2001 BMW M Roadster & Coupe

Convertible

6 - Cyl.

Manual

WBSCL93481LJ80909

Clear

Gasoline

Yes it does look like it's 2001 and this is a new car but, no, I must confess it’s not really brand new. But when you see it in person you will see it is certainly not a “used” car. Nor, fortunately, has it ever been a lease car or "fleet" car as many of the "well used" M Roadsters seem to have been. The time has come for me to take this car in one of two directions. The most tempting is to keep it, enjoy it, use as it should be and accept it becoming a very well maintained used S54 M as are the vast majority of the limited number of S54 M Roadsters out there. Or, let it continue to be remain covered and stored in its temperature controlled garage under its car cover and two layers of fleece blankets and drive it once in a while and then go through my fanatic 2 hours of cleaning and watch it increase in value. But I have decided that the best initial option is to offer this wonderful car to someone who can better financially afford to use it like was intended to be or to add it to a collection as it is certainly worthy of. If you are not in for that, please buy yourself a well used and treated S54, enjoy it and don’t bother to read further. This car has recently been inspected, photographed and accepted by one of the “big three” auto auction houses and after their inspection advised me that their catalogue will show a “value’ of $42,000 to $48,000 plus buyers fees. If you are looking for a special M Roadster, you know all the specifics so I won’t regurgitate them again. As you know the S54 engined M was made only for two years, 2001 and 2002. This car was built on the last day of production and it is # 909 of 923 built in 2001. It is also the last documented Estoril blue, blue soft top, blue/black interior M roadster built in 2001. I’ve seen every exterior/interior/top combination including the few factory one off paint jobs and, in my opinion, this is the most beautiful of any of the M Roadster color offerings. Estoril Blue is of course named after the Autodromo Fernanda Pires Da Silva in Estoril , Portugal which formerly was the venue for the Portuguese Formula One Grand Prix and as a testing circuit for the Formula One teams. In 1996 when the GP ended it became one of the premiere sites for Grad Prix MotoGO (motorcycle) racing. I searched 3 years for a car like this after buying my first Z3 in 99. My M came from the estate of an automobile connoisseur in Connecticut. As one of his many vehicle high end vehicles, he enjoyed it for 12,000 miles over five years. I have now enjoyed it for almost three years and driven it 2000 miles. I have what I believe to be all the service records for the vehicle since new, as well as the original window sticker. The trunk contains all the OEM tools and accessories and the unique to M original equipment air compressor and sealant. The original (dated 8/01) battery was just replaced with a new OEM BMW battery. The original Michelins Pilot Sports are still mounted with original Spartanburg air still in them. They still have tread depth of 5 to 6 9ths on each tire ( 55-66%). That means the best part is just starting. The rotors still have the blue inspection paint dot on them. In almost 10 years of cruising, an M with zero wheel curb rash and original tires barely used I think speaks of how well this car was cared for before I acquired it and how I have continued to care for it. It still has its original matching blue “Beverly Hills Automobile Accessories" car cover from 2001 and has always been stored inside under cover. It has never been in the rain since I’ve owned it and has never been allowed to set in the Florida sun. This M has been over maintained at BMW dealers with oil/filter averaging about every 2000 miles. Also, I have had brake fluid and coolant changes every other year. There are no maintenance or known mechanical problem to address. Every mechanical/electrical/ etc item works properly. I added the complete European front license plate assembly and supports with parts from Germany. I also obtained a German BMW Motorsports dealer license plate frame. The plate is an authentic German plate and the “M” letter on it stands for Munich (headquarters for BMW) not “Motorsports.” I also exchanged the amber front turn signals for the clear ones but still have the originals. The only modification to this automobile is that I had my local dealer install the Dinan stage 1 software program. The Dinan Performance Software produces 15 more horsepower by re-programming the fuel mixture and ignition timing parameters of the engine management system. Significant gains are also achieved at part throttle making extra power available where you spend the bulk of the time driving. The biggest improvement I noticed was the smooth and more linear throttle response through re-calibration of the drive by wire system. The top speed governor has also been eliminated by the software, enabling the vehicle to achieve its ''natural'' top speed. I’m not sure what that top speed is but I do know at 152 mph it was still pulling before traffic got a bit too busy. If that's too much for you, the original program can be reflashed in 10 minutes by a dealer. That was my only speed run since I’ve owned it. It has never been tracked or auto crossed or any other sporting event. If you wish additional photographs of the M or have specific questions, please email me at bmwpc@cs.com. This car obviously has a clear Carfax with me as the second owner. A well know collector car registry recently wrote on the 2001/2002 M Roadster: Vehicle Overview The 2001 and 2002 BMW M Roadster (E36/37) is destined to be one of those cars that 5 years from now, you scratch your head and wonder why you didn’t seek out a prime example when they were available for less than $40k. Many saw this car as the modern reincarnation of the Cobra in its appearance and performance. Of course no Cobra ever came with the lengthy list of creature comforts of the M’s let alone the build quality and reliability that 40 years can bring. They are destined to become popular drivable or collector cars as they embodied all of the last chassis and electronic stability improvements made to these last years of the “Z3” body style. However they were the only M Roadsters and Coupes of the series to be equipped with the legendary S54 engine. This was the same engine as in the M3 sedan but propelling 400 fewer pounds. Many motoring publications have voted this engine as the best motor ever built by BMW due to its ability to make power and its durability. While fewer copies were produced, the coupe will never command the money of an equivalent roadster. The old adage “when the top goes down, the price goes up” has never been better exhibited than in these cars. The 2001/2002 cars are identical in all facets, so unless you are buying a very early or very later serial number of either year, its production date is inconsequential. Few examples were produced with a little over 900 Roadsters in 2001 and a few over 600 in 2002 for the US market. The rest of the world accounted for another 360 or so. There were a few less than 1200 Coupes built during this same time. Interestingly, BMW dealers complained about having to take Coupes in order to get additional Roadsters and many unsold Coupes set in dealerships even after introduction of the new Z4 or were sold at deeply reduced (for BMW) prices. What To Look For Due to their identical properties, either year is equally desirable. Cars that have had minor damage that was limited to body panel replacement suffer little if any lower value as only BMW makes the panels and many replacement panels during the production run came prepainted from the factory. The hood panel for this BMW was the largest regular production metal body panel ever manufactured at the time. This motor calls for a 5w60 BMW sythetic oil and should be chaged, with filter, approximately every 8,000 to 12,00 mile but at least every year to 18 months. Also look for frequent fluid changes including brake fluid and radiator coolant at least every 20,000 miles or 3 years. BMW radiators are excellent but only with regular fluid changes. Color, Trim, Options All 2001/2002 Roadsters came with only one OEM option, a CD player. However, this “option” was in reality standard as every car come with it installed. A hardtop was offered by BMW with a cover and storage rack that cost approximately $3200 including the required installation kit. This was only available as a dealer installed option. Exterior colors were widely varied (for BMW) with Titanium Silver, a metallic and non-metallic black, red and white being the most common colors. A unique golden/yellow color called Phoenix Yellow was a real switch for BMW and sold in few numbers. The two blues, Estoril and Laguna Seca will likely bring a greater price for there sheer beauty (Estoril) or it’s linkage to the “M” tri color emblem (Laguna Seca). In addition both blues had two tone colored interiors matching their exterior color in combination with Black. While there was also a red/black, light beige/dark beige and a gray/black interior available, they just do not carry the richness of the two blue combinations. The gray/black two tone will likely be the least desired. An all black interior was offered as an option for all colors and is the most common. While most cars came equipped with black or beige soft tops, a beautiful dark blue and a spunky red top were also offered. The blue top was a match for the Estoril Blue exterior and the red was available, sometimes inconsistently, on the black, silver, red, and white cars. The red tops were especially prone to fading and this affected their availability as BMW tired of owner’s complaints. All tops were of high quality German weave, “Haartz” style cloth. The Coupé had an optional sunroof. Both also wore the M Star Wheel in a unique “Chrome Shadow” finish unlike any other M Roadster or Coupe. Dinan Engineering produced a number of engine and suspension performance parts for this vehicle including a modification so encompassing that is was even given a specific name “S2” and a Dinan serial number plate. While many of the changeovers were made early in the vehicle’s life, Dinan offered the conversion on any M until recently with a cost easily exceeding $11,000. While a unique and well engineered package for everyday driving and weekend auto crossing, a vehicle so equipped should be closely examined for the negative effects of how it was likely used. In addition, most buyers are not looking for such a modified vehicle so expect these vehicles to gain little in resale value considering their cost and of possibly having been subjected to severe usage. However, many of Dinan’s individual products such as it’s strut bars, carbon fiber air intake and engine software were true “icing on the cake” type items that actually were performance improvements over the OEM product. In addition, for the purist, these minor modifications, if visible, can be reversed by replacing with OEM parts if still available. These modifications are of value and there is also a ready resale market for some of the Dinan parts if they are removed. Recommendations As with any modern, high performance vehicle, its usage, maintenance history, and originality will result in a buyer’s best value and least risk even if the initial cost is higher. What may seem like minor electrical problems (i.e. abs, traction control, cruise control, etc) can be very expensive to diagnose and repair. BMW equipped these cars with a very extensive computer diagnostics software program so be especially alert to any displayed trouble codes or lights. Like all recent BMW’s regular fluid and filter changes are a must. In addition, check for regular (no more than every 3 years) servicing of the coolant system and the brake fluids. BMW drive trains have outstanding reliability reputations and no one makes a better inline six cylinder. Many owners say that a BMW six'er is just broken in at 100,000 miles. Road rash on wheels is not uncommon on a car this old that has been driven a lot. The materials to exactly duplicate the original wheel finish are no longer importable to the US due to their chemical makeup. The only option for exact wheel finish is new wheel from BMW (about $375) or a non original refinish. Tracked or auto crossed cars should have their rear spring mounts checked for any metal tearing. This is a rare problem and usually only found in a car that has been highly modified (i.e. turbo or supercharger) or regularly tracked. Cars converted to coil over shocks or lowered should also be carefully inspected in this area. These cars were the crème de la crème of BMW two seaters. They came standard with almost every option BMW offered in 2001. If you can find a well maintained, well documented car, buy the best that you can afford and you can expect many years of big smiles on your face. What to Pay If you buy from the owner you are likely to be dealing with another enthusiast who knows what the car is so don’t look for any “steals.” Prime examples of this car are no longer depreciating and the prices are on their way up. Expect to pay $30k to low $40’s for a well maintained, extra clean car with less than 20,000 miles. Same car with 20,000 to 30,000 miles and normal wear, but with good service records, you can expect to pay $24 to $30k. Cars over 30,000 miles were obviously driven regularly and their condition and price can vary greatly. Still not bad for a 7 year old car. Make sure you get a full engine and drivetrain diagnosis and inspection and pay accordingly. Expect to pay 2k to 3k less for a silver, black, red, or green car. 1k to 1.5k less for beige/beige or gray/black interior. Carefully inspect red soft tops for deterioration or having been re-dyed. Expect 1.5k for an OEM replacement. Add 1K for a hardtop with cart and attachment hardware. As an everyday drive or a garage queen, the M Roadster still is a stunner and can still run with the best on the street, the highway or the track. Like most BMW’s, your driving ability will likely never exceed this cars capabilities. (February, 2010) Payment Terms: The successful high bidder must submit a $1,000 deposit by postal money order, certified check, or cash within 2 business days of the close of the auction to secure the vehicle by overnight or next day mail. If upon your personal inspection the car is not as described in the EBAY required information at the top of the ad, your deposit will be refunded. However, the milege may vary by a few miles should the vehicle be test driven by another party. The Buyer agrees to pay the remaining balance due within 7 days of the close of the auction. All financial transactions must be completed before delivery or pick up of the vehicle. Payment Methods: Cash, certified check, bank transfers, or 3rd-party financing. You may wish to do a bank to bank wire if you so choose to expedite payment. Any payment other than cash must clear prior to delivery. Please remember that all checks, including certified, must clear before I will release this vehicle. A Bank of America certified check may save a bit of time for clearing purposes. I apologize for this but it is due to unfortunate cases of counterfeit or altered certified or personal checks being utilized. I'm sorry but there can be no exceptions. The vehicle is available for inspection by appointment. If you have the car shipped, I am willing to be available to facilitate vehicle pick up at my residence in Tampa, FL. On Jul-14-10 at 11:33:41 PDT, seller added the following information: UPDATE: First, thanks you to all of you who have honored me by viewing my car (over 500 in the first three days) and the 30+ of you that are tracking the auction. However, to continue to be upfront and forthright with anyone interested in this vehicle, I feel obligated to advise you that the M is currently listed on two other general auction sites as well as two other BMW or “highline” listing services, one of which is not available to the general public. As I indicated, I will and have responded to any questions and/or provide any additional photos or answer questions I can as quickly as I can. I appreciate the offers I have received but my preference is to let the auction run its course unless some one chooses to “Buy it Now.” I may accept an offer near the Buy it Now price but it would have to be very close as I had originally intended to set the Buy It Now price at $35,000. And let’s be realistic, what’s out there in any new or used car with this class, beauty, condition and performance for this amount of money. This sale is NOT a distressed sale. Fortunately, I am sufficiently blessed to continue to afford this vehicle or my other BMW’s. I love this vehicle and it will be painful for me to see it go (don’t be too surprised to see the auction cancelled) but it truly needs to go to an individual who will appreciate it’s condition, performance and beauty and use it as the jewel that it is or preserve it for future display. Although this is truly a drivers car, it is one that is equipped with every luxury feature that BMW could fit in this car in 2001 i.e. powered, dual heat level seats, power top, RDS Harmon Kardon radio with sub amp, cruise control, etc., etc. I also feel obligated to correct a possible error, although minor, in the Experian AutoCheck for this vehicle. It seems to suggest there is or was a lien on this vehicle. I paid cash for this vehicle and after viewing the previous owner’s residence and vehicle garage, I highly doubt he needed any financing when he bought this vehicle new. Just wanted to clarify any question regarding its title or ownership status. The “Dinan” lettering on the trunk lid is attached by foam tape and can easily be removed as it was just recently applied by me. Also, I erred regarding the front turn signal lenses. They are the original clear ones as I had forgotten that I had actually changed those on my former Z3 not on the M. Due to the interest in this vehicle from many auction sources and my local BMW Club and community, this car could sell before the last auction day. And to clarify, this car will not be relisted if it doesn’t sell and will either stay with me or be sold at the upcoming auction of one of the “big three” auction houses as noted in the ad. Thank you for all the wonderful emails and comments from those of you that have written and your encouragements that I should keep the car, but after struggling for the past 4 months about what to do, I have chosen to offer it this one time. If you become the new owner, I hope you enjoy and appreciate this wonderful M. no matter how you find that enjoyment. Again, any questions, please email me at bmwpc@cs.com. Best of luck to all of you. On Jul-14-10 at 16:59:58 PDT, seller added the following information: UPDATE: Getting old IS hell. Obviously I did change the front turn signals to clear.