RE: ?BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe: Spotted
Discussion
Mr Tidy said:
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!
Reading this thread I was already beginning to think that we 3.0si Coupe owners sound like members of a cult. But you’re not wrong. It makes the world a better place.Mr Tidy said:
danp said:
I like the idea of improving a 3.0Si but you’d still be stuck with the horrific EPAS.
Yes, but have you driven one?Why don't you share you garage with us BTW?
I looked at 130i’s but ride wise they’re similarly afflicted, as was the 330i I bought instead (but to a lesser degree). Perhaps I’m particularly sensitive to it or the roads are especially rubbish near me. The answer appears to be a trip to Bird’s for a pricey suspension update!
Started adding cars to My Garage but never finished, must do so. Currently have a 325ti which has great steering and a reasonable ride but could do with about 100bhp more ;-)
Edited by danp on Friday 15th December 09:48
danp said:
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.
In general I would be very wary of any claims that the 3.0 will rise in value. I'm banking on losing 50% of what I paid for mine over 3 years
SidewaysSi said:
Not sure about value appreciation with old BMWs if you want them to drive properly. I will have spent at least £5k on my E36 328i..!
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I spent £5,500 on my E36 328i Sport Coupé a few years ago. Things quickly add up when a car gets to a certain age, and that was just suspension and brakes back to new spec plus a few other things, no engine work done!Mr Tidy said:
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!
19 months later and it is still going strong. It is just about to tick over to 77k. I did have brief thoughts of selling it, but I don't know what I'd replace it with! 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!
These cars tend to be criticised by armchair would be motoring journalists, many of whom have little experience of the cars other than regurgitating what others have said before them.
Having had a couple of Coupes, I loved them at the time. I still admire them on the rare occasion I see one.
They are not the best at anything but as a package , very enjoyable to own and surely that's what matters.
Having had a couple of Coupes, I loved them at the time. I still admire them on the rare occasion I see one.
They are not the best at anything but as a package , very enjoyable to own and surely that's what matters.
RobM77 said:
SidewaysSi said:
Not sure about value appreciation with old BMWs if you want them to drive properly. I will have spent at least £5k on my E36 328i..!
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I spent £5,500 on my E36 328i Sport Coupé a few years ago. Things quickly add up when a car gets to a certain age, and that was just suspension and brakes back to new spec plus a few other things, no engine work done!My total expenditure maybe around £7k when all done but that will include suspension, bushes, engine, diff, brakes, steering, ARBs, wheels, rustproofing, flywheel, clutch, gearchange, cooling system. And a few other bits.
The whole lot will be upgraded in other words! Hopefully will be a proper road racer when done.
Pistom said:
These cars tend to be criticised by armchair would be motoring journalists, many of whom have little experience of the cars other than regurgitating what others have said before them.
Having had a couple of Coupes, I loved them at the time. I still admire them on the rare occasion I see one.
They are not the best at anything but as a package , very enjoyable to own and surely that's what matters.
I think it's also quite a skill to have a car for an afternoon, or even a weekend, and report on what such a car would be like to own long term. As you say though, I've heard plenty of stories of a journalist turning up at a factory, driving a car for five minutes, and then writing a ten page piece on it. I once looked into motor journalism, and was told that one had to be a journalist first and foremost - knowledge of cars or proven ability driving them was not a pre-requisite. In other words, don't always take what they say as gospel.Having had a couple of Coupes, I loved them at the time. I still admire them on the rare occasion I see one.
They are not the best at anything but as a package , very enjoyable to own and surely that's what matters.
RobM77 said:
I think it's also quite a skill to have a car for an afternoon, or even a weekend, and report on what such a car would be like to own long term. As you say though, I've heard plenty of stories of a journalist turning up at a factory, driving a car for five minutes, and then writing a ten page piece on it. I once looked into motor journalism, and was told that one had to be a journalist first and foremost - knowledge of cars or proven ability driving them was not a pre-requisite. In other words, don't always take what they say as gospel.
I'm trying not to go off topic here but I think the most interesting journalists are those who can write an interesting story about a car. My life long car passion was fuelled by journalists who wrote in Car, Autocar and Motor. Equally, a car doesn't have to be great to be a great car.Going back to the Z4 Coupe, first and foremost it has amazing looks, a couple of great engines and an entertaining drive.
The M is almost like a wild horse and it doesn't flatter the inept driver but great fun when you get it right. Just changing gear smoothly felt like you owed yourself a round of applause.
Even saying this, I think they will be appreciated by many for years to come.
Snails said:
19 months later and it is still going strong. It is just about to tick over to 77k. I did have brief thoughts of selling it, but I don't know what I'd replace it with!
Great news - I just knew that was a great car! My current one is on 84K, and I really don't know what I would want as a replacement!
danp said:
I had a 3.0 roadster for a year or so, good engine but awful ride and steering as mentioned. I moved to 17” and non-RFTs but it was still poor. And this was an SE, I shudder to think what an M Sport on 18” and RFTs is like.
I looked at 130i’s but ride wise they’re similarly afflicted, as was the 330i I bought instead (but to a lesser degree). Perhaps I’m particularly sensitive to it or the roads are especially rubbish near me. The answer appears to be a trip to Bird’s for a pricey suspension update!
Started adding cars to My Garage but never finished, must do so. Currently have a 325ti which has great steering and a reasonable ride but could do with about 100bhp more
Great - I know exactly what you mean!I looked at 130i’s but ride wise they’re similarly afflicted, as was the 330i I bought instead (but to a lesser degree). Perhaps I’m particularly sensitive to it or the roads are especially rubbish near me. The answer appears to be a trip to Bird’s for a pricey suspension update!
Started adding cars to My Garage but never finished, must do so. Currently have a 325ti which has great steering and a reasonable ride but could do with about 100bhp more
Edited by danp on Friday 15th December 09:48
325ti Sport is my daily, but Z4 Coupe is my toy!
little_r said:
After 36months of ownership the car has been pretty bullet proof. One headlamp and a set of tyres. Have no complaints! Stratus grey coupe still gets attention. Star alloys a rarity.
Car will be up for sale very soon as it’s time for a change..
Lovely looking car.Car will be up for sale very soon as it’s time for a change..
Edited by little_r on Sunday 17th December 19:59
Is that an SE or a Sport.
danp said:
I had a 3.0 roadster for a year or so, good engine but awful ride and steering as mentioned. I moved to 17” and non-RFTs but it was still poor. And this was an SE, I shudder to think what an M Sport on 18” and RFTs is like.
I had one to try for a day last time I was looking to buy a sports car; having driven an SLK350 a few days earlier I genuinely felt the Mercedes was a far better drivers' car. It's a shame because teh Z4M shows what a decent set of dampers and a proper steering rack can do with the platform. To this day I've wondered whether BMW intentionally hobbled the non-M car to protect the M. kambites said:
To this day I've wondered whether BMW intentionally hobbled the non-M car to protect the M.
Both cars are massively flawed though, hydraulic steering doesn't really improve the Z4M, because it's still held back by a piss poor chassis and a terrible ride even on normal tyres. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff