Yesterday, and coincidently today, I saw a hatchback (? I think?), squared off, boxy looking BMW that I thought for 1 second was a Mini. Pulling up behind it, I found out it was a BMW M series. I Googled BMW M and learned a little bit about them, but not a whole lot.

Does anyone know if BMW designed the 02 Mini with the M in mind?
hs

 

Do you mean the M Coupe?

 

That would be my guess too...

 

do you mean this:

 

It's the ***** mobile! or clown shoe. There are so many nicknames for its shape. One of our friends was seriously considering selling his M Roadster to get an M Coupe. He decided it against it later as he could stand to part with his Roadster. These are cars that people typically love or hate. I used to hate them for some reason, but now I think that they are very sexy cars

 

I love that car, a friend of mine had one, was awesome, very fast.

 

its just me?

 

Wonderful car . . . I nearly bought one 2 years ago from a guy in San Diego. Had the opportunity to test drive it thoroughly - very fast, great handling, and whatever you think of the styling (I like it), at least you don't see yourself coming & going. It was just a little too radical for my daily driver . . .

 

I don't think there is much of a resemblence either, 'cept for the hatch aspect - I dig them though, happens to be the other car (mines the one with the motorsport flags).



Just fyi, here's my orginal thread about the big M Coupe/ Z Coupe meet that has become an annual event called "Dorkfest". Biggest meeting of Coupes in the US we know of. If any of you are Golden Gate Chapter BMWCCA members you'll see an article about it in the upcoming 'Bombe' :smile:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...721#post582721

 

is that a sunroof? does urs have a different fender grill? looks kool wonder if it could be grafed on my mini

 

A bozo foot, clowns shoe is reserved for the viper... :smile: especially the early ones...
Not really into the looks of the M coupe... or for any BMW for that matter.... just too plain looking.

 

STLMINI, yes, that's it.

I'm a MiniCooper newbie, and know very little about its history except that it was reintroduced into the US in 2002, and that BMW inherited it from the British Austin. I'd say I was favorably impressed when I saw the M.

I'm seeing a family resemblance, like a 2nd cousin ...just wondering if anyone knows for certain if the BMW design engineers purposely said, "Let's make the Mini look something like the M."

Also, when it was available, was it anywhere even near the price range of today's Mini? Was it an entry level BMW?

 

Well, the M Coupe came into being in 1999, sharing the same S52 engine the M3 had at the time. I believe that, at the time, it was BMW's fastest production car (can't be sure my memory may not be spot on right now as I'm on Vicodin :P). The M Coupe proceded to share engines with the M3 and changed to the S54 engine in 2001 when the E46 M3 was introduced. The car was produced through a 2002 model year and that was it. The M Coupe's price was also on par with the M3 and, I think, had a price tag of approx $45-47k in 02 (would have to look that up, I have the window sticker somewhere..). {There was also a regular Z Coupe with the 2.8 and 3 liter engine respectively.}

The car design itself was supposedly inspired by the Jag herse in Harold and Maude (below - see link here for story - http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/...oldtrivia.html); there have been lots of things published, hard to say what the whole story really is. There were not many produced/sold so they are considered somewhat collectable; the market value has remained pretty solid on these things. Much information can be had at: http://www.368s.com/. I don't think they looked to it to inspire the Mini, rather the new Mini was based on/inspired by the old Mini Cooper.

Hope that helps - cheers

 

i love m coupe s..
so damn hot..

 

I love the Z3 and M coupe as well. I have never mistaken it for anything else though.

 

BMW Dealers hate that car. As soon as you drive it off the lot, it loses $20k of value... much more than the average new car purchase. Once one shows up on the lot, it hangs around forever. It's a great performer, but it is definately an acquired taste visually.

 

I think it is ugly and I'd love to have one!

 

One of my all time favorite cars. Love it, love it, love it. Bob Smith has a 3.0 on the lot right now. If I ever get a chance at an M Coupe, it is mine.

 

You should check your facts - I know of recent used 01/02 M Coupes going for as much as (or even over) $40k. Average condition/mileage ones sell for the $35k range depending. Ask on the Roadfly message board, etc and you'll see.

The dealers didn't like them as they were not for everyone and they didnt really try (and they also did not typically let people test drive them so it that was a hinderance - many had to order blind; i had a hell of a time when I was interested when they were new, the dealers were discouraging) but the market for enthusiasts exists.

 

I have both a MCoupe and an MCS and they both sleep together in peace and harmony each night.
As for people not liking the MCoupe, that is perfectly fine with me. The day when most people like what I like will be the beginning of the end for me. That is when I'll ask a friend to shoot me and put me out of my mysery.
Cheers
H

 

I own a MCS and love it, however, the M coupe is still my favorite car of all time. Looking at the car from the back with the HUGE fender flares is an amazing site. The 911 has the same sort of look.

They are very hard to come by (especially the 2001/2002 models with the bigger engine). People are selling the car for the original MSRP. It may even beat the Mini in residual value.

I regret not buying one when I had the chance.

I just read the latest Automobile magazine and they mentioned on page 17 that there will be a Z4/M coupe "as early as next year". They state it will have the 333hp 3.2 liter in line six. Only one small photo, so it will be interesting to see how it looks from other angles.

I love my MCS, but the M coupe was a unique and memorable machine.

 

I guess it really depends on the dealership, I bought mine at BMW of Chattanooga and they had sold a total of 8 of them here in this area. That is actually quite a few MCoupes for a city of about 180000 people. Mine actually came to them from Texas and to this day I have a huge grin on my face when I get out, just like on that very time when the sales rep Rob Wilson let me take it for a 2 hour "test drive."
SOLD
Herbert

 

Thank you EVERYBODY for your responses...

Well, even if you don't see any physical resemblance, there exists a very similar emotional appeal for the M coupe and the MCS.

hs

 

I bought a 1999 model from Ralph Schomp in Denver when I lived there - my friends made fun of me and called it the "elf hearse" but it was a great car. I traded it in for a Audi S4. Here are some pics - http://www.squirty.com/z3cpe.html

 

The 99 M5 had 400Hp and was much quicker..