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Pre-production drawing of the "Z5".

BMW Z3 - Coupe, the "Bread Van"

The M Coupe was a two seater hatchback based on the Z3 chassis, it was often referred to as the Z5 before launch. It was always a premium six cylinder model but in the early days there was talk of an M44 version. There were rumours in the media that the car might be a 2+2 or even have a single back seat! But in the event the coupe was always a two seater just like it's soft top sibling. There had been plans for a Z1 along these lines but they never got past the prototype stage.

 

One of the sexiest BMWs ever made.

Production begin in May 97 for the european market and January 98 for the US M52TU 2.8, the //M version was two months earlier in the US. 3.0 M54 cars were produced from September 99. In the UK we only had the //M version, certainly the best but a cheaper 3.0 would have still have been a great car to own here.

Full details of the //M car are on this page.

 

Four exhausts and a finned differential cover.

The designation for the coupe was E36/8. The goal was to design a stiffer Z3 that could handle loads of power safely. The Z3 was already a very stiff car for a convertible so the hard top was literally the icing on the cake. This was a project led by the engineering team and a reluctant management board eventually gave them carte blanche to make this four wheeled missile.

 

Side profile of the "bread van".

The Empire Test Pilot School retain an English Electric Lightning trainer so that pilots can experience raw Mach 2 flight without electronic assistance. The //M Coupe is BMW's Lightning, it even has the same number of seats but unlike the Lightning it has four exhaust pipes. It is the rawest of high power BMWs and is no place for an unwary driver. This is why prices are in the stratosphere and climbing along with that Lightning.

In the UK we call it the bread van, Yanks have the clown shoe and our Bavarian friend call it the "Turnschuh" (running shoe).

The body shell retained bolt on sills and rear quarters.

 

 

Gorgeous and functional //M interior.

 

The boot, the practical side of a shooting brake.