Bad Experience M Test drive

[JuniorJet]

also when parking up i noticed the steering was really groaning and whining quite loudly, which was worrying..

If you mean what I think you mean, this is normal.

Unlike the standard Z4s, the M has hydrolic steering which makes a metallic-hissing noise as it touches the limit of it's turning circle. Not to be mistaken for a metal creaking noise mid-rotation which could perhaps mean it has seen some hard days.

 

[JuniorJet]

i would have a Mc in my garage now if they had fitted autobox , manual just not for me
A 3-0 SI on decent rubber with sport button down using the paddles is ridiculously quick for the money :wink:

Derp... I couldn't disagree more, I hate auto boxes in sports cars due to lack of driver involvement, moreso the SMG I found a little too sluggish on gear changes, and strange that it doesn't work like a normal paddle shift where instead you have to "push" either paddle away from you to change down?? Surely it should be left = down, right = up.

Also at full chat the M feels completely planted while the 3.0 seemed a bit light.

 

[Stuart Truman]

i would have a Mc in my garage now if they had fitted autobox , manual just not for me
A 3-0 SI on decent rubber with sport button down using the paddles is ridiculously quick for the money :wink:

Derp... I couldn't disagree more, I hate auto boxes in sports cars due to lack of driver involvement, moreso the SMG I found a little too sluggish on gear changes, and strange that it doesn't work like a normal paddle shift where instead you have to "push" either paddle away from you to change down?? Surely it should be left = down, right = up.

Also at full chat the M feels completely planted while the 3.0 seemed a bit light.

I'm in the other camp. With a well sorted twin clutch box in an M series Z, it would be a real winner. Someone did retrofit one, I don't think I'd go that far

 

[JuniorJet]

I'm in the other camp. With a well sorted twin clutch box in an M series Z, it would be a real winner. Someone did retrofit one, I don't think I'd go that far

Granted the DCT on the new zed is very good, as with all the new gen twin clutch boxes (S-tronic, DSG, DCT...etc)... but I still wouldn't buy one. On a manual there is also less to go wrong

 

[bluestreak56]

Try another m? If its the same it's prob that you just need done more time to get used to it. Around town it's if anything slower....but once ur on the open road...sport button on...second gear...and it's off

Agree. Hate around town driving in mine.

Z4s are not cars for town driving in any guise I feel..

 

[mmm-five]

I guess I was used to a very heavy clutch after coming from a history of e34 M5s, and the 2nd one lost it's assisted spring so made it even heavier, which I liked, but did mean you had to be 'strong' with your gear changes around town.

The Z4's clutch is light compared to that

 

[CornishRob]

Yep, my previous was a Defender, so the gearbox and clutch feel light to me

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

I must say as a woman sometimes the gears and clutch on ///M can wear me out and I sometimes feel relieved to drive the Polo. I didn't anticipate this when I was looking to buy but very glad I have a daily drive as well.

 

[ZedFourM]

I wouldn't recommend sport mode until the car is warm either, as it just makes the throttle/engine more jerky.

I think that you mean "I wouldn't recommend sport mode". Full stop.

 

[mmm-five]

I wouldn't recommend sport mode until the car is warm either, as it just makes the throttle/engine more jerky.

I think that you mean "I wouldn't recommend sport mode". Full stop.

No, I meant what I said.

I usually turn sport mode on about 5 minutes into my journey and leave it there until it resets when I switch the ignition off.

After 4 years I'm used to the clutch/CDV/character of the car, so don't have any problem driving it 'normally'.

Plus the sport mode means I get to hear the lovely pops & bangs from the Diablo exhaust with even less (physical) throttle pedal movement

 

[chasBMW]

I had a test drive exactly like that, the BMW salesman said - they are all like that, you just get used to them, I was really surprised, I always wanted one but the 2.5 si drives much better (than the one i tested) and the wife prefers it.

I have since heard on here that some of them are less clutch sensitive / jerky / hard to drive

For once the salesman was right they are all like that (I owned 2 of them from new they were both the same) and you do get used to it/learn to drive with it.