Completed: BMW "final" M Coupe

This model depicts the last of the first-generation M Coupes made at BMW USA’s Spartanburg, SC plant. BMW has since started production of a sexy new M Coupe based on the Z4. The final three cars off the Z3 production line prior to change to the Z4 were a red M Roadster, white M Coupe, and blue Z3. When I saw this M Coupe at the factory museum called “The Zentrum” I realized this was how I wanted to build my 2002 M Coupe kit. I've always liked the funky shape of the M Coupe, and had fun driving one for charity once; though I enjoyed the M Roadster even more :sunglasse

The kit was made by Dragon (an update of their M Roadster) and was sold by Revell in Europe. It’s not a particularly good kit as it’s got a number of sketchy details and engineered glitches but it’s sufficient for a basic curbside. I disassembled the prepainted body and painted it Tamiya Pure White, and designed and laser printed the trademark BMW flag decals for the car. I also lowered the ride height a bit and made a sunroof by simply painting that area of the roof with Tamiya gloss black. I scratchbuilt the rear license plate holder, the plate reads “Proud To Call South Carolina Home”.

http://images2.fotki.com/v327/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished1-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v9/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished2-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v14/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished3-vi.jpg
http://images2.fotki.com/v327/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished4-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v15/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished5-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v9/photos/1/10258/3458188/Finished6-vi.jpg

The basic body and printed decals:
http://images16.fotki.com/v289/photos/1/10258/3458188/Decals-vi.jpg

The 1:1 on display at the BMW Zentrum:
http://images4.fotki.com/v50/photos/1/10258/23480/DSCN4418-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v303/photos/1/10258/3458188/DSCN4417vi-vi.jpg

very sexy indeed, good job mate.

M1CRO

Great built, Zoom-Zoom,

it is a hard job to get the windows out of the body, isn´t it?

very nice i always like the m3 better than the z4

Nice job, great little build!

The M Coupe was a funky little Bimmer. I got to drive one for a charity event, too. What a kick in the ass- all the power of an M3 with less than 3/4 the weight. Too bad I barely fit the cockpit!

I had no idea that Dragon had done this one. I have the prepainted M Roadster that Dragon/Revell did. What did you strip the body with?

Your decals are a great touch!

Stand up job, sir!

Love the notion of modeling not only a showroom-stock car, but a particular one with such home-town significance. :sunglasse

What's up with the headlights? I had to look twice to see they weren't blacked-out.

Thanks guys!

The headlight buckets are a bit too deep, so the headlights are hard to see, and the covers are pretty thick as well-and they are not tinted. I even used "wizard O's" photoetched rings, cut to size, to border the headlamps. Too bad you can barely see them :shakehead

I have two of these kits and the Rieger Tuning 3 series; the windows on one of the M Coupes popped out easily, the other was difficult as some of the glue had seeped to the quarter window pillar (and this was "the other one"), and I had to grind out the Rieger 3's glass w/a Dremel and opened a small hole in the roof in the process. The A pillars were kinked and I had to get the glass out. Not too keen on Dragon's kits...:shakehead

I stripped the paint in my tub of 99% isopropyl rubbing alcohol. It came off pretty easy, as have most of the prepaints I have stripped w/alcohol. I still don't know if the model was painted a solid blue; or if it was a blue-tinted clearcoat.

Gorgeous. I saw this car in the museum at their SC factory, and thought it would make a killer model with it's checkered decals. You've proved it right! Looks just great. I've been hunting this kit for ages. There never seem to be any on ebay when I look. Great work.

Great job on another rare kit Bob! I never realized the mirrors were placed so oddly far back on the doors.

Great job as usual replicating a very unique car. The graphics are nicely matched to it.