Finished in Boston Green with a black leather interior, this lovely 1999 BMW Z3M Coupé also has the rare sunroof option, further broadening its already wide appeal.

And, if that wasn’t enough, it’s been in the same family for 20 years now; purchased as a present, the second registered keeper was actually the person who bought it, with the third being the woman who’s gift it was.

Said to “drive beautifully”, V262 GMO has just clicked over the 100,000 mark but if you didn’t know better you’d swear it was a much younger car -  but then that’s what happens when you curate a car as carefully as this. 

Muscular and beautiful, this Boston Green example shows why the Z3M is so revered; with mm-perfect shutlines, ripple-free flanks, and excellent panel alignment, the passage of nearly a quarter of a century seems to have passed this one by.

This is partly due to a refresh of the paintwork by Sytner High Wycombe in June 2018 who repainted the front bumper, bonnet, doors, sills, rear quarter panels and rear at a cost of £3,000. 

The quad exhausts and swollen hips hint at the power beneath the shark-gill vented bonnet and this combination, along with a long roofline and minimal rear overhang, turn this hatchback coupé into something very special indeed.

And isn’t Boston Green a great colour for it? Subtle and yet still exotic, the paint work on this one still presents very well.

The alloy wheels were refurbished by Sytner High Wycombe in August 2018 shortly after the bodywork was done and the 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels have held up very well because they are in great shape with no scuffs, scrapes or other signs of kerbing or damage.

This careful curation is supported by the fitment of four matching Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres. However, these tyres are old and the most recent service identified them as having perished with age, so the winning bidder should budget to replace them.

Other problems are more minor. There is a scratch on the offside rear wheelarch and the rubber seals have perished around the door handles, as has the one around the rear window glass.

The interior has fended off the past two-and-a-half decades with the same equanimity as the coachwork. 

With only very light creasing to the black leather covers and a little colour loss to the outer edge of the driver’s seat, the electrically adjustable and heated front seats are still in an excellent condition. Firm and still supportive, they look every bit as good as they feel and provide excellent lateral support for the driver and passenger, which is important give the quality of the Z3M’s chassis and engine.

The rear seats are in an even better condition and the door cards, carpets, and miscellaneous leather are all good.

The headlining is good but there are some scratches to the rear section, presumably from overly ambitious loads being carried in the boot.

Speaking of which, everything else in the boot is excellent and it is home to the Alpine CD-multichanger, remote control for the head unit and the BMW tool kit. 

The steering wheel and gearknob are both in fine fettle, and the minor controls and switches are still bright and clear. We’re also told the air-conditioning is “ice cold”.

As for faults, the outside temperature gauge doesn’t work, and nor does the radio. The passenger window is slow too, but you could probably live with that until money and motivation collide.

Oh, and the top of the driver’s window has warped a little and come away from the fitting. This is visible from outside. 

The engine and ancillaries show some corrosion to a few of the alloy components but that’s purely cosmetic and could be left as it is without worry because the steel panels around them look excellent. 

As you can see, the straight-six engine starts readily and idles and revs as it should. No warning lights are illuminated either, which is further good news.

However, we do note that five of the amber lights are illuminated on the service indicator display, so it will be due a service soon.

As for the underside, there is some peeling paint and surface corrosion. Also, a previous MoT in 2020 identified some rust on the nearside rear of the car. It hasn’t been mentioned again but bidders might like to satisfy themselves and to the extent of any repair. 

Recent work, within the last four years, includes:

• 26.06.2023 and 102,720 miles – service by Kings Road Garage
• 23.09.2020 and 101,766 miles – new waterpump fitted by Sytner High Wycombe
• 27.08.2020 and 101,766 miles – new air-conditioning compressor, power-steering cooling pipe, battery and alternator fitted by Sytner High Wycombe at a cost of almost £2,500
• 23.05.2019 and 101,631 miles – new air-conditioning condenser and power-steering hose fitted by Sytner High Wycombe

The owner’s son, who’s selling it for her, describes the Z3M as being “a passion piece that’s been maintained as such”, something the service history booklet faithfully records:

• 22.09.1999 – pre-delivery inspection by BMW (G5) Ltd
• 26.10.1999 and 1,979 miles – running-in inspection by BMW (G5) Ltd
• 31.01.2000 and 8,804 miles – service by BMW (G5) Ltd
• 14.06.2000 and 12,344 miles – service by BMW Holland Park Ltd
• 12.06.2001 and 19,321 miles – service by BMW Holland Park Ltd
• 25.06.2002 and 27,590 miles – service by Sytner Gerrards Cross
• 15.07.2003 and 36,089 miles – service by Sytner Gerrards Cross
• 14.02.2005 and 43,987 miles – service by Sytner Gerrards Cross
• 28.06.2006 and 53,289 miles – service by Sytner High Wycombe
• 05.08.2008 and 63,265 miles – service by Sytner High Wycombe
• 10.05.2012 and 80,269 miles – service by Sytner High Wycombe
• 03.12.2014 and 90,350 miles – service by Sytner High Wycombe
• 27.08.2020 and 101,766 miles – service by Sytner High Wycombe

The BMW’s MoT certificate is valid until November 2024, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the BMW comes with two keys.

With the best colour combination, a great service record, and a mileage of only a little over 100,000 miles, this is a rare opportunity to own a modern classic sportscar that doesn’t demand a degree in electronic engineering to keep it on the road. 

Because it was engineered at a time when producing a fast road car meant fettling mechanical components rather than programming an ECU, so ongoing maintenance is likely to be largely analogue rather than digital. 

This, plus thoroughly modern performance and handling, means the BMW Z3M offers the best of all worlds.

But, the very best bit of all must be the guide price; the estimate of between £20,000 and £30,000 seems like a performance car bargain to us, even given the need to carry out a few minor jobs.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.