2006 BMW M Roadster Review

BMW M Roadster – Driving Impressions: It's a cool summer evening, the sun slowly sinks in the western sky and the wind wisps around my thoughts as the plan to dodge rush-hour traffic and make a late-day run on my favorite mountain road has finally come to fruition. Traffic is light, almost non-existent, when I mash the 2006 BMW M Roadster's throttle and realize this ain't no sissy car as 330 horses pull me toward the first turn. Brush and trees alongside the road blur into a multicolored collage, the wind whips my neck and the M's engine growl echoes off the weathered hillsides. The BMW rips by a sign designating 30 mph as the ideal speed for the turn but I approach at twice that velocity. At turn-in the M Roadster takes a set and clips the apex, exiting like a runaway freight train careening downhill with nothing to impede its way. A few more turns dial my courage up even more and I realize the M Roadster's capabilities are higher than can be safely navigated on public roads, but what a rush. The 2006 BMW M Roadster is a car born for traveling mountain and canyon roads. The 330-horsepower, 262 lb.-ft of torque, and six-speed manual transmission work together with the fluidity of synchronized swimmers to propel the two-seater up and down any road you can throw in its path. Backing up the power are staggered 18-inch wheels and low profile tires that are eight inches wide up front and nine inches wide at the rear, stability control, traction control, ABS, an M sport-tuned suspension, and a plethora of other performance tweaks at your disposal. Designers didn't just boost the horsepower and slap an M badge on the Z4 roadster. The BMW M Roadster gets an all-new front fascia with recessed vertical slats that are painted black along with larger ducting to keep the bigger brakes and more powerful engine cool. Designers also added discreet hood lines that flow up the hood toward the driver giving the M Roadster a more muscular look. At the rear, the M Roadster gets a diffuser, an optional spoiler, and cutouts for the dual exhaust tips as well as an M badge for people to ponder as you blow past. Inside, the 2006 BMW M Roadster is void of the dreaded iDrive system; hallelujah! Nothing but a basic leather and aluminum-trimmed interior was on our test car, although you can also choose between carbon leather and a more elegant walnut madeira wood to replace the metal trim on the dash. BMW chose to keep the M Roadster simple and for that we applaud them. Optional equipment for the M Roadster includes auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, eight-way power seats with driver's seat memory, cruise control, a premium sound system, an interior storage package, BMW assist telematics, metallic paint, an M rear spoiler, interior trim options, heated seats, and a navigation system. Despite the ability to upgrade the M Roadster with luxurious amenities, this sports car isn't for everyone and the faint of heart need not apply. The M Roadster is a serious driving tool aimed directly at enthusiasts who like to push the limits of the road as well as their driving skills, and desire a car that can meet any challenge thrown its way.

Performance

Engineers have dutifully managed to stuff the 3.2-liter, 24-valve, DOHC inline six-cylinder engine from the old M3 into the new M Roadster, and in this application it produces 330 horses and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is run through a tight six-speed manual transmission (no paddle shifters here) with power activated by an old fashioned clutch – you know, that thing you used to use your left foot for. Thankfully, BMW has kept with traditional footwork instead of fitting the M Roadster with the SMG system found on the M3. One annoyance on our test car was a driveline clunk that could be replicated at will and cheapened the experience of driving the M Roadster. However, what's confounding is that for all the extra cash the M Roadster demands, it's only .7 seconds faster to 60 mph than the standard Z4 with 255 horsepower. A bit more bang for the buck would have been nice.

Handling

Power isn't the only characteristic of a sports car; handling is also mandatory. Engineers equip the 2006 M Roadster with staggered 18-inch wheels and low profile tires, adding the necessary meat to keep the M Roadster glued to the road. BMW opted against run-flat tires due to their added weight and because no run-flat tire designs met the M Roadster's requirements. Surprisingly, ride quality is livable for a car with this kind of handling capability but those used to a softer suspension will hate the Roadster's intimate connection with the road. Steering and brakes are quick and precise, both delivering results from input instantly. The roadster's brakes take some getting used to but feel as though they could pull down a runaway Peterbilt in a matter of seconds.

Visibility

My only complaint with visibility is with the somewhat small rearview mirror. With the top down visibility is good, especially through the large side mirrors, but with the top up rear visibility is obscured. The M Roadster does get a glass rear window with defroster but its size, combined with the small rearview mirror, makes relying on the side mirrors mandatory. The view over the sculpted hood is one of beauty and uninterrupted perspective.

Fun to Drive

Are you kidding me? Yes it's fun to drive. Let's see, two seats, a convertible top, M power and handling, aggressive styling, and enough trunk space for a weekend cruise up the coast. Yeah, I think that equates to fun.

Front Comfort

The 2006 BMW M Roadster sits low to the ground, like any sports car, so entering and exiting requires developing your own style to make it fluid and comfortable. Once seated, the leather-covered bolsters rise at your sides to keep you firmly planted. Those with wider girth might find the seats a bit tight and the sparse padding can get a bit uncomfortable on long drives. Legroom is adequate but those with long legs might find the door pull interferes with their left knee when resting it on the panel. On the console, designers added a padded area to combat this very issue. The emergency brake also interrupts what should be a flat resting area for the driver's and passenger's arms. The M Roadster's best interior attribute is the fat, leather-wrapped steering wheel. It's hard to wrap your hand around this wheel and touch your fingers to your palm, it's that thick.

Interior Noise

Cruising in the BMW M Roadster at freeway speeds with the top down requires conversing in louder tones, even though the wind doesn't buffet the cabin much. Oddly enough, there's no flip-up wind blocker between the seats as in other convertibles. With the top up the passenger compartment gets much quieter and wind noise is subdued, allowing for normal conversation.

Loading of Cargo

Finally designers built a two-seater with a trunk large enough to be practical. We aren't saying you'll be sneaking any friends into the drive-in theater in the back of the M Roadster, but you could get a couple of soft bags and maybe a set of golf clubs into it for a weekend getaway. Designers allowed for an additional cubic foot of space that can be had by raising a panel in the trunk if the top is in the raised position. Had BMW not taken up a large amount of trunk space with a can of sealant, a compressor and a hose, you could likely get two bags of clubs in the trunk. The M's exhaust routing and size precludes a spare tire, necessitating the compressor and sealant. The trunk opening is large and liftover is no issue as the lid rises to a vertical position well out of the way.

Build Quality

Inside and outside, our BMW M Roadster exhibited excellent build quality. Gaps between exterior panels were tight as were the transitions between the aluminum dash trim and soft touch surfaces on the inside of the car. Knobs and switches felt solid and tight, too. When paying just north of $56,000 you expect quality construction and on the M Roadster you get it.

Materials Quality

Real aluminum, soft touch surfaces and high quality leather greet the BMW M Roadster's occupants. The only cheap looking pieces are the plastics used on the center console, which not only look inexpensive but scratch easily. On our test car, the areas above the center storage door and under the emergency brake were scratched from normal everyday use and it made the interior look old and dingy.

Styling

Bolder styling front and rear clearly define the BMW M Roadster as a serious sports car. An all-new front fascia with larger air intakes for cooling the engine and brakes gives the M Roadster a more aggressive appearance, and the hood also gets new creases that run from the grille to the windscreen. The rear of the car gets a new diffuser, bold cutouts for the dual exhaust tips, and an M badge that accentuates the look of the BMW M Roadster. Overall the M Roadster looks meaner yet retains the look of the Z4 without straying too far from the original design. Inside, the aluminum trim is a nice accent but the overall feel of the interior falls short of expectations for a car at this price thanks to the cheap plastics panels. Additional accents worth mentioning are the embossed M on the leather headrests and the M-colored stitching used on the steering wheel.