Early Z4 - what do I need to know?
Discussion
I recently bought a Z4 Coupe (so 3.0 N52 engine). It is great as an analogue anti-dote to my daily driver (diesel, quattro, automatic Audi) and personally only considered the Coupe, due to its rareness (comparatively to the Roadster) and because it reminded me of the driving experience of my old Z3 M Coupe.
The N52 engine is a peach, and as a weekend car it is fantastic. All the classic BMW features of inline 6, manual gearbox, RWD and driver-focused experience are featuring highly.
The N52 engine is a peach, and as a weekend car it is fantastic. All the classic BMW features of inline 6, manual gearbox, RWD and driver-focused experience are featuring highly.
davek_964 said:
Oh dear.
So it seems that in 2009, the convertibles swapped to folding hard tops? Best of both worlds.... I think my budget might become £10k-12k with a 3.0l 2009 or later 3.0 convertible.....
Well maybe best of both worlds, or possibly worst of both! So it seems that in 2009, the convertibles swapped to folding hard tops? Best of both worlds.... I think my budget might become £10k-12k with a 3.0l 2009 or later 3.0 convertible.....
Prior to that you could choose from an E85 Roadster or an E86 Coupe - but after that the E89 was the only option with a folding metal roof (SLK influenced?).
But you can't hide another 200 or so kgs.
davek_964 said:
The performance thing is tricky.
This car is supposed to be a relatively cheap runaround. It would be used sometimes for work - probably about half the time, and sometimes at weekends depending on where I'm going and what the weather is doing (ironically, if the weather is really nice it won't be the car I choose, even if I end up with a convertible). It will not be my "quick" sports car - that's not what I'm buying it for, so performance isn't all that important.
On the other hand, if it's too slow it will annoy me. I am very used to fairly quick cars and if I do get stuck behind somebody and need a 3 mile straight to get past them I will be annoyed.
I would say that the power / acceleration needs to be comparable to my Cayenne (a 4.5S which does 0-60 in about 7 seconds I think). That is a remarkable car for its size and never feels particularly slow - and provides adequate power for overtaking people when necessary - so that's about what I need I think. Which suggests that a 2.5 would probably be sufficient if the right car was up for sale.
Ah but would it? This car is supposed to be a relatively cheap runaround. It would be used sometimes for work - probably about half the time, and sometimes at weekends depending on where I'm going and what the weather is doing (ironically, if the weather is really nice it won't be the car I choose, even if I end up with a convertible). It will not be my "quick" sports car - that's not what I'm buying it for, so performance isn't all that important.
On the other hand, if it's too slow it will annoy me. I am very used to fairly quick cars and if I do get stuck behind somebody and need a 3 mile straight to get past them I will be annoyed.
I would say that the power / acceleration needs to be comparable to my Cayenne (a 4.5S which does 0-60 in about 7 seconds I think). That is a remarkable car for its size and never feels particularly slow - and provides adequate power for overtaking people when necessary - so that's about what I need I think. Which suggests that a 2.5 would probably be sufficient if the right car was up for sale.
3.0 pre-facelift is reportedly 5.9 secs 0 to 62 and 3.0 facelift is 5.7 secs from 0 to 62.While a 2.5 may be quicker than your Porker, it may still leave you feeling short-changed (sort of like a 4.5S Porker would leave me feeling at "about" 7 seconds)!
Seeing as all the 6 cylinder Z4 options fall in the same band (K) for RFL and have similar running costs why would you go for anything other than a 3-litre?
Hope you find one you like.
LordGrover said:
Power creep.I did the same, tried and liked 23i. Started to search in earnest and the 30i entered the mix - I bought a 35i.
Perhaps I should have bought an MC to replace my first Coupe, but budget constraints ruled that out!
Maybe one day.......!
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