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LHD M Roadster? Would you buy it?

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  • LHD M Roadster? Would you buy it?

    Folks,
    Need some advice. I have been offered my old M Roadster (again!). I'm traded in my old M coupe last year and bought a 00 CLK230 cabrio. A real old mans car I know but the wife likes it more.

    As I'm now bored, I'm thinking of buying my old M-Roadster back as a weekend car. 8)
    What do you think it is worth before I pay too much for it. :?

    My friend (Specialist Car dealer) is looking for approx 7.5k Sterling for it. (is it worth this?). It is half price of an average MC.

    Spec is

    99 Imola red M Roadster. (S52 engine, 240 bhp), LHD (US Spec)

    Mileage: Approx 60k miles.

    Condition: Only average condition. Has been sitting behind my friends garage for 18 months now. Before that, had been used as a track day car a few times by my friend. :(
    Noticed last week, roof, alarm and stereo were all not working. :cry:

    Body and engine all seem ok.

    No NCT (Irish equivalent of an MOT).

    Am I better off saving a further 4k+ sterling and buying a decent RHD M Roadster? :?
    Ex - 99 Cosmos Black M Coupe, Blk/Grey interior, Sunroof;
    06 Z4 Coupe 3.0i Sport.

  • #2
    Not only is it LHD, its US spec 240bhp... I would leave it TBH.

    I would get a loan out today and buy my proper roadster!

    http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/96339.htm

    Comment


    • #3
      Personally, I'd leave it well alone and pay a little extra for a RHD S50.
      CLK55 AMG Cabriolet

      ex Estoril Blue Z3M Coupe

      Comment


      • #4
        If you can handle LHD, performance figures for 240BHP S52 ///Ms aren't that bad. Some american articles I've read put 0-60 times at between 5.0 and 5.5secs. Top speed quoted at 137mph.

        Presumably different gearing to european cars??

        Wonder whether or not S52 has any "VANOS issues"??

        Comment


        • #5
          The S52 engine doesn't have Vanos as far as I know so this wouldn't be an issue.

          As it will be a weekend car, I was thinking the LHD thing wouldn't bother me and most of my driving is in the city. Also the difference between this car and a RHD car could be as much as 6,000 ~ 7,000 euro.

          I'm worried how difficult it might be to sell the LHD car if I needed to sell it again at some stage. I'll see how much my friend is looking for and make up my mind then as everything depends on this.

          Thanks for the advice lads. 8) I'll let you know how I get on.
          Ex - 99 Cosmos Black M Coupe, Blk/Grey interior, Sunroof;
          06 Z4 Coupe 3.0i Sport.

          Comment


          • #6
            its the selling!
            i had so much hastle getting rid of my MR i think its in holland now, and took a long time to shift!

            Comment


            • #7
              The S52 engine doesn't have Vanos as far as I know so this wouldn't be an issue.
              It has single VANOS on just the intake I think. S50 + S54 have VANOS on both the intake and exhaust camshafts.

              I think you will have real trouble selling in this county, so unless you want to keep it for a very long time I would keep on saving and go for a 321 bhp right hooker!
              Black 02 reg S54 M Roadster

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Jon
                If you can handle LHD, performance figures for 240BHP S52 ///Ms aren't that bad. Some american articles I've read put 0-60 times at between 5.0 and 5.5secs. Top speed quoted at 137mph.

                Presumably different gearing to european cars??

                Wonder whether or not S52 has any "VANOS issues"??
                Yes, it is the gearing. Some US guys who has moved from S52 to S54 has complained about lack of power(in low revs), because of the gearing.

                Our cars would be so much better with shorter ratios(3.46 differential at least) and 6-speed gearbox.
                S50 - '99 Estoril/Estoril-Black
                Mods - KW 3 Coilovers, H&R ARBs, Raid steering wheel, Wiechers Sport half-rollcage & strut brace, Simota CAI, Powerflex front and beam bushes, Beyern Mesh 18".

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by MrMicko
                  Our cars would be so much better with shorter ratios(3.46 differential at least) and 6-speed gearbox.
                  I disagree. I think the long-legged nature of the car is part of the overall performance. Any shorter and there's far too much gear changing in quick succession. I've driven the new Z4 MC (with the same s54 as my MC) with the higher ratio diff and 6 speed box and believe me, there's no advantage to that set up other than you can get the engine to run at around 2500rpm at a cruising speed of 80mph on the motorway for fuel economy.
                  /// Exdos ///
                  "Men who try the impossible and fail spectacularly are infinitely superior to those who reach for nothing and succeed" --Napoleon Bonapart

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by exdos

                    I disagree. I think the long-legged nature of the car is part of the overall performance. Any shorter and there's far too much gear changing in quick succession. I've driven the new Z4 MC (with the same s54 as my MC) with the higher ratio diff and 6 speed box and believe me, there's no advantage to that set up other than you can get the engine to run at around 2500rpm at a cruising speed of 80mph on the motorway for fuel economy.
                    You have valid points there, my last car was 6-speed 325 and I actually didn't like the 6th gear and very short 1st gear.
                    But the difference between e46 M3 and M Coupe is that with the M3 you can get more power to the ground(or how should i put it) because of the ratios. I would like to have that on my M Coupe as well.

                    I mostly use my car at racetrack, so that may have something to do with my opinion :shock:
                    S50 - '99 Estoril/Estoril-Black
                    Mods - KW 3 Coilovers, H&R ARBs, Raid steering wheel, Wiechers Sport half-rollcage & strut brace, Simota CAI, Powerflex front and beam bushes, Beyern Mesh 18".

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I think they are a little bit too long. I think 1st gear is fine as it is, I'd like to see 2nd redline at about 65mph and 3rd about 95mph. 4th to around 130mph and 5th to 155.
                      Black 02 reg S54 M Roadster

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by B3N
                        its the selling!
                        i had so much hastle getting rid of my MR i think its in holland now, and took a long time to shift!
                        Ben,
                        As I've never tried to sell a LHD car, is it really that difficult to shift them?

                        I did have this car once, but it was basically a long test drive (lasted 2 months) last year. I never actually owned it and gave it back.

                        Surely, if you price it low enough, it will sell? The lowest MR on the market at the moment is about 22k here in Dublin. My friend is looking for 14~15K for the LHD MR. (~33% less). But it also needs some tidying.
                        Ex - 99 Cosmos Black M Coupe, Blk/Grey interior, Sunroof;
                        06 Z4 Coupe 3.0i Sport.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          nightmare!

                          but i paid too much for the car too!

                          its the price you pay its about the same really as buying a CAT C or D car, yu pay less now and they keep on losing money!

                          Not many people want a LHD car, thats why its in holland and i did have an offer from a guy in france/england, wanted it as a holiday car!

                          personally i would'nt buy it, the LHD with the S52 and the needs a tidy bit!
                          just buy an e30 M3 or something

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Ben,
                            My (Garage owning) friend finally came back with a price for the LHD MR. He wants approx £6.5K sterling for it? I'd say this is roughly 40% less than a normal RHD car.

                            It would be just a weekend car for me and a car to bring to trackdays, car shows etc... 8) &
                            I'll have my comfy CLK cabrio during the week. :)

                            I'm seriously thinking about it. My Garage friend thinks that it will never be worth much less than £6K.

                            Am I mad??? Surely at this price, I'll be able to move it on again in a few years if I need to?? :?

                            Lads, Any advice on this please!? Need to give my friend an answer in the next few days.
                            Thanks.
                            Ex - 99 Cosmos Black M Coupe, Blk/Grey interior, Sunroof;
                            06 Z4 Coupe 3.0i Sport.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              how much does it need spending on it?

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