Car sold - some reflection

W

wonkydonkey

Senior member
 Somerset
Well I sold my trusty little 3.0i E85 today and thought I'd post my thoughts.

I bought the car in Spring 2018 with the intention of keeping it for three months, and had never owned a BMW before. I had no idea the Z4 would give me so much fun, so many amazing days out, and earn me so many compliments, which is why I ended up keeping it for two years! It's been spoilt in my ownership, and I'm happy that the new owner will get to enjoy a seriously fun car that represents unbelievable value for money.

My attentions can now turn to my Z4M Roadster (bought a few weeks ago) now that I have access to all sides of it in my garage without its Sterling Grey brother keeping it company alongside. I don't have too much to do to it before summer arrives and will be a happy chappy if it can give me even half the smiles that the 3.0i gave me :) These cars were a real find, and the forum has done a lot to support my enjoyment of them. Summer is almost here again, guys! And for all you coupé owners...business as usual :wink: :poke:

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Good reflection, and agree the 3.0i Z4 is an absolute performance car bargain!

Would be good to hear your honest unbiased opinion on how much better in everyday driving, performance and bang for buck the z4m is compared to the 3.0i?
 
... those are famous last words with an ///M ... ‘I don’t have too much to do to it...’ :rofl:
 
paddy wright said:
Great wee story, hope you enjoy the ///M and the new owner of your 3.0 comes on here!
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It was bought by a fairly new forum member so hopefully we'll still see it about!

Commando_Rob said:
Would be good to hear your honest unbiased opinion on how much better in everyday driving, performance and bang for buck the z4m is compared to the 3.0i?
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I've barely set foot in the M since driving it home, but the seats, steering and steering wheel were all positive enhancements. Looking forward to getting it out on a sunny day with the top down for more of a drive :driving:

Jembo said:
... those are famous last words with an ///M ... ‘I don’t have too much to do to it...’ :rofl:
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Time will tell! There are some jobs I know I need to do, but I really enjoyed working on my 3.0i (and I did quite a lot of work on it) and look forward to getting my hands on the M.
 
I recently made the same change from 3 litre to M, but both E86s.

Based on my experience so far I think you'll be smiling even more! :thumbsup:
 
I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, but wouldn’t blame you if it takes a while to adjust. I find it a difficult car to drive smoothly and get the best out of, e.g. piling into a corner and matching 2nd gear at ~4k needs proper commitment, but the reward when you launch out of the corner to the redline is massive and makes the si feel very ordinary in comparison.
 
MrPT said:
I think you’ll enjoy it, but wouldn’t blame you if it takes a while to adjust. I find it a difficult car to drive smoothly and get the best out of, e.g. piling into a corner and matching 2nd gear at ~4k needs proper commitment, but the reward when you launch out of the corner to the redline is massive and makes the si feel very ordinary in comparison.
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I’d say when mine first arrived, was very unruly...

New Michelin tyres, new Billy kit, new drop links/RTAB’s/RTAL’s/tie rod ends & a couple of other bits has made her far more smooth, predictable & stable when being exuberant... but that demon’s still lurking if ur stupid

Anyway, it’s half the fun of our cars...
 
Mine wasn’t too bad, but it still took a long time to get confident in keeping it up in the rev range. I was probably cheating myself out of 50-75bhp for a while (in anything apart from a straight line drag).
 
MrPT said:
I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, but wouldn’t blame you if it takes a while to adjust. I find it a difficult car to drive smoothly and get the best out of, e.g. piling into a corner and matching 2nd gear at ~4k needs proper commitment, but the reward when you launch out of the corner to the redline is massive and makes the si feel very ordinary in comparison.
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So very true , they just aren't cars you drive with a absent mind A-B then get out & think " that was pleasant " .
Any pleasure you get out has to be worked hard for & compared with the recently sold 997 i'm finding concentration in virtually every department is required .
They do have their moments but right now come those weekend moments i'm finding myself taking our F11 5 series more + more .
Its not that its lairy or scary , id say more tiresome :cry: hoping as spring arrives the longer drives out will prove more enjoyable :(
 
Mr Tidy said:
I recently made the same change from 3 litre to M, but both E86s.

Based on my experience so far I think you'll be smiling even more! :thumbsup:
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Glad to hear it! I hope for the same :D


It's good to hear everyone's takes on their Z4Ms! Just as my 3.0i was used almost entirely for sunny evening/weekend drives, the M will carry out those same duties, so I want those drives to be involving and exhilarating. I had a 120 mile drive home when I bought it, and found it to be perfectly docile when taking it easy - a valuable characteristic on those longer drives. Controlling the back end with its LSD already felt markedly more natural than with the open-diffed 3.0i, and the steering feel is much improved (if a touch heavy). I have no idea how long I'll be keeping this car, but the only planned mod is an aftermarket air intake :driving:
 
Your planned use of your M sounds the same as mine, and it's fantastic for that. :thumbsup:

And similar to you I had a 140 mile drive home when I collected it, but it was a cold, damp, dark, short day in December complete with a temporary closure on the A1(M) meaning the rush hour started while I was still on the M25 and hadn't finished when I got onto the M3. :(

Not ideal conditions for an M - I was almost jealous of my mate following me home in my 3 Series!

But after over 5 years of 3.0Si ownership I had got to the point where I could comfortably just rag it, which just isn't a good idea in an M you've bought earlier that day at that time of year. As other have said, it needs some respect and total focus - but that's what makes it special!

An aftermarket induction kit sounds like a good plan, but mine already has Power Flow back boxes fitted so I'm not sure I'd want both. :lol:

Mine is definitely a keeper. :wub:

Although it still has a few niggles to be sorted.
 
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