Crapwagon Outtake: 2000 BMW M Coupe

Chris Tonn
by Chris Tonn

As should be quite clear from my previous Crapwagon ramblings, I like weird cars. My current garage, however, is quite boring, with a domestic minvan and SUV, and a rusty/immobile Miata. For the last four years, my automotive wanderlust has been mostly sated by writing for Bring A Trailer. I’ve been able to stave my funky automotive cravings by writing about the cars rather than inviting a call from a divorce attorney.

There are a few cars that make me consider that tradeoff. Near the top of the list: an E36/8 Clownshoe, otherwise known as the M Coupe. Those massive flares, the short wheelbase, and the MGB GT-aping hatch make me feel all tingly. I followed a trailered, caged M Coupe last weekend for a while (I’m assuming it was headed to a trackday at Mid Ohio) and it gave me rather dirty thoughts.

This one is in Estoril Blue, my second favorite (behind Technoviolet) BMW hue of all. It has less than 60,000 miles on the odometer and is basically stock. The limited production numbers seem to be driving prices up, sadly out of reach of my meager wallet. I doubt these will reach 1M levels of insanity, but I can see $45,000 for a clean, low-mileage example like this one in about five years.

Chris Tonn
Chris Tonn

Some enthusiasts say they were born with gasoline in their veins. Chris Tonn, on the other hand, had rust flakes in his eyes nearly since birth. Living in salty Ohio and being hopelessly addicted to vintage British and Japanese steel will do that to you. His work has appeared in eBay Motors, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars, Reader's Digest, AutoGuide, Family Handyman, and Jalopnik. He is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, and he's currently looking for the safety glasses he just set down somewhere.

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  • Badreligion702 Badreligion702 on May 31, 2015

    Estoril Blue is my favorite BMW color, but if I could afford an M3, I would be rocking Yas Marina Blue.

  • JohnTaurus JohnTaurus on May 31, 2015

    I love it. I like the 318Ti hatches, too. Something about a BMW in hatchback form. A 318Ti is a much closer reality to me financially. Im not comparing the performance of the two, just to be clear.

  • Shaker Shaker on Jun 01, 2015

    Sine I wear size 15 shoes, I highly approve of the design of this car. No backup camera required.

  • Energetik9 Energetik9 on Jun 01, 2015

    I owned a 2000 M Roadster in Estoril Blue. It was the convertible version of this car. The engine and suspension in this car were lifted straight from the M3. I had some very minor mods that pushed this to 300hp. I was literally one of my most favorite cars I ever owned. It was quick, nible, and light. These cars are a collector car now in BMW circles and especially the coupe version above. Not surprising the prices on these are increasing.

    • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Jun 03, 2015

      I never liked these, and I remember around the time they were new I would see weird color 90's green ones quite a bit, and also a yellow. I thought (at the time, as a child) that it was a modification to the convertible, like an option package to make it look like this. It's too - I dunno, trying too hard for my tastes. And the windows never looked like they were supposed to be that shape by design; forced.

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