From time to time, a car manufacturer will take a chance and make something based purely on emotion rather than agonize over what the focus groups and the bean counters are saying. Case in point, the BMW M Coupe. While the engineers in charge of the project had a hard time convincing the brass at BMW to green light it, it was eventually given the go. At first, the M Coupe was derided for its unusual looks and sales were slow in comparison to the M3. Those cars destined for the US market received the S52 3.2 liter inline six cylinder engine, but in 2001, BMW upped the ante and offered the S54 engine, which churned out 315 horsepower in US trim.
The M Coupe with the S54 engine was offered only in 2001 and 2002, with only 690 produced for the US. As a result of the low production numbers, these pocket rockets are highly valued today and are recognized by enthusiasts as a sports car that offers little compromise for those who simply want to go fast. This Estoril Blue M Coupe has under 40,000 miles on the clock and is for sale in Cincinnati.
2002 BMW M Coupe on AutoTrader
Estoril Blue over Estoril Blue/Black Leather Interior, Original, Stock, S54 M-Coupe! Fully Optioned from the factory including In-Dash CD43 Business Class CD Player, Harmon Kardon Audio, Heated Seats, Flip-up Power Moonroof, Power Seats, Power Windows and Power Door Locks. The interior and exterior condition of this car is fantastic! This car has resided in Texas and then the Pacific Northwest and has never seen inclement weather. A Complete Car with Four Keys, Two BMW Remote Keyless Entry Fobs, All Books and Manuals. 100% Stock Car except for a LeatherZ Armrest and Clear Corner Lenses. Clean Vehicle History Report with No Accidents, Incidents or Issues. Two Adult Owners, Non-Smoker. Please Call or email to obtain a Pre-Purchase Inspection Report, Build Sheet, Condition Related Details, Vehicle History and 50+ Detailed Photos.
When I saw this ad, I was rather stunned by the asking price of over $30,000. Just this summer, I remember seeing an S54 M Coupe for sale in New York with 53,000 miles for $22,500. Six months later, has the market for these cars taken off? I tend to doubt it. Of all the BMWs produced since the E30 M3, I would wager to say the M Coupe with the S54 engine has the greatest chance of becoming a future classic. But right now, I would hasten to say this car is priced a bit ahead of the curve.
-Paul
Enthusiast Auto (www.enthusiastauto.com) usually has a good stock of BMW, M-Cars, etc., but they can be a bit overpriced. While I LOVE the M Coupe (especially in the Estoril Blue), I agree that the asking price is a bit much.
+1 on Enthusiast Auto or “EAG” cars. Anecdotally (not speaking from personal experience), these are supposed to be genuinely turn-key cars, and they are priced accordingly. Whether or not they’re overpriced is, I suspect, ultimately up to the buyer.
It’s a dealership, the cars are suppose to be turn key.
Enthusiast Auto is always $5-$10k to high.
Enthusiast Auto Group sells the finest M-Cars in the marketplace. We spend several thousand dollars on every example ensuring they are turn-key in every way. Hundreds of our clients have submitted their experiences for others to view on our website. We have sold over 4,000 M’s to date and have more market data than any in the industry, which we’re happy to share with others. We have sold half a dozen Z3M’s for over $40K in 2012 thus far. If you have questions, drop us a line!
You can say what you like but, in the end, the price is too damn high. A Z3M does not a Sport Quattro S1 make.