Don Frieson has owned more than 20 BMWs, but he keeps coming back to cars with an inline six—specifically, to those with the Motorsport-developed S54. “Nothing compares to that engine!” Frieson says. “I don’t know that BMW has ever built a better one.”
He should know: Along with this Z4 M Coupe, he’s also got an S54-powered M roadster and E46 M3, plus a four-cylinder E30 M3, and a V8-powered E39 M5, E52 Z8, and E92 M3. This M Coupe, however, is special. Having opted for a larger car when the M Coupe was new, Frieson says he was on “a mission to find one” when he saw #LM08463 advertised not far from his home in Bentonville, Arkansas. (He now lives in Huntersville NC, where he’s an executive VP for Lowe’s Home Improvement.) He bought it on the spot, and drove it home along the twistiest roads he could find. “It was just heaven! The car is so responsive, and it’s just a pure analog driving experience. I use it as a stress reliever, getting up early on a Sunday morning and driving the heck out of it on a twisty road. It’s the best.”
That’s true even for an enthusiast with a garage full of cool BMWs to choose from. “It’s such a special car,” Frieson says. “My wife, Naiema, has me on a car diet, but this is one I plan to keep, along with the E30 M3. Maybe my daughter will inherit them!”