2000 BMW M Coupe (E36)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The BMW M Coupe!
| Year: | 2000 |
| Make: | BMW |
| Model: | M Coupe (E36) |
| Mileage: | 86,109km |
| Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
| Drivetrain: | RWD |
| Engine: | 3.2-liter inline six |
| Exterior Color: | Blue |
| VIN Number: | WBSCM9104LB57*** |
What happens when five passionate BMW engineers with minimal marketing finesse take it upon themselves to transform a roadster into an exhilarating high-performance coupe? The answer is the BMW M Coupe.
When released in 1999, its unorthodox shooting-brake styling turned drivers away in droves. The long hood and breadmobile cabin quickly earned it the nickname “clown shoe.” But enthusiasts gradually came to recognize the unrivaled performance and gained appreciation for its distinctive styling as well. Many fans now consider the body muscular and attractive. They love the aggressively flared rear fenders, the batmobile front end, the dozen or so eye-catching available colors, and even the eccentric front “kidney” grilles. In fact, the M Coupe has become nothing less than a cult classic beloved by enthusiasts and collectors alike — as reflected by skyrocketing prices that can reach 60% higher than the original MSRP.
The first-generation M Coupe shares many of its components with the Z3 Roadster, including doors, several body panels, much of the front end and most of the interior. But BMW added wider wheels and made the chassis around 2.6 times more torsionally rigid than the roadster’s. This remarkable structural stiffness contributes to exceptional handling supported by very precise steering, incredible grip and stability, powerful brakes that are easy to control, and clear feedback that keeps you connected with the road. The M Coupe corners sharply with no perceptible body roll, making it easy to drive aggressively on surpentine mountain roads. You have to push the M Coupe hard to experience twitchiness and understeer. The ride is firm, as you would expect from a sports machine, courtesy of front MacPherson struts and rear semi-trailing arms.
The powerful 3.2-liter DOHC 24-valve straight-six S50 engine in the European (and Japanese) version of the first-generation M Coupe accelerates the M Coupe from 0-60 in 5.3 seconds thanks to 258 lb/ft of torque at 3,250 rpm and 321 hp at 7,400 rpm — nearly 100 hp per liter. This modified version of the European E36 M3 engine features an aluminum cylinder head, lightweight pistons, a high 11.3:1 compression ratio, multipoint injection, BMW/Siemens MSS 50 engine management and VANOS continuously variable valve timing for the intake and exhaust valves. It delivers strong torque across the entire rpm range for smooth, tractable power at low vehicle speeds and instant acceleration at high vehicle speeds. When you press the pedal, it roars like a jet engine. Top speed is officially limited to 155 mph, but goes higher, and fuel efficiency is a respectable 15mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway. The transmission, one of BMW’s best, is a ZF Type C five-speed manual gearbox precisely controlled through short shift throws.
The interior is spacious with plenty of legroom, even for tall drivers, and lots of room for groceries and luggage in the rear where a partition net and cargo cover are provided. Contoured two-tone leather sports seats provide firm support around corners as well as two-stage heating and power adjustment. The cockpit is highlighted by a big three-spoke steering wheel, sporty meters with red needles, three chrome-ringed gauges in the center console (clock, volt-meter and oil temperature), straightforward climate controls and an illuminated leather shift knob.
This blue 2000 BMW M Coupe looks new despite its 86,000 kilometers and has been extremely well maintained by its attentive owner in Japan. It’s the standard model, with everything stock from alloy wheels to two-tone blue/black interior, and is super fun to drive.
Only 6,318 units were produced in total during the M Coupe’s 1998 to 2002 production run. So you get stared at wherever you drive it. The rarity also means that M Coupes retain their value more than most modern BMWs. First-generation models like this blue one remain relatively affordable, for now, but many second-generation models with more powerful engines are selling for over 50,000 US dollars.
If you’ve caught the BMW M Coupe bug and must find one for yourself, then by all means contact Japan Car Direct. Some of the best deals can be found in Japan, where prices are often lower, vehicles are often in better condition, and the incredible range of choices is simply unparalleled.
Importing used cars directly from Japan can lead to big savings over local dealers, and Japan Car Direct can make the process easy. We help you find the right vehicle from an auction, specialist dealer or private owner in Japan, arrange for a third-party inspection, make the purchase and export the vehicle to your nearest port without delay. This is true not only of M Coupes, but also JDM performance cars, German LHD and RHD luxury cars, Italian supercars or whatever drives your dreams. Contact Japan Car Direct today and transform your dream to reality.
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Browse through a selection of vehicles that we have recently sold and exported.
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This was my first time importing a vehicle for my personal use and naturally I was leary about who to go through. After looking through a few other places and after getting in touch with a longtime customer of theirs I decided to try these guys out. I can say without a doubt I'm glad I did. They are definitely professional and know their craft when it comes to getting you your dream car. Everything from getting cars inspected and bidding was completely transparent and went smoothly. I couldn't be happier with the car I bought and I hope down the line I'll be able to purchase another using these guys!! Thanks for all you guys do!!!
11/7/19 Still have my MR2 and loving it everyday!! I'm going to Japan next month and hopefully I can find something fun for my car to bring back! Just re-read my review and I can still say my car has been nothing but great along with my experience with Yoshi and his team! Thanks again! 
Kevin Heidari
11/07/2019 You made the purchase and export of my 1998 Rover Mini to Vancouver Canada so easy Thank you and I"ll be back 
Scott Brunning
10/17/2019 A few months ago I set out on my goal of importing a vehicle from Japan through an auction. After tons and TONs of research and countless emails, I decided to use Japan Car Direct as my exporter in Japan. From the beginning of my interactions with JCD, I was thoroughly impressed. My contact, Yoshi, was amazing...definitely a huge asset to the JCD team. He answered all of my questions promptly, translated dozens of auction sheets for me, and advised me of what to watch out for when looking for a vehicle. He was beyond helpful! I picked up my Kei truck at the port in Newport News a few weeks ago and couldn't be more pleased. Since then, the truck has made it to its final home in Charlottesville, VA on my farm. Yoshi and the other guys at JCD are now my go to team for more of these soon. Thanks again JCD and keep doing what you guys do! You all are the real deal. 
N W
10/15/2019 - Since a kid the FD RX7 has always been a dream car but i didn't pursue it till i graduated high school but the prices just for the shell over here in california was over 15k!! I kept looking around until I decided i would just import one. I found JCD while looking for the top 5 importers you could trust and they stood out more than all the other ones, and for a couple months of more research on their page until I ultimately decided I would go through them. Although this was my first time getting a car from Japan and having an endless amount questions spanning a couple hundred emails until it would freeze up and i had to make a new email thread .. Mathew always answered every question and helped me though every step. I didn't have all the funds in the beginning but they were very patient with it until i was fully ready, then after a month of having Matt give his thought on some of the FDs i was looking at we finally won the auction for a 94 Efini type R Fd3s. As we picked it up from Long Beach till the drive home I couldn't believe that it was here and soo much better just looking at the picture but i defiantly would recommend JCD to anyone looking to import their dream car too and and want to thank matt and the whole team with getting me my RX7.
Erwin Contreras
10/10/2019 I'd been looking to buy an RF series Honda Stepwagon to convert into a mini camper for a while but the UK prices always seemed too high. I had joined a few JDM import sites to get an idea of auction prices and costs (including Japan Car Direct) but just couldn't bring myself to take the next step, it seemed such a risk ! Finally after reading so many good reviews for JCD (and Mathew in particular) I took the plunge and contacted Mathew. After he answered my many questions regarding costs, fees etc I felt confident enough to pay the deposit and start hunting the Japanese auctions for my Steppy. My budget for the Steppy was pretty low (pathetic even !) but I felt Mat still put the same effort into replying to my questions and queries as he would have done if my budget had been into the tens of thousands. The result was I now have a very tidy Stepwagon with lower mileage than any vehicle I've ever owned, I've paid far less for it then I would have done buying in the UK and I've got a bigger budget now for the camper conversion. I wouldn't hesitate to buy through them again, and hope to do so soon. 
Matt B
9/30/2019 5 star experience from start to finish. Transparent and easy process, and Mat was very patient to answer plenty of questions I had during the purchase! Can’t wait to do it again because the Japanese cars from this era are pure automotive art and these guys hold the keys to the museum! 
Ross C
9/13/2019 - After an initial inquiry several years ago, I still wanted to get a Japanese Delica or Hiace. Matthew was immediately in contact and helped with all the details. His videos were perfect for my search. Matthew was able to answer all of my questions and my wife and I were able to make decisions based on the great information he provided. I would recommend Japan Car Direct to anyone interested in getting the right car at the best price.
Zach Matheson
8/27/2019 The staff at Japan Car Direct made what I thought would a a difficult process very easy. Matt explained every step thoroughly and his advice on details of cars was spot on. 
nick creece
8/20/2019 I imported a van though JCD and they made the process super straightforward. They were amazing at communicating and quick to answer any of my questions. If you are looking to import a car I would highly recommended them. William Bender
8/02/2019 - Awesome experience !!
Their service was extremely good and efficient. Yoshiro was soo patient with my many requests for information and translations. The vehicle purchased was better than expected. I would definitely consider using their services again.
Rafael Cuadros
5/20/2019 All I can say about the experience is AMAZING! I worked with Matthew and he was helpful through the whole process of bidding, purchasing, and shipping the car to me. He had an answer for every question, and was always quick to respond.
Enjoying my new Mercedes and I will be using them again! 
chris casali
5/15/2019 All around exceptional experience! Matt was great to work with and guided me through the entire process with ease. As a first timer, importing was a bit nerve racking but JCD did a great job providing a cool little truck I can enjoy here in Delaware. I look forward to picking up the next toy/vehicle through them. 
Jesse Wencius
5/14/2019 - The experienced, grizzled veterans of the import scene. They were very accommodating with all my questions and concerns. It was my first time importing, so everything was confusing and intimidating, but I'm happy to report everything went as planned! I'm definitely calling them back when I finally come up with an excuse to import another!
Joey Rodriguez
4/12/2019 Mathew was great to work with and made what could be a scary daunting experience very easy. I am super happy with my car and am sure I will be importing with them again! 
Kayla D'Ambrosi
3/18/2019 Working with Mathew and his team was an absolute pleasure. I went from never knowing you could import your own vehicle to owning my own Suzuki Cara within 6 months. Mathew was so helpful and completely transparent with me during the entire process. We spoke on the phone and via email and he helped me pick the perfect car exactly within my requirements. He dealt with my excitement and inexperience with patience and understanding. I couldn't be happier with my experience and will absolutely use Japan Car Direct again when it's time for another project. I highly recommend Mathew and Japan Car Direct. 
Tristan Gilbert
3/05/2019
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