BMW M Roadster
| BMW M Roadster | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Production | 1998–2008 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
Roadster Sports car |
| Layout | FR layout |
| First Generation E36/7 M Roadster | |
|---|---|
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|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Also called | Z3 M Roadster, MZ3 |
| Production | 1998–2002 |
| Assembly |
BMW US Manufacturing Company Greer, South Carolina, United States |
| Designer | Joji Nagashima |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
Roadster Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door roadster |
| 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 |
| BMW E85 M Roadster | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Also called | Z4 M Roadster, MZ4 |
| Production | 2006–2008 |
| Designer | Anders Warming |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
Roadster Sports car |
| 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 |
The BMW M Roadster is the BMW M performance model of the BMW Z3 and BMW Z4 convertibles. It was produced between 1998 and 2002 and again during the 2006-2008 model years. All models were produced in the Greer, South Carolina manufacturing facility, though the complete M engine was imported from Germany.
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 offset of 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.
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