There are some cars that you know are special the minute they come on the market. Think cars like the Ford GT, Porsche 911 Speedster, Lexus LFA. All were cars I knew when they were launched would be collectible. Most interesting is that not all of these cars were an instant success. The Ford GT sat in showrooms for years, and the LFA was a car that many simply did not understand and was so outside the traditional Lexus universe that it almost seemed it was from another manufacturer. Another one of these cars is the BMW Z3 M Coupé. This was a car that was not universally loved when new but another that I knew would be a collector car.
One of the reasons is that the BMW Z3 M Coupé, which quickly gained the nickname “Clownshoe” (and not meant in a nice way), was very polarizing to journalists. Most thought that it was a bit weird and, though offering strong performance, it lacked the great styling of most BMWs of the past. The awkward looks certainly took some getting used to! Sometimes developing a car that is controversial leads to a model that over time no one cares about. Often, though, these cars develop a mythology and become a car that, years later, those in the-know buy and tell people about. The BMW Z3 M Coupé is just one of those cars and, these days, the Clownshoe name is said with respect and endearment.
As you might have guessed, the Pick of the Day is a 1999 BMW Z3 M Coupé located in Saugatuck, Michigan.
This Z3 M Coupé is finished in its original Arctic Silver paint over an original Black and Grey leather interior. It is stated to be a completely rust-free California car that has had excellent care over the years.
With the the supremely reliable S52 engine, it means this Z3 M Coupé is a first-generation car, so it benefits from considerably lower service costs than the later, more powerful S54 engine. This is the configuration I prefer for the Z3 M Coupé as the more powerful S54 can also be a bit of a handful at the limit, magnified by its additional power. To me, this makes the first-generation cars the best balanced of the model.
This car has a great service history, another important thing on any BMW M car. Recent work includes new tires, new clutch and master cylinder, resurfaced flywheel, and a brake fluid flush.
Also important is that this car is unmodified. The Z3 M Coupé seems to be a veritable magnet for lots of engine and chassis mods, something this car has happily escaped. I say that as I have more faith in the skunkworks team of engineers at the M Group than I do with any ideas an owner may have, especially when considering reliability. In addition, the cars that hold or increase their value on the collector car market are ones that are kept as original as possible, making this car a perfect candidate as a classic you can drive daily if you like.
Another key selling point on this specific Z3 M Coupé is that it has had a serious long-term ownership, having had the same owner since 2000.
Finally, this car also includes literally everything it was delivered with when new including a full key set that includes three master keys and one valet key, full books of original manuals and documentation, a complete toolkit, and a new radio (though the factory original radio is included with the sale). These all add up to a great example of one of these amazing BMWs and one in the collector car category.
As I write this, I am almost regretting it as I would literally buy this car if I had the room and $29,900 laying around, as I honestly feel that cars like this 1999 BMW Z3 M Coupé is likely to continue to go up in value. I say this as I meet a lot of young car enthusiasts (ones under 20 years-old) who say that the Z3 M Coupé is their dream car. This tells you where the future market is going, if you ask me, and makes this car a pretty solid investment-grade example.
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