Z4M / E46 M3 - Are they just not that fast?
Discussion
nickrex said:
Just found this thread so sorry to revive it.
I've had my Z4MC almost a year now and would never describe it as slow. I've had some decently fast cars in my time e.g E39 M5 and Rx7. I've never met anyone who thought the FD3 Rx7 wasn't fast and I reckon my Z4MC is quicker.
The first thing that surprised me when test driving Z4m's was the low down grunt of the S54, I wasn't expecting it. I thought it'd be all top end but this simply isn't true. I could short shift below 3.5-4k rpm and still make decent progress. Maybe not turbo grunt but grunt all the same and it's still got the mega 8k + rpm top end as well, the engine is fantastic. I also considered getting one of the latest crop of mega hatches because I do love cars like that, but after test driving a Z4MC there was no way I wanted anything else.
I've fitted Bilstein B12's, Gruppe M induction, ZHP gear knob and removed the CDV since owning it and it's now even better and I think, a bit if a weapon. It does make me think that mine may be a particularly healthy example though, having read what others are saying?
Maybe Golf R's etc are quicker and fair play to them, but the induction noise and the all round looks and performance if a Z4m is good enough for me!
Wow this thread is still alive!! I've had my Z4MC almost a year now and would never describe it as slow. I've had some decently fast cars in my time e.g E39 M5 and Rx7. I've never met anyone who thought the FD3 Rx7 wasn't fast and I reckon my Z4MC is quicker.
The first thing that surprised me when test driving Z4m's was the low down grunt of the S54, I wasn't expecting it. I thought it'd be all top end but this simply isn't true. I could short shift below 3.5-4k rpm and still make decent progress. Maybe not turbo grunt but grunt all the same and it's still got the mega 8k + rpm top end as well, the engine is fantastic. I also considered getting one of the latest crop of mega hatches because I do love cars like that, but after test driving a Z4MC there was no way I wanted anything else.
I've fitted Bilstein B12's, Gruppe M induction, ZHP gear knob and removed the CDV since owning it and it's now even better and I think, a bit if a weapon. It does make me think that mine may be a particularly healthy example though, having read what others are saying?
Maybe Golf R's etc are quicker and fair play to them, but the induction noise and the all round looks and performance if a Z4m is good enough for me!
Congrats on the Z4M purchase, a wise buy, and investment - values are on the rise, and they are a superb car.
Not much to say about the S54/M cars thats not been said before, but they are not slow cars, given that the engine is 15+ years old its still a very trick motor indeed.
On the Golf R - hmm well its good at what it does, and i was loaned one for a month, but by the end i really couldn't wait to give it back. I really hate that DSG box, much worse than any ZF 8 speed from bmw. My friend has a manual one and its much more involving to drive. But overall Yes it was a fast hatch, and handled very good (due to the 4x4 system) but god it was bland, and really was generally quite boring to drive, ok it did nearly 40mpg when driving like a granny, and it did snap your neck in race mode, but would i own one - no not a chance!! Money better spent here on older M cars.
Anyway hope you enjoy the Z4M.
Andy
Smuler said:
bennyboysvuk said:
I passed one in traffic yesterday, which is why it sprung to mind. 3 door hatch - E81.
I would bl@@dy well hope you passed it, giving you've just bought a lovely blue E92 M3 
I saw the pictures on the other site.
Thanks. The M3's been great so far, but I was passengering in my wife's new to her, X3 35d at the time. 
Fast means different things to different people. Would alternate my commute between 997 turbo and M3 Touring. M3 pace adequate for most of the overtakes I could do in the 997. Never feel short-changed by the pace but need to accept it's no longer as quick as many moderns. Have a honda'd exige for fun and track and a 570bhp integrale and each goes quickly differently. M3 is now main commuting car and it's amazing at that. Quick enough and great engine. Ultimate road pace is limited by so many things and these are a great drive and have a great engine. 'Beaten' by lots of things for outright pace but I for one don't care too much. Would definitely recommend an e46 M3.
cerb4.5lee said:
Really pleased for you Ben 
I bet you're well chuffed to be back in a car with a LSD again, enjoy it. 
Thanks Lee. It's great being back in an M car. The turbo shove of the M135i gave it the driving experience of a quick 120d, so it's nice to be in something more analogue where I have to work the engine a bit to get the rewards. The M button means instant access to DSC off too, to bring that LSD into play. It's certainly a more involving car than anything BMW has produced since. It's about as tail happy in the dry as the M135i was in the wet I bet you're well chuffed to be back in a car with a LSD again, enjoy it. . It takes much more precision and care to drive it quickly than the M135i too, which I feel is all part of the involvement.otolith said:
I like the sound of my Z4M, but it's a little too civilised. If I intended keeping it long term, I would spend some cash on a fruitier exhaust and an airbox.
If you're on the Z4 Forum - check out the DLV exhaust mod, not sure if he's doing M's but might be worth asking..Not too £££ and def adds some aural drama...
aquarianone said:
otolith said:
I like the sound of my Z4M, but it's a little too civilised. If I intended keeping it long term, I would spend some cash on a fruitier exhaust and an airbox.
If you're on the Z4 Forum - check out the DLV exhaust mod, not sure if he's doing M's but might be worth asking..Not too £££ and def adds some aural drama...
As the opener of this thread... I test drove a f10 m5 on Sunday which I'll be making an offer on today, now that is fast! Almost back to my Cerbera 4.5 level of speed and the noise is amazing. As a family transport it's going to be one tool!
Looks like sadly I'm going to have to sell the Z4M as our m235i is on finance and not worth anything like the final value on the contract, and 3 cars in central London doesn't make sense! Will be really sad to see it go though as I do love driving it and it's one good looking car.
Looks like sadly I'm going to have to sell the Z4M as our m235i is on finance and not worth anything like the final value on the contract, and 3 cars in central London doesn't make sense! Will be really sad to see it go though as I do love driving it and it's one good looking car.
Edited by BlueEyedBoy on Monday 11th September 08:43
Do you mean the simulated sound inside the car coming out the speakers? Because in stock form, the F10 M5 doesn't really sounds like your typical M car of old, it's too quiet!
There are plenty of aftermarket exhaust options to liven it up from the outside though. Sadly not much can be done for pumping natural sounds inside.
There are plenty of aftermarket exhaust options to liven it up from the outside though. Sadly not much can be done for pumping natural sounds inside.
BlueEyedBoy said:
As the opener of this thread... I test drove a f10 m5 on Sunday which I'll be making an offer on today, now that is fast! Almost back to my Cerbera 4.5 level of speed and the noise is amazing. As a family transport it's going to be one tool!
Looks like sadly I'm going to have to sell the Z4M as our m235i is on finance and not worth anything like the final value on the contract, and 3 cars in central London doesn't make sense! Will be really sad to see it go though as I do love driving it and it's one good looking car.
I think the Z4M still wins on feedback and noise and the analogue feel of its controls. IMO the F10 M5, new M3 and all the M-lites, although powerful and initially impressive just don't have the kind of long-lasting satisfying feel of the older NA cars. That said, it's horses for courses and there's no doubt that the F10 M5 is seriously fast. I wonder how it will fare against the Astra in your original post.Looks like sadly I'm going to have to sell the Z4M as our m235i is on finance and not worth anything like the final value on the contract, and 3 cars in central London doesn't make sense! Will be really sad to see it go though as I do love driving it and it's one good looking car.
Edited by BlueEyedBoy on Monday 11th September 08:43
robbiekhan said:
Do you mean the simulated sound inside the car coming out the speakers? Because in stock form, the F10 M5 doesn't really sounds like your typical M car of old, it's too quiet!
There are plenty of aftermarket exhaust options to liven it up from the outside though. Sadly not much can be done for pumping natural sounds inside.
I'm not sure if the one I'm looking at has an aftermarket exhaust then as there was a great burble coming out of it.There are plenty of aftermarket exhaust options to liven it up from the outside though. Sadly not much can be done for pumping natural sounds inside.
My z4 has, and the noise from the m5 inside and out didn't disappoint.
bennyboysvuk said:
I think the Z4M still wins on feedback and noise and the analogue feel of its controls. IMO the F10 M5, new M3 and all the M-lites, although powerful and initially impressive just don't have the kind of long-lasting satisfying feel of the older NA cars. That said, it's horses for courses and there's no doubt that the F10 M5 is seriously fast. I wonder how it will fare against the Astra in your original post.
It's a competely different animal I accept that, but the z4 is a nightmare over speedbumps, and circumstances mean I don't have open country roads to blast along anymore. City traffic and motorways is not the place for it. I think it would pretty much destroy the Astra. I didn't realise quite the difference, but it's over 4 seconds quicker to 100!Just purchased an E46 M3 as a daily. As said in comparison to modern machinery its not super fast but more than adequate. The responsiveness/urgency of the engine at high revs makes up for its outright pace. Its a visceral experience and i'm loving every minute of it, at no point does it feel 'lacking'.
My weekend toy is an x50 996T which by todays standards is still almighty fast. The two cars are night and day different but the M3 never feels slow after swapping seats.
The drive home was certainly fun!:
My weekend toy is an x50 996T which by todays standards is still almighty fast. The two cars are night and day different but the M3 never feels slow after swapping seats.
The drive home was certainly fun!:
shantybeater said:
Just purchased an E46 M3 as a daily. As said in comparison to modern machinery its not super fast but more than adequate. The responsiveness/urgency of the engine at high revs makes up for its outright pace. Its a visceral experience and i'm loving every minute of it, at no point does it feel 'lacking'.
My weekend toy is an x50 996T which by todays standards is still almighty fast. The two cars are night and day different but the M3 never feels slow after swapping seats.
The drive home was certainly fun!:
That looks lovely. My weekend toy is an x50 996T which by todays standards is still almighty fast. The two cars are night and day different but the M3 never feels slow after swapping seats.
The drive home was certainly fun!:
It even states in the manual that 98RON or above should be used for optimum performance and economy.
Since owning mine, I've only ever used Momentum 99 or VPower, VPower is the go to of course. The cleaning properties of VPower alone are worth the slight extra cost per tank to me. I'd rather a long term healthy engine.
Since owning mine, I've only ever used Momentum 99 or VPower, VPower is the go to of course. The cleaning properties of VPower alone are worth the slight extra cost per tank to me. I'd rather a long term healthy engine.
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