The reintroduced popularity of the roadster body style brought about by the Mazda Miata in North America necessitated a reaction from the European Makes to offer their own interpretation on the genre after helping establish a market in the mid-century. BMW entered into the fray in 1995 with the Z3. In classic roadster fashion, a long hood and short rear deck composed the overall shape. However, the lines were far from the typical teutonic straightedges commonly seen in the period, and instead, designer Joji Nagashima employed the softer, rounder shapes from the roadsters of the past. Every single body panel possesses some form of curvature, an element that surely gave the manufacturing side of the business a bit of a headache. Fortunately, it all works quite well, and today, the Z3 looks like nothing BMW has put out before or since, and the boldness of the design has aged remarkably well. Enthusiasts of the brand might have been saddened to see an inline-6 unavailable at launch under that long hood, but all could rest assured that BMW would deliver soon enough. Many could be satisfied with the lightness and responsiveness of the 4-cylinder models, but more power always tends to make things better. Just a year after the car’s introduction, the traditional Inline-6 arrived along with deliciously punched out fenders allowing for a 2.5inch wider rear track. It was only a matter of time now before the M-division got its hands on the little roadster. Falling in line with E36 M3, North American examples of the new Z3 M Roadster were fitted with the S52 engine upon release. While down on power from its more exotic, individual throttle-bodied cousin, this bored and stroked M52 motor is not without its merits in the context of the contemporary automotive scene. At the end of the day, a naturally aspirated inline-6 with a 7,000rpm redline makes for an enticing proposition to any gearhead. The Z3 M Roadster on offer here, chassis # WBSCK9333XLC89705, is a 1-owner example finished in Estoril Blue over a full black interior. Showing just 24,266 miles this is one of the most well cared for examples we have handled. Delivered new to Roadshow BMW in Tennessee, the car was immediately sent to its one and only owner in Decatur, Illinois. From here the owner began thoroughly enjoying the Z3 as he put roughly 6,000 miles on the car in its first two summers. Over the next 6 years usage became less frequent but still regular with proper maintenance carried out along the way. As it sits today this Z3 is entirely unmodified and ready for continued use after a baseline fluids swap as the last service was done in late 2020, or roughly 1,000 miles ago. This Z3 M Roadster presents a great opportunity to acquire a collector grade example of the platform. With a handwritten log documenting every service and the miles corresponding to them you know exactly how meticulously maintained the car really is. Included in the sale are the tools, first aid kit, black leather tonneau cover, the Z3 Roadster branded tonneau carrier case, and available service records and logs. EXTERIOR Body And Paint The paint maintains a consistent, deep shine throughout with no serious or unsightly blemishes to note. Several very small mm wide pits are present in between the kidney grills likely from road debris. All of the obvious VIN stickers are present throughout each panel and match the correct VIN number. All of the shut gaps are excellent as expected from a lower mileage Z3 M. Glass And Trim The glass appears to be all original and blemish-free including the windshield that has some light stone peppering but certainly does not warrant replacement. All of the trim is supple, free from sun fading or shrinking. The soft top fits excellently with no rips or blemishes to note and the plastic rear window is clear. The only minor issue to note is the rubber surrounding the rear window has partially worn away. Wheels The wheels are in wonderful, like-new condition showing no signs of wear or curbing on the deep lip that is common on the Z3 M. The finish is bright and shows no signs of fading from age. INTERIOR Seats And Surfaces The seats and interior surfaces present very well with wear commensurate with the mileage displayed. The driver's side seat bolster has some wear consistent with the mileage. The dash and door panels are excellent.with no noteworthy issues. Functionality And Accessories Everything works as it should upon our inspection of the systems including the A/C, lights, radio, top, seats, windows, wipers, etc. The notorious seat rail issues that these cars normally have has been properly fixed. ENGINE BAY AND TRUNK Engine Bay The engine bay is tidy, clean, all stock looking and has proper stickers and finishes. Even the BMW-branded heat shield is in great condition and is still deep black in color. Trunk Area The trunk area is clean, all original and issue-free. Upon removing the carpet floor the correct full tool set and first aid kit are present. We also scanned for the rear subframe cracking that often plaques these vehicles and there are no issues to note. MECHANICALS Engine The engine fires to life with its first revolution upon cold start. There are no odd noises to note, the power delivery is linear, and strong. The car has had regular servicing and is well maintained. Transmission The five speed transmission shifts smoothly between all of the gears and the clutch operates as it should seemingly with plenty of life left. Brakes And Suspension The brakes are firm and function perfectly with no fade or shatter. The suspension feels as it should. Tires The tires are date coded to 2019 with plenty of tread left. It is a staggered set up with 225s in the front, and 245s in the rear.