Market Update – June 21, 2013

June 21st, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 46
S52: 39
S54: 7
Average Asking Price: $25,077.02
S52: $22,351.89
S54: $39,481.29

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

2000 Steel Gray over Dark Beige in Gaithersburg, MD

2000 Steel Gray over Dark Beige
Gaithersburg, MD – $15,850

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in Miami, FL

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
Miami, FL – $14,999

1999 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in Manhattan Beach, CA

1999 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
Manhattan Beach, CA – $14,850

2000 Cosmos Black over Kyalami Orange in Aptos, CA

2000 Cosmos Black over Kyalami
Aptos, CA – $34,000

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray in Clackamas, OR

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray
Clackamas, OR- $17,000

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in San Francisco, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
San Francisco, CA – $15,900

2000 Cosmos Black over Black in San Jose South, CA

2000 Cosmos Black over Black
San Jose South, CA- $17,900

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Salem, OR

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Salem, OR- $17,500

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – June 14, 2013

June 17th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 46
S52: 39
S54: 7
Average Asking Price: $25,077.02
S52: $22,351.89
S54: $39,481.29

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

1999 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in Manhattan Beach, CA

1999 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
Manhattan Beach, CA – $14,850

2002 Imola Red over Imola Red in Cincinnati, OH

2002 Imola Red over Imola Red
Cincinnati, OH – $52,990

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray in Gainesville, VA

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray
Gainesville, VA – $21,000

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in Miami, FL

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
Miami, FL – $14,999

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray in Clackamas, OR

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray
Clackamas, OR- $17,000

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in San Francisco, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
San Francisco, CA – $15,900

2000 Cosmos Black over Black in San Jose South, CA

2000 Cosmos Black over Black
San Jose South, CA- $17,900

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Chapel Hill, NC

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Chapel Hill, NC- $18,790

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – June 7, 2013

June 7th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 48
S52: 41
S54: 7
Average Asking Price: $23,672.11
S52: $21,512.26
S54: $35,397.00

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

2000 Alpine White over Evergreen in Portland, OR

2000 Alpine White over Evergreen
Portland, OR – $30,995

2002 Titanium Silver over Black in Cincinnati, OH

2002 Titanium Silver over Black
Cincinnati, OH – $46,990

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen in Bogart, GA

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen
Bogart, GA – $16,500

1999 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in Manhattan Beach, CA

1999 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
Manhattan Beach, CA – $14,850

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2002 Titanium Silver over Black in Encino, CA

2002 Titanium Silver over Black
Encino, CA – $24,400

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray in Clackamas, OR

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray
Clackamas, OR- $17,000

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in San Francisco, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
San Francisco, CA – $15,900

2000 Cosmos Black over Black in San Jose South, CA

2000 Cosmos Black over Black
San Jose South, CA- $17,900

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – May 31, 2013

May 31st, 2013 2 comments

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 49
S52: 43
S54: 6
Average Asking Price: $23,445.11
S52: $21,892.13
S54: $33,798.33

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

1999 Boston Green over Dark Beige in NJ

1999 Boston Green over Dark Beige
NJ – $24,999

2000 Alpine White over Evergreen in Portland, OR

2000 Alpine White over Evergreen
Portland, OR – $30,995

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in San Francisco, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
San Francisco, CA – $15,900

2001 Imola Red over Black in Cincinnati, OH

2001 Imola Red over Black
Cincinnati, OH – $38,990

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2002 Titanium Silver over Black in Encino, CA

2002 Titanium Silver over Black
Encino, CA – $24,400

2000 Titanium Silver over Black in CA

2000 Titanium Silver over Black
CA- $29,500

2000 Titanium Silver over Black in Tampa, FL

2000 Titanium Silver over Black
Tampa, FL- $20,000

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen in Bogart, GA

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen
Bogart, GA – $17,000

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

“It’s about the car, not me”

May 28th, 2013 1 comment

Another great coupe story from Chris, who was one of the first people I talked to looking for a coupe after starting my site. I’m glad your long search finally paid off. I know exactly how you feel.

This is actually the 4th or 5th attempt I’m making at this “contribution”, only this time I will spare you the life story and the hyperbole; stating mostly facts as concisely as possible without too much sentiment or exaggeration….well, maybe a little of that, but bear with me.

Before I say anything else, let me say that the chance to talk about my experience on Jon’s website is one that I accept with humility and gratitude.

Odds are I probably couldn’t have found a coupe (or as easily as I did) without his help and years of hard work.  How a young man could maintain such a solid grasp on so many responsibilities AND dreams at the same time inspires me as much as it boggles my mind…and on top of that, he remains ever vigilant (seemingly around the clock!) guiding mopes like myself to the inevitable acquisition of such fascinating machinery.

Again Jon, I truly thank you.

BMW M Coupe

It’s a strange obsession, this car.
In pictures it may not look like much, but seeing one in person is something else….
The roofline is about as high as the wheels on a transport truck, the gas cap…so low you need to go down on one knee when filling up, the front of the car is long and low like a cruise missile, and the back end is completely savage… yet so inexplicably compelling that it almost hurts to look away from it.
Whats best about those dramatic looks was how unintentional they were….much of the cars appearance was merely a consequence of necessity, cost effectiveness, and ice cold engineering.

Aerodynamically, this car is a brick.
It doesn’t cut through wind resistance so much as it punches it in the face, knocks it down and then kicks it in the gooch a few times for good measure.   It guzzles gas, chews rubber, eats mustangs, craps out smart cars, and snarls like a mean little SOB as you hang on for dear life.
And not only is it badass, it’s adorable too!  Aside from the beetle, the Fiat 500 and a few other retro novelties, I can’t think of any other cars with enough character to warrant a pet name.

(I call mine “Otto” btw!)

Anyway, allow me to digress for a bit…
I’m not sure how this obsession starts for everyone out there, but for many I believe it begins with a picture, right?

BMW M CoupeIn my case it goes all the way back to 1998, close to graduating highschool, screwing around in the library, and flipping through an issue of Popular Science.
It was a little blurb in the corner of the page called “Huge Horsepower” and the article itself was grossly inaccurate.  There was mention of a 400bhp v8 (oh, if only) that was actually slated for the arrival of the new m5s.  And there was no mention of the pictured cars actual name either; I had so little to go on back then.
I remember how smitten I was by that shadowy little beast from Germany, but getting one seemed like such a pipe dream back then.

Between then and now so much has happened (a lot of it bad, to be truthful) but one day on the trusty ol’ MCBG I finally found a decently priced, locally owned m coupe by a gentleman who agreed to sell it to me.
Much to this mans credit he held on to that car, turned down other prospective buyers, and fixed it up with little more than a promise from my end.  And this really meant a LOT to me considering how many uh…. odious characters I ran into over the years in my pursuit of this rare little creature.

The day I finally picked it up is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life….if only for how nice everything turned out.  The previous night was fraught with lost sleep, nagging concerns, pessimism, and uncertainty.  In the morning the drive up was so dark and rainy: I thought the weather reflected my state of mind perfectly that day…

But let me tell you something….
By the time I got to the garage and saw the car, the clouds opened up, the sun shined down, the seller was terrific and friendly…everything went down like a small miracle from that point.
Even the woman who handled the transfer of ownership was a stone cold fox…of course she was just a bored young lady working at a job she didn’t care for very much, but on THAT day she was a gorgeous blonde valkyrie; lifting me from a dreary life and delivering me unto a waking dream, finally realized after so long.

(In all seriousness she was pretty hot, though.)

Nice as all this was, I will also remember the final moments the last owner had with his car.
I felt sad following him back to the lot where he would turn the car over to me.
One last stop sign…one final, sombre peelout before parting with a very cool car that I’m sure he’ll miss dearly in the days ahead.
When he got out and gave me the keys, he took out a camera and asked if my brother and I wanted to be in the photo.  I declined, told him to go ahead and just take a pic of the car by itself.

“Hey, it’s about the car, not me!” I said to him.

He chuckled/I grinned, we thanked one another, shook hands and then I went home in a mild state of disbelief on a wonderful sunny day.

BMW M Coupe - Popular Science

Categories: Coupe Stories Tags:

Market Update – May 24, 2013

May 24th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 53
S52: 48
S54: 5
Average Asking Price: $22,923.60
S52: $21,799.56
S54: $31,715.56

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

1999 Boston Green over Dark Beige in NJ

1999 Boston Green over Dark Beige
NJ – $24,999

2000 Imola Red over Dark Gray in Lynnwood, WA

2000 Imola Red over Dark Gray
Lynnwood, WA – $21,000

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in San Francisco, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
San Francisco, CA – $15,900

2002 Titanium Silver over Black in San Leandro, CA

2002 Titanium Silver over Black
San Leandro, CA – $42,000

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Surrey, BC

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Surrey, BC- $16,500

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray in Clackamas, OR

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray
Clackamas, OR- $16,500

2000 Cosmos Black over Black in San Jose South, CA

2000 Cosmos Black over Black
San Jose South, CA- $17,900

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen in Bogart, GA

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen
Bogart, GA – $17,000

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – May 17, 2013

May 17th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 59
S52: 50
S54: 9
Average Asking Price: $23,582.36
S52: $21,991.09
S54: $31,715.56

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

1999 Arctic Silver over Black in San Jose West, CA

1999 Arctic Silver over Black
San Jose West, CA – $15,500

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in Cincinnati, OH

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
Cincinnati, OH – $37,990

2000 Imola Red over Dark Gray in Lynnwood, WA

2000 Imola Red over Dark Gray
Lynnwood, WA – $21,000

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Thaxton, VA

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Thaxton, VA – $11,900

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray in Clackamas, OR

2000 Titanium Silver over Dark Gray
Clackamas, OR- $16,500

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige in Happy Valley, OR

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige
Happy Valley, OR – $17,900

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in New York, NY

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
New York, NY- $19,000

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen in Bogart, GA

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen
Bogart, GA – $17,000

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

LeatherZ Armrests

May 10th, 2013 1 comment

LeatherZ Mark2+ Armrest

LeatherZ has been around as long as coupes with their first product, the Mark1 armrest, being made available in October 1998. Since then their business and product portfolio has grown substantially supplying anyone looking to make their Z more unique or luxurious. Both Andy Maddux and his brother John own coupes, so it’s always nice to support fellow Coupe Cartel members.

BMW M Coupe Center Console

Before

BMW M Coupe LeatherZ Mark2+ Armrest

After

Mark2+ Armrest

I have long desired a LeatherZ Mark2+ armrest as much for its looks as for it’s functionality. In my eyes, it’s the only armrest available for the Z3 platform that looks not only factory, but actually better than any of the center console options originally offered by BMW. LeatherZ’s product has come a long way since the original Mark1 and slightly skinnier Mark2 versions, and I think it’s now reached it’s zenith. It’s a pretty simple flip-up piece that attaches to the factory single or double cupholder consoles. It is of high quality though using BMW factory leather, and man did the box smell good when I opened it :). Most of the common Z3 and Z3M interior colors are available.

You have three choices when ordering. If you already have either the factory 2-cupholder console or 1-cupholder/large storage base console, you can buy the armrest only and install yourself. If your coupe was configured cupholder-less, you can order it already attached to either of the bases. My coupe was originally configured with the plain center console, but I had recently picked up a 2-cupholder console to which to attach my new armrest. I actually like the clean look of the plain console, but it makes for a long 1200 mile drive to Dorkfest without a cupholder.

BMW M Coupe Center Console

Before

BMW M Coupe LeatherZ Mark2+ Armrest

After

Installation is very easy, and the instructions are clear and well written. If you have an existing console, simply remove the carpet/foam/felt piece in the back half of it, and you’ll be able to see the single Phillips screw holding it in. Remove the screw, lift up the back of the cupholder base far enough to clear the center console, then pull it towards the rear of the car to disengage the single plastic tab holding in the front. While the base it out, give your center console a good cleaning as well as the cupholder base itself. You are now ready to attach your armrest.

I do not have too much to add to LeatherZ’s instructions as far as attaching the armrest to the cupholder base as they pretty much cover everything. I would just encourage you to follow them to the letter. When initially lining up the base and armrest on my workbench, I was tempted to offset it just a little to the passenger side as it looked more straight to my eye. A test fitting in the car showed why I should have just follow the instructions as the armrest would have rubbed up against the passenger seat bolster. Mounting the hinge in the dead center of the base is the way to go. Also be sure to use the thin piece of cardboard or small stack of business cards to space out the rear of the armrest. This compensates for the small bumpers on the front of the armrest and will make sure it’s level once installed.

Reinstalling the cupholder base (now with armrest attached) is simply a matter of reversing the steps you took to remove it. Place the front in first with the plastic tab under the center console. Once the tab is engaged, lower the rear of the base the rest of the way then replace the single screw. Now step back and admire your work or better yet, lounge in the driver seat and let your right elbow enjoy the fruits of your labor.

BMW M Coupe LeatherZ Mark2+ Armrest

Door Armrests

To be honest, door armrests were never really on my radar until last year. After driving ~2800 miles in the span of 4 days for Dorkfest last year, my left elbow was numb for almost 3 days afterward. Evidently, I rested my elbow on the hard plastic door panel a significant number of those miles. I swore then that if I was going to make the drive again, I was going to pad my elbow.

BMW M Coupe LeatherZ Door Armrest

Driver Door

BMW M Coupe LeatherZ Door Armrest

Passenger Doro

Forgoing the simplest solution of buying some stylish elbow pads (or borrowing my son’s), I decided to look into LeatherZ’s far more elegant solution. I’m always very hesitant to do anything irreversible to my coupe, but a couple of recent sales listings with photos of the door armrests as well as the memory of my elbow convinced me to give them a try.

My next decision was which color to order them in. The few photos I saw online matched their door armrests with their center armrest (and sometimes the shift and brake boots as well). I’m a little more conservative, and while I absolutely love the imola red interior in my coupe, I decided imola red door armrests may be taking it a step too far. I ended up going with black.

Installation is extremely simple requiring only that your clean the door panels very, very well with alcohol wipes (provided) to make sure the 3M adhesive sticks as well as possible. Next you line them up where you want them, remove the backing from the tape, and hold them down firmly for 30 seconds. Ta-da.

Seeing as this was a practical mod rather than an aesthetic one, I was expecting to compromise on looks in order to achieve the functionality. I have to say I’m very pleasantly surprised by the end result. I actually LOVE the look of the installed armrests. Very few people would even recognize they are not stock, and boy are they comfy. My two hour drive after the install confirms that my left elbow approves.

BMW M Coupe LeatherZ Armrests

LeatherZ Armrests

Conclusion

I’ve seen LeatherZ center console armrests in many coupes over the years, and everyone has loved them. I’ll add my agreement to that as well. The door armrests, on the other hand, seem to be far more rare. With how satisfied I am with them, I’m surprised by how few photos I was able to find of coupes that have them installed. I had never even seen them in person before installing my own. If you haven’t either, check them out in my coupe at Dorkfest. I highly recommend the upgrade, and so do your elbows.

Buy a LeatherZ Mark2+ Armrest
Buy LeatherZ Door Armrests
Buy the LeatherZ Armrest Bundle

Market Update – May 10, 2013

May 10th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 57
S52: 50
S54: 7
Average Asking Price: $23,197.66
S52: $22,261.43
S54: $29,350.00

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in Miami, FL

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
Miami, FL – $14,999

1999 Imola Red over Black in San Jose, CA

1999 Imola Red over Black
San Jose, CA – $13,195

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen in Bogart, GA

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen
Bogart, GA – $17,000

2000 Titanium Silver over Black in West Valley City, UT

2000 Titanium Silver over Black
West Valley City, UT – $5,950

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Surrey, BC

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Surrey, BC – $16,900

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige in Happy Valley, OR

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige
Happy Valley, OR – $17,900

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Thaxton, VA

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Thaxton, VA – $11,900

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in New York, NY

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
New York, NY- $19,000

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – May 3, 2013

May 3rd, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 57
S52: 50
S54: 7
Average Asking Price: $22,691.89
S52: $21,678.70
S54: $29,350.00

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in Burlingame, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
Burlingame, CA- $12,100

2000 Titanium Silver over Black in West Valley City, UT

2000 Titanium Silver over Black
West Valley City, UT – $5,950

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige in Happy Valley, OR

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige
Happy Valley, OR – $17,900

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Thaxton, VA

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Thaxton, VA – $11,900

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Surrey, BC

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Surrey, BC – $16,900

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in New York, NY

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
New York, NY- $19,000

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen in Bogart, GA

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen
Bogart, GA – $17,500

1999 Imola Red over Black in San Jose, CA

1999 Imola Red over Black
San Jose, CA- $13,195

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Chasing Unicorns – The Z3 M Coupe

April 29th, 2013 Comments off

Neil recently purchased this coupe, but his coupe history is pretty epic. Read about it below. Thanks for sharing Neil and welcome (back) to the Coupe Cartel!

Originally posted at: discommon.com/2013/04/my-eleanor-the-z3-m-coupe/.

Neil with His New Coupe

It’s the tiniest of memories, but it’s still there. Mum and Dad sitting up in bed on holiday in the North of Scotland, still in PJ’s, eating bowls of cereal, unraveling The Sunday Times. It’s a big newspaper, The Sunday Times, but my dad and I fought over only one small section – Motoring.  Somehow it seemed like the paper always got folded in a different order…that, or we just were not smart enough to predict it.  I was unfolding section after section and probably got stuck with something worthless like The Style (I had none of that at all, that’s for sure).  My dad found it first, but instead of a victorious snort, a puzzled look came over his face. “Humphh… well then, what do we think THIS is? How do you like that, Sue? That looks like the golf clubs might even fit!” he said as he thrust an ad on the front page in front of her.

…Now I should pause to say that at the time my dad had his first real sports car – a 2.0 Liter Alfa Romeo GTV Twin Spark (to be precise).  I LOVED it, but I was seriously outgrowing the hopeless excuse for a back seat.  Meanwhile, my dad was outgrowing Alfa’s unique customer service that involved regularly finding dirty rags or indeed tools in the engine bay AFTER picking the car up from a service.

I grabbed the paper and it made an impression that I still remember.  In perfect side profile, a squat, low-slung, big-assed, shoe looking car was essentially being “served” across a desert by a tennis racket with the tag line along the lines of “Real cars are powered from the rear”.  I was sold at first look.  Sure it was awkward, why on earth was it a mini-wagon? But those hips and those muscles, this car was all business.

BMW M Coupe

I’m sure the memory has simplified itself over time, but as my dad and I sat looking at it, I swear I can remember just knowing that we were going to own it.  Dad just had that kind of cock-eyed look, with a hint of a grin.

My next memory of the car was sitting in the dealership explaining that I had to be part of this decision process and that in order to be involved, I should be allowed to pick the interior. Dad must have been drunk on excitement, because nobody seemed to mind when I picked the complete Imola Red interior. Funnily enough, I think it turned out to be one of dad’s favorite pieces of the car. The interior really was great looking.

From there, my love for the car only grew.  Dad traveled a lot and indeed often went to work before I even woke up. However, my room was by the garage, and my bed was up against the adjoining wall. I’d awaken to the garage door rolling up, wait 15 seconds for the clunk of the drivers door to open and then give a “dum, dada, dum dum” knock on the wall. Something my dad and I did for years back and forth as a father/son little “hello”.  But that wasn’t the best bit.  No no no.  Give it 5 seconds more and the door would thunk closed, only to be followed by the cold and raspy bark of that glorious 100 horsepower per litre straight six, coming alive in our tiny garage. My wall would shake and the pictures rattle as he pulled out to go about his day. That right there is how a passion for the internal combustion engine grows.

BMW M Coupe

Insurance in the UK is really tough for a “kid”, so I never really got to drive the Coupe on the road, but at weekends, dad would pick me up off the bus home from University at the end of a private road that ran the length of a driving range.  He’d then let me sit at the bottom of the road in the drivers seat, eying up my own personal runway and setting my best 0-80mph run up the hill every time. It was awesome…but far too short.

5 years into dad owning the still pristine car, I was 21 and getting really close to being able to convince my Mum that the still astronomical insurance on the car was now worth it to let me drive.  I felt like I had paid my dues, as my daily driver was a raspberry red Skoda Felicia 1.3i (strangely I still miss that thing).  Then the phone call came.

I was walking to class with by best friend and my dad rang. “Neil, I’ve got some bad news. Nobody is hurt, but the dealership wrecked the coupe.”

Z3_M_Coupe_Frontal_Crash-150x150Z3_M_Coupe_Front-150x150Z3_M_Coupe_Rear2-150x150Z3_M_Coupe_Rear_Crash-150x150

Wait what? How does that happen? They are the BMW dealership, they don’t wreck things!?  Well, it happened rather spectacularly.  While in for an inspection, one of the technicians was taking it for it’s MOT test and used 2nd gear a little too thoroughly going through a roundabout and ended up making out with an embankment and some trees. The front was hit, the back was hit, the sides were hit and I think he got the roof too.   The car was dead and I never drove her on the road. the Z3 M Coupe become my Unicorn, the beast I never tamed, never owned and was always just outside my reach.

Fast-forward 9 years of  watching classifieds and doing sensible things like buying a house. I finally found my unicorn and bought her. She’s all mine, is currently on a transporter from Atlanta, GA and I couldn’t bee more excited.

Now I have to tame it. To Be Continued.

My Imola Red S54 BMW Z3 M Coupe

My Imola Red S54 BMW Z3 M Coupe

Categories: Coupe Stories Tags:

Market Update – April 26, 2013

April 26th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 55
S52: 47
S54: 8
Average Asking Price: $23,478.53
S52: $21,766.63
S54: $32,680.00

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

2002 Black Sapphire over Imola Red in Cincinnati, OH

2002 Black Sapphire over Imola Red
Cincinnati, OH – $55,990

2000 Alpine White over Evergreen in Portland, OR

2000 Alpine White over Evergreen
Portland, OR – $32,995

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen in Bogart, GA

1999 Evergreen over Evergreen
Bogart, GA – $17,500

2000 Titanium Silver over Black in West Valley City, UT

2000 Titanium Silver over Black
West Valley City, UT – $6,900

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige in Happy Valley, OR

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige
Happy Valley, OR – $18,000

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Surrey, BC

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Surrey, BC – $16,900

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in Burlingame, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
Burlingame, CA- $16,500

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in New York, NY

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
New York, NY- $19,000

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – April 19, 2013

April 20th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 62
S52: 50
S54: 12
Average Asking Price: $23,291.08
S52: $21,102.96
S54: $31,861.25

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

2001 Black Sapphire over Black in Portland, OR

2001 Black Sapphire over Black
Portland, OR – $22,995

1999 Cosmos Black over Black in Shreveport, LA

1999 Cosmos Black over Black
Shreveport, LA – $7,200

2000 Dakar Yellow over Black in Burbank, CA

2000 Dakar Yellow over Black
Burbank, CA – $17,750

2002 Black Sapphire over Imola Red in Cincinnati, OH

2002 Black Sapphire over Imola Red
Cincinnati, OH – $59,990

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige in Happy Valley, OR

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige
Happy Valley, OR – $18,000

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Surrey, BC

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Surrey, BC – $16,900

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in Burlingame, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
Burlingame, CA- $16,500

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in New York, NY

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
New York, NY- $19,000

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – April 12, 2013

April 13th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 48
S52: 36
S54: 12
Average Asking Price: $24,081.02
S52: $21,413.51
S54: $31,861.25

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige in Happy Valley, OR

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige
Happy Valley, OR – $18,000

2001 Black Sapphire over Black in Portland, OR

2001 Black Sapphire over Black
Portland, OR – $22,995

1999 Imola Red over Imola Red in Windermere, FL

1999 Imola Red over Imola Red
Windermere, FL – $26,000

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in New York, NY

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
New York, NY- $19,000

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

1999 Arctic Silver over Imola Red in Yorba Linda, CA

1999 Arctic Silver over Imola Red
Yorba Linda, CA – $17,000

2002 Titanium Silver over Black in Encino, CA

2002 Titanium Silver over Black
Encino, CA- $25,800

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige in Burlingame, CA

1999 Cosmos Black over Dark Beige
Burlingame, CA- $16,500

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red in Surrey, BC

2000 Imola Red over Imola Red
Surrey, BC – $17,900

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags:

Market Update – April 5, 2013

April 9th, 2013 Comments off

This week’s overview of what’s happened in the M Coupe market.

Currently Listed: 45
S52: 33
S54: 12
Average Asking Price: $24,703.18
S52: $22,062.82
S54: $31,964.17

Most Popular Sales Listings

These are the cars that have been viewed most often this week:

2002 Black Sapphire over Black in Ridgewood, NJ

2002 Black Sapphire over Black
Ridgewood, NJ – $25,730

1999 Arctic Silver over Imola Red in Yorba Linda, CA

1999 Arctic Silver over Imola Red
Yorba Linda, CA – $17,000

1999 Imola Red over Imola Red in Windermere, FL

1999 Imola Red over Imola Red
Windermere, FL – $26,000

2002 Titanium Silver over Black in Nanaimo, BC

2002 Titanium Silver over Black
Nanaimo, BC – $29,500

Best Deals

These are what I think are the best deals still available that are not already on the most popular list.

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige in Happy Valley, OR

2000 Alpine White over Dark Beige
Happy Valley, OR – $18,000

2000 Cosmos Black over Black in Chattanooga, TN

2000 Cosmos Black over Black
Chattanooga, TN – $20,500

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue in New York, NY

2001 Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue
New York, NY- $19,000

2002 Titanium Silver over Black in Encino, CA

2002 Titanium Silver over Black
Encino, CA- $25,800

Sold This Week

Here are the cars that appear to have gone to lucky new owners this week.

Categories: Market Updates Tags: