2000 BMW M Coupe from UK and Ireland - Comments

Very reliable... mechanically!

I just wanted to warn readers that if they were thinking of buying one of these rare cars, they should be very careful!!!

I've had several fast cars (including a M3 Evo Coupe), but the Z3 M Coupe is a beast to be treated with respect (despite what you may read in car mags about abundant grip from the huge rear tyres). While accelerating straightaway up an incline in damp conditions, this car could not cope with the awesome power and decided to leave the freeway. I walked away without a scratch... luckily!!!

I'm afraid it's a case of a too inexperienced driver. The car can cope, the tyres can't... and the driver does not have the knowledge to control the car in the described conditions.

A BMW is not the suitable car for you! If you can't drive it, don't buy a M3. Buy a long boring and slow Mercedes just like my father who is 55 years old!!!

Have to agree with the two comments above. It's a 320 bhp RWD car and will get out of shape if provoked. At least the BMW has good balance and a nice progressive power delivery - i.e it helps you as much as possible.

Buy a 318i - you can floor it to your hearts content.

Treat the m coupe with respect and it won't bite back. I drive mine throughout the winter, although in icy conditions, even driven very gently the rear end can get a little twitchy to say the least.

Only problems with my car after 20,000 miles have been a stone hole in the condensor, causing the air con to give up!

A rattle coming from the drivers side windscreen wiper - a loose nut on the underside. And tyres...

I have had 3 M Roadsters and several M Coupes, I love them. However, I crashed my last M Roadster with 321bhp and no traction control. It was a cold morning, but the roads looked fine. It skidded on black ice at 60mph and rolled end over end through trees, ending up on its roof.

The car's structural strength saved my life. I also had a hard top fitted which helped me to walk away.

M Roadster's and Coupe's are fabulous to look at, sound great, have the World's best straight six engine and go like nothing else. You do have to watch the rear end though.

Bought a M Coupe last summer and driven it through this winter (03). Yes, it's twitchy, it's 321bhp, what do you expect?

Again, treat it with respect and you'll never find a better car to drive ~ enjoy your 318...

I too had a harrowing experience in my BMW. Going about 80mph on a wet freeway, From the far left lane, I hydroplaned and slid backwards for almost a quarter mile before miraculously ending up in the far right lane without a scratch. My tires were in fair condition and I attributed my slide to their less than primo condition and my speed. After reading the other comments on this thread, now I'm not so sure. What I am sure about is that when it rains, I don't go anywhere near as fast as I did before! : /

I have had a very similar experience, and the m coupe is one of my slowest, least powerful cars, yet it is one of the hardest to drive at 10/10ths. The rear, in a straight line, in the wet, on a slight side incline, can move out very very quickly. more so that any other car I have ever driven, including cars with a much higher power to weight ration, and still rear drive. My m coupe is a great car, and one to treat with disproportionate respect. Depite 10 + years experience on track (monthly), this car is the ultimate challenge in some marginal conditions when having a real go. It also gives the ultimate rewards!

If you drive at 60mph on black ice or across standing water at 80 mph you will have an accident, regardless of whatever vehicle you're driving.

Same thing with the M3, even with the SMG transmission, and with a little layer of dust on the road!