Swap 1M for a Z3 M Coupe?

[Oz83]

I've had my 1M for a couple of years and I'm getting itchy feet. It is brilliant, it ticks all the boxes, but I'm starting to window shop. I was browsing the classifieds and a beautiful Z3 M Coupe caught my eye. It's a '99, 35k miles, Estoril Blue, full history, etc. Basically the car and spec I hankered after since I was 18 but never had the means to buy one.

Has anyone here driven both?

I appreciate they are two different cars and two different ownership propositions, but it would be interesting to hear some opinions. Does the Z3 live up to the hype?

Everyone I've spoken to regrets selling their 1M, even guys who are in more expensive, desirable cars now.

Any input is most welcome. Cheers!

[Oz83]

Thank you all for your replies. Some really great info there.

I think I'm just going to have to drive one and see how it feels (and if I fit as I'm a lanky 6ft 1"). I have very fond memories of driving an E46 so if it captures some of that, then it could be the one. Trouble is, I'm in Sweden and all the cars are SORNed until March when the winter tyre rule ends.

breadvan said:

I’ve owned both.

I’d keep the 1M as it’s just a special and much quicker more of the time.

The breadvan’s handling is laugh-out-loud fun when you’re in the mood but if you need your car for more than Sunday blasts it can a bit too much........

Also starting to feel like a classic car nowadays, is that what you’re after?

2 of the best ever BMWs in my view, you can’t really go wrong, good luck.

At the moment we have a 3 year old and we like to use the 1M for daytrips, however we have another baby on the way which is what got me thinking. There's no way we can fit a baby seat, a toddler with booster seat and 2 adults in the 1M (I have the performance seats so theres no isofix in the front and rear legroom is slightly compromised for adults). It's just not worth the hassle to potter about with my family aboard.

That's why I started looking at 2 seaters. It will be purely a weekend car and in reality will only do a few thousand km a year. I don't mean for it to be a garage queen, but I don't have the time to drive more than that. So an older classic car would be ok I think.

But then you start looking at 2 seaters and the choices are endless. It's going to be a long winter...