RE: BMW Z4 M Coupe | Spotted
Discussion
I've had my Z4MR (the roadster) for just over a year now and it's been a real joy owning one. While not as pretty or "hard core" as the Z4MC, it's still a brilliant package. The Coupe's were a touch over my budget and with the roadster is a bit easier for someone with spinal damage like me, as it's a touch softer.
The problem is when prices start to get low enough, people are able to buy these cars, but not able to afford running one properly. We've seen this happen with the E46 M3 and it's getting harder and harder to find one that's been looked after and/or hasn't been modded and thrashed like the star of a BDSM video
. My Z4MR has just gone in for it's first service/MOT under my ownership and I've been landed with an eye watering laundry list of parts needing replacing, however it's just done over 100k so I was prepared for some bad news, but it was still painful to have happen. Insurance isn't too bad for me, even with just a single years no claims bonus, I was able to get a new policy last weekend for well under £500 full comp and 7000 miles a year allowance. The car tax is actually more per year than my insurance, with it costing £570 a year! I understand that the '06 Z4M's fall under a different bracket and are much cheaper. One pleasant surprise is how good these cars are on fuel on longer motorway drives. I was able to hit over 33 MPG without having to drive at a snails pace several times this last year. I do however average around 24-26 MPG with normal combined driving, which is not too bad (my previous car was an Impreza P1 which had been heavily modded to 325bhp and 330flb which would struggle to get anything above 20-24 MPG)
With the Z4MC's being a really good platform for as a track car, I've noticed more and more people converting them over to a full track spec, which with the limited UK numbers is helping to keep the prices up. I think there were just over 1000 Z4M's (both the MR's and MC's in a 50/50 split according to some members on the owners forum). While my Z4MR will never be a track toy, it has been a great B road hooner and with the roof down, you really get to hear how awesome these cars sound! Like with the E46 M3, when you put the car into "sport" mode, the throttle response becomes much sharper and transforms the car so dramatically. I've found my Z4MR to be a really easy car to drive and live with, but once that throttle gets sharper, the car easily becomes savage, it's bloody brilliant! The layout of the pedal box also makes doing heel/toe really easy and even a big footed idiot like me is able to do it. Actually many people are surprised that I find my Z4MR is big enough for me (I'm over 6'4") and even with my spinal damage, I find it really easy to get in and out of the car. One other great change BMW did when making the Z4M was taking out the standard electric power steering and putting the hydraulic system from the E46 M3. The weighting and balance just feels perfect to me and the slightly thicker "///M" steering wheel feels great to hold and use.
Some comments above mentioned the gearbox being notchy and this is true. There are a few mods owners can do to help this, as there is a clutch delay valve, which is easily bypassed and can have a very positive effect on making the box easier to live with. The other big thing with both the Z4MR and Z4MC, is the rear springs do tend to break on them, which happened to my roadster just before I took it in for it's service & MOT (my old man's E46 M3 Cab has the very same problem). Another issue some other members on the Z4 owners forums I use have had issues with, is to do with the rod end bearings. This is something that is well known about on the S54 engine and typically people advise getting them replaced around the 100,000 mark. I think the other forum users say it's around £1000-£1500 to get them replaced by a specialist.
The problem is when prices start to get low enough, people are able to buy these cars, but not able to afford running one properly. We've seen this happen with the E46 M3 and it's getting harder and harder to find one that's been looked after and/or hasn't been modded and thrashed like the star of a BDSM video
. My Z4MR has just gone in for it's first service/MOT under my ownership and I've been landed with an eye watering laundry list of parts needing replacing, however it's just done over 100k so I was prepared for some bad news, but it was still painful to have happen. Insurance isn't too bad for me, even with just a single years no claims bonus, I was able to get a new policy last weekend for well under £500 full comp and 7000 miles a year allowance. The car tax is actually more per year than my insurance, with it costing £570 a year! I understand that the '06 Z4M's fall under a different bracket and are much cheaper. One pleasant surprise is how good these cars are on fuel on longer motorway drives. I was able to hit over 33 MPG without having to drive at a snails pace several times this last year. I do however average around 24-26 MPG with normal combined driving, which is not too bad (my previous car was an Impreza P1 which had been heavily modded to 325bhp and 330flb which would struggle to get anything above 20-24 MPG)With the Z4MC's being a really good platform for as a track car, I've noticed more and more people converting them over to a full track spec, which with the limited UK numbers is helping to keep the prices up. I think there were just over 1000 Z4M's (both the MR's and MC's in a 50/50 split according to some members on the owners forum). While my Z4MR will never be a track toy, it has been a great B road hooner and with the roof down, you really get to hear how awesome these cars sound! Like with the E46 M3, when you put the car into "sport" mode, the throttle response becomes much sharper and transforms the car so dramatically. I've found my Z4MR to be a really easy car to drive and live with, but once that throttle gets sharper, the car easily becomes savage, it's bloody brilliant! The layout of the pedal box also makes doing heel/toe really easy and even a big footed idiot like me is able to do it. Actually many people are surprised that I find my Z4MR is big enough for me (I'm over 6'4") and even with my spinal damage, I find it really easy to get in and out of the car. One other great change BMW did when making the Z4M was taking out the standard electric power steering and putting the hydraulic system from the E46 M3. The weighting and balance just feels perfect to me and the slightly thicker "///M" steering wheel feels great to hold and use.
Some comments above mentioned the gearbox being notchy and this is true. There are a few mods owners can do to help this, as there is a clutch delay valve, which is easily bypassed and can have a very positive effect on making the box easier to live with. The other big thing with both the Z4MR and Z4MC, is the rear springs do tend to break on them, which happened to my roadster just before I took it in for it's service & MOT (my old man's E46 M3 Cab has the very same problem). Another issue some other members on the Z4 owners forums I use have had issues with, is to do with the rod end bearings. This is something that is well known about on the S54 engine and typically people advise getting them replaced around the 100,000 mark. I think the other forum users say it's around £1000-£1500 to get them replaced by a specialist.
.
It's funny you know, but i realise now that most opinions we hold on used cars are always as a reflection on what went before in our ownership. By that i mean when people say that it had amazing handling, what they mean is in relation to the poor handling car they had before, or i found the engine flat, meaning the previous car was perkier.
I had a Z4m, but found it dull. I know it is not, but i came to it from a Westfield.
I had a Z4m, but found it dull. I know it is not, but i came to it from a Westfield.
Iv had two (roadster and a coupe after the former was written off). Brilliant cars in my opinion and perfectly suitable for daily use even.
Essential upgrades in my eyes are aero’s, CSL’s, a Gruppe M induction kit and a change to the ZHP gearknob.
10 speaker stereo is nice to have but personally I think the nav is dated and ruins the dash. No Nav is more in keeping with the overall Ethos of the car.
Aftermarket exhausts are too intrusive and ruin the induction noise IMO.
My car seemed to ride better on PSS’s and CSL’s then it did on the standard wheels with factory rubber.
I covered around 35-40k miles in my two over the course of 6 years and both were completely reliable.
Got back significantly more than what I paid for both of mine. I paid £15k for my MR with 30k miles in 2012 from BMW with two years warranty included and £13.3k for my coupe with 61k miles in late 2015.
Common issues are brake calliper nipples seized, weeping diff (usually slow and not an issue), cup holder breaking both of mine had these. The fangs on the front bumper are notoriously easy to catch too.
Essential upgrades in my eyes are aero’s, CSL’s, a Gruppe M induction kit and a change to the ZHP gearknob.
10 speaker stereo is nice to have but personally I think the nav is dated and ruins the dash. No Nav is more in keeping with the overall Ethos of the car.
Aftermarket exhausts are too intrusive and ruin the induction noise IMO.
My car seemed to ride better on PSS’s and CSL’s then it did on the standard wheels with factory rubber.
I covered around 35-40k miles in my two over the course of 6 years and both were completely reliable.
Got back significantly more than what I paid for both of mine. I paid £15k for my MR with 30k miles in 2012 from BMW with two years warranty included and £13.3k for my coupe with 61k miles in late 2015.
Common issues are brake calliper nipples seized, weeping diff (usually slow and not an issue), cup holder breaking both of mine had these. The fangs on the front bumper are notoriously easy to catch too.
Edited by Froomee on Thursday 28th November 15:13
Never learned to love mine - hated the handling and despite experimenting with various set ups was never anything like as good as any of the other BMWs I have had or nearly as confidence inspiring. Terrifying at times due to unpredictability of steering/handling/ride and always felt BMW never resolved it. Sold it after 4 years and never missed it for a second.
Mr lestat said:
They are great cars I had a 3.0si manual for a couple of years and recently traded it in for an SLK 55AMG. The only thing lacking in it really was any toys to play with it was rather basic and austere inside and everything was just black. It drove brilliantly handled really well and was reasonably quick. I just fancied a change.
If you dont mind me asking what do you think about the SLK55?Have you had any issues with it?
They seem to have levelled off a bit price wise and for what you have to pay to listen to that V8 engine they dont seem too bad on paper at least.
I owned an MC version in 2007, ex-podium display model with everything ticked and it was special. I still think it's one of the best looking and most hardcore road cars ever made.
In the context of modern cars it was a similar recipe to the Cayman GT4, just raid the parts bin for all the companies best bits. But for all those wonderful components I'm afraid I'd take the more rounded Z4 3.0 Coupe every time. The 3.0 is a car with great depth of character and handling you can learn. The Z4MC just felt not quite right somehow in it's set up. It should have been magnificent and on a good day it could pull off drift angles no car I've ever driven could hold a candle to but it was inherently unstable, it could be thrown into a wobble by a bump in the road at 120mph giving you a very uncomfortable few seconds and even if you pulled a slide 10 times on the same corner happily on the 11th day you could never rely on it doing the same thing again.
It is like having a relationship with a serial killer who really loves you, it's all great until suddenly it's not. I have NEVER owned a more frightening car and the TVR Cerbera I replaced it with was a welcome relief of safety and predictability.
Great car but on the road. I'd take a 3.0 every time. I even prefer the noise.
In the context of modern cars it was a similar recipe to the Cayman GT4, just raid the parts bin for all the companies best bits. But for all those wonderful components I'm afraid I'd take the more rounded Z4 3.0 Coupe every time. The 3.0 is a car with great depth of character and handling you can learn. The Z4MC just felt not quite right somehow in it's set up. It should have been magnificent and on a good day it could pull off drift angles no car I've ever driven could hold a candle to but it was inherently unstable, it could be thrown into a wobble by a bump in the road at 120mph giving you a very uncomfortable few seconds and even if you pulled a slide 10 times on the same corner happily on the 11th day you could never rely on it doing the same thing again.
It is like having a relationship with a serial killer who really loves you, it's all great until suddenly it's not. I have NEVER owned a more frightening car and the TVR Cerbera I replaced it with was a welcome relief of safety and predictability.
Great car but on the road. I'd take a 3.0 every time. I even prefer the noise.
Edited by Niffty951 on Thursday 28th November 22:18
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Never learned to love mine - hated the handling and despite experimenting with various set ups was never anything like as good as any of the other BMWs I have had or nearly as confidence inspiring. Terrifying at times due to unpredictability of steering/handling/ride and always felt BMW never resolved it. Sold it after 4 years and never missed it for a second.
Yes. Although weirdly I do still miss mine.T1berious said:
Clutch Delay Valve delete helped with the Gearbox (especially 1st to 2nd). Also the gearbox improves as it warms up. Real event of a car but servicing can be eye watering.
1st to 2nd is a PITA - we generally skip 2nd unless setting off downhill (when we skip first). Had wondered about CDV delete but it is probably there for a reason.Re servicing - the wife's has had oil service or insp1 every year regardless of mileage, and quote reasonable at na Indy, certainly a lot cheaper to service than my Maser, VED OTOH is ludicrous.
Paul
Niffty951 said:
I owned an MC version in 2007, ex-podium display model with everything ticked and it was special. I still think it's one of the best looking and most hardcore road cars ever made.
In the context of modern cars it was a similar recipe to the Cayman GT4, just raid the parts bin for all the companies best bits. But for all those wonderful components I'm afraid I'd take the more rounded Z4 3.0 Coupe every time. The 3.0 is a car with great depth of character and handling you can learn. The Z4MC just felt not quite right somehow in it's set up. It should have been magnificent and on a good day it could pull off drift angles no car I've ever driven could hold a candle to but it was inherently unstable, it could be thrown into a wobble by a bump in the road at 120mph giving you a very uncomfortable few seconds and even if you pulled a slide 10 times on the same corner happily on the 11th day you could never rely on it doing the same thing again.
It is like having a relationship with a serial killer who really loves you, it's all great until suddenly it's not. I have NEVER owned a more frightening car and the TVR Cerbera I replaced it with was a welcome relief of safety and predictability.
Great car but on the road. I'd take a 3.0 every time. I even prefer the noise.
You have described pretty much my ownership experience of it too! In the context of modern cars it was a similar recipe to the Cayman GT4, just raid the parts bin for all the companies best bits. But for all those wonderful components I'm afraid I'd take the more rounded Z4 3.0 Coupe every time. The 3.0 is a car with great depth of character and handling you can learn. The Z4MC just felt not quite right somehow in it's set up. It should have been magnificent and on a good day it could pull off drift angles no car I've ever driven could hold a candle to but it was inherently unstable, it could be thrown into a wobble by a bump in the road at 120mph giving you a very uncomfortable few seconds and even if you pulled a slide 10 times on the same corner happily on the 11th day you could never rely on it doing the same thing again.
It is like having a relationship with a serial killer who really loves you, it's all great until suddenly it's not. I have NEVER owned a more frightening car and the TVR Cerbera I replaced it with was a welcome relief of safety and predictability.
Great car but on the road. I'd take a 3.0 every time. I even prefer the noise.
Sliding it was so unpredictable, and I also had a brown trouser moment at fairly high speed after going over a bump in the road on the M69.
I thought that my Cerbera was a tad crude but it was miles more predictable than the Z4M for me.
Niffty951 said:
I owned an MC version in 2007, ex-podium display model with everything ticked and it was special. I still think it's one of the best looking and most hardcore road cars ever made.
In the context of modern cars it was a similar recipe to the Cayman GT4, just raid the parts bin for all the companies best bits. But for all those wonderful components I'm afraid I'd take the more rounded Z4 3.0 Coupe every time. The 3.0 is a car with great depth of character and handling you can learn. The Z4MC just felt not quite right somehow in it's set up. It should have been magnificent and on a good day it could pull off drift angles no car I've ever driven could hold a candle to but it was inherently unstable, it could be thrown into a wobble by a bump in the road at 120mph giving you a very uncomfortable few seconds and even if you pulled a slide 10 times on the same corner happily on the 11th day you could never rely on it doing the same thing again.
It is like having a relationship with a serial killer who really loves you, it's all great until suddenly it's not. I have NEVER owned a more frightening car and the TVR Cerbera I replaced it with was a welcome relief of safety and predictability.
Great car but on the road. I'd take a 3.0 every time. I even prefer the noise.
Interesting perspective there, thanks! In the context of modern cars it was a similar recipe to the Cayman GT4, just raid the parts bin for all the companies best bits. But for all those wonderful components I'm afraid I'd take the more rounded Z4 3.0 Coupe every time. The 3.0 is a car with great depth of character and handling you can learn. The Z4MC just felt not quite right somehow in it's set up. It should have been magnificent and on a good day it could pull off drift angles no car I've ever driven could hold a candle to but it was inherently unstable, it could be thrown into a wobble by a bump in the road at 120mph giving you a very uncomfortable few seconds and even if you pulled a slide 10 times on the same corner happily on the 11th day you could never rely on it doing the same thing again.
It is like having a relationship with a serial killer who really loves you, it's all great until suddenly it's not. I have NEVER owned a more frightening car and the TVR Cerbera I replaced it with was a welcome relief of safety and predictability.
Great car but on the road. I'd take a 3.0 every time. I even prefer the noise.
Edited by Niffty951 on Thursday 28th November 22:18
I've owned a couple of 3.0 Si Coupes for over 5 years, but this year I drove a couple of MCs and to me they just felt so much better - probably because they have Hydraulic PAS and non run-flat tyres.
If I could afford to move on to an MC I'd be there in a shot - maybe I need a relationship with a serial killer.
l:
Edited by Mr Tidy on Friday 29th November 01:16
cerb4.5lee said:
That was the deal breaker for me. It was the worst manual gearbox that I've ever used(well apart from the one that I had in my Skoda Estelle).
Every single Z4m or e9x m3 discussion you churn out the same stuff day in day out, don't you get bored of repeating yourself endlessly to the Internet? Personally I wish you'd give it a rest, nice to hear some other people's opinions other than your repetitive own on a thread about said cars tbh.
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