Vive L'Evolution

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Z3MROADSTER

We sample Evolve’s road rocket Roadster, quite possibly one of the fastest Z3 Ms we’ve ever clapped eyes on Words: Luke Wood Photography: Chris Brown

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Bury the throttle in the Roadster and you’re treated to an experience not unlike that of being planted at the centre of one of those tropical hurricanes

T

he Z3 M Roadster was a brutally fast car when it first appeared in 1997. In fact it remains a stonkingly rapid machine to this day, even when compared to the modern wizardry of contemporary M missiles.

While early examples of the ‘regular’ Z3 always struggled to live up to their sports car image, the introduction of the M was a real shot in the arm for the little Roadster, a boost that was in no small part due to the shoehorning in of the heart and soul of the E36 M3 Evo. In the Roadster, a car that weighs around 100kg less than the M3, hardly a slouch itself, the combination resulted in the fastest accelerating production BMW of all time. The benchmark figures

were thus; 321bhp, 0-60mph in just 5.1 seconds and a top speed of well over 155mph had the electronic limiter allowed.

This was more than just a small car with a big heart though. The Motorsport engineers worked hard to ensure that the über Z could handle all that grunt, even going so far as to use an M3-engined Compact as a development mule to experiment with chassis setup, before committing wholly to the project. While this sparked premature rumours of a forthcoming M Compact, the reality was that when the Z3 M finally arrived it was an all together more honed machine than its lesser-powered stablemates.

Ultimately, it was the Coupé version that really captured the public’s imagination, but for those who

preferred the al fresco ambience of an M fettled straight-six, then the Roadster was the only answer.

However, if the Z3 M had ever performed as well as this Evolve-developed example, then it might very well have been the ‘Breadvan’ that history would have remembered as the number two choice. Quite simply, Evolve, a Luton-based company that offers tuning solutions to a range of predominantly European prestige marques, has taken an already brisk car and transformed it into an indecently rapid one.

From the driver’s seat there is little to suggest that there is anything out of the ordinary. The contrasting leather of the cockpit and supportive seats remain as distinctive as ever, the trio of chrome ringed gauges on the centre console, the chunky three-spoke

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wheel and traditional M logo’d dials are all familiar Roadster fare. The usual ‘glow in the dark’ gear knob has been replaced by a weighty yet stylish stainless steel Storm Motorwerks item combined with a matching handbrake lever, but other than that it all appears to be as nature intended.

That is of course, until you twist the ignition key, head out on to the open road and discover what Evolve has done to that engine.

Bury the throttle in the Roadster and you’re treated to an experience not unlike that of being planted at the centre of one of those tropical hurricanes.

The outside world screams past in a tortured frenzy, the howl of the wind and the blurry scenery pierced by the banshee wail of that thunderous

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six-pot powerplant as it soars over and beyond an indicated 8000rpm.

At the epicentre however, all is calm. Despite the indecent velocity and the crisp autumnal air I remain toasty warm in the heated leather seats, eyes glued to the horizon and hands firmly gripped I admit, but a lightly buffeted island of calm in comparison.

So what has Evolve done to that engine? Well, quite a lot actually, including the addition of a pair of Schrick 284 cams (apparently the wildest you can go while still retaining the Vanos), a Simota carbon induction system, Supersprint de-cat pipes, a lightened flywheel and underdrive pulley and a complete remap of the ECU. Evolve has also taken the precaution of replacing the standard con rod bolts with a set of tougher ARP items to ensure that everything stays together once the revs start to rise.

While all this would suggest a rather peaky power delivery with nothing much to shout about at normal cruising speeds, there’s actually a surprising amount of shove in the mid-range as well, around 240lb ft from as little as 3000rpm rising to as much as 270lb ft all the way to 6000rpm. As a result, experimental prods of the right pedal are rewarded with real urge even in high gears and at legal speeds, but drop a few gears to get those cams working and it’s a whole new ball game all together. With a maximum 353bhp available at 7900rpm, it’s at the tail end of the rev counter that things start to get interesting, the S50 responding with a turbo-esque dollop of power just before the limiter cuts in. As an added bonus Evolve has also removed the standard 3.15:1 differential in favour of a snappier 3.64:1 item sourced, incredibly, from a pre-facelift E30 325i

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Z3MROADSTER before being thoroughly refurbished and re-homed in the Z3. An inexpensive and as it turns out, rather popular upgrade especially among M Coupé owners who are after a bit more zing from their five-speed cog swappers.

Silly fast it may be, but that’s not to say that this Z3 is uninvolving, a criticism that was levelled at the original car by certain quarters of the motoring press. Evolve has succeeded in not just eeking out the full potential of the S50 powerplant but has fine tuned the overall package in the process.

“As with most of our customers, the owner of this car first came to us because he was a bit disappointed with the standard performance,” explained Evolve’s Imran Arshad. “He asked us what could be done and we made a list. Happily he gave us the thumbs up on everything!”

To ensure that the chassis was up to the task of managing all that power, Evolve made a point of reinforcing the subframe on Jason’s car, a worthy preventative measure as this is a known weakspot on all Roadsters.

With this in place the suspension was replaced with H&R coilovers and anti-roll bars along with uprated drop links, rear top mounts and a carbon strut brace. Similarly the standard brakes have also been swapped for a set of performance aftermarket items, Tar-Ox six-piston calipers combined with 343mm discs on the front and a bespoke pair of a Tar-Ox discs and uprated pads on the rear.

The original car had a reputation for being tricky to master when on the limit and in fairness this still holds true with Evolve’s machine, with the increased grip demanding even more commitment

in order to break traction and a deft touch required to rein in the back end once it starts to slide. That said, the ride quality is ultra communicative and surprisingly compliant considering the stiffer dampers. Even the Tar-Ox six-pots, brakes which I have to say from personal experience wouldn’t always be at the top of my list when sourcing alternative anchors, are more than up to the task of scrubbing off the speed.

Not only does it go like the absolute clappers but I have to admit that I’m pretty sold on the looks of the thing as well, especially when bathed in the unseasonably warm sun of a November photoshoot.

Aesthetically, the muscular lines and swollen arches of the Roadster always lent it a classic Hot Rod stance. Sitting low on a set of pristine BBS LM alloys, the last in the country we’re told, the Z oozes

The Z oozes style, from the Porsche 911 Turbo-style stone chip guards on its hind flanks, to the tips of the Supersprint exhausts

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style, from the Porsche 911 Turbo-style stone chip guards on its hind flanks, to the tips of the Supersprint exhausts, a neat reminder that this was the first M car to wear the trademark quad pipes.

The owner, Jason Harper, is quite rightly very proud of his Roadster, and not just because he has parted with the best part of 17 grand in order to get it looking, sounding and performing as well as it does. As he circles the car, flicking imaginary specks of dust from the immaculate Arctic silver paintwork, he confirms that while he always lusted after a Roadster and drove a few before he eventually took ownership of this one, he had made his mind up very early on with regards to unleashing more potential, although he’s also keen to point out that he never wanted to stray too far from the ‘M’ theme.

“I’d been used to a very highly tuned Alfa

Romeo,” he explains. “The first time I took the Roadster for a spin I wondered what all the fuss was about.”

While this would explain the extent of the work that has been done on the Z3 M, the finished article is very much a result of one man’s enthusiasm to extract the most power and presence possible from an already well engineered car, although Imran later confides that he had to gently steer Jason back on course on occasions when his excitement got the better of him. And while this may sound a little patronising, it’s actually very refreshing to hear of a tuning firm taking real pride in its work and genuinely looking after its customers. After all, he could have just turned a blind eye and taken the money.

With that in mind it may come as little surprise that Jason has decided it’s time to stop spending

It may come as little surprise that Jason has decided that it’s time to stop spending and start enjoying

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and start enjoying, starting with the Brands Hatch BMW Car track day it transpires, although fervent conversations with Imran regarding a larger carbon airbox and a neat bootlip spoiler suggest some further fine-tuning in the not too distant future.

Personally, even in current trim I reckon that Jason and Evolve have pretty much nailed it in their efforts to tap into the latent thrills of the Roadster.

Yes, they could go crazy with more power and styling but with a car that already looks a million dollars and has the performance to match, I reckon that this could just about be as good as it gets ●

CONTACT: Evolve Tel: 0870 0850 111 Web: www.evolveyourcar.com