2013 BMW M3 Cabriolet Limited Edition 500 (E93) Manual

Highlights

• One of 500 Limited Edition M3s produced
• One owner from new
• Naturally-aspirated four-litre V8
• Six-speed manual gearbox
• Full service history

Overview

When BMW introduced the Limited Edition 500 in 2012 it was available in any colour you wanted as long as it was red, white or blue. They described this choice as ‘suitably patriotic’, which is objectively true given that this combination of colours is by far the most common to be found on national flags of the world. Now there’s an internet rabbit hole for you to fall down; you’re welcome.

Now, keen-eyed observers will have noticed that the car offered for sale here is none of those three patriotic colours. It is, in fact, blue-black. This marks it out as being a later example of the Limited Edition 500, produced after the colour palette had been expanded — perhaps to extend the countries covered by BMW’s definition of patriotic. Although we can’t immediately think of a flag which features the colour blue-black.

Back to the car in question, and here we have a very nice example of an M3 which benefits from having had only one owner since new. It comes with a good number of stamps in the service book, and some accompanying invoices as well.

It has reportedly been the owner’s only car, so has been kept in fine fettle. It remains very presentable inside and out, with its smart black leather upholstery matching the paint well. And whenever you fancy a bit of extra fresh air, you can drop the folding hard top roof at the press of a button and enjoy the wind in your hair and greater exposure to the delicious exhaust note, although you might choose to do so on a less windy day than that of the photo shoot!

History and documentation

• Registered 31 Jul 2013
• Limited edition: one of 500
• Purchased new from John Clark BMW in Aberdeen
• One registered keeper since new
• Stamped service book with services as follows: Apr 2015 @ 15,128 miles, Feb 2017 @ 30,504 miles, Jul 2017 @ 31,993 miles, Jul 2018 @ 35,750 miles, Apr 2019 @ 40,413 miles, Jun 2021 @ 50,202 miles, Jul 2023 @ 61,697 miles, Jan 2025 @ 68,542 miles
• Original document pack in leather wallet
• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates
• Two keys
• Current MOT with no advisories expires 23 Jul 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear
• London ULEZ compliant, should you choose to take it that far South

Interior

• Black leather upholstery and matching black trim
• Contrasting blue stitching
• The car was fully valeted in Jan 2025 at a cost of £250
• The upholstery remains in good condition throughout
• Some slight wear to the driver’s seat bolsters
• Electric seat adjusters
• Matching black carpets
• Leather-trimmed door cards, with a few scuffs
• Multi-function steering wheel
• Cruise control
• Dual-zone climate control
• Some scratches on the dashboard
• Large, analogue instruments
• Original stereo with CD changer
• Rear seating for two passengers
• The headlining is very clean and tidy
• Spacious, fully carpeted boot to the rear

Exterior

• Sleek styling, with convertible hardtop roof
• The roof can be operated remotely using the ignition key, or from inside the car
• Blue-black paint
• The paint remains very smart throughout
• Body panels well presented, with only a couple of very shallow dimples
• Some small chips and light scratches in the paint
• No obvious corrosion or damage that we could see
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres
• All four wheels were refurbished in Jan 2025 at a cost of £650
• Slight bubbling to the BMW badges
• Black radiator grille surrounds
• Headlight lenses clear and bright
• Front and rear parking sensors
• The underside of the car looks clean for its age and mileage
• Quad exhaust tips

Mechanical

• Mechanically, the Limited Edition 500 is the same as the standard M3, which is no bad thing
• 3,999 cc, naturally-aspirated, V8 petrol engine
• Produces 414 bhp and 295 lb ft
• Top speed electronically limited to 155 mph
• 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Rear-wheel drive
• Engine bay clean and tidy, with a little oil seeping past the filler cap
• There is some corrosion on the suspension and exhaust components
• Records of regular oil changes
• The seller tells us that the car drives very well, and they have had no real issues with it
• Selectable ‘M’ driving mode
• No warning lights or mechanical issues reported

Summary

A great example of a limited edition of the well-regarded E93 M3. Recently serviced, fully valeted, with refurbished wheels, this rare convertible is ready to provide many more miles of enjoyable motoring. And most importantly: it has that lovely four-litre V8 at the beck and call of your right foot.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Aberdeen.