RE: BMW Z4 M: PH Buying Guide
Monday 2nd November 2015
There was a lot to be excited about when BMW announced its Z4 M Coupe and Roadster models in late 2005 ahead of UK sales commencing in March 2006. For starters, it would be the last M Division car to use the S54 3.2-litre straight-six engine in all its 343hp glory. It was also offered only with a manual transmission.
Roadster rarer but cheaper tooAvailable in Roadster and Coupe body styles, the Coupe outsold the drop-top in the UK and used values reflect the popularity of the fixed roof model. Prices for the Coupe start at around £15,000 for an example in good condition and with reasonable miles, whereas a Roadster will be around £1,500 cheaper for an equivalent car. At the top end of the price scale, the best late cars are worth around £22,000 for Roadster or Coupe, though extremely low-mileage versions can make more as the Z4 M gains modern classic status.
BMW Z4 M: PH Buying Guide
One of the finest road car engines ever, unique style and prices from less than £15K - the Z4 M isn't one to be missed!
Roadster rarer but cheaper too
Search for BMW Z4 Ms here
Much of that status revolves around the Z4 M's hardcore nature and reputation. When it was launched, both models had a claimed 0-62mph time of 5.0 seconds, though contemporary road tests saw that fall to 4.7 in many cases. The engine was praised for its immediacy and crisp throttle, helped by fly-by-wire technology. However, the Z4 M was also criticised for being jerky to drive at anything other than flat out. This is what has led the Z4 M to gain a reputation and devoted following among some and for others to avoid the car.
Many owners have kept their Z4 Ms for prolonged periods, noting there is nothing in BMW's current range to replace this model. For others, it is something to try and then move on when they find it too extreme.
For this reason, many Z4 Ms have relatively low mileages but a long list of previous keepers. Dan Norris, Managing Director of Munich Legends, advises: "Don't be put off by a lot of previous owners. Buy purely on condition and service history."
PHer's view:
"I used to have a E46 M3 so I know the engine is very reliable for something so highly tuned. I think Bangle really pushed the envelope in car design with the Z4 and the flame surfacing does look amazing, especially in sunlight. Even to this day the design hasn't dated. Personally I think the coupe complements the design even better than the convertible. To me it's unique, visually stunning car and destined for classic status."
Kenny Taylor
Buying Guide Contents:
Introduction
Powertrain
Rolling Chassis
Body
Interior
Search for BMW Z4 Ms here
Featured car supplied by Stratstone BMW Harrogate - many thanks for their assistance with this story.
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Discussion
http://www.streetfire.net/video/010-best-motoring-...
Watch what happens when he switches off the DSC for the last corner
Watch what happens when he switches off the DSC for the last corner
I really wanted to love mine because on paper it has all the right ingredients but the poor ride, annoying gearbox(especially first to second) and a slightly unresolved chassis and obtrusive TC system did spoil it for me.
However the Coupe is a gorgeous shape and BMW certainly don't make cars like this anymore so I can see it being a very sort after car in years to come and the values are still pretty strong now and will only climb I think.
Its a bit of a marmite car I reckon and the owners that love them wouldn't swap them for anything and they become a long term ownership car whereas a lot try them and don't like them pretty much immediately and get rid.
However the Coupe is a gorgeous shape and BMW certainly don't make cars like this anymore so I can see it being a very sort after car in years to come and the values are still pretty strong now and will only climb I think.
Its a bit of a marmite car I reckon and the owners that love them wouldn't swap them for anything and they become a long term ownership car whereas a lot try them and don't like them pretty much immediately and get rid.
I've had my M Roadster for over 6yrs now and it's on 65k miles.
It's been an amazing car and has been ultra reliable. Really don't have a clue what to replace it with.
I've never kept a car this long lol but might part with it in the spring.
The steering is hydraulic and not electric. I also replaced the springs with eibachs after a couple of the standard springs snapped and I got fed up with it.
It's still a looker, the design has held up well :-)
It's been an amazing car and has been ultra reliable. Really don't have a clue what to replace it with.
I've never kept a car this long lol but might part with it in the spring.
The steering is hydraulic and not electric. I also replaced the springs with eibachs after a couple of the standard springs snapped and I got fed up with it.
It's still a looker, the design has held up well :-)
cerb4.5lee said:
I really wanted to love mine because on paper it has all the right ingredients but the poor ride, annoying gearbox(especially first to second) and a slightly unresolved chassis and obtrusive TC system did spoil it for me.
I've found that a set of KW v3s combined with a careful road-focussed geo setup from Center Gravity have improved the ride as well as made the car more composed and planted. No more wheel spin at 70 in the wet! Agree about the gearbox though - a fluid change has helped but the box is still a bit rough around the edges.come on PH.... electric PAS..... bmw gave this car the right ingredients to be a stonker of a car, but the recipe needs some tweeking to realise how ace the platform is.... In roadster form stiffer rigidity figures than the e46 m3 coupe and even a lotus Exige s1 or s2, in coupe form double that stiffness, incredible really.
Ive owned my Silver roadster since 2007, slowly worked on it over the years and to this day it stands as a very very capable and serious machine. The engine is just as the article states just a master piece and being in a 2 seater form with a truly gorgeous body design its going to be a sure fire classic, it may take a while but it will do it. The engines need meticulous maintenance and all of us Long long term owners have experienced some unexpected heart stopper moments, lol!! Still to this i day mine sets my heart racing.... i LOVE it.
The roadster was the car for me, always designed as a roadster from the off and feels that way. Throw on a decent set of coilovers/tyres and the car will come alive.
Mine is one of the UKs most extreme examples now with extensive modifications throughout the car and it turns heads and gain appreciation where ever i take it, mines staying with me. To replace and match in todays market is something i can't afford to do, it would have to be something really special to get me out of this car, and that car is probably something i can't afford.
Ive owned my Silver roadster since 2007, slowly worked on it over the years and to this day it stands as a very very capable and serious machine. The engine is just as the article states just a master piece and being in a 2 seater form with a truly gorgeous body design its going to be a sure fire classic, it may take a while but it will do it. The engines need meticulous maintenance and all of us Long long term owners have experienced some unexpected heart stopper moments, lol!! Still to this i day mine sets my heart racing.... i LOVE it.
The roadster was the car for me, always designed as a roadster from the off and feels that way. Throw on a decent set of coilovers/tyres and the car will come alive.
Mine is one of the UKs most extreme examples now with extensive modifications throughout the car and it turns heads and gain appreciation where ever i take it, mines staying with me. To replace and match in todays market is something i can't afford to do, it would have to be something really special to get me out of this car, and that car is probably something i can't afford.
Edited by Beedub on Sunday 1st November 10:49
Crusoe said:
http://www.streetfire.net/video/010-best-motoring-...
Watch what happens when he switches off the DSC for the last corner
What a way to win the race! Watch what happens when he switches off the DSC for the last corner
AW10 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I really wanted to love mine because on paper it has all the right ingredients but the poor ride, annoying gearbox(especially first to second) and a slightly unresolved chassis and obtrusive TC system did spoil it for me.
I've found that a set of KW v3s combined with a careful road-focussed geo setup from Center Gravity have improved the ride as well as made the car more composed and planted. No more wheel spin at 70 in the wet! Agree about the gearbox though - a fluid change has helped but the box is still a bit rough around the edges.I found the chassis on my M3 to be very welcoming and easy to control with little slides, whereas as standard the Z4M`s chassis was a grumpy and unforgiving so and so.
Enjoyed mine but flogged it towards the end of last year.
Ride was brutally harsh and you have to look at rear springs as consumable items. Engine fanastic of course, and plenty of go even lower down the Rev range. 30mpg very easy on a run if you're not ragging it. Boot only slightly marred by the battery housing, but you can get some good amounts of clobber in there. 1st gear annoyingly notchy and also quite easy to kangaroo in 1st pulling away under light throttle and when cold. Brakes are pretty strong, steering a little odd around the dead centre (as if there's a slight delay before the front wheel react to inputs), grip pretty high. Seats very comfortable which is just as well given the punishing ride.
Did I mention the backbreaking ride?
Ride was brutally harsh and you have to look at rear springs as consumable items. Engine fanastic of course, and plenty of go even lower down the Rev range. 30mpg very easy on a run if you're not ragging it. Boot only slightly marred by the battery housing, but you can get some good amounts of clobber in there. 1st gear annoyingly notchy and also quite easy to kangaroo in 1st pulling away under light throttle and when cold. Brakes are pretty strong, steering a little odd around the dead centre (as if there's a slight delay before the front wheel react to inputs), grip pretty high. Seats very comfortable which is just as well given the punishing ride.
Did I mention the backbreaking ride?
And another error - the engine mount bolts are steel, not ali. The right side bolts weren't torqued properly at build so loosen and then fall out and/or snap over time. 4 new bolts from BMW for a fiver and an hour's work and the problem is sorted. High tensile bolts not required.
Edited by AW10 on Sunday 1st November 12:55
Lovely motor - I really do like these and the styling, much maligned, is spot on IMO.
There is a silver one in the car park here at work, which I've had a good close look at, you could eat your dinner off of the engine cover, the chap who owns it must spend many hours at a time keeping it spic and span, seldom used too, he has owned it from new and it has done around 35,000 miles IIRC. I'm pretty damned jealous!
There is a silver one in the car park here at work, which I've had a good close look at, you could eat your dinner off of the engine cover, the chap who owns it must spend many hours at a time keeping it spic and span, seldom used too, he has owned it from new and it has done around 35,000 miles IIRC. I'm pretty damned jealous!
the handling isn't as good as on an e46 m3 and the HPAS is heavy without much feel but then against bmws don't have good steering feel anyway. I bet that has something to do with the shorter wheelbase than the e46 m3. Nevertheless the more special looks will carry it a long way. At least that's how i see it.
On a pure driving/ handling basis, it isn't a patch on the m3 though
On a pure driving/ handling basis, it isn't a patch on the m3 though
"The Z4 has an electrically assisted rack and pinion steering set-up with the same ratio as the CSL"
Wrong. Hydraulic not electric steering, rack ratio is quicker than the Csl. The coupe has an even quicker rack than the roadster.
Come on ph, takes all of 5 mins to check your 'facts'?
Decent little guide otherwise.
Wrong. Hydraulic not electric steering, rack ratio is quicker than the Csl. The coupe has an even quicker rack than the roadster.
Come on ph, takes all of 5 mins to check your 'facts'?
Decent little guide otherwise.
One of the most beautiful cars I have owned, engine awesome albeit needed a £4500 rebuild at 30k miles, and the rear springs break reasonably regularly. However such a shame BMW saved money on brakes and chassis. Runs out of brakes when driven at anything other than mildly spirited, and that chassis!, the front and rear really don't communicate much, quite disconcerting. Hair trigger throttle which takes some managing in traffic.
So me one of the most disappointing cars ever owned, such a shame as wanted to love his car.
So me one of the most disappointing cars ever owned, such a shame as wanted to love his car.
I owned one of these from almost new and did 13k trouble free, mostly sideways miles in it.
I always said it felt like the b
d love-child of Peter Wheeler (RIP) and Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, only it never really knew what it wanted to be: TVR nut-case or refined BMW? Looked funky and went well enough, but the damping was terrible and as such, the handling nervous and unpredictable. Build quality was also questionable.
Still, I'm sure with some suspension tweakage and some modern rubber, the handling woes could be tamed.
I always said it felt like the b
d love-child of Peter Wheeler (RIP) and Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, only it never really knew what it wanted to be: TVR nut-case or refined BMW? Looked funky and went well enough, but the damping was terrible and as such, the handling nervous and unpredictable. Build quality was also questionable.Still, I'm sure with some suspension tweakage and some modern rubber, the handling woes could be tamed.
Gently Buggered said:
I owned one of these from almost new and did 13k trouble free, mostly sideways miles in it.
I always said it felt like the bd love-child of Peter Wheeler (RIP) and Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, only it never really knew what it wanted to be: TVR nut-case or refined BMW? Looked funky and went well enough, but the damping was terrible and as such, the handling nervous and unpredictable. Build quality was also questionable.
Still, I'm sure with some suspension tweakage and some modern rubber, the handling woes could be tamed.
it really can be tweaked to gain some spectacular results, but i agree the damping is pants from the factory.... it definitely is a fine line between bmw entering TVR-dom... they demand respect. Many have been trashed or crashed also. I always said it felt like the b
d love-child of Peter Wheeler (RIP) and Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, only it never really knew what it wanted to be: TVR nut-case or refined BMW? Looked funky and went well enough, but the damping was terrible and as such, the handling nervous and unpredictable. Build quality was also questionable.Still, I'm sure with some suspension tweakage and some modern rubber, the handling woes could be tamed.
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