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Thread: Z3 "M Package"?

  1. #1
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    Z3 "M Package"?

    My 2001 Z3 has the 3.0L engine and a few "M" logos inside. The guy I bought it from said it was not an M car, but does have the "M Package". I have the original window sticker; there's nothing on it about an "M" anything. Looking for parts, when I specify the 3.0L, I get parts listings for Z3M. Anybody know how to determine which model I have before I order any parts?
    Dave

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    Input the last seven digits of the VIN at realoem.com That should help.

    I believe the 01 and 02 Z3 had the S54 engine, which is 3.2 liters. Pop the hood and if you see one throttle body, you do not have the M motor, the S54 which has six throttle bodies.

    Moved to Z3 sub-forum.
    Last edited by MauiM3Mania; 08-14-2018 at 04:23 AM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buzzaround View Post
    My 2001 Z3 has the 3.0L engine and a few "M" logos inside. The guy I bought it from said it was not an M car, but does have the "M Package". I have the original window sticker; there's nothing on it about an "M" anything. Looking for parts, when I specify the 3.0L, I get parts listings for Z3M. Anybody know how to determine which model I have before I order any parts?
    Dave
    There is no such thing as an M Package, buy you may have the sports suspension. Lots of Z3s have the ///M logo in the steering wheel, and may have other odds and ends with the logo on - for instance I have an ///M gearknob, just because I wanted a nice leather one.

    You have the M54 engine (not the S54). What parts are you looking for that come up as for the Z3M? Remember, lots of parts are common to all the Z3 models. As mentioned, RealOem will help yuo find the parts specific to your chassis.

  4. #4
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    You can also just look at the sill plate in the car. If it says "Z3" you have a Z3. If it says "M Roadster" you have a M Roadster. They were sold as separate models and are titled/insured as such.

    sill_plate.jpg

  5. #5
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    If it has a 3.0L engine its not an M - its that simple

    If it has a 3.2L engine, it IS an M

  6. #6
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    In the early 2000s, BMW started putting M badges on all of the top level models. My 2001 330ci had “M” wheels, but they were not the ones that came on the M3. It was just a marketing thing. My 2002 Z3 has some M badges, but no “real” M equipment. All of the 3.0i cars in 2002 had M stickers. I believe 2001 was no different.

    Some easy ways to tell if a Z3 is an M Roadster:

    1. no rear end refresh (i.e. hips) - flat fenders in back.
    2. Roadstar wheels (if not replaced)
    3. Different side air gills
    4. Very different outside and inside mirrors
    5. Rear license plate (tag/tab) mounted on the trunk lid, not in the bumper.
    6. Dual exhaust - left and right side rear, not tandem on the left only.
    7. Lack of a Z3 badge on the trunk lid
    8. Chrome work surrounding the shifter boot + M roadster script on the gauges
    9. No spare tire bin - battery in the middle of the trunk.
    10. Lift the hood and look at the oil filter. Metal cap with a bolt in the center? M...

    There’s other stuff... but these are some of the easy ones.
    Steve
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by 2002Z3 View Post
    Some easy ways to tell if a Z3 is an M Roadster:

    1. no rear end refresh (i.e. hips) - flat fenders in back.
    i believe all 6cly Z3's have the wide hips.

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    Quote Originally Posted by fallguy View Post
    i believe all 6cly Z3's have the wide hips.
    A thread on that:
    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...st-facelift-Z3
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by 2002Z3 View Post
    In the early 2000s, BMW started putting M badges on all of the top level models. My 2001 330ci had “M” wheels, but they were not the ones that came on the M3. It was just a marketing thing. My 2002 Z3 has some M badges, but no “real” M equipment. All of the 3.0i cars in 2002 had M stickers. I believe 2001 was no different.

    Some easy ways to tell if a Z3 is an M Roadster:

    1. no rear end refresh (i.e. hips) - flat fenders in back.
    2. Roadstar wheels (if not replaced)
    3. Different side air gills
    4. Very different outside and inside mirrors
    5. Rear license plate (tag/tab) mounted on the trunk lid, not in the bumper.
    6. Dual exhaust - left and right side rear, not tandem on the left only.
    7. Lack of a Z3 badge on the trunk lid
    8. Chrome work surrounding the shifter boot + M roadster script on the gauges
    9. No spare tire bin - battery in the middle of the trunk.
    10. Lift the hood and look at the oil filter. Metal cap with a bolt in the center? M...

    There’s other stuff... but these are some of the easy ones.
    Again, the sill plate inside the door opening will say "M Roadster" or "Z3 Roadster". No detective work necessary. There is little ambiguity.

  10. #10
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    There is no such thing as an M package.

    All Z3s had the sport package, any z3 with the 3 spoke steering wheel will have the M logo on it. Some wheels might have an M on it as well.

    But as far as Z3s are concerned they came in two varieties, M roadster/coupe, or Z3 roadster/coupe. There were various options obviously, but thing is, a lot of morons these days throw the word "M package" out there as some kind of sales slogan. I have seen it a bunch when browsing cars. Current generation cars have "M sport" packages, or "M performance" packages, but I think a lot of people like to assume that "M" in the name means more than it actually does.


    Also your engine type is M54B30.

    The M roadsters and coupes had two variants S52B32 and S54B32. As far as I know, all Z3Ms had always had 3.2 liter motors.
    Last edited by Luftwaffe1O1; 08-14-2018 at 07:11 PM.

    Suspension: Bilstein Sports, GC Coilover conversion, IE Subframe Bushings, IE RTABs, M roadster sways, M roadster front control arms, M roadster Front calipers/hubs.
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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vintage42 View Post
    A wide body facelift Z3, still has small hips compared to an M///. ...BABY GOT BACK!
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  12. #12
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    My 01 with a 2.5 has the M steering wheel, upgraded seats. From what I know about the car, it came from the factory that way.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by pine1000 View Post
    You can also just look at the sill plate in the car. If it says "Z3" you have a Z3. If it says "M Roadster" you have a M Roadster. They were sold as separate models and are titled/insured as such.

    sill_plate.jpg
    If your insurance company jumped your rates up,after you gave them th VIN, you have an “M” ;-)

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  14. #14
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    Not long after I bought my Coupe I got tripped up by a Koni website that listed a particular front shock for Z3's with the M Sport package. I foolishly that that meant an M Coupe, but found out the hard way that that the springs on an M Coupe/Roadster are smaller in diameter than the M Sport spring for Z3's. Mea Culpa .......

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    Quote Originally Posted by MartyBtoo View Post
    Not long after I bought my Coupe I got tripped up by a Koni website that listed a particular front shock for Z3's with the M Sport package. I foolishly that that meant an M Coupe, but found out the hard way that that the springs on an M Coupe/Roadster are smaller in diameter than the M Sport spring for Z3's. Mea Culpa .......

    Marty
    I have never heard or seen that, but the front swaybar attachment to the suspension goes up to the strut on the M Coupe/Roadster, vs the control arm on the non-M cars. This is to reduce the motion ratio and increase the efficiency (effectiveness) of the swaybar, allowing the bar to be smaller and lighter on the M cars vs the non-M cars.
    So, non-M struts will not have a swaybar attachment point on them.
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    From what I'm able to recall when Z3 3.0 and all other ones first came out (looking at it from the dealer showroom), I'm pretty sure that M-package wasn't offered. Only sports package existed back then, and it was common for BMW to put M badges on certain sport package parts (like rims, steering wheels, and etc). - I don't know if they still carry that approach nowadays.

    But from what I have been able to gather past a few years, the Z3 3.0 do seem to share more parts with Z3M's than other Z3 variations though...
    Last edited by nevan; 08-16-2018 at 01:15 AM.
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  17. #17
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    What makes an M unique is their engines, differentials, suspensions and interiors that were not shared with any other model (some euro models got seats but rest of interior was still unique to the M). Even if a 3.0 shares more trim clips with an M, that doesnt make it any more "M" than any other non-M Z3
    Curious what parts an M shares with 3.0 that it doesnt share with say, a 2.8?

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBreaker View Post
    Curious what parts an M shares with 3.0 that it doesnt share with say, a 2.8?
    There are a few, I believe. And the diff. mount bushing is one of them that I can think of at the moment.
    Last edited by nevan; 08-16-2018 at 01:44 PM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by nevan View Post
    There are a few, I believe. And the diff. mount bushing is one of them that I can think of at the moment.
    There are a couple of minor parts, the rubber bushing is odd to me, they should all ideally be the same, as they are interchangeable to my understanding, but curious as to why it is different. the 2.5, 2.8, 2.5i all have the same part number. 3.0 does not, and it is also like $300 for the bushing

    Suspension: Bilstein Sports, GC Coilover conversion, IE Subframe Bushings, IE RTABs, M roadster sways, M roadster front control arms, M roadster Front calipers/hubs.
    Engine/Driveline: M54B30 intake Manifold, Dinan CAI, ZHP Cams, Headers, Underdrive pulleys, Conforti Software, 3.46 diff.

  20. #20
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    Evidently the 2.5, 3.0, and 3.2 all have different axles and stub axles as well.
    In addition to having a different diff bushing, the 2.5 and 3.0 also have different diff covers.
    I've got all 3 on a bench and will take some pictures tonight if it's interesting to anyone.

    Edit: I take it back - the 2.5 and 3.0 appear to have the same casting for the diff cover, just the bushing is different, which explains the different part number.
    Last edited by scenturion; 08-17-2018 at 11:44 AM.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by scenturion View Post
    Evidently the 2.5, 3.0, and 3.2 all have different axles and stub axles as well.
    In addition to having a different diff bushing, the 2.5 and 3.0 also have different diff covers.
    I've got all 3 on a bench and will take some pictures tonight if it's interesting to anyone.
    A lot of the parts on the M Roadster/Coupe are shared with the E36 M3. However, the stub axles are not shared with any other models and are expensive. I ordered one at the dealer and had to wait 3 months while stock was replenished in Germany and shipped to the states.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1 View Post
    There are a couple of minor parts, the rubber bushing is odd to me, they should all ideally be the same, as they are interchangeable to my understanding, but curious as to why it is different. the 2.5, 2.8, 2.5i all have the same part number. 3.0 does not, and it is also like $300 for the bushing
    I agree. I wonder what lead BMW to make decision on which part is shared between 3.0 and 3.2 (aside from fitment) because I would think 2.8tu should've been included also for something like the stiff OEM bushing for diff. mount (if so, it might have made the part cost considerably less than what it currently is, sigh)...
    Last edited by nevan; 08-17-2018 at 06:16 PM.
    2000 Z3 M Titanium Silver / Imola Red+Black Nappa
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  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by nevan View Post
    I would think 2.8tu should've been included also for something like the stiff diff. mount (if so, it might have made the part cost considerably less than what it currently is, sigh)...
    Seriously?

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    Quote Originally Posted by deni2s View Post
    Seriously?
    I seem to be creating more confusion, sorry. I meant to say stiff OEM bushing for diff. mount:

    43380897594_8748efe2b1_m.jpg
    2000 Z3 M Titanium Silver / Imola Red+Black Nappa
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  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by nevan View Post
    I seem to be creating more confusion, sorry. I meant to say stiff OEM bushing for diff. mount:

    43380897594_8748efe2b1_m.jpg
    I mean you seriously think BMW part cost has something to do with it's production quantity? Sounds too naive for me.

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