RE: ?BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe: Spotted
Discussion
TR4man said:
Agree with all your points but for the fact you can drive 10 miles down the road and see 10 TTs - TTs are not exactly rare.
I've enjoyed my Coupe for nearly three years as my daily driver and have kept it longer than any other car quite simply because I don't know what I'd replace it with. They are rare cars and many people don't know what they are, or believe me when I say that mine is 11 years old.
The interior is a lovely place to be as I trundle up and down the M6
I'm in the same boat. I've owned my Z4C for 3 years, it's my daily driver and now on 96,000 miles, and I can't think of anything I'd replace it with. Apart from the usual water pump, and suspension components, it's been amazingly reliable and I have thrown a lot at it.
I absolutely love the creamy straight 6 engine, it delivers beautiful linear torque at all speeds. I swapped the 19' wheels it came with for 18s, and although still a fairly stiff ride, I do long journeys of 3-4 hours plus without discomfort.
It has it's faults, like the steering and CDV as already mentioned, but for the price (£9k) I have no idea what I would swap it with, having already owned something 'better' that I didn't enjoy as much. I love getting in and driving it, and it's the first car in some time I have kept longer than 18 months. It will comfortably cruise, but thrown around country lanes or stretching it's legs it puts a massive grin on my face.
I previously owned the 3.0SE roadster, also a good car, but the coupe was always what I wanted and is to me some margin better, rigidity being a key element.
Gratuitous pic of the car in the Brecon Beacons the weekend I bought it. I am actually aiming to keep it until it dies now, which I suspect is some way off!
Usget said:
In other news, there are some other examples available much more cheaply than the one in the advert. This one, for example, looks a peach.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Yep I was about to post this link. Much more desirable to me. Needs wheels changing tho as I don't like those at all.https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Nice cars the z4's I'm on my second, but let's not pretend they are great drivers cars in standard form, poor steering, suspension setup, clutch feel and throttle response see to that. They need mods to make them 'right'.
Also unless you love the looks it's the roadster for me everytime, there is very little in driving terms between them.
Also unless you love the looks it's the roadster for me everytime, there is very little in driving terms between them.
I had been using my wife's Z4 for a month or so.
Last weekend, I borrowed my mum's car. Having become accustomed to the feel of the Z4, I couldn't believe how much more engaging it was to drive and how the steering, gearbox and clutch and brakes were all so much more mechanical, intuitive and "right" in comparison.
Here is a picture of the awesome driving machine that beat the Z4 in every single area apart from power.
Lest the alloys and foglights should fool you, it's not anything special at all. Standard 1.3. 60 bhp.
My 13k would go on a GT86.
Last weekend, I borrowed my mum's car. Having become accustomed to the feel of the Z4, I couldn't believe how much more engaging it was to drive and how the steering, gearbox and clutch and brakes were all so much more mechanical, intuitive and "right" in comparison.
Here is a picture of the awesome driving machine that beat the Z4 in every single area apart from power.
Lest the alloys and foglights should fool you, it's not anything special at all. Standard 1.3. 60 bhp.
My 13k would go on a GT86.
Bennet said:
I had been using my wife's Z4 for a month or so.
Last weekend, I borrowed my mum's car. Having become accustomed to the feel of the Z4, I couldn't believe how much more engaging it was to drive and how the steering, gearbox and clutch and brakes were all so much more mechanical, intuitive and "right" in comparison.
Here is a picture of the awesome driving machine that beat the Z4 in every single area apart from power.
My 13k would go on a GT86.
Erm yeah I wouldn't get too carried away, the engine, gearbox in the z4 are worth the price alone. Unfortunately the gt86 is in a different performance league.Last weekend, I borrowed my mum's car. Having become accustomed to the feel of the Z4, I couldn't believe how much more engaging it was to drive and how the steering, gearbox and clutch and brakes were all so much more mechanical, intuitive and "right" in comparison.
Here is a picture of the awesome driving machine that beat the Z4 in every single area apart from power.
My 13k would go on a GT86.
Jonstar said:
Erm yeah I wouldn't get too carried away, the engine, gearbox in the z4 are worth the price alone. Unfortunately the gt86 is in a different performance league.
The engine is very good, I agree. Free revving and plenty of power. Absolutely no way that gearbox is worth paying £13k for. You get a better gearbox in an MR2 for £1500.Bennet said:
The engine is very good, I agree. Free revving and plenty of power. Absolutely no way that gearbox is worth paying £13k for. You get a better gearbox in an MR2 for £1500.
Agreed but you can't have a great powertrain unless both the engine and gearbox deliver. Plus you don't have to pay £13k for it...Oh well, here goes. 
I'm on my 2nd 3 litre Coupe now!
Back in 2005 I got a job with a car allowance and business miles paid at the HMRC rate, so I had 2 BMW 4-cyliner turbo-dieses for nearly a decade. But when I picked up my 123d in 2008 there was a Z4 Coupe in the showroom. It looked stunning, so I decided that one day I would have one!
Fast forward to 2014 an a lump-sum from a workplace pension taken early and no more business miles! I test drove a GT86 and liked it, but even after a 123d it didn't seem that quick, so I went to look at my first Z4Coupe - and put a deposit on it!
Loved that car, well until 18 months later the electronic water pump died.
It's supposed to be a fairly easy DIY job, but it was December and my workspace is an allocated parking space - when the idiot neighbours and their visitors don't park in it! So I got it done by a local BMW Indy and got an £800 bill. 
That left a slightly bitter taste.
Anyway I've been on a dedicated Z4forum since I bought it (would thoroughly recommend it BTW) and a few months later someone was looking for one. I got in touch and he came to view it on a Sunday. I took it for a last drive on the Monday and wondered what on earth I was thinking, but then he rang me that night to put a deposit on it! He'd come over 100 miles to see it, so I couldn't say no.
Which meant on the Wednesday I was out looking for it's replacement! First one taken away 8 May 2016, 2nd one collected 2 days later and I still have it!
I love how it looks, how the engine happily chases the red-line, how it feels sitting low and just in front of the rear wheels - so many things really! Plus the UK only got about 2,500 Coupes so you don't see too many of them around. And I got a few hundred quid more for mine when I sold it than I had paid.
I'm sure the M Coupe is way better, but that was never going to be in budget - they're pretty much twice the money, and I can't help thinking they can't be twice the car! And it isn't just purchase price, M models cost a fair bit more to service. Although of course they do have an LSD, hydraulic PAS and non-RFTs.
I thought about a Nissan 350Z, but while they have more power they are also a fair bit heavier and post 06 ones are in Band M for RFL (like the M Coupes) so over £500 a year (which isn't an option as mine is a 2nd car).
An E46 M3 may be an option for around 3 litre Coupe money, but they'll have the same running costs as an M Coupe and your driving environment will still feel much the same as my E46 Compact! Plus they have the cracking boot-floor issues.
Anyway I'm obviously totally biased so feel free to ignore this, but every time I drive my Coupe I can't help feeling all is right with the world and having a grin plastered on my face!
Will finish with gratuitous photos (as you do) but I struggle to get these to appear in order - so just in case the Ruby Black one was the first, the blue one is the current one.
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I'm on my 2nd 3 litre Coupe now!
Back in 2005 I got a job with a car allowance and business miles paid at the HMRC rate, so I had 2 BMW 4-cyliner turbo-dieses for nearly a decade. But when I picked up my 123d in 2008 there was a Z4 Coupe in the showroom. It looked stunning, so I decided that one day I would have one!
Fast forward to 2014 an a lump-sum from a workplace pension taken early and no more business miles! I test drove a GT86 and liked it, but even after a 123d it didn't seem that quick, so I went to look at my first Z4Coupe - and put a deposit on it!
Loved that car, well until 18 months later the electronic water pump died.
It's supposed to be a fairly easy DIY job, but it was December and my workspace is an allocated parking space - when the idiot neighbours and their visitors don't park in it! So I got it done by a local BMW Indy and got an £800 bill. That left a slightly bitter taste.
Anyway I've been on a dedicated Z4forum since I bought it (would thoroughly recommend it BTW) and a few months later someone was looking for one. I got in touch and he came to view it on a Sunday. I took it for a last drive on the Monday and wondered what on earth I was thinking, but then he rang me that night to put a deposit on it! He'd come over 100 miles to see it, so I couldn't say no.
Which meant on the Wednesday I was out looking for it's replacement! First one taken away 8 May 2016, 2nd one collected 2 days later and I still have it!
I love how it looks, how the engine happily chases the red-line, how it feels sitting low and just in front of the rear wheels - so many things really! Plus the UK only got about 2,500 Coupes so you don't see too many of them around. And I got a few hundred quid more for mine when I sold it than I had paid.
I'm sure the M Coupe is way better, but that was never going to be in budget - they're pretty much twice the money, and I can't help thinking they can't be twice the car! And it isn't just purchase price, M models cost a fair bit more to service. Although of course they do have an LSD, hydraulic PAS and non-RFTs.
I thought about a Nissan 350Z, but while they have more power they are also a fair bit heavier and post 06 ones are in Band M for RFL (like the M Coupes) so over £500 a year (which isn't an option as mine is a 2nd car).
An E46 M3 may be an option for around 3 litre Coupe money, but they'll have the same running costs as an M Coupe and your driving environment will still feel much the same as my E46 Compact! Plus they have the cracking boot-floor issues.
Anyway I'm obviously totally biased so feel free to ignore this, but every time I drive my Coupe I can't help feeling all is right with the world and having a grin plastered on my face!
Will finish with gratuitous photos (as you do) but I struggle to get these to appear in order - so just in case the Ruby Black one was the first, the blue one is the current one.
[url][img]SidewaysSi said:
I do think that in general (post mid 90s cars), non M cars can be more fun than the M versions.
A £13k 3.0 with a couple of grand of mods will probably be a better drive than a standard M coupe.
Agreed, the problem is BMW engineer alot of slack and safety nets into their cars, m cars included so they never feel quite right as standard. The fundamentals and crucially balance is always good however so they can be brilliant with some mods.A £13k 3.0 with a couple of grand of mods will probably be a better drive than a standard M coupe.
SidewaysSi said:
I do think that in general (post mid 90s cars), non M cars can be more fun than the M versions.
A £13k 3.0 with a couple of grand of mods will probably be a better drive than a standard M coupe.
I like the idea of improving a 3.0Si but you’d still be stuck with the horrific EPAS.A £13k 3.0 with a couple of grand of mods will probably be a better drive than a standard M coupe.
flight147z said:
I'd love an M but wouldn't enjoy driving it these days knowing how much money would be coming off the value as I put the miles on it - if you have the means not to mind that I bet they are great!
The M is more likely to gain value (especially compared to the 3.0) even with a few miles. The extra maintenance expense is a big factor though, the S54 is not without issues, as they all hit 12 years old and 50-60k seems to be average, you could be looking at a large bill not far down the line.
I don’t know if it will go the way of the Z3 M coupe, they bottomed at about 10k maybe 7 or 8 years back and have more than doubled since.
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