BMW M-Coupe | All Clown-shoes’ have a story. Here is hers…

Her name is Giselle, but you can call her Gigi

In the spring of 2001, we all wanted to know her — second off the Spartanburg line. Option code 902. The press car.

Laguna Seca Blue with Laguna Seca Blue/Black interior.

Because this 1-of-9 car just turned 20, I wanted to tell you her story.

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2001: After months under the flashing cameras and heavy-footed journalists in NYC she was ready to get on with her life — and this rare and beautiful LSB M Coupe became a Canadian.

Maybe it was the healthcare or possibly she had hockey in her blood. In my mind’s eye it was the coastline roads of Vancouver calling the untapped anger under her hood.

What happened then, we may never know, as this part of her history was dark. Painful days as a garage queen? Life of neglect and misunderstanding? Were these her rebellious teen years?

Certainly, she had to have some days showed her dazzling color in the north country sunsets and her S54 opened up on the back roads of British Columbia.

Then came a dark and stormy night

The next time she showed up; life had taken a tragic turn. Ailing from an unfortunate rear corner blow, she waited quietly for her *Prince Charming* at insurance auction. …I can see her quietly weeping as she rolled to the block behind the totaled 2001 Cobra, rear-ended Cadillac and the barn-find Jaguar with the deflated spare tire sitting in the passenger seat.

But prince charming did arrive — looking only at her beauty within. Someone willing to love her for who she was. And her return to glory was well documented on Bimmer forum

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Hot summer nights in Texas

Life was looking up, and a few years later when she found her new ‘Bo in Texas.

Mark was a good man. He knew her kind. He gave her everything she deserved; Paint correction, Driveshaft, VANOS seals, 18” Rondell wheels, dual-ear subframe reinforcement and more. She spent weeks at Clown Shoe Motorsports and that like a recovery spa.

Yes, she was happy for the AKG subframe, trailing arm bushings, and differential bushing and the Ireland Engineering and camber adjustment. And who would not want Stainless Steel brake lines, a limited-slip 3:73 differential, custom tune, and high-flow headers.

Even Smoking Tire even did a feature on her

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ALc0he5fWw

Life was great, but in the pit of her camshaft, she knew this might be too good to be true.

…Lightning struck twice; this time at Dorkfest 2016

On the way home, her VANOS failed. The race bearing under the oil pump disc failed, the oil pump disc tabs punched through the VANOS cover.

It felt like game over.

But because Mark loved her so, she was shipped to the best doctor in the business, Randy Forbes. (The finest M coupe heart specialist the land.) Randy transplanted the original engine with an S54 and 6-Speed transmission from a 2005 M3.

And so being repaired with care, she continued her story in Colorado. It was here that I found her, and her story essayed by Alex and shared with our coupe community by Jon Martin at MCoupe Buyers Guide

Her new life in Michigan

When I first saw her, my heart leapt. Could it be that I could own my dream car?

After buying my first M coupe from Alex at Glen Shelly, I knew I could trust the provenance.

And so, her storied life continues here to Grand Rapids, Michigan. A place she can open up her lungs, giggle softly on back-road turns that make others squeal.

Its summer here in the Mitten, the sun sets at 10:30 so after dinner drives seem especially inviting.

But you will see me around town too — I am the guy smiling a lot while I find the longest route to grocery store.