THE BMW Z3 M ROADSTER.

At its heart is the 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine from the BMW M3 E36, which, according to spec sheet can achieve 236 kW (321 hp) and a maximum torque of 350 Nm, which is available at just 3,250 rpm. The power is sent to the rear axle, which means that only 1,425 kg of the curb weight has to be moved. Thanks in part to the lightweight fabric soft top, the convertible weighs 40 kg less than the Z3 M Coupé and accelerates from a standstill to highway speed in the same time: the Z3 M Roadster sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, stopping only at the electronically limited speed of 250 km/h. The gears are selected via a manual 5-speed transmission. The gears are engaged by a 5-speed manual transmission. With the 2001 model year, the car was given even more power. The reason for this was the inclusion of the improved six-cylinder engine from the BMW M3 E46, which helped the convertible to reach 239 kW (325 hp).,

For an even more agile driving experience in keeping with the engine, the right suspension is of course indispensable. With the sporty, taut M suspension, the Z3 M Roadster is 10 millimeters lower than its less sporty brothers. The front axle corresponds to that of the BMW M3 E36, i.e., it has independent suspension fitted with control arms and McPherson struts including compound brake discs. While the developers have specially adapted the rear axle with semi-trailing arms to the sporty convertible. A limited-slip differential rounds off the whole package.

Inside, the BMW M remains true to its line by further elaborating on the roadster's strengths rather than fundamentally changing it. The layout of the interior remains the same for the M model: the cockpit is oriented toward the driver, who has a view of the various round instruments with chrome frames which sit in front of the M sports steering wheel. The radio, ventilation, and all other functions, such as control of the fabric soft top - which opens electrically in the Z3 M Roadster - are located on the center console. In addition, there are three more displays on the sportiest Z3 Cabrio, also set in chrome: Time, oil temperature and outside temperature. The driver and front passenger sit low in the car, in true sports car style, on sporty seats with heated seats as standard. Visual highlight: the two-tone dashboard.

The transition of the classic roadster into a new era in which it was paired with the iconic inline six-cylinder engine, made the BMW Z3 M Roadster an extremely fun-to-drive and sought-after two-seater. And that's still true today, as the M car continues to rise in value despite being less rare than the Z3 M Coupe. 15,322 units of the open-top sports car were sold between 1997 and 2002, but the end of production by no means meant the farewell of the sports roadster at BMW M. The successor model, the Z4, also became available again as the Z4 M from 2006 after a four-year break.