Quirky looks and a legendary engine vie for attention in the M Coupe
BMW recently revealed the Concept Speedtop, a while after the Concept Touring Coupe of 2023. Both have been thought of as modern interpretations of the M Coupe. That’s because their two-door designs and stretched roofs mirror the profile of the original clown shoe.
Unfortunately, the Touring Coupe isn’t going into production and only 70 examples of the Speedtop will be produced; the latter is expected to cost around $500,000. If you don’t have that much cash lying around, the alternative is to buy an original clown shoe, and a stunning example of this has just popped up for sale on Bring A Trailer.
No Reserve, Rare Blue Paint, And Ultra-Low Miles
This 2002 BMW M Coupe is selling at no reserve, and the current bid is sitting on $77,000 at the time of writing with a few days left to run. It’s finished in Estoril Blue Metallic over Nappa leather in a mix of black and Estoril Blue. Only 22 examples of the M Coupe came in this spec.
The original owner in California cared for the car until 2025, and it accumulated a mere 7,000 miles in that time, so is not yet close to dangerous territory when it comes to the VANOS and rod bearing issues these S54 engines are infamous for.
This year, the rearview mirror and shift knob were freshly replaced due to age-related visible wear, but otherwise, the car appears original. It still looks as unique as ever on its Shadow-finished 17-inch wheels, while the classic analog dials and old-school BMW Business CD sound system are typical of the period.Â
The trio of physical climate controls reek of simplicity alongside today’s iDrive setup, and these are matched by three gauges below.
An Engine To Die For
The star of the show here is the 3.2-liter S54 inline six-cylinder engine, sans turbos or any sort of electrickery. The outputs of 315 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque seem outclassed by today’s standards, but it’s the way this car revs to around 8,000 rpm that very few modern engines can match. A five-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheels, and the car is fitted with a limited-slip differential.
Engine oil, along with transmission and differential fluids, were all changed in preparation for the sale. The car has a clean CarFax report and a clean California title.
Related: Dumb cars that are actually cool
While manual BMWs are still around, everything seems heavy and overly complicated alongside this pure M Coupe. This little bread van can’t hope to match the craftsmanship and V8 strength of the Speedtop, but its spirit is impossible to replicate in a modern car, and it’ll be one lucky buyer that gets their hands on this example.
Â
