RR of the Day: 2001 BMW M Coupé
Everyone has a list of vehicles that they want to drive before they die, for me, today's RR of the Day is a vehicle that I've vowed to own. The first time I saw an M coupé in person at a strip mall in my hometown, I waited 20 minutes for the owner to come out, interrogated him for a half an hour and then talked him in to giving me a ride. Unlike today's example, his black 2000 model housed a 240 HP, S52 engine that provided ample motivation for the three-door oddity. CT57's, however, is equipped with an S54, the same 330 HP mill found within the E46 M3 that we know and love.
The rest of the details are after the jump, along with instructions on how to get your own ride featured here.
The Air Jordan on wheels was a rogue engineering exercise by a small, dedicated group of BMW's propeller heads that were obsessed with creating a true driver's car. After convincing BMW's suits that it could be manufactured in a cost effective manner, utilizing as many parts from its drop-top sibling, the Z3, as possible, they got the green light. When it comes to the styling, you either get it, or you don't. There doesn't seem to be anything in between.
Autoblog reader and Flickr member, CT57, has owned this 2001 model since late 2005 and it's one of 690, S54-equipped models produced. He's kept the modifications to a minimum, not risking the possibility of messing with perfection, by only adding a strut tower brace and tinting the windows.
For tons more pics of CT57's ride and a brief history of the original M coupé, click here.
How to submit to RR of the Day:
Create a Flickr account if you don't already have one. Search for and join the group called 'Autoblog RR of the Day'. Upload up to three photos of your ride to your own account at a size no larger than 450 pixels wide if possible and include as much information about it and yourself as possible. Even if your ride is sweet, it will not be chosen if there's not a lot of info accompanying it. Click on each photo and just above the picture it will say "Send to group". Click that and select the Autoblog group. You're done, that's it!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rick 10:07AM (1/29/2007)
Daddy Like!!
A friend of mine got one of these back in 1999 or 2000 I think.. Don't remember exactly.. But it's the Dakar Yellow color - I too have vowed to own that one day. His is bone stock, garage kept from day one, and spends the winter in a heated garage (doesn't see rain or snow).. Every time I speak to him or his wife I remind him that I will hunt him down and kill him if he sells it without giving me the right of first refusal first. :-) This already has my vote for RR of the week.. and it's only Monday
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Johnie 10:17AM (1/29/2007)
I respect the power...but man that car is ugly.
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Paris Hilton is a Slut 10:23AM (1/29/2007)
A BMW 135i! Hooray!
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enumerated 10:40AM (1/29/2007)
One of my all time favorites - especially the back view. The four tips with those wide tires...
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cyclopticgaze 10:45AM (1/29/2007)
I will own one of these someday.
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- Ed. 10:45AM (1/29/2007)
This is the coolest Gremlin I've ever seen!
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Nick 11:15AM (1/29/2007)
Why everyone is vowed to own this car? Can anyone tell what's so special about this car? Is it even better than the legendary M3?
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amp 11:22AM (1/29/2007)
I too vow to own one of these one day. The only problem is that they hold thier value so damn well. Curse you German engineering!
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ZPrime 12:12PM (1/29/2007)
Uh, there shouldn't be an accent over that "e." That would be pronounced "coup-ay" which makes no sense...
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kc 12:36PM (1/29/2007)
It is not that this beloved car is better than an M3, but it is indeed on par with it and some of the best sports coupes out there.
The Z3 M Coupe is a perfectly balanced car that screams to be driven and driven well.
It handles like a dream, has gobs of grab you by the eh'hems power, and has a look that makes anyone and everyone check it when at speed or standing still in a parking lot.
Yes, the M Coupe is one incredible ride, and if you do get the chance to drive one, let alone own one, DO IT!
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Richard Warren 12:57PM (1/29/2007)
Hmmmmm
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8189720 1:13PM (1/29/2007)
I've seen one of these driving around my town a few years back, but I could never catch the numbers on the rear to find out what series/model this actually was and it bugged me for the longest time. Everytime, it seemed like we were going in the opposite directions when we crossed patchs and I never managed to catch a glimpse.
Now I know. I really like the car, but in it's special way it still is pretty ugly (now there's an oxymoron).
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will 8:04PM (1/29/2007)
Zprime, thats how they say it in say...England and other european countries
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tr 1:27PM (1/29/2007)
"Uh, there shouldn't be an accent over that "e." That would be pronounced "coup-ay" which makes no sense..."
yeah, except for those who don't live in the united states and speak "american". geez, get out of your bubble.
i'm always on the lookout for one of these cars. it's the perfect example of an awesome car, that no one really knows about.
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Pearson Hurst 1:29PM (1/29/2007)
Don't get me wrong, I really, REALLY like the M coupe, and would kill to have one, but everytime I see one, I can't help but think of the car Ace & Gary drive in "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" on SNL.
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DRFS Rich 3:13PM (1/29/2007)
ZPrim - Shouldn't be an accent? You'd do well to learn the origins of the word.
- R
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Nick 3:11PM (1/29/2007)
I actually saw they drive the M coupe racing with a Suzuki GSXR1000 on one of the Ghost Rider video. I gotta say the handling and the speed is pretty amazing.
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PJ 1:58PM (1/29/2007)
It'd be tough to argue that the M Coupe is "better" than the M3.
But, aside from it being less common than the M3, the Coupe has a distinctly different character. The M3 defines performance as doing exactly what it's told, with no dramatics. The Coupe is about thrills. Sitting way back over the rear axle, "swinging" the long nose into turns, with hip fakes from the rear trailing arms and shuddering from the body structure... it's a very retro ride, and in a good way.
I've wanted one for years, despite it looking like Ronald McDonald's shoe.
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TedS 11:39AM (2/01/2007)
If you appreciate the heritage of this design (MGBGT and Ferrari breadvan, not to mention every shooting break ever)and the power and overall performance of the car, then you love it. If you don't "get," the styling thats your problem. I have always loved these. A 20 year kid I know literally mortgaged the next 10 years of his life to buy one of these that had been hotted up with some dinan parts. I thought it was the worst idea I had ever heard of until he gave me a ride and now I think he is a GENIUS.
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vectorbug 2:10PM (1/29/2007)
Easily the best car mentioned on autoblog for weeks. Its "better" than the M3 simply because of two things, it gets around the nurburgring faster and its appearance is so striking.
This car was made for driving fast and only driving fast, not driving fast to the golf course like the M3.
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