Bored on Friday - M3 or Z4C
Discussion
Sorry, necessarily brief as I was typing on the iPod.
Live in Leeds, work in Manchester about 3 days a week so will be doing about 180 motorway miles a week. Otherwise used for SD&P.
I've always fancied an E46 M3 and there seem to be a few hovering around the £15k mark that are on the right side of 50k miles. Budget of £20k would leave a fighting fund in case of expensive failures. I've had a 911 (964) in the past so not too fussed about running costs.
However, I also like the shape of the Z4 Coupe and £20k would get a two year old with fairly low mileage.
I appreciate that this is a pretty facile question but as I said, I'm bored and slightly hungover. I would be interested to know if anyone has already made the switch from one to another and what their experience was.
Live in Leeds, work in Manchester about 3 days a week so will be doing about 180 motorway miles a week. Otherwise used for SD&P.
I've always fancied an E46 M3 and there seem to be a few hovering around the £15k mark that are on the right side of 50k miles. Budget of £20k would leave a fighting fund in case of expensive failures. I've had a 911 (964) in the past so not too fussed about running costs.
However, I also like the shape of the Z4 Coupe and £20k would get a two year old with fairly low mileage.
I appreciate that this is a pretty facile question but as I said, I'm bored and slightly hungover. I would be interested to know if anyone has already made the switch from one to another and what their experience was.
I live in Leeds too, not that it has any relevance to this post!
M3 - no question.
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Brilliant mind but would be tiresome given your useage.
You can't argue with the logic of spending a bit less and allowing peice of mind if anything explodes either. Oh and try and steer clear of the miserable sod in parts at the BMW main dealer in Leeds. He seems to have gone on a customer services course devised by Hitler. Nothing too much trouble, as long as it doesn't involve anything other than implying you are trying it on with him and holding up something much more important, like poking babies with forks.
M3 - no question.
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Brilliant mind but would be tiresome given your useage.
You can't argue with the logic of spending a bit less and allowing peice of mind if anything explodes either. Oh and try and steer clear of the miserable sod in parts at the BMW main dealer in Leeds. He seems to have gone on a customer services course devised by Hitler. Nothing too much trouble, as long as it doesn't involve anything other than implying you are trying it on with him and holding up something much more important, like poking babies with forks.
dave_s13 said:
I live in Leeds too, not that it has any relevance to this post!
M3 - no question.
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Brilliant mind but would be tiresome given your useage.
You can't argue with the logic of spending a bit less and allowing peice of mind if anything explodes either. Oh and try and steer clear of the miserable sod in parts at the BMW main dealer in Leeds. He seems to have gone on a customer services course devised by Hitler. Nothing too much trouble, as long as it doesn't involve anything other than implying you are trying it on with him and holding up something much more important, like poking babies with forks.
Just as an FYI, the O/P is talking about a z4 3.0Si coupe, not a z4M coupe. Different beasties.M3 - no question.
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Brilliant mind but would be tiresome given your useage.
You can't argue with the logic of spending a bit less and allowing peice of mind if anything explodes either. Oh and try and steer clear of the miserable sod in parts at the BMW main dealer in Leeds. He seems to have gone on a customer services course devised by Hitler. Nothing too much trouble, as long as it doesn't involve anything other than implying you are trying it on with him and holding up something much more important, like poking babies with forks.
pgilc1 said:
dave_s13 said:
I live in Leeds too, not that it has any relevance to this post!
M3 - no question.
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Brilliant mind but would be tiresome given your useage.
You can't argue with the logic of spending a bit less and allowing peice of mind if anything explodes either. Oh and try and steer clear of the miserable sod in parts at the BMW main dealer in Leeds. He seems to have gone on a customer services course devised by Hitler. Nothing too much trouble, as long as it doesn't involve anything other than implying you are trying it on with him and holding up something much more important, like poking babies with forks.
Just as an FYI, the O/P is talking about a z4 3.0Si coupe, not a z4M coupe. Different beasties.M3 - no question.
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Brilliant mind but would be tiresome given your useage.
You can't argue with the logic of spending a bit less and allowing peice of mind if anything explodes either. Oh and try and steer clear of the miserable sod in parts at the BMW main dealer in Leeds. He seems to have gone on a customer services course devised by Hitler. Nothing too much trouble, as long as it doesn't involve anything other than implying you are trying it on with him and holding up something much more important, like poking babies with forks.
In that case the DEFINATELY the M3. That engine is mental!!
One is a sports car; the other is a 3 series with go-faster stripes 
I had the same choice and went with the Z4C. However as has been mentioned above, as a daily driver the suspension setup could wear a bit thin, however it will deliver more of an "experience", similar performance and be cheaper to run (your insurance and servicing costs seem to automatically double as soon as you mention the letter 'M').
If you don't need the space and can live with the suspension, Z4C every time. However you really need to drive both your self. I really couldn't live with the 'Image' of the M3 when I saw one in the flesh but that’s just me.
Of course the M3 has the M-Diff which livens up the handling but if you’re going to do a lot of track work (which is where you’re going to notice) I wouldn't recommend a stock M3 (too heavy).
I had the same choice and went with the Z4C. However as has been mentioned above, as a daily driver the suspension setup could wear a bit thin, however it will deliver more of an "experience", similar performance and be cheaper to run (your insurance and servicing costs seem to automatically double as soon as you mention the letter 'M').
If you don't need the space and can live with the suspension, Z4C every time. However you really need to drive both your self. I really couldn't live with the 'Image' of the M3 when I saw one in the flesh but that’s just me.
Of course the M3 has the M-Diff which livens up the handling but if you’re going to do a lot of track work (which is where you’re going to notice) I wouldn't recommend a stock M3 (too heavy).
dave_s13 said:
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Utter tripe. They are rock hard.
I've owned a Z4C 3.0Si (SE spec, so theoretically softer ride), an M3 CS (standard M3 suspension with 19 inch CSL wheels) and now own a Z4MC (on the standard "M" 18s). Without doubt the current car copes best with british roads.
And anyway, the OP was talking about the Si Z4, not the M.
OP - in terms of ride quality, in my experience (and as you can tell from the above) much comes down to the wheels / tyres combo. The 3.0 Z4 has run flats, which you will want to ditch at the first opportunity. They really do make the ride very hard, they tramline and they seem to have a tendency towards uneven wear.
But get the M3 - ideally on 18s - it's worth it for the engine alone. The 3.0Si is a peach, but the M is in a different league. And I think you'll find little difference in mpg on your commute between the two - the difference in fuel consumption is only really noticeable if you're doing a lot of stop/start city driving.
They're both cracking cars, and the reason I've ended up with the Z4MC is that it blends the best bits (IMO) of the two.
dave_s13 said:
In that case the DEFINATELY the M3. That engine is mental!!
I think they're two totally different cars - so much so, it seems odd to compare the two. If i were looking at a z4 coupe i'd also be looking at a 350z and a Porsche Cayman. If i were looking at an m3, i'd probably consider other sports saloons by AMG and Audi.Perdominantly, you either want a two seater sports car or you dont.
wrighty78 said:
dave_s13 said:
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
Utter tripe. They are rock hard.
I've owned a Z4C 3.0Si (SE spec, so theoretically softer ride), an M3 CS (standard M3 suspension with 19 inch CSL wheels) and now own a Z4MC (on the standard "M" 18s). Without doubt the current car copes best with british roads.
And anyway, the OP was talking about the Si Z4, not the M.
OP - in terms of ride quality, in my experience (and as you can tell from the above) much comes down to the wheels / tyres combo. The 3.0 Z4 has run flats, which you will want to ditch at the first opportunity. They really do make the ride very hard, they tramline and they seem to have a tendency towards uneven wear.
But get the M3 - ideally on 18s - it's worth it for the engine alone. The 3.0Si is a peach, but the M is in a different league. And I think you'll find little difference in mpg on your commute between the two - the difference in fuel consumption is only really noticeable if you're doing a lot of stop/start city driving.
They're both cracking cars, and the reason I've ended up with the Z4MC is that it blends the best bits (IMO) of the two.
On the numerous occasions I've been driven in (and driven) a Z4M coupe it has caused me physical harm. Especially around where my mate lives (whinmoor, estate off wetherby roundabout). The roads are pretty bad through there and the car rattles you to death.
Also, being 6'4" doesn't help, not that much room left after I've got in. And the seats are pretty bloody hard too, I would get a numb bum after an hour or so.
they are cracking cars though, and lok amazing.
dave_s13 said:
wrighty78 said:
dave_s13 said:
Have you ever driven, or been driven in, a Z4M over anything other than a marble smooth surface. Rattles your teeth out and ruptures your spleen, at least.
They are rock hard.
OP - in terms of ride quality, in my experience (and as you can tell from the above) much comes down to the wheels / tyres combo. The 3.0 Z4 has run flats, which you will want to ditch at the first opportunity. They really do make the ride very hard, they tramline and they seem to have a tendency towards uneven wear.They are rock hard.
They're both cracking cars, and the reason I've ended up with the Z4MC is that it blends the best bits (IMO) of the two.
Also, being 6'4" doesn't help, not that much room left after I've got in. And the seats are pretty bloody hard too, I would get a numb bum after an hour or so.
they are cracking cars though, and look amazing.
I recently test drove a Z4 3.0Si and a Z4MC after looking at those and an E46 M3. I was looking for a replacement for my '07 Impreza STI which is far too bumpy on rough roads (Even when the RE050's were changed). I discounted the M3 as it looked somewhat staid and "sensible", plus I see far too many these days.
Suprisingly, I felt the 3.0Si had a harder and slightly more crashy ride than the M car (probably down to the tyres). Both were far better than my Impreza, which has been confirmed by my sensitive passenger seat mounted "bumpiness" tester. The ride was firm in both, but IMO, not at all uncomfortably so. I recently drove from South Shields to Dover in one sitting in my M and got out at Dover with no aches, pains or headaches and feeling remarkably fresh after the journey (unlike I would have done in my Impreza). Granted if you're much over 6ft tall, I doubt it would be the roomiest place to sit. I'm so happy with the comfort level, I'll be driving it from Calais to Brittany for my hols in a few weeks. The engine is a peach, as said above combining aspects of both cars. The prices of the M were very near those of the 3.0 until recently, with the M prices beginning to firm up. It's quicker and faster than my Impreza, cheaper to insure and I'm also getting an average of 27mpg (that includes a PH hoon, regular trips to the red line and a sustained high speed runs). IMO, the Z4M really is a combination of both the cars you're considering, with the best points of both at almost the same price as the 3.0.
In your position, sit in them for a while, then drive all three, then decide.
Enjoy your choice. I bought mine with my heart, not my head and it was the best decision I've made in a long time.
Edited by Dover Nige on Friday 15th May 14:10
Given that you're 6 foot 4, I won't argue.... 
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