Just bought 3.0 Z4... Considering E46 M3 already...
Discussion
Hello,
Having just bought a very nice facelift Z4 3.0si Roadster and have been enjoying it very much so far. Fast, sounds great, lovely interior. Not too sure on runflats yet but easily changed. The boot even holds enough for me and the mrs to spend a week away.
Yet still I'm drawn to an E46 M3. Undecided on convertible or hardtop.
I'd love to hear a few opinions on my predicament, am I mad for considering a change already? Will it feel/be more special to drive? I would appreciate the rear seats and larger boot, but I can survive without both. M servicing/part costs do scare me a bit, is it likely to be a huge leap from a Z?
I would imagine I'd be looking about the £10-£11k mark.
Any advice/experiences gratefully received.
Having just bought a very nice facelift Z4 3.0si Roadster and have been enjoying it very much so far. Fast, sounds great, lovely interior. Not too sure on runflats yet but easily changed. The boot even holds enough for me and the mrs to spend a week away.
Yet still I'm drawn to an E46 M3. Undecided on convertible or hardtop.
I'd love to hear a few opinions on my predicament, am I mad for considering a change already? Will it feel/be more special to drive? I would appreciate the rear seats and larger boot, but I can survive without both. M servicing/part costs do scare me a bit, is it likely to be a huge leap from a Z?
I would imagine I'd be looking about the £10-£11k mark.
Any advice/experiences gratefully received.
jontysafe said:
Or go in with a cheeky offer on this:
http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/3864180.htm
Quite if you dont mind having the lesser roadster http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/3864180.htm
(waits to get flamed by Z4MR owners) then i'm sure you'll get into a Z4MIf you don't need the extra space, then I'd wait for the winter, when the next 2-3k comes tumbling off the price and buy the best Z4MR you can find/aford. Other wise this time next year you'll be wanting to trade the M3 for another Z4 and once you have a Z4M you won't want to change it for anything else in that price range, trust me.
Greedydog said:
Get a Z4M for the best of both worlds, same engine as the E46 but slightly quicker... the view over the long bonnet and the sound of the S54 engine make for a great experience. 
Nothing in it in a straight drag and unless you are a fantastic driver you'll be covering ground on a British B road more slowly.Great cars, but they aren't very 'developed' handling wise (half the attraction). Think it was more a case of lobbing the S54 engine in a Z4 and giving it four exhausts.
Noise is relatively muted too (no rasp), but agree about the long bonnet and low slung driving position over the rear wheels.
Edited to add that the Z4m's non-run flats are worth the swap alone.
Edited by 0836whimper on Wednesday 27th June 22:08
Few inaccuracies in that post to be fair, and it's track performance is very good.
In comparison to the normal M3, handling wise they are stiffer and less compromising on British roads but far more of an occasion to drive. They are far louder, steering is sharper and just more fun.
Straight line wise they are pretty even with a the CSL.
Simple, you buy the M3 as the allrounder or the Zed as the weekend toy, depends what you want. Suspension is easily modified to suit the driver, the rear rebound is too stiff which is the main cause of most issues and give a poor ride.
Both great cars but I personally don't think the M3 is special enough to have as a toy.
In comparison to the normal M3, handling wise they are stiffer and less compromising on British roads but far more of an occasion to drive. They are far louder, steering is sharper and just more fun.
Straight line wise they are pretty even with a the CSL.
Simple, you buy the M3 as the allrounder or the Zed as the weekend toy, depends what you want. Suspension is easily modified to suit the driver, the rear rebound is too stiff which is the main cause of most issues and give a poor ride.
Both great cars but I personally don't think the M3 is special enough to have as a toy.
Edited by daz4m on Wednesday 27th June 23:33
daz4m said:
Few inaccuracies in that post to be fair, and it's track performance is very good.
In comparison to the normal M3, handling wise they are stiffer and less compromising on British roads but far more of an occasion to drive. They are far louder, steering is sharper and just more fun.
Straight line wise they are pretty even with a the CSL.
Simple, you buy the M3 as the allrounder or the Zed as the weekend toy, depends what you want. Suspension is easily modified to suit the driver, the rear rebound is too stiff which is the main cause of most issues and give a poor ride.
Both great cars but I personally don't think the M3 is special enough to have as a toy.
I completely agree with the last statement there. I sold my E46 M3 a few months back, but I used to use it every day throughout the year, but I don't think I ever took it out just for a blast. In comparison to the normal M3, handling wise they are stiffer and less compromising on British roads but far more of an occasion to drive. They are far louder, steering is sharper and just more fun.
Straight line wise they are pretty even with a the CSL.
Simple, you buy the M3 as the allrounder or the Zed as the weekend toy, depends what you want. Suspension is easily modified to suit the driver, the rear rebound is too stiff which is the main cause of most issues and give a poor ride.
Both great cars but I personally don't think the M3 is special enough to have as a toy.
Edited by daz4m on Wednesday 27th June 23:33
The Z4M comes across much more like a reliable TVR than a Z4. It's clutch and gearchange seem heavier and it just takes a bit more effort even in basic driving. I've not driven the Z4M regularly in anger yet so I can't comment on the handling. I found that the E46 M3 had such a fun, forgiving, playful chassis that it made it an immense amount of fun to drive, but it did make me drive more, err, interestingly(?) than I would have otherwise done in a lesser car. It's a car that makes you grow horns.
daz4m said:
Few inaccuracies in that post to be fair, and it's track performance is very good.
In comparison to the normal M3, handling wise they are stiffer and less compromising on British roads but far more of an occasion to drive. They are far louder, steering is sharper and just more fun.
Straight line wise they are pretty even with a the CSL.
Simple, you buy the M3 as the allrounder or the Zed as the weekend toy, depends what you want. Suspension is easily modified to suit the driver, the rear rebound is too stiff which is the main cause of most issues and give a poor ride.
Both great cars but I personally don't think the M3 is special enough to have as a toy.
Agree with all that but maybe the last, i think if you had a M3 and had spent time and money on it then it would appear more of toy than extreme commuter. The Z4MC out of the box makes you go sideward at even the sight of a small wet roundabout on an other wise very dull daily commute.In comparison to the normal M3, handling wise they are stiffer and less compromising on British roads but far more of an occasion to drive. They are far louder, steering is sharper and just more fun.
Straight line wise they are pretty even with a the CSL.
Simple, you buy the M3 as the allrounder or the Zed as the weekend toy, depends what you want. Suspension is easily modified to suit the driver, the rear rebound is too stiff which is the main cause of most issues and give a poor ride.
Both great cars but I personally don't think the M3 is special enough to have as a toy.
Edited by daz4m on Wednesday 27th June 23:33
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