About this Site
May 16th, 2014
After 5+ years of searching for the perfect BMW M Coupe, I had not found it, but I had learned a lot about them and about the market. While waiting for my perfect coupe to show, I thought I would share some of my insight with other potential M Coupe buyers. This site will contain some basic information about what to look for in an M Coupe as well as links to current sale ads and my thoughts on them. Feel free to leave comments as I am not an expert and am always happy to learn more about the car I love.
Now that I have finally found my coupe, I will be posting more articles on upgrades and modifications as I research and install them. It has also motivated me even more to help others like me find their perfect coupe. Enjoy!
Hello Jon,
I’ve always been keen on M coupes, ever since I saw my first one as boy. It was Estoril blue, and the driver absolutely floored it on a wet country road, these fabulous ‘hips’ disappearring into the morning mountain fog.
These cars are now within my reach, but as I am not US based, we seldom see them. My question is, how does a 6’4″ man (with longer legs than body) go sitting in these? I prefer to have the wheel close to me, so just putting the seat back is not always the answer. That said, happy to have bent knees. Comments appreciated.
Great site.
Arron.
Sounds like a good first coupe experience. I know of several 6’4-6″ guys with coupes, and there are ways to fit fairly comfortably including the seat-tilt mod and removing the foam beneath the trim piece behind the driver seat. The tricky part will be bringing the steering wheel towards you. The steering wheels are not adjustable, but I’ve heard of one guy managing to add a spacer behind the steering wheel.
Love these cars and on the hunt for a right hand drive here in NZ. They are few and far between but if anyone has a lead in a rich hand drive model in the US I would be keen to hear about it is easy enough to import them.
What a great site, I look at it at least once a day. I started looking for one about 9 months ago and after reading the stories I didnt feel so bad about not finding mine yet.
Where can I find information Z-3 production by year and model is that available. Thanks Mark
Here are all the M Coupe year-to-year differences: http://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/index.php/2010/05/year-makes-all-the-difference/.
Hi Jon. Love the look of your coupe. I’m thinking of buying a used roadster (not a BMW) from the same dealer you bought yours. The situation is also pretty similar in that the car is not at Gambacorta Motors but in Colorado and would have to be shipped back east. I was just wondering how you felt about your dealings with Gambacorta? Outside of the shipping fiasco, do you think they were honest and fair? I ask because I noticed they had a couple bad reviews and a low rating from the Better Business Bureau. If you have any opinion one way or the other I would appreciate it.
I’ll email you David
Thanks loads!
Hi Jon,
I pm’ed/emailed with a friend of yours today, Colby, about his 2000 Dakar M Coupe. I totally understand where he is coming from with his M Coupe. I am in the market for one and am so disappointed I sold my 2002 Dakar Z3 Coupe after seven years of ownership! So I’m wanting to upgrade but need to sell my 2005 M3 Alpine Vert. (It just wasn’t the same!) I’ve also been in contact with Ardy, who has the low mileage Daker M Coupe like Colby’s on your site. I can sure use your help! I’m very serious about getting back into the M Coupe and back into Dorkfest as well! Thanks, Leslie
Emailed you Leslie
Thanks Jon.
Jon – have you plotted sale prices by year ? Would be interesting to see whether they have bottomed out yet and started to appreciate. Great site
Regards
jN
Not a perfect science, but here you go: http://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/research/pricetrends.aspx
Hi Jon,
I was wondering, would it be possible to add to the database whether a car still exists or not? For example, if one was totaled/wrecked? Which ones have been rebuilt? That would be fascinating.
An M Coupe registry to do just that is in the works.
Hello,
First off, I must say Thank You for what truly is the best resource for anyone looking an M coupe. (in U.S) I have wanted these cars for a while and now I have finally sold my E39 M5 and am searching for my perfect M coupe. Due to budget restrictions I am limited to a 1999-2000 model but that is not a problem, if power is all I wanted the M5 was plenty.
I am certain I will find my coupe thanks only to your website.
You’re very welcome. Feel free to email me with any specific questions you come up with during your search. Good luck!
Hi Jon — I very much appreciate this site and have purchased two cars (an M coupe and M roadster) from the listings over the past couple of years.
Given your knowledge of all things M coupe, I was hoping you might be able to direct me towards a roof rack (bike) for my coupe. I can’t locate any manufacturers still producing a set-up for the 2000 coupe. Do you have any ideas / recommendations?
Thanks for a great site….
smj
Hey Steve. OEM ones come up on Ebay and Craigslist from time to time. Thule 753 ones can also work. There’s more information here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1479631-M-Coupe-Bike-Racks-What-s-out-there-and-post-pics-of-yours.
Trying to get in touch with the owner of:
http://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/listings/listing.aspx?ListingID=3066
Sent a private message at Bimmerforums….anyone have any contact info or is there a trick on this site for contacting? Thanks.
Unfortunately I don’t have any additional contact information for that seller.
Jon – emailed you a couple of times from my intel email. Have you seen the emails? Cheers
No, I haven’t seen them. I’ll try emailing you.
Hello Jon,
You mentioned in your listing of the black coupe in Sausalito that some PPI info is available. How can I get that?
Pete
Emailed you Pete
Hi Jon, how do you respond to customers with cars for sale ? Thanks Mark
It varies, but you should be able to get a hold of most through their sales listing links (AutoTrader, Ebay, Craigslist, etc.). If you can’t find one, send me an email, and I can try to put you in touch with the seller.
@Jon Martin
Hey, I’m the seller. I replied to Avrim’s PM and we talked briefly on the phone. I’ve now listed the car in the BMWs for sale forum of Bimmerforums and have included my email, sgjones.az@gmail.com to get in touch. Thanks for the encouraging words in your evaluation and by the way your site was the best resource I could find to determine an asking price.
Thanks for the update Steve. Good luck with the sale!
I just picked up a 2001 s54 silver with 5003 miles. It is like new and may be the nicest one in the world. Has never been in a temp below 65 degrees and has not been wet or seen sun since 2003. It is making me crazy because I don’t want to drive it. I have owned many high end cars but it is too cool to get dirty. I think I am going to sell it. Would love to see it in a high end dealership for others to see. Your thoughts?
Sounds pretty amazing, and one of the lowest mileage coupes I’ve come across. You should trade it in for one your wouldn’t feel so bad driving 🙂
Jon:
I need to have my stock rear wheels refinished. Do you have any recommendation about TransWheel?
Thanks!
I don’t have any first hand experience with them, but they seem to have excellent reviews online. Are you refinishing an S52 or S54 wheel?
@Jon Martin
They are S52s and the BMW color I’m told is called ChromShadow. TransWheel interprets this to be HyperSilver. I’mClueless on this matter.
S52s had hyper silver roadstars. Chrome shadow ones only came on 2001-2002 S54s. Hyper silver will be much easier to refinish.
@Jon Martin
That’s valuable information to know. Thanks!
Hi Jon. I’m not finding the Z4 M Coupe buyers guide. I have seen it, my car is listed, but I can’t trace back to find how I came to know it was live. The link http://www.mcoupebuyersguide.com/index.php/about/ shows Z3 coupes. What am I missing? Thanks!!!
Z4 M Coupe Buyers Guide is at http://z4mcoupebuyersguide.com/. Once I get this guide redesigned the navigation will be a little more straightforward.
Thanks!!! And THANKS for your efforts!
The 2001 titanium silver with 40,000 miles, previously located in San Diego owned by Tony, is no longer available as my daughter bought it. FYI
Thanks for the update Maureen! That’s exciting! Great color combo too.
Jon, I am looking at the Estoril Blue 1999 for sale in Fontana Vin#WBSCM9335XLC60605. Just chatted with the owner and it seems a bit dicey since he was not the owner when the salvage title issue occurred and he does not have any info on it. Wanted to get some insight from you on what to look for when/if I go up to look at it. Thanks for your great work!
I would mainly just look at the panel caps and see if they seem fairly even and fit well together. I’d very highly recommend having a pre-purchase inspection done. They’ll be able to tell you what panels were replaced, where there has been paintwork, and if it looks like any structural damage was done.
Yes I looked at BMW Riverside…unfortunately I was at work late tonight so I could not call them and was too busy to see if there are nearby trustworthy independent BMW mechanics to come look at it. I guess my stance is that these are great cars, I have always wanted one, the price is right and I love the color….balance that it the fact that I am nervous about a salvage title, yet if I am planning on keeping the car for a long time and not flipping it or recoup any value….should I be nervous and avoid it, or just do my homework? I’ll def do a PPI and see if the dealer can look at the VIN and see what work was done. The current owner says he does not have any maintenance records, any way to try and look at these? Also, at least with the spoiler and the racing harnesses, I would want to try and bring this car back to a closer to stock condition. How hard would it be? Feel free to email me if you want to discuss.@Jon Martin
I’ll email you Jeff
Hi Jon
I bought a 2001 Titanium Silver M Coupe (last 7 of VIN: LK60075) in May/June 2011 and have done a fair amount of performance upgrades to it and have updated pix and info for your site.
How do I get that info updated on the site, which has the old pix and info?
Thanks!
Keith
Waldoboro, Maine
I’m sad to report that there is one less MCoupe on the road today.
I’m also sad to report that my adjuster and I don’t agree on the value of my MCoupe and they don’t seem to be interested in all the empirical data on your site… which is what I thought an adjuster was interested in.
Can you recommend an appraiser in Northern California that is familiar with MCoupes?
Sorry to hear that Mark. I’ll send you an email.
Hey, Jon,
Now that you have the Z3C and Z4MC, how about adding a Z4C site? They seem to be even more rare, but the couple 3.0sis I’ve driven were awesome.
In fact, for various reasons, I’m contemplating selling my Z3MC for a lower mileage Z4C…
It’s been talked about. I need to figure out their VIN number range(s), so I can get production data. I also need to find someone knowledgeable about them to run it.
Hey Jon,
I have a 1999 BMW Z3 M Coupe Roadster that my dad left me when he passed away last year. It was his prized baby. I am looking to sell it because I have a teenage daughter getting ready to drive and I would not let this be her first car. The car is spotless with only 52K miles and garage kept/and covered. I am not sure about how to go about listing this vehicle because I am not familiar with all the specs. My dad knew all that! What should I do?
Thanks!
April
Emailed you April. I’m happy to help.
Thank you for making this site! I am beginning my search for the perfect shooting-brake coupe. Your site is an inspiration. Too bad that Ferrari is a tad out of my price range. Oh well.
Thanks Tomi! Feel free to email me with any specific questions.
How to we contact the seller??
Most can be contacted through their AutoTrader or Craigslist listing. I don’t usually post seller contact information explicitly unless they ask me too. If there’s one you can’t find you can email me at jon@mcoupebuyersguide.com, and I probably have it recorded somewhere.