| First Generation E36/7 M Roadster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Also called | Z3 M Roadster, MZ3 |
| Production | 1998–2002 |
| Assembly | BMW Manufacturing Co. Spartanburg Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States |
| Designer | Joji Nagashima |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Roadster |
| Body style | 2-door convertible |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | E36/7 |
| Related | BMW Z3 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.2 L inline-6 S50 (1998–2000 non-US/CA) S52 (1998–2000 US/CA) S54 (2001–2002 world) |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,459 mm (96.8 in) |
| Length | 4,025 mm (158.5 in) |
| Width | 1,740 mm (68.5 in) |
| Height | 1,266 mm (49.8 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,399 kg (3,084.3 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Z4 M Roadster |
Z3 M Roadster (1998–2002)[edit]
The BMW M Roadster was designed to be the performance version of the BMW Z3, and there were significant differences between the two variants. The body of the M Roadster had many slight differences. These included front and rear bumpers, gills, rear wings, boot and mirrors.
Under the skin many of the components were beefed up with many of them taken from the E30 M3 and E36 M3 Evo including brakes and much of the suspension. Based on the E36 platform, the Z3 Roadster was considered the E36/7 platform. The M Roadster could run a wider track under the flared wheel arches as well as wider wheels and tires to try to tame the increased power. Standard tyre sizes for the M Roadster is 225/45r17 at the front and 245/40r17 at the back. The low offsetof the rear wheels allows plenty of flexibility to increase the rear tire width. A dual exhaust system fed each set of three cylinders to two dual tailpipes. This quad exhaust has since become an BMW M division signature.
Other changes included adding a limited slip differential, a different gearbox and strengthening the chassis.
The interior had a different look to the standard Z3, starting with the M-version steering wheel and including different instrumentation such as an oil temperature gauge. Finally, the car was available in M-specific colors which were not released for the regular Z3, at least in the early production years (not counting BMW's Individual program).
Early cars featured ABS as standard. Traction and stability control also became standard with the new engine. The Z3 was facelifted, but in common with other BMW M vehicles, the M Roadster's appearance was not updated.
Production Numbers[edit]
In the 5 years, from 1998–2002, approximately 15,000 M Roadsters were produced for both European and North American markets. This is compared to the 300,000 standard Z3s produced in the same time frame. This makes them very rare and highly desired by car and performance enthusiasts.
| Type | Spec | Engine | Dates | Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CK91 | European LHD | S50 | 09/1996 – 06/2000 | 3,557 |
| CK92 | European RHD | S50 | 11/1997 – 06/2000 | 918 |
| CK93 | North American LHD | S52 | 02/1998 – 06/2000 | 8,938 |
| CL91 | European LHD | S54 | 02/2001 – 05/2002 | 283 |
| CL92 | European RHD | S54 | 02/2001 – 04/2002 | 79 |
| CL93 | North American LHD | S54 | 02/2001 – 05/2002 | 1,600 |
Drivetrain[edit]
1998-2000[edit]
1998-2000 models use the drivetrain of the E36 M3. Therefore, the European-spec model is fitted with the 321 hp (239 kW) S50B32engine and the North American-spec model uses the 240 hp (179 kW) S52B32 engine.
The gearbox is a ZF Type C 5-speed manual, but the North American version is the only one fitted with BMW’s ASC+T traction control system (as of 9/98 production) until the facelift. The final drive is either 3.23:1 (S52) or 3.15:1 (S50 and S54). A limited slip differential with a maximum locking of 25 percent is standard.
The European-spec M roadster is electronically governed to 155 mph (249 km/h), while the North American version is limited to 137 mph (220 km/h).
2001-2002[edit]
2001-2002 models use the engine from the E46 M3. Therefore, both European and North American models use the S54B32 engine.
The only accurate way to determine differences in the engines outfitted in each years production is to refer to the VIN. Using the labeling on the valve cover may prove inaccurate as some early 1998 US M Roadsters shipped with valve covers inscribed with BMW MPower vs. the simple M logo.
The other major addition to the revised M roadster is an M-tuned version of electronic stability control (called "DSC" by BMW). DSC intervention can be reduced or disabled via a console-mounted button.
All S54-powered M roadsters have an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h).
Chassis[edit]
Like all Z3s, the M roadster’s suspension is made up of MacPherson struts in the front and semi-trailing arms in the rear. However, compared to the six-cylinder Z3 roadster, the M roadster included modifications such as wider front and rear tracks (by 0.4 inches), reduced ride height (by 1.1 inches), modified front suspension geometry, firmer springs and shocks, thicker anti-roll bars, stronger semi-trailing arms and a reinforced subframe.
When the M roadster switched to the S54 engine (2/01 production), the chassis was upgraded to the even stiffer springs and shocks developed for the M coupe.
Brakes[edit]
The M roadster adopted the brakes from the contemporary E36 M3, four-wheel vented discs measuring 12.4 inches (315.0 mm) in the front and 12.3 inches (312.4 mm) in the rear. In addition, all M roadsters except those produced for the U.S. market were equipped with two-piece "floating" front discs.
The U.S. market was denied the more efficient two-piece discs offered in the rest of the world because BMW of North America was concerned that, if not properly maintained, the discs presented the possibility of failing, thus creating a legal liability. However, M roadsters produced for the Canadian market were equipped with the floating discs.
Wheels and tires[edit]
All M roadsters use the same size tires (225/45ZR17 in the front and 245/40ZR17 in the rear) mounted on one of two versions of the five-spoke "M RoadStar" alloy wheel. Both are sized 7.5x17-inch (front) and 9x17-inch (rear), but there are two distinct finishes: Early M roadsters (S50 and S52 engines) feature a Chromeline finish, while the later models (S54 engine) utilize a darker Shadow Chrome finish.
Exterior design[edit]
The M roadster is based on the wider six-cylinder Z3 roadster body, but adds a more aggressive front fascia with brake cooling ducts in place of foglights, unique side gill vents with the M logo, chrome windshield washer nozzles (later models), curved M side-view mirrors, a lower rear bumper with four exposed exhaust tips and a relocated rear license plate (located between the taillights instead of within the bumper). NOTE: The M roadster was never updated to the reshaped rear fenders and taillights introduced on all other Z3 roadsters as part of the April, 1999 revision.
The exterior of the S54-powered M roadster shares all of its body panels with that of the earlier version. Only the curved M badges and RoadStar alloy wheels with Chrome Shadow finish are unique to the newer model. It is also available in several exterior colors shared with the E46 M3: Laguna Seca Blue (448), Steel Gray metallic (400) and Phoenix Yellow metallic (445).
The North American-spec version of the M roadster is visually very similar to the European version, but can be identified by its amber side marker lights (and turn signal lenses on cars built before September, 1998) in the front bumper, "free form" headlights in place of the ellipsoid units and twin side-mounted rear license plate illumination lights instead of the single bumper-mounted design.
Interior design[edit]
The interior of the M roadster features several unique items including a chrome-ringed instrument cluster with red needles and the M logo, three auxiliary chrome-ringed gauges in the center console, power and heated sport seats with special pleated leather trim (monotone black or two-tone), a 375 mm three-spoke M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, an illuminated M leather shift knob with the M logo on the shift pattern and a chrome boot surround, an oval-shaped rear-view mirror, leather door pulls and center console trim, chrome inside door handles, and door sill plates with the "M" logo.
The most significant alteration to the interior of the revised M roadster is the addition of grey-faced gauges. In some markets, there is also a smaller auto-dimming rear-view mirror with chrome surround. Finally, two interior color combinations (Evergreen/Black and Kyalami Orange/Black) are discontinued on the newer model, while Laguna Seca Blue/Black and Dark Beige interiors are available.
The interior of all M roadsters are essentially identical except for the instruments. In the main cluster, early Euro-spec cars have a 280 km/h / 170 mph speedometer and a tachometer that reflects the S50 engine's 7,200-rpm redline, while North American models have a 160 mph / 260 km/h speedometer and a tachometer with a redline graduated between 6,500 and 7,000 rpm to reflect the S52 engine's variable redline. In the center console, European models have an outside temperature gauge instead of the voltmeter used in North American editions.
The later S54-powered M roadsters all have essentially the same grey-faced instruments, including a 280 km/h / 170 mph speedometer and an outside temperature gauge (Fahrenheit on U.S. models, Celsius for all others).
Equipment[edit]
Compared to other M models, there are only slight variations in standard and optional equipment for the M roadster, depending on the market and production date. Because all M roadsters have Nappa leather upholstery, air conditioning, power seats with two-stage heating and (from 9/98) a power-folding soft top, the list of options is short. In general, it included cruise control (standard in some markets), headlight washers (not offered in the U.S.), a removable body-color hardtop and various audio systems.
Z4 M Roadster (2006–2008)[edit]
| BMW E85 M Roadster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Also called | Z4 M Roadster |
| Production | 2006–2008 |
| Designer | Anders Warming |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Roadster |
| Body style | 2-door convertible |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | E85 |
| Related | BMW Z4 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.2 L S54 inline-6 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Z3 E36/7 M Roadster |
BMW introduced an M version of the E85 Z4 in late 2006. Called the M Roadster, it's powered by the same 3.2L, 8,000rpm, S54 inline-6 engine as the E46 seriesM3, delivering 330hp through a new 6-speed "Type H" manual transmission. Engine management however is specific to the Z4M: the Siemens MSS70 with higher processing power (64 million calculations per second) than the MSS54 (25 million CPS) in the M3. Other performance parts borrowed from the M3 include the CSL's compound (aluminum hubs, stainless steel pins, cross drilled iron floating rotors) brakes and most of the M3's suspension components. Other changes include a hydraulic steering setup which provides better feel than the electric system in standard Z4 models. Weighing 3197 lb (1450 kg), the M Roadster has been tested by major U.S. car magazines to accelerate from Zero-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, which is slightly quicker than the Porsche Boxster S and Porsche Cayman S. . Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph (249 km/h).
A new six-speed manual transmission is used since the M3's original six-speed doesn't fit the Z4's chassis. The six speed is the only transmission available in the M Coupe/Roadster; its final gear ratios are virtually the same as those of the M3. It is reported on owner forums that the 6-speed gearbox in the 2006-2008 M roadsters and coupes is prone to grinding when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear at high rpm. According to reports, there has been mixed response by BMW dealerships to this issue, some owners claiming to have received entirely-new gearboxes and others claiming their dealer calls the grinding "normal". Varying shift technique, changing the gearbox fluid, and removal of the CDV (Clutch Delay Valve) are also reported to aid smooth shifting.
The M Roadster's MSRP is $52,100. A fixed-roof version (the M Coupe) is also available, though marginally heavier. Around the Top Gear test track, the BMW set a (wet track) time of 1:26.0 which is 0.8 of a second faster than the Base Corvette C6 LS2.
Options included a premium package (cruise control, power memory seats, upgraded audio, BMW Assist system), heated seats, extended leather, navigation and a body color aluminum hardtop.
Production Figures[1]
Coupes: Worldwide: 4,275; North America: 1,815.
Roadsters: Worldwide: 5,070; North America: 3,042
Awards[edit]
- The Z3 M Roadster was in Car and Driver's "Ten Best" (1999)
- "Design of the Year" award for the M Coupe in Automobile Magazine (1999).
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