The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XVIII)

[rejn]

braddo said:

L100NYY said:

Some interesting wee beasties going through here this weekend -

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2017-07...

My picks in the non-stratospheric price banding -

Lot 110 (Midget)
Lot 116 (Abarth)
Lot 142 (Turbo R)
Lot 156 (Another Abarth)
Lot 160 (Dolly Sprint)
Lot 175 (Escort Turbo)
Lot 211 (RS2000)

Love the little Abarth lot 116.

Me too!! It just looks spot on... and even though I didn't get down to the auction today I'm delighted to say it's on its way to chez-Rejn.

We're about to move to Bath and I reckon it'll be a cracking little city car!!

It turns out you can even get proper 3 point rear seat belts fitted so the kids can at least be tied down. I'm not sure it'd get 5 stars in the latest ecap car safety tests though...

[braddo]

rejn said:

Me too!! It just looks spot on... and even though I didn't get down to the auction today I'm delighted to say it's on its way to chez-Rejn.

We're about to move to Bath and I reckon it'll be a cracking little city car!!

It turns out you can even get proper 3 point rear seat belts fitted so the kids can at least be tied down. I'm not sure it'd get 5 stars in the latest ecap car safety tests though...

Most excellent!



Very keen to hear what the little bee will be like to drive.

[Leins]

rejn said:

Abarth purchase

Congrats, that's fantastic! Will the rear-end be getting propped open on hot days?

(Apologies for being unable to avoid that sounding somewhat like innuendo! )

[bungle]

Is it just me, or does a Z4M in Imola just look so "right"? Aged well to me. Or maybe it's cos i miss my Imola Z3M (been a good 10 yrs now though).

Spotted this on Sytner:



http://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/7346790-bmw-z4-...

I always found the Z3M rather twitchy / keen to chuck me in a hedge, but enjoyable none the less, so i dare say the Z4M (to very much a NON-driving god like me) may also be a little lively. Not sure. But very tempted. Though I then start looking at Gen 2 Caymans again. Jeez, I wish i could make a decision


Also saw this on Sytner, the Z3M Roadster. Bizarre that the breadvan version of this would be (at least) double the price of this Roadster from a main dealer.



http://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/7265553-bmw-z3-...

[rejn]

Leins said:

rejn said:

Abarth purchase

Congrats, that's fantastic! Will the rear-end be getting propped open on hot days?

(Apologies for being unable to avoid that sounding somewhat like innuendo! )

I think it'd be rude to keep it closed!!!

[rejn]

braddo said:

Most excellent!



Very keen to hear what the little bee will be like to drive.

[rejn]

This was the image which did it for me:


So cool. (in my eyes at least).

[Rocket.]

rejn said:

This was the image which did it for me:


So cool. (in my eyes at least).

[L100NYY]

rejn said:

This was the image which did it for me:


So cool. (in my eyes at least).

That was the picture for me too, looks great doesn't it

[NickCQ]

bungle said:

Is it just me, or does a Z4M in Imola just look so "right"? Aged well to me. Or maybe it's cos i miss my Imola Z3M (been a good 10 yrs now though).

Spotted this on Sytner:



http://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/7346790-bmw-z4-...

That's a beauty

[ferrisbueller]

Can't get my head around the popularity of black/dark grey wheels.

[L100NYY]

I must admit that years ago I was quite a fan of black wheels but silver (or Weissgold) is the more recent way forward for me.

Still a sucker for black minilights with a polished rim on certain classics and older Caterhams but much prefer the clean/fresh look of silver nowadays and actually being able to see the wheel design is always nice imho.

[Gruber]

bungle said:

In a departure from looking at Caymans I ventured into Z4Ms. But then I thought do you get (say) 80% of the fun of a Z4m for less than 50% of the price with a 3.0 si? Or even is the 3.0 more useable on the UK roads than the M equivalent?

Such as...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Late to the party, but... personally I'd sooner get a 130i than a 3.0 Z4. It's a nice engine, but it's not special. And given that the rest of the package is a bit compromised, you really do want that engine. The 3.0 would make a nice daily driver, but you'd soon (and I did) regret not getting the proper job.

I later got a Z4MC. Still unresolved, but the glorious S54 covers a multitude of (little) sins.

[Gruber]

NickCQ said:

bungle said:

Is it just me, or does a Z4M in Imola just look so "right"? Aged well to me. Or maybe it's cos i miss my Imola Z3M (been a good 10 yrs now though).

Spotted this on Sytner:



http://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/7346790-bmw-z4-...

That's a beauty

Mine was that colour. I think I actually prefer Interlagos Blue, but DKR certainly does the business.

[ferrisbueller]

dumab said:

braddo said:

This one is my favourite. Lot 171:



http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2017-07...

Mine is at the menders....I think the last time i took it out was to Loons open day about 5 years ago!

You took me for a spin more recently than that.

[ferrisbueller]

Gruber said:

bungle said:

In a departure from looking at Caymans I ventured into Z4Ms. But then I thought do you get (say) 80% of the fun of a Z4m for less than 50% of the price with a 3.0 si? Or even is the 3.0 more useable on the UK roads than the M equivalent?

Such as...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Late to the party, but... personally I'd sooner get a 130i than a 3.0 Z4. It's a nice engine, but it's not special. And given that the rest of the package is a bit compromised, you really do want that engine. The 3.0 would make a nice daily driver, but you'd soon (and I did) regret not getting the proper job.

I later got a Z4MC. Still unresolved, but the glorious S54 covers a multitude of (little) sins.

I'd argue that the M54, N52/3 are all excellent in their own rights. Granted, they lack the ultimate potency and sophistication of the S54 but they also lack the downsides that come with that engine i.e. ///M tax. Having owned all bar the N53 (didn't want the added complexity over the N52), , plus S50 and others, I've never felt shortchanged with the non-motorsport donk.

I'm not a fan of the orthopedic shoe and I believe E85/6 will become sought after in a way the shoe never will.

I think the comparison is E46 ///M vs E86 ///M, which is a tough, and nice, call to have to make. Looking at Z3 breadvans, can't help thinking Z4 ///M is better than money in the bank.

All of these cars are hamstrung by runflats and overly stiff suspension set-ups IMO and lifeless steering.

Meanwhile I've realised what an BMW-we I am.

[illmonkey]

ferrisbueller said:

I'd argue that the M54, N52/3 are all excellent in their own rights. Granted, they lack the ultimate potency and sophistication of the S54 but they also lack the downsides that come with that engine i.e. ///M tax. Having owned all bar the N53 (didn't want the added complexity over the N52), , plus S50 and others, I've never felt shortchanged with the non-motorsport donk.

I'm not a fan of the orthopedic shoe and I believe E85/6 will become sought after in a way the shoe never will.

I think the comparison is E46 ///M vs E86 ///M, which is a tough, and nice, call to have to make. Looking at Z3 breadvans, can't help thinking Z4 ///M is better than money in the bank.

All of these cars are hamstrung by runflats and overly stiff suspension set-ups IMO and lifeless steering.

Meanwhile I've realised what an BMW-we I am.

The ///M's don't come with runflats, and have hydraulic steering racks, rather then electric in the non-M versions. I had a 3.0 previously and ditching the runflats does make a world of difference.

[L100NYY]

Passed a Z4 coupe on the M40 the other night, looked very handsome indeed under the lighting of the mway lights.

I do really rather like them.

[ferrisbueller]

illmonkey said:

ferrisbueller said:

I'd argue that the M54, N52/3 are all excellent in their own rights. Granted, they lack the ultimate potency and sophistication of the S54 but they also lack the downsides that come with that engine i.e. ///M tax. Having owned all bar the N53 (didn't want the added complexity over the N52), , plus S50 and others, I've never felt shortchanged with the non-motorsport donk.

I'm not a fan of the orthopedic shoe and I believe E85/6 will become sought after in a way the shoe never will.

I think the comparison is E46 ///M vs E86 ///M, which is a tough, and nice, call to have to make. Looking at Z3 breadvans, can't help thinking Z4 ///M is better than money in the bank.

All of these cars are hamstrung by runflats and overly stiff suspension set-ups IMO and lifeless steering.

Meanwhile I've realised what an BMW-we I am.

The ///M's don't come with runflats, and have hydraulic steering racks, rather then electric in the non-M versions. I had a 3.0 previously and ditching the runflats does make a world of difference.

Yup I've ditched runflats off everything and it makes a discernible difference. The steering has been a bit st in all of them, the CSL rack the best of a bad lot.

[L100NYY]

I despise runflats, feel like driving on 20 year old P6000's