This is my second review of the S54 M Roadster. I've included a link to my review of the 2001 M Roadster below, which is much more comprehensive.. I felt that I should say a few brief words about the 02 versus the M Roadster, although, there is only one difference between the two models: a trunk escape latch.
OVERVIEW:
I'm on my second M Roadster. In brief, my 2001 was hit head-on and totalled. It sustained massive front end damage all the way up to the a-pillar. I walked away with a shattered left hand. BMW's design features diverted all of the energy from the collision away from the cockpit, and the safety protocols worked perfectly (door locks pop, hazards come on, engine is shutdown, airbags deploy). I was able to find (after a four month search) an identical car with 1200 miles on it. It was in showroom condition. I bought it immediately.
Although the driving experience is identical in the two cars, I thought it would be helpful to touch upon a few developments that have occurred over the evolution of this car's brief two-year production run.
OIL:
Early on in the S54 (the engine designation for the 2001-02 models) M Roadsters, a service bulletin came out which advised that the synthetic 10/60 oil should be used (versus the 5/30). All dealer-maintained cars should have a sticker in the engine bay and documentation of the type of oil used for each oil change.
DESIGN:
No design changes for the M Roadster between 01 and 02. There are subtle design element changes between the 98-00 models (the S52's) versus the S54's.
FEATURES:
No new features other than a trunk escape latch.
ENGINE:
The biggest concern in this car will undoubtedly be the engine. The S54 is a normally-aspirated in-line six cylinder beast that produces 333hp in the M3 and 315hp in the M Roadster (less hp due being de-tuned in the shorter roadster). The engine is a marvelous piece of technology, and has won "engine of the year" in numerous publications.
However...
While it is certainly not as finicky as some of the Alfa's I've owned (see link to my write-up of the GTV6), it does require proper care and feeding.
The most troublesome reports have been bearing failures. Some owners test their oil regularly to test for metal content, which usually signifies impeding failure. Some of the failures that have been posted are not from people who drive near the redline.
I usually change my oil at 5k miles, versus the 10k that BMW recommends, but other than that, I'm thankful that BMW extended the warranty on these engines to six years or 100k miles. In truth, these problems have been more the exception than the rule, and have cropped up in M3's in higher numbers. Whether this is due to the larger production number of the M3, the type of driver, the higher hp output, or a combination of many factors remains to be seen.
In 12/03 a service bulletin recommending an upgrade to the engine software went out. This was due to a rough idle and start failures when cold.
REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ISSUES:
This area is relevant to both Z3 and M Roadster owners. If you own or are buying this car, make sure you lift the trunk floor mat and also get underneath the car to check the rivet points around the section of framing that the rear differential is attached to. If you see any "pulling" apart in the rivet points, it usually means that you have a problem.
RIMS:
The 02 M's still have the same issues with non-repaintable curb rash. The paint on the rims was changed slightly in the S54 vs. S52 models. Since the painting process isn't approved in the US, it means that you're stuck buying a 500 dollar rim for any damage. In my prior write-up I have detailed section on repair options which includes sanding all four rims' outer edges down to camoflauge the damage.
REAR SUSPENSION:
Another weak point on the car that you may want to consider modifying with a Dinan rear strut for several hundred dollars. The rear-suspension is a semi-trailing arm which means that it's possible to tear the back end loose with aggressive driving. Most M owners are enthusiasts and see it as just another attractive quirk. The Z3 has the same rear suspension issues.
BUILD QUALITY:
I had the first M Roadster sold in Portland, and I'm pretty sure I have one of the last ever built (it has a 12/01 build date). The build quality is identical in each car and in each model I found a couple of minor faults which the dealer quickly fixed under warranty. In no particular order these were: trunk hydraulics needed adjustment, wiper/washer hose was too short and kinked, tachometer failure after start-up (whole instrument pod was replaced), cold start engine failure (see above--software upgrade), center console loose (screw was tightened). BMW ranks in the top ten in terms of JD Power's assessments and every issue I've had from my 99 2.8L Z3 to both of my M's was very minor.
PRICE:
You can only buy this car used since the production run is over. For what you get in terms of raw power, this car can't be beat. I paid a premium for mine because it was brand new and had really only been breathed on by the former owner. He never even got around to installing the clearmask bra, front strut, or other upgrades.
As of this writing (5/04), the prices are about 33-38k for a good vehicle, and this is fairly much in line with what Kelly Blue Book recommends and certainly less than other cars of its caliber (Boxster S, SLK AMG, etc). While some M owners are a bit Polly-Anna about the "collectiblity" of this car, it is really not a true collectors item and the prices will not appreciate for decades. However, in the eyes of a loving owner, the car is priceless and this, I believe, is the correct point of view to take when selecting ANY vehicle. If the purchase is done with passion and not practicality in mind, then all of the niggling details become meaningless.
Wow...that was kind of deep and mushy.
BOTTOM LINE:
Still a great automobile with jaw dropping power and a few quirks. Am I biased? You betcha, but when I had the chance to replace my 01 car, I actually got out and drove a Boxster S, S2000, M3 Cabrio, SLK 320, etc. None of them worked for me and I came right back home to an 02. I just convinced a friend of mine to buy an 00 M Roadster. He took off in it for parts unknown and hasn't been seen since.
Here's my review of the 2001 M Roadster.
http://www.epinions.com/content_97188941444
Happy reading, and thanks.
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