2001+ BMW M Convertible-- Feedback.

the 315hp rating only came in the 2002 model. They are much harder to find then the other models. Pre-2002 they were rated at 244hp I believe.

 

I was mistaken, did a quick search and the 2001 had the high output as well. OOPS SORRY! lol Sorry for the wrong info. I was going off of my memory, which is sometimes not a good thing!

EDIT: I have driven the 2002 Z3 M Coupe. Great amount of power! Handles and has the BMW road feel that I love. I have also driven the 350Z's. I would actually prefer the M Roadster/Coupe over the 350Z. The Z is ok, but the BMW I feel like I could push the limits a lot more with greater confidence.

 

I keep coming back... lol

May want to consider an 04+ Honda S2000. Definetly a car Im considering. It such a fun car, BUT has literally no torque when compared to the 350Z and the M roadster. You can definetly get a nice 04-05 S2000 with less then 20k miles for $25k. The car has proven to be very reliable from what I have researched.

 

I had an M Roadster before it got the HP bump (cant remember if it was a 98 or 99) and it was a fantastic car. I added the Dinan mods including supercharger and it became a 'supercar'...seriously it was incredible. I sold it to get the Viper and I wish, at the time, I could have kept both.

Ive never driven a 350Z so wont comment but you cant go wrong with a Z3 M roadster or coupe.

 

Gen II is my fav car for less than ~$200k. IMO you cant go wrong with a viper and I used mine as a daily driver for two years and nothing ever went wrong with it !

 

I haven't driven an M Coupe or Roadster, but my early '97 2.8 Z3 is said to be pretty close to an early US M version in performance (must be the lack of roll hoops that makes all the difference!) I sure like my winter/summer beater BM and would certainly have enjoyed an M version all the more.

As to Hondas - I'd never think of a S2000, but I'm a big fan of the NSX.

p.s.: photo taken tonight after a quick hose down & scrubbing. Hope it doesn't rain tonight - top's still open as usual
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Nice car..I miss mine

 

Mine was red... I can dig up some pics but they're on another computer.

Other than it being out of warranty and BMWs being a bit pricey to upkeep you cant go wrong with that car. It just 'feels' right.

 

Send a PM to Michael (MRoadster) . He has a really nice M roadster and can give you lots of insight. I drove it once and it was really quick, and also very confortable. With all that power it tends to push in a corner so you have to have some self control.
BT

 

I had one of the 1st ones in 98, before they even had traction control in them yet. It was alot of fun.

 

The 01-02 M Roadster has the brilliant S54 motor. The earlier models have the less powerful, but wonderfully torquey S52 motor. The motor is the highlight of all M Roadsters. The rest of the car can't match the greatness of the motor. The E36 generation M Roadster and M Coupe used the semi-trailing arm rear suspension originally developed for the E30 3-series. These cars can't boast the latest in suspension technology, but BMW made it work OK. The M Roadster's biggest weakness is lack of stiffness. Driving bumpy roads, it's easy to feel the car flexing. This isn't confidence inspiring, and is especially bad over mid-corner bumps. Some people might accept the looseness as the price for having an open top. Drive a S2000 or Boxster and you'll understand that structural integrity and convertible bodies can go together.

 

Absolutely no torque at all. The engine zings up like a sewing machine but leaves me absolutely bored in normal driving conditions. I would not buy one. The M Coupe is more fun to drive than the M Roadster and has absolutely no cowl shake like the roadster has.

 

And others buy a "Strong-Strut" and a "Butt-Strut" to eliminate a great deal of that flex

I only have the Strong-Strut on mine, but it made a WORLD of difference. The other bit is supposed to be an even more dramatic improvement.

 

How do the S52 and S54 engines compare? I like the car but getting the S52 ... doesn't one feel like the S52 is a castrated version of the S54 (and end up lusting after a 2001+ Z3M?). Or is the S52 a great engine in its own right?