z4 2.0 or e92 330i

[Mr Tidy]

i agree chris, thr 3 series is a nice car, but not the same, i think its a British thing where dropping in and crawling out and a little hardship vs comfort is part of our makeup somehow, although having now binned my set of run flats i positively relish holes and speed bumps now .. although im sure that novelty will wear off soon enough
thanks for the engine info. now you have me fantasizing about an si

I had an E46 325ti Compact with the M54 engine - the same as pre-facelift E85 2.5is. Look out for banana shaped radiators and split expansion tanks (don't ask how I know)!

I replaced it earlier this year with an E91 325i with the N52 engine - it doesn't feel nearly as nimble, and you have to get it revving high to enjoy it's performance. But then you have to factor in the electric water pump (again, don't ask me how I know)! Although I'd expect an E92 to drive in a similar way to an E91.

But any Z4 is going to feel totally different to any 3 Series - no back seats, you sit lower and just in front of the rear wheels. Lovely!

Pre-facelift Z4 3.0i is 231 bhp M54 engine, facelift 3.0Si is 265 bhp N52 engine the same as early E92s.

From what you have said so far I think a facelift 3.0Si might suit you well!

[road warrior]

From what you have said so far I think a facelift 3.0Si might suit you well!

your words are true obi-wan

[Steve84N]

I ran a 3.0Si Coupe alongside a 330i e91 for a couple of years and would summarise as follows:

- Both generally very reliable, other than the water pump went on the Z4
- 330 sounded bassier and I think had a better overall exhaust sound than the Z4 but there wasn't much in it
- The gearing in the 330 was quite a lot longer which combined with another 250kg made it noticeably slower
- The Z4 had better in gear acceleration whereas the 330 was fine keeping up with traffic but needed ragging to move
- Economy is better on a long run in the 330 due to the gearing but a few mpg worse otherwise
- Comfort in the Z4 is a joke, it rides terribly even with non-runflats and B12 suspension wasn't much better
- Comfort in the 330 was supreme
- The 330 is a lot quieter in the cabin and I really enjoyed the extra refinement as unless you're on it the extra road noise plus rattles in the Z4 make it feel cheap
- I preferred the handling on the 330... Depsite various modifications I could never get a really strong front end grip from the Z4 but the 330 was much more balanced and understeered less

Between a 2.0 Z4 and 330 I'd choose 330 all day long. I'd still choose 330 if I even remotely needed the extra space but really the 330 would be better with the turbo six due to the weight as it needs the extra torque lower down. My preferences led me to a C63 estate...