A year later, the Z3 2.8 arrived. Now, the M Roadster turns the little BMW run-about into a mean machine. Coupled with a five-speed manual shifter, this powerplant fuels the M Roadster from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. That, my friends, is serious wind through your thinning hair. And while Mazda's Miata still deserves credit for starting this roadster revival almost a decade ago, the company has never produced a Miata with anything like the performance capabilities of the M Roadster.
Suspension is upgraded front and rear, including lowering the height by an inch.
M engineers have tweaked the steering and braking, too. The M Roadster gets 17-inch wheels and performance tires. On the outside and inside, the car is liberally decorated with the M logo. You'll find it on the side panels, the rear end and the door sills. The car looks more muscular than the basic Z3, thanks to a front spoiler with larger air dam and a wider rear end.