This 2001 BMW M Coupe (chassis WBSCN93411LK60319) is one of only 690 S54 powered cars built before production ended in 2002. This motor was the company’s final, ultimate development of the naturally aspirated straight six and offers a substantial power increase, a stratospheric redline, and much improved driving experience over S52 powered North American models built during the previous three years. Purchased by the seller three years ago from BMW specialist Enthusiast Auto, it’s said to have always been correctly maintained and now shows 36,475 miles on the odometer. It is now available in San Diego, California for $33k.
Black on black is a good color combo for the clown shoe and avoids the garish, brightly colored two-tone seats fitted to many blue and red examples. Cosmetics look quite good overall with nice, glossy paint, clear lenses, good trim, and straight, tight-fitting panels. The wheels are said to have a bit of curb rash, however, and the right side front splitter shows some scraping from meeting with a curb—both somewhat unavoidable living in the city as the seller does, but we’d still shell out to have them fixed within the first weeks of ownership. Other flaws include a few small paint blemishes.
Said to be one of 74 built in this particular combo in 2001, the interior features heated, power seats, a moonroof, factory Harman Kardon sound system, and is said to show minimal wear mostly confined to the driver’s side outer bolster. The car includes new sisal Coco mats in addition to factory correct items, and the padded arm rest and weighted stainless shift knob are both nice upgrades—again, OEM units are also included. The seller says it has been and remains a non-smoker’s car, and rubber is described as being good all-around.
Mechanically the coupe is said to be mostly stock apart from a dealer-installed Dinan cold air intake, stainless braided clutch hose, and an ECU re-flash performed by Technica Motorsports which is said to have made the car both more responsive and smoother to drive. Hardware to allow further electronic tuning or to revert to factory settings is part of the sale. The seller runs Amsoil fluids, but the oil temp gauge is currently inop with a blown fuse the suspected culprit. Original documentation (ephemera?) is included, and excluding the aforementioned gauge everything is said to work as it should.