Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
PDJ
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1101
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:32 am
Location: Worsley Manchester

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by PDJ » Tue Jan 01, 2019 12:06 pm

Seems it's more of a budget issue than a car issue. Having owned a Westfield the OP will know what excitement they are trying to regain. I don't hear anyone worrying about the 3.0 resale values plummeting on here. Why not get a decent 3.0, give it a go? If it doesn't work out there is no massive losses. If any losses depending on mileage you put on it. If you get the M then don't maintain it properly, you will want to sell it. But it will be a hard sell.

Yes cost is an issue pockets are only so deep but always wanted an M3 since the early ones in LHD only so over 20 years ago but the price of the M3's has gone up too much, so the chance to have a Z4 come along and I took it don't regret it at all thought about going to a 3.0 an as someone said 80% of an M for 50% cost but as buying and selling car has always come with a loss or cost to change it would probably be better to change just the once.

To be clear I am looking at the lower cost end and it would be a second car and use it 6 months of the year on nicer days.

The maintenance I would be looking to do as much myself as possible having built a Westfield, two engines and part rebuilt a Landcover defender and have worked on CCGT power stations etc. and as a few people have said they would rarther an enthusiast do it than a main dealer. Took me 2 weeks, 2 hours a night to get the Duratec cam shims right as I had lapped the valves in after re profiling the valve angle and to avoid buying 16 new shim buckets I shortened the valve spindle to suit but you have to rebuild it every time and I aimed for all the same not just within tolerance just a bit of OCD

mpm
Member
Member
Posts: 201
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:05 pm

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by mpm » Tue Jan 01, 2019 2:20 pm

I had a 3.0si and went to an M. To me the difference was well worth it.
Ok on paper the 0-60 doesn’t look too much different, but that’s only half of it.
The noise, steering, character of the engine are all superb. To have an engine which revs to 8000rpm is a rareity, and will only become less as time goes on.
To me a ZM is an unsung great, and starting to get more appreciation as time goes on.
If you can afford it, id say go for it.

Simon 3.2M
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1668
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2018 11:36 am

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by Simon 3.2M » Tue Jan 01, 2019 2:28 pm

I did this last year - do it, you won't regret it! You can always sell it and go back to a 3.0. 😊
Sepang Coupe
Imola Roadster - For sale
Interlagos Coupe - For sale

Previous:
Stratus Grey Coupe
Titan Silver 3.0 Roadster
Carbon Black Coupe
Silver Grey MR
Silver Grey 3.0si Roadster
Maldives Blue 2.5
Sterling Silver 3.0 - twice

User avatar
ocrx8
Member
Member
Posts: 652
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:49 pm
Location: Essex

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by ocrx8 » Tue Jan 01, 2019 3:00 pm

Yes, it’s well worth the upgrade.

Even managed 34mpg out of mine at the weekend :poke:
Current: '08 ///MR | Interlagos | Champagne | Nav | DSP | Cruise | Intravee | ZHP | Black Grilles | Stubby

Previous: '56 3.0si Sport Roadster | Ruby Black | Extended Champagne | Nav | DSP | Xenons | 108s | Non-RFs | Stubby

User avatar
Jembo
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6030
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
Location: 1066 Country

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by Jembo » Wed Jan 02, 2019 4:40 pm

ocrx8 wrote: Tue Jan 01, 2019 3:00 pm Yes, it’s well worth the upgrade.

Even managed 34mpg out of mine at the weekend :poke:
I think the OP needs to watch this review, take Joel’s test drive advice & then we all wait for the inevitable decision pics...

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=111349&p=1607869#p1607869
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe :happyclap:
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,

Lifer 54

PDJ
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1101
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:32 am
Location: Worsley Manchester

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by PDJ » Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:10 pm

take Joel’s test drive advice & then we all wait for the inevitable decision pics...
Just so you know this is a long ball game to do the homework put the money in place and a few other things. As a work friend used to say timing is everything........ and find the right car for me :D :D

User avatar
99ron
Member
Member
Posts: 287
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:25 pm
Location: Hampshire

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by 99ron » Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:22 pm

mpm wrote: Tue Jan 01, 2019 2:20 pm I had a 3.0si and went to an M. To me the difference was well worth it.
Ok on paper the 0-60 doesn’t look too much different, but that’s only half of it.
The noise, steering, character of the engine are all superb. To have an engine which revs to 8000rpm is a rareity, and will only become less as time goes on.
To me a ZM is an unsung great, and starting to get more appreciation as time goes on.
If you can afford it, id say go for it.
This! :thumbsup: For me the M is always an event to drive, even at low speed. Within 100 yards you know it's something special and different to a regular Z. As also mentioned above check Joels review on youtube. How many times does he say unbelievable?
Z4MR E85 for sunny day Hooning. 8)
Now with added joy of Gruppe M.

User avatar
R60BBA
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1776
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:53 pm
Location: London, United Kingdom

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by R60BBA » Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:25 pm

OP - if you can easily afford it, then get the M.

If you can just about afford it, go for a 3.0si until you can genuinely afford an M. :thumbsup:
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

PDJ
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1101
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:32 am
Location: Worsley Manchester

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by PDJ » Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:31 pm

I have watched the video looks good.

Some of the gear changes look like he is sat too far forward as he looks like his arm goes too far back to get the next gear, my Westfield had a sequential dog box and I fitted the seats to suit me and me alone also moved the pedals and moved the steering column and steering wheel position to suit me.

I don't feel the Z4 I have now is the wrong shape for me so a Z4M should be fine.

Will try and find some videos from my Westfield the quality is not 1080

User avatar
MrPT
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4745
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
Location: Bucks/Oxon

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by MrPT » Wed Jan 02, 2019 6:14 pm

Depreciation/appreciation is a big factor if you are considering an ///M.

Taking into account all costs of ownership, including fuel, mods and depreciation, my three years with a 2.5si (which has a very similar real world economy to the 3.0si) cost:

2012 - £12.56/day
2013 - £12.13
2014 - £13.82 (had Insp 1, brake and radiator fan replacements)

The ///M, in comparison:

2015 - £10.83
2016 - £10.12
2017 - £14.87 (had Insp 1)

I did about 5000 miles per year in the si and 4000 in the ///M and lived in London, so parking and insurance costs were very high. The higher year 3 cost of the M is more to do with estimated depreciation (as measured using autotrader and confused.com) than the Insp 1, although it's still worth more than I paid for it

Now's a pretty good time to buy, if you are thinking of taking the leap.
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone

PDJ
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1101
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:32 am
Location: Worsley Manchester

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by PDJ » Thu Jan 10, 2019 9:09 pm

Anyone know anything about this car or dealer

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... 0jq&page=1

Thanks


As they have taken a deposit on it this one is not for me.

User avatar
Jembo
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6030
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
Location: 1066 Country

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by Jembo » Fri Jan 11, 2019 4:38 pm

Looks like that one has the carbon leather dash... very nice, makes the interior feel very plush & not dated against the ally dash
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe :happyclap:
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,

Lifer 54

Online
User avatar
Ed Doe
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2192
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Ashbourne or Frimley

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by Ed Doe » Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:29 pm

Another plug for getting an M from someone who's done a similar thing (si coupe to M).

I did 50k in my si as a daily driver - loved how special that was and it made my commute something to look forward to twice a day. I've only had my M a month but maan I'm glad I went for it - it is SUCH an event to drive. Its not easy and it's quite clunky at low speeds but it just feels so special. And that engine when you get up it is just awesome! Well worth it. Just don't try and get 34mpg out of it - I'm fairly sure there's some sort of law against economy driving an M :lol:
Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, H&S, RTD, 4.1FD :evil:
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD :(

User avatar
Felix79
Member
Member
Posts: 269
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:55 am
Location: Hereford

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by Felix79 » Sat Jan 12, 2019 1:58 am

Now having my M for a couple of months, I've found it's a really Jekyll and Hyde kinda car. It is perfectly happy cruising along the motorway, giving pretty damn good mpg, but when you cain it, you have get it into the low 20's / high teens without much thought. That said, the fuel costs have not been any worse than my Impreza P1 was (330hp/330lbt).

One area where I would say the M has really impressed me is with it's steering feel. The hydraulic steering really communicates with you and it's weighted to perfection. Also the M just looks "right" with the quad pipes and different bonnet due to the "power" bulge. The final piece is just how awesome the S54 sounds.

I've found the ride to be pretty firm and on some more bumps B roads, I have found the back wanting to skip. I might try and get some slightly softer dampeners, as my P1 was setup that way and it was designed with B road driving in mind from Prodrive. Around town, it can be a bit challenging dealing with firmer suspension, but it's very much a personal preference.

User avatar
Jembo
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6030
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
Location: 1066 Country

E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

Post by Jembo » Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:10 am

Felix79 wrote: Sat Jan 12, 2019 1:58 am Now having my M for a couple of months, I've found it's a really Jekyll and Hyde kinda car. It is perfectly happy cruising along the motorway, giving pretty damn good mpg, but when you cain it, you have get it into the low 20's / high teens without much thought. That said, the fuel costs have not been any worse than my Impreza P1 was (330hp/330lbt).

One area where I would say the M has really impressed me is with it's steering feel. The hydraulic steering really communicates with you and it's weighted to perfection. Also the M just looks "right" with the quad pipes and different bonnet due to the "power" bulge. The final piece is just how awesome the S54 sounds.

I've found the ride to be pretty firm and on some more bumps B roads, I have found the back wanting to skip. I might try and get some slightly softer dampeners, as my P1 was setup that way and it was designed with B road driving in mind from Prodrive. Around town, it can be a bit challenging dealing with firmer suspension, but it's very much a personal preference.
If it’s on standard springs, I received a lot of advice here which all said the stock rears were too hard, the fronts too soft.

I went for a Billy kit, still not 100% perfect but a huge improvement - better for the wallet than spending 2k on coilovers & as I don’t track seems just fine
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe :happyclap:
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,

Lifer 54

Post Reply