Disappeared but definitely not forgotten, the BMW Z3 M Coupe is one of the strangest M cars ever made, and also one of the rarest. Only 6,791 units were built, but only 1,112 examples had the more coveted S54 engine sourced from the M3 E46. The earlier ones were with the S50 from the M3 E36 and produced 321 horsepower while the later ones produced from September 2001, as happens in this car, had 325 hp.
How much power is left in this embedded 3.2-liter engine after a few decades? Well, you would be surprised to hear that the “clown shoe” is still almost as strong as it was in the early 2000s. The people at Evolve Automotive bought in September one of the S54-powered cars in the S54 M Coupes already in September and now they put it on his case to see if he lost power after all these years.
The highest of the three runs showed a horsepower record of 323, thus essentially the same official BMW rating. In terms of torque, a six-cylinder engine produced a maximum of 269.4 pounds (365 Newton meters), which is actually a little over the 258 pounds (350 nanometers) found on the specification page.
Riding a charming set of BBS wheels, a two-door firing brake and two Bavarian quirky seats is in the process of gaining extra power courtesy of upgrades from another market. Evolve Automotive believes it will salvage somewhere in the 360 hp area after installing a new air box, heads and exhaust system. It may not sound like much by today’s standards, but keep in mind that the Z3 M Coupe is a light car. Only 1,270 pounds (2,800 pounds).
Coincidentally it is also one of the smallest M cars since it was only 4,025 millimeters (158.4 inches) long, and although its design was controversial at the time, we dare say it has aged gracefully. The side chrome grille inspired by the 507 Roadster is a refined retro touch, and let’s remember that along with the Roadster, these were among the first M cars with four exhausts.
[Source: Evolve Automotive / YouTube]
Keyword: The BMW Z3 M Coupe Dyno test shows no loss of power despite the respectable age