 2006 BMW M Roadster. Click image to enlarge |
Review and photos by Peter Bleakney
While at times I seem to be in the minority, I’ve always liked the look of the BMW Z4. Sure, it’s got all that wacky flame surfacing and the tail end looks like it had a run in with a sushi chef, but I see it as a modern and exciting take on the classic roadster proportions.
However, I’ve never been a huge fan of the way it drove: until now.
By letting the M division lads loose on the Z4, BMW has created a considerably more desirable driver’s car in the 2006 M Roadster.
The soul of any sports car is its engine, and the 24-valve 3.2 litre straight six that lurks beneath the long prow of the M Roadster is a gem. This engine is lifted from the current M3 and features semi-dry sump lubrication, Double VANOS “stepless” variable valve timing, drive-by-wire-throttle and six individual electronically controlled throttles. Output is 330 hp at a very racy 7900 rpm and 262 lbs/ft of torque at 4900 rpm, It is a smooth and flexible unit, but when the tach needle swings past 5000 rpm, it launches a visceral and aural charge that raises the hairs on the back of your neck.
 2006 BMW M Roadster. Click image to enlarge |
BMW obviously knows the sound of a sports cars’ engine is half the experience, and have tuned the M’s exhaust system to create a melodious howl on full throttle and a muted burble on over-run. Underscoring this is the metallic sound of expensive mechanical bits emanating from under the hood. Ear candy of the highest order, folks.
The only available transmission in the M Roadster is a slick shifting six-speed that operates with a firm, mechanical precision. No SMG paddle shifters for you F1 wannabes. Clutch take-up is BMW trademark smooth and progressive.
It is inevitable that this roadster be compared to the benchmark Porsche Boxster S, so besides the fact that the Bimmer is more powerful by 50 hp and cheaper by eight grand ($69,900 vs $77,900), dynamically, the two are as different as chalk and cheese.
 2006 BMW M Roadster. Click image to enlarge |
In the mid-engined Boxster you get the sense the car rotates on a central axis that lines up with the driver – in the M Roadster you’re sitting way back with everything happening out in front. Like my Golden Retriever, this car follows its nose. Any steering input has the sculpted prow hunting for an apex, with the rest of the car following suit.
But the M Roadster is a considerably sharper driving tool than the regular Z4, and more composed. The chunky M steering wheel feels fabulous in the hands, and best of all, it is connected to a hydraulic power steering system that has much better feel and is less darty than the standard electromechanical set-up. M-specific front and rear anti-roll bars and grippy Continental ContiSportContact tires
 2006 BMW M Roadster. Click image to enlarge |
(255/40 ZR18 rear, 225/45 ZR18 front) conspire to make this an immensely enjoyable, confidence-inspiring roadster.
And yes, it’s blazingly quick. BMW says the M Roadster scampers to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds, and I don’t doubt it.
Giving the roadster even more edge is the standard Dynamic Driving Control, which, via the “Sport” button on the console, calls up a more aggressive throttle map.
The cross-drilled and vented disc brakes are equally up to the task, having been borrowed from the M3 Competition Package. Front discs measure a whopping 345 mm, while the rears are 328 mm.
The structure of the M Roadster is incredibly rigid. Even over the roughest of surfaces, I barely detected a trace of cowl shake.
The fully automatic roof retracts quickly and neatly stows under a partial tonneau cover, leaving the sexy roll hoops exposed. The interior is a modern take on a retro look, with a prominent instrument binnacle and a large swath of brushed metal sweeping across the dash.
 2006 BMW M Roadster. Click image to enlarge |
The heated, 6-way adjustable M sport seats keep you comfortably in place when exploring the outer limits of adhesion.
Maybe it’s my failing middle-aged eyesight, but I found the small numbers on the M speedo and tach difficult to read in bright daylight. Since most people buying this car will likely be of a “certain age”, BMW might want to rethink this.
The adaptable red-line on the tach is a cool feature, gradually extending to 8000 rpm as the engine warms up.
You sit low in this car, and the expanse of hood disappears out in front of you. There’s more nose there than you think, so care must be taken when parking. I learned the hard way by scraping the front clip on my first day. Ouch.
  2006 BMW M Roadster. Click image to enlarge |
The 200-litre trunk is usable for groceries and overnight bags, and you’ll also find a tire repair canister, air pump and hose back there because, unlike other Z4’s, the M Roadster doesn’t use run-flat tires.
The ride in the M Roadster is firm, and since your butt is almost directly over the rear axles, rough roads jostle your innards pretty good. Comparatively, the Boxster’s ride, especially with PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management), is much easier to live with. But one must assume that the M Roadster will probably be a second or third car for most owners, so a little bouncing around is a small price to pay for the heaping plateful of motoring fun this little convertible dishes up.
The base MSRP for a 2006 BMW M Roadster is $69,900. My tester had the $2900 Premium Package which adds power fold mirrors, wind deflector, auto dimming mirrors, electric seats with driver memory and HiFi sound system with DSP: which I turned on exactly once. It sounded fine, but believe me, you don’t want anything competing with the heavenly soundtrack the M Roadster produces with the top down and that glorious straight-six singing at the top of its lungs.
