition is a great testament to BMW build quality and careful ownership over the years.

Additional factory options selected when new include a front passenger airbag, headlamp washers, air conditioning, cruise control and an upgraded stereo with 6 CD changer.

All electric features and instruments seem to be operating correctly with the exception of the outside temperature gauge which is not currently working.

The load space cover is present and intact, the boot area is clean and comes complete with the original BMW tyre compressor and tool kit. The gas struts supporting the rear hatch door are in fine working order.

As can be seen from the photos in the gallery, the underside of this Z3M has some corrosion to the suspension parts along with a good helping of road dirt and grime expected for the mileage. Although nothing was noted at the last MOT in June other than a ball joint cover, it would be worth the new owner getting everything cleaned up and checked.

Under bonnet areas are clean and tidy with just the age-related speckling you would expect on the upper surfaces of the mighty MPower engine. There are a few patches of surface rust on the bonnet slam panel which could do with attention but otherwise the paintwork in the engine bay and suspension turrets presents well.

We are holding this car for the vendor during the sale so why not arrange to drop by and see the condition for yourself by clicking on the ‘Contact Seller’ button above.

The car comes with a folder from the supplying dealer containing all the books and a full BMW Main Dealer service history from new right up to the most recent stamp in 2017.

Who but the most dutiful of owners would continue to take their car to a main dealer throughout its life? The vendor has also provided numerous garage invoices and old MOT certificates back to 2004.

Please take a look at the documents in the Gallery and see what we consider to be an amazing history on this two owner treasure.

As we are looking after the car during the sale we naturally took it for a spin. The car drives and handles well, pulling nicely through all the gears. It’s a real analogue driver’s car with over 300bhp, no driving aids other than ABS, a short wheel base and a limited slip differential - a proper old school drive.

The throttle pedal seemed a bit stiff but this could be usual for the model - or maybe we’d not had our shredded-wheat for breakfast that day. We also noticed a slight rattle from the rear suggesting that the boot catch might need some tightening and realignment.

BMW enthusiasts will tell you that any Z3M is a cracking performance car; small and punchy, with great handling. Some of those enthusiasts will then go on to push you towards the post-2001 S54-engined cars which are worth more due to their comparative rarity but there’s little to choose between the two in terms of performance. If a tenth of a second improvement on the 0-62 time and a slightly smoother rev is important to you, then obviously you should look around for an S54. We doubt that you’ll find an equivalent mileage one with a better service history than our S50 though.

If you fancy the idea of taking this Z3M Coupé on a road trip; gunning the superb MPower motor up to 7000rpm through a highway tunnel or echoing down a mountain pass, then this could be the car for you.

With surviving UK-spec Z3M Coupés now below 500 in number, prices have risen - starting in the upper teens for decent high-milers and rising to £60,000+ for the best, low-mileage S54-engined cars. We estimate that this solid, low-owner and well cared for Z3M Coupé will sell for between £18,000 - £23,000.

Ignore the “hearse” nickname, this is a car you’d want to be seen dead in.

We always encourage viewings and this car is located here at The Market HQ in Abingdon. Just click the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to arrange an appointment. Ahead of that, or at any time during the process, you’re more than welcome to ask any questions or jot down observations in the comments section below. You won’t be shocked to hear that our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section will answer general questions that are frequently asked about how The Market works.

Also please note that we have a network of trusted suppliers with whom we work regularly and successfully: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.