Commuting in the Z4M - thoughts please.

[FirstKnight]

Hello !

I was about to sign the dotted line for a 3.0si that I was to trade my E92 335i for when I was offered a great deal on a very low mileage Z4M. With a 21 mile each way commute - constantly moving but slow-ish - I envisaged the 3.0si to be the better buy in terms of running costs. Further investigation reveals that the runnings costs of a Z4M my be in the ball-park of the 335i which sweetens the idea of Z4M ownership for me.

If my commute is 21 miles at circa 30-50mph in suburbia - no motorways but not a lot of stop/start either, just slow cruising - what mpg should I expect. I'm currently getting 27 mpg from my 335i.

Any advice on running costs - UK specific - would be appreciated.

Cheers,
S

 

[rabman5]

My commute is 28 miles each way. 14 of this is motorway driving. I accelerate fast and brake a lot. I get 19.5 mph in daily driving. The biggest difference in my opinion is that you feel a lot more bumps in the road and although I've become accustomed to it, many passengers find it unbearable. I can't speak to UK running costs.

 

[Wondermike]

What's the difference in price over the 3.0 Si?

 

[Smokin]

I chose the Si instead of the M for a daily driver-service intervals are longer and, here in the USA, the M has a "gas guzzler" tax imposed on it that increased the cost by $1000.

 

[FirstKnight]

What's the difference in price over the 3.0 Si?

Not much, the two cars I'm looking at are:
3.0si - late 2007 - £26k - 2500 miles.
Z4M - mid 2007 - £27k - 3400 miles.

Both Sapphire Black with excellent specs. The Z4M has suffered massive depreciation but I can get a better deal on PCP because I'm being offered better residuals - they think the Z4M has done most of its depreciating already.

Suddenly, the Z4M has become tempting.

 

[Smokin]

Oh, and cost aside-go tuschi test them. Sit in them, drive them, get them in traffic and see which one YOU can live with.

 

[2dogs]

Z4M - mid 2007 - £27k - 3400 miles. And this car is where? :spy:

 

[Wondermike]

Does the ///M have sat nav?

 

[FirstKnight]

Does the ///M have sat nav?

Indeed, it does.

 

[Wondermike]

In that case it's a bargain, you should snap it up before someone else does

For an extra grand plus a bit of running cost it will be well worth it. IMHO the mpg can't be much worse, if anything, than a 335i. The world is changing - this could be your last chance to affordably run a car like this.

Do it, do it oke:

:rofl:

 

[2dogs]

In that case it's a bargain, you should snap it up before someone else does

For an extra grand plus a bit of running cost it will be well worth it. IMHO the mpg can't be much worse, if anything, than a 335i. The world is changing - this could be your last chance to affordably run a car like this.

Do it, do it oke:

:rofl:

x2

 

[Wondermike]

In that case it's a bargain, you should snap it up before someone else does

For an extra grand plus a bit of running cost it will be well worth it. IMHO the mpg can't be much worse, if anything, than a 335i. The world is changing - this could be your last chance to affordably run a car like this.

Do it, do it oke:

:rofl:

x2

x 3

 

[sammyz]

Drive them both then buy the 'M'. You won't regret it.

 

[FirstKnight]

In that case it's a bargain, you should snap it up before someone else does

For an extra grand plus a bit of running cost it will be well worth it. IMHO the mpg can't be much worse, if anything, than a 335i. The world is changing - this could be your last chance to affordably run a car like this.

Do it, do it oke:

:rofl:

I have a deposit down already...test drive on Saturday.

Still "negotiating" with my wife however...

 

[mikedav]

I've done 16k in mine since October. Not a problem at all...it gets a bit heavy if you are stuck in stop start traffic for more than an hour, but other than that it's perfectly comfortable...

 

[sp3ctre]

If you want any chance of buying the 3.0 then just buy it! If you take the "M" for a test drive then:

1: You WILL buy the M
2: If by some chance you don't, you will regret it forever!!!!

The small difference in cost will be much easier to cope with than the "what if?" that will go through your mind every time you get into the car... not to mention the extra 2 inches the "M" adds to your penis!!

P.S. I don't own an "M", but when I can afford one I'm looking forward to having 12.5 inches under the belt!

 

[ovrkll]

If you want any chance of buying the 3.0 then just buy it! If you take the "M" for a test drive then:

1: You WILL buy the M
2: If by some chance you don't, you will regret it forever!!!!

The small difference in cost will be much easier to cope with than the "what if?" that will go through your mind every time you get into the car... not to mention the extra 2 inches the "M" adds to your penis!!

P.S. I don't own an "M", but when I can afford one I'm looking forward to having 12.5 inches under the belt!

Close but not quite!
Here is the "real world"!:


Take the "M" for a test drive then:
1) Break out Cheque Book, pay then, worry later
2) Stop and buy flowers for the wife on the way home
3) As wife is yelling at you for such a drastic decision, just smile, nodding your head, while thinking about the drive home


And lest I forget,,,,,,Sp3ctre, wake up you are dreaming again,,,"12.5 inches" :rofl: :rofl:

 

[Louv]

I (currently) own both. My commute is 10 miles of twisty mountain roads, and 15 miles of freeway (or surface streets), each way. I drive them alternately. And I drive others as well.

The 3.0si has excellent torque, and plenty of power for a commute. It also is very happy on the track. That engine really is wonderfully smooth.

The M has more power, but on public roads you'll rarely "need" it. If you plan on tracking the car, and the cost isn't that much more, then get the M.

I have the sports suspension on the 3.0si, and probably because of the run-flats on the 3.0si, I can't really tell the difference in suspensions between the two. Both are stiff, but not so bad that I would choose not to drive them to work. (note: I haven't had my M on track yet, so I expect the suspension differences to show up there) I do, however, note a difference due to the limited slip diff in the M, but only in very aggressive driving.

cost of fuel? For long trips, the difference for me was 29 vs 23 mpg. In town commuting, the difference is 23 vs 19.

Bottom line: they are both wonderful cars. You will be very happy with either choice. (and it is precisely that fact, that they are both wonderful cars, that is making it so hard to sell the "old" one, the 3.0si)

Before I sell, I really need to do a side by side photo shoot of all the differences.

 

[senwar]

Z4M - mid 2007 - £27k - 3400 miles.

Christ on a bike

 

[mikedav]

Apparently things are very bad in the performance car market this month particularly, nothing is moving. BMW traders want to stick to M3s when things are quiet, Z4Ms being too niche. Its not just Z4Ms though, my local dealer has had the same M3s X5s and Z4s its had for 8 weeks...virtually no stock change at all, very unusual.

It will pass....! Just don't sell right now...

Good time to be buying though, bit like October last year when there was so much oversupply