For sale is my 2001 BMW Z3 Coupe 3.0i with approx. 56,000 miles.

I'm selling this car because I'm thinking about buying something for winter driving, and I can't justify having four cars for our household. I am not desperate to sell it. It's a well-maintained daily driver with features and mileage you will not likely see again. And values have been on the rise.

The good stuff:

Very low miles for the model year: about 56,000. You will rarely see any 3.0 Coupe with mileage this low. I've put about 6,000 per year on it myself, but the previous owners didn't drive it much.
No accidents ever. (You have the VIN above, and I also have a Carfax from 2014 when I bought it.)

The M54 engine (3-liter inline six) is known for its longevity as well as its power, especially when used in a car as light as the Z3 Coupe.

Limited-slip differential.

Sterling gray metallic--a beautiful yet subtle color. I have regularly hand-washed, waxed, and clay-barred the exterior. I have used Klasse All-in-One and Klasse Sealer to preserve the paint.

Extended-leather all-black interior.

The Chromeline trim to my eye is far suited to this car than the more common wood grain.

Adult owned (by a multiple-BMW owner) and daily driven. Originally owned by a BMW employee at the plant in SC. The owner before me was (like me) a fastidious, middle-aged male BMW enthusiast and federal employee.

Subframe bushings are 100%. No popped welds, etc. (That's less common in the Coupes and especially in the non-M cars.)

The glove box is solid with no sagging.

Ice-cold A/C. (And heated seats! I'm ruined for any other kind now.)

Five-speed manual transmission, with clutch working very well.

Sport seats are in very good condition (minor surface wear on driver's left side bolster)

Rare BMW OEM removable skylight shade (which not only blocks the strong sun but also preserves the interior).

Bone stock other than a tasteful replacement shift knob (which is nicer than the original, in my opinion).

Recent (summer 2015) new tires--Michelin Pilot SuperSports. Pricey, but they last and handle great.

Very desirable OEM BBS (German-made) Style 42 wheels, with one full-sized BBS spare with mounted Michelin Pilot tire in nearly perfect condition.

Consistent servicing by BMW specialists. Recent work: Replacement of all belts, oil changes (BMW brand full synthetic only), replacement of both front lower control arms, transmission oil, differential oil, new Michelin tires, brake pads and rotors, fuel-filler cap, O2 sensor.

All power windows and locks work perfectly, as do the seat heaters, the electrical adjustment motors, rear-window defrost, etc. Everything works.

Original BMW Harmon-Kardon audio system works very well.

I have three original keys: two BMW electronic remote key fobs and one valet key.
Extensive maintenance documentation comes with the car.

Light factory BMW window tint (very subtle but protects the interior).

Needs and minor flaws:

The car needs nothing in the immediate future. The clutch is strong. The glass skylight vent (as is the case with many of these cars) no longer opens, but from the factory they only open an inch or so, due to the short roofline.

Two of the BBS wheels have some surface degradation to the aluminum finish, a common problem with these wheels. (Keep in mind there is one nearly perfect spare BBS wheel that comes with the other four.) These wheels are valuable enough to have professionally refinished, however.

There is minor low-frequency noise audible only at low speeds, due to additional flex in the giubo, but this isn't really a problem and does not need to be fixed any time soon.
There are minor nicks in the paint, as one would expect from a 15-year-old car driven on a regular basis in a major city. But overall, the paint looks great.

The adhesive under the leather covering over the passenger airbag has worn out, so the covering is a bit loose.

The area between the skylight and windshield is somewhat flexible if you move it with your hand. Not really a problem--in fact I never noticed it till recently--but full disclosure.

The hydraulic supports for the hatch are kaput and could be replaced. (Unless you don't use the cargo area much or are OK holding the hatch up as you put something back there.)

The hood at some point was repaired due to hail damage, but I'm told it is in fact the original hood and paint.

General info on this model:

BMW made only 2,071 "clown shoe" coupes for North America, over all model years. In 2001, there were only 823 Z3 Coupes, fewer still with the 3.0i engine (available only in 2001 and 2002). In fact, over all model years, BMW made less than half the number of 3.0 Coupes as M Coupes--1053 of the Z3 3.0 versus 2858 for the M Coupe. (See http://www.z3coupebuyersguide.com)

This car's M54 3.0 engine has almost all the torque and horsepower of the pre-2001 M Coupe (the S52 engine) but without the M-specific (more expensive) parts. It's much more powerful than the 2.8 liter pre-2001 non-M engines. At the same time, the Z3 Coupe has much better visibility than the 2006-08 Z4 and Z4M Coupes (and is less common on the road)--though those are also great cars.

This one is rare even among Z3 Coupes. BMW made only 78 Coupes (of any model year) in sterling gray metallic. Entering the VIN above into the Z3 Buyer's Guide site shows only seven (7) were made in this color with black interior. And the various options (upgraded wheels, shorter final-drive ratio, etc.) all added cost. In fact, BMW built only two (2) of this model with these options, in sterling gray with black interior. The low miles on this car make it rarer still.

The handling is fantastic, and the acceleration is quite strong, given how light the car is. (Being so low to the ground intensifies this sensation.) At the same time, it's surprisingly practical for a two-seater. It has good fuel economy, adequate luggage space for two people, and all the modern creature comforts. It's very practical as a daily driver. It's distinctive without being flashy and is not costly to insure.

In addition, the values on these cars have been appreciating in the last few years, as buyers who missed the 911 bubble look to the next-best thing. (In my view, that category in this general price range also includes the 2009 or later Porsche Cayman and the 944 Turbo, or maybe a 996 with the IMS fixed.) So if you maintain this car and put reasonable miles on it, you'll probably make a little money when you sell it (maybe back to me if I regret doing so), and you might make a lot. I'm starting to think I shouldn't sell it after all--but then I need a winter car.

If you're interested:

If you're a serious buyer, please send me an email with your phone number and your own email address, and I will call you in the evening or on the weekend. (I can't access personal email during the work day and don't care for texting.)

I'd ask for payment via cashier's check drawn in person at a local bank. If you wish to have a qualified mechanic conduct a pre-purchase inspection, I will gladly go with you to a shop in the near suburbs of Northern Virginia. I'm not interested in trades (other than perhaps a low-mileage Subaru Crosstrek in gray.)

My price is based on recent comparable completed listings on eBay, Craigslist and other public sites such as cars.com and has been recently reduced to account for the minor needs I listed above. When comparing, be sure you account for the desirable color, the 3.0 M54 engine and the extended leather all-black interior with Chromeline trim (versus the more common and less favored woodgrain) and the five included German-made BBS wheels.

If I don't sell the car this fall, I will probably list it on eBay or Bring a Trailer in the spring, when there are more buyers for sports cars (and when it will probably fetch a higher price).

Happy to answer any questions. Thank you for your interest.

John