3.0 to M

[craig3.2]

For me, the M is more of an animal....heavier clutch and Brutally savage acceleration, especially when you plant your foot in the lower gears. I remember the 1st time I did so, reminded me of the feeling you get from opening the throttle on a speedboat ,making it stand up on its rear end, and in case of the M, made me rush to change gear before revving out, haha.

It has better grip, due to the dif, but this tends to mean you get a bit less warning when pushing hard/nearing its limits, whereas the 3.0 would step its back end out more (or earlier) and you just came off throttle and step it back in line...the M just grips and grips, with less tendency to step its rear out...which is good, but I imagine would let go at higher speeds, which could be fun/problematic, lol.

The 3.0 is more civilised day to day and doesn't take a while to warm up....but that sound of the M is AMAZING, as is the power and grip/road-holding that a 3.0i obviously just can't match...tho the 3.0 is easier to drive flat out....the M you can't drive flat-out without going into hyperspace speeds

 

[craig3.2]

Ehhh, wut? :?
I removed the CDV in the first week of ownership, horrible clutch control drove me nuts.
After removal it was fine, so on my ///M it made a huge difference.

ps why would you replace it with a modified version, just remove the damn thing.[/quote]

You replace it with a version that has been modified/blanked off so as not to over-stretch the linkage you are removing it from, as there is a gap/space left by just removing the cdv.
Many people, like myself, have done this, and I noticed a big improvement with a modified cdv on the 3.0, but not a great difference on the M...which other owners on here will agree with I am sure.

 

[original guvnor]

Hi

This will be interesting .... as I have owned

2006 z4m roadster / 07 plate z4m roadster / 57 plate Z4M roadster and I have owned the second from last z3m roadster (with S54 engine) ever made

all been sold ... I currently have a 53 plate fully optioned 3.0se (done 26k miles) which I prefer ...

I will let you know why shortly .. just nipping down the corner shop

owning a z4m in my opinion is not all that cracked up to be that people make out on this forum .... oh, if I really wanted another I could purchase one tomorrow

regards

Nick

that's the problem with the 3.0i, takes so long to go to the corner shop.....

 

[paulgs1000]

Best two gearboxes I've has have been my Mk5 Golf GTi - which was a pleasure to change gear and my my Mk2.5 MX-5 which once warm was like a rifle bolt - which doesn't sound great but was in fact fantastic .

+1 on MX5 gearbox - our Mk2 was superb (once warmed up too)

(Reading through these posts I'm beginning to wonder if our 3.0si has a non standard exhaust - it's certainly not quiet) :?

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I think one of the best gearboxes I have experienced but never owned is a Honda manual gearbox though.

I have to say the gearbox in my 2001 Honda Civic is an absolute peach Lee. Superb. My Dad's driving a lot of Hyndai's at the moment because he's a non-Exec of a franchised dealer, and the Hynudai gearboxes are a joy to use as well. In actual fact the i30's are a damn fine car all round.

The Honda gearbox is something special OG that's for sure

I am also strangely having an appreciation of a Hyundai too, a friend of ours showed us theirs & I was very impressed which was much to my surprise & times have certainly changed for the better.

 

[stevo///m3]

I used to have an e36M3, my first M car and first decent car really. Once it was gone, the one thing I absolutely missed was the noise. The bare noise was fabulous and then I'd swapped the airbox for a K&N filter which did a lot for the performance (for about 10 miles until the MAF caught up with the new flow!) but so much more for the noise. The induction roar was awesome. It is just the same on the Z4MC - the noise is both addictive and a sensation that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. The kick in the back in the low gear is fantastic; it's not so bad in the higher gears either - say from 85ish in fourth works quite well I've found! I have no plans really to change the MC from stock - it is quick enough to be scary when you want it, it sounds great - I totally agree with the rumble on start-up thing people are talking about - if only it would do that every time you start it... and I don't find the ride so bad - at least not as bad as expected. The e36M£ sound on start up was lovely but very muted compared with the quad pipe MC. The straight six from BMW in its many (not so modern) form is as good a sound as I've experienced. I had an e36 320i as well which opened my eyes to the straight six sound - although a VR6 Corrado from the mid-90s sounded a close second to the straight 6. I haven't driven that many nice cars so there you go.
Stevo

 

[Rene_Z4MC]

You replace it with a version that has been modified/blanked off so as not to over-stretch the linkage you are removing it from, as there is a gap/space left by just removing the cdv.
Many people, like myself, have done this, and I noticed a big improvement with a modified cdv on the 3.0, but not a great difference on the M...which other owners on here will agree with I am sure.

When I removed it it didn't feel that I was over-stretching the hose, we are talking about ~1cm here. I read about replacements to prevent warranty issues but that is probably no longer applicable.

I guess the effect of removing the CDV differs from car to car, maybe the condition/type of the fluid might have something to do with it?

 

[craig3.2]

Who knows, but cars may differ, but other m owners have said the difference isn't as noticeable as it generally is when done on the 3.0i......both my cdv swap's were done by the same mechanic using the same modified cdv and both cars were low mileage, good condition/so who knows, just my opinion.

 

[Rene_Z4MC]

Who knows, but cars may differ, but other m owners have said the difference isn't as noticeable as it generally is when done on the 3.0i......both my cdv swap's were done by the same mechanic using the same modified cdv and both cars were low mileage, good condition/so who knows, just my opinion.

Sure no worries, I just wanted to state that some M cars can benefit from CDV removal.

 

[exdos]

I really hated the gearbox in mine first to second especially & it came as a big shock as the gearbox on my 520d was a delight(the engine was dire though)...but I just wanted to get a hammer & smash my M`s gearbox to bits!

The Z4M's gearbox is very far from the best for ease of use, and the CDV delete makes very little difference. I have found that fitting Vibra-Technic motor mounts (road spec): http://www.vibra-technics.co.uk/bmw/z4/595/BMW362MX/front_engine_mount_ has considerably improved on this problem with the added benefit of it also feeling like a suspension upgrade because the engine is considerably more restrained during lateral movement of the car. Additionally, swapping the gearbox oil for Amsoil MTF has also helped.