Z4M - what am I in for?

Z4M - what am I in for?

Author
Discussion

billywhizzzzzz

Original Poster:

1,989 posts

142 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Just bought an immaculate low mileage '07 Z4M Roadster (approved BMW Used) to replace an 04 Z4 3.0i. I'm collecting it next week. Many years ago I had an e36 M3 Evo with this (similar) engine, and obviously I've had the 3.0 Z4. I'd deliberated for ages between the Z4M and a Boxster S, which I was tempted by, but ultimately felt a little tame by comparison. The Z4M will only probably do maybe 5000 miles PA max, as I have other daily drivers.

So, in advance of getting the Z4 (which I can hardly wait for) , tell me what I'm in for, good and bad...


Edited by billywhizzzzzz on Wednesday 22 October 21:42

jontysafe

2,351 posts

177 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Awesome engine note
Rabid performance
Piles
Broken rear springs

More than 5000miles a year

essayer

9,011 posts

193 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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The most awesome feeling when you have the roof down and floor it in second all the way to the limiter smile

NorthernSky

981 posts

116 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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I also own a Z4 3.0i, and from bitter experience know that with any Z4 shell, you have to be really careful about the condition of the roof motor. Mine went rotten from some accumulated leaves and seeds which couldn't drain. I imagine the Z4M shares the same body as the average Z4, so that's one thing to consider.

Have had many good times in the Z4 and am more than slightly jealous of your imminent collection...

shibby!

921 posts

197 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Fun!

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

247 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Good
Fabulously connected feeling when on the limit of grip.
Fabulous engine and exhaust noise.

Bad
Slightly baulky gearshift from 1st to 2nd after red-lining it in 1st.
The surprise that the car has hill-assist on the foot-brake.

TFP

202 posts

214 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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jontysafe said:
Awesome engine note
Rabid performance
Piles
Broken rear springs

More than 5000miles a year
100% agree with this.

Have had a 987 Boxster S and a Z4MR and they are entirely different animals.

The Boxster chassis will flatter you and make you feel like a hero, where the Z4MR is like a feral dog trying to kill you and is constantly on the edge.

Both great driving experiences and the Z4M is a box that has to be ticked.

Enjoy !!!

kchika

246 posts

159 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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I have an E46 M3 Coupe and a Cayman S, which are similar cars to the Z4MR and Boxster S. I find the Cayman S more fun, especially in corners. Why would you say the Boxster S feels "a little tame" in comparison?

BuzyG

787 posts

210 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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kchika said:
I have an E46 M3 Coupe and a Cayman S, which are similar cars to the Z4MR and Boxster S. I find the Cayman S more fun, especially in corners. Why would you say the Boxster S feels "a little tame" in comparison?
Ba cause it is tame in comparison, as is the M3.

OP you have much entertainment to come. My Z4MR does more miles than my daily d.. Who cares if it's at 19 MPG. You have been warned. smile

billywhizzzzzz

Original Poster:

1,989 posts

142 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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kchika said:
I have an E46 M3 Coupe and a Cayman S, which are similar cars to the Z4MR and Boxster S. I find the Cayman S more fun, especially in corners. Why would you say the Boxster S feels "a little tame" in comparison?
Tame as in not worse, but more fluid and more refined. See post before you re the Z4M being rabid. The Boxster S is probably the better and more complete car, but I guess I need a bit of madness in my life!

Gruber

6,313 posts

213 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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kchika said:
I have an E46 M3 Coupe and a Cayman S, which are similar cars to the Z4MR and Boxster S. I find the Cayman S more fun, especially in corners. Why would you say the Boxster S feels "a little tame" in comparison?
The e46 and the Z are very different cars in handling and chassis terms. Not similar at all.

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

247 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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Gruber said:
The e46 and the Z are very different cars in handling and chassis terms.
I agree with that to some extent. You sit so much further back and lower down in the chassis in the Z and that changes things a lot. I'd say dry grip and poise is greatly enhanced over the E46 making it harder to find the limits and when you do, things happen a bit faster, but once you get the measure of it, it's terrific fun.

That S54 just begs to see the redline though, every time you drive it.

mmm-five

11,227 posts

283 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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Mine's on 121,000 miles, so have had a bit of experience of what will/can go wrong.

Other than an engine (over 5 years ago, not long after buying it, and covered under AUC warranty), the only things to 'go wrong' were a couple of PDC sensors, a wheel bearing and a wiper relay.

It's also had a diff replaced, but I'd not noticed anything wrong with it myself and the dealer who was doing the service just called up and said that they felt the diff was not quite right and would I allow them to replace it! I said yes of course, as long as it was covered under my warranty.

Not had any of the more common 02 sensor or spring failures, but maybe that's down to the fact that it's driven almost every day.

You can look browse my running/maintenance costs on my PH Garage page.

Biggest ongoing/regular costs are tyres (fronts every 36-40k, rears every 18-20k on Michelin SuperSports, half that on OE Conti M3s), fuel, brakes (last about 40,000 miles) and quarterly servicing (doing about 25k a year, so 1 x oil and 1 x inspection per year, plus an interim oil service every 7000 miles).

Although I'm now likely to be facing some large-ish bills as I'm about to replace the suspension (Bilstein B16/PSS10 and all bushes, etc.) and upgrade the brakes to some Alcons. Have also been told that my clutch/flywheel are probably coming to the end of their lives, so will be looking at another £1500 there too.

However, after that, it should be good for another 120k miles.

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 24th October 11:13

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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Gruber said:
The e46 and the Z are very different cars in handling and chassis terms. Not similar at all.
Agree, the M3`s chassis is lovely and resolved and the Z4M`s isn't but it does make the zed a nice exciting and hairy drive though in a good way, and it does feel good being sat over the rear wheels.

MartynVRS

1,145 posts

209 months

Friday 24th October 2014
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Seriously considering one after a friend recently bought a stunning example. I had a go and I loved it. Demanded respect at all time but it's what I've been missing a while. A challenge.

Just looking into servicing costs now. I presume there's plenty of good indies about?

Beedub

1,954 posts

225 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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cerb4.5lee said:
Agree, the M3`s chassis is lovely and resolved and the Z4M`s isn't but it does make the zed a nice exciting and hairy drive though in a good way, and it does feel good being sat over the rear wheels.
nothing alittle tweaks can't solve. :-) its good out the box, with some work it really can be incredible.


Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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MartynVRS said:
Seriously considering one after a friend recently bought a stunning example. I had a go and I loved it. Demanded respect at all time but it's what I've been missing a while. A challenge.

Just looking into servicing costs now. I presume there's plenty of good indies about?
It's the same engine that's in the e46 M3 so there will be plenty familiar with them.

billywhizzzzzz

Original Poster:

1,989 posts

142 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Just picked it up from the dealer and driven home. Feels utterly different to my old 3.0. A real event to drive, incredible noise and urgency through the gears and surprisingly a better ride than the 3.0 even though that one was on non runflats...

Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Love that colour.

One of the cars on my 'one day...' list, along with a CSL...

BuzyG

787 posts

210 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Looks like you found a beauty. Now the fun really starts.