E85 2.0 M sport thinking of going to a E85 Z4MR

[PDJ]

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

 

[99ron]

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! 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?

 

[R60BBA]

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.

 

[PDJ]

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

 

[MrPT]

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.

 

[PDJ]

Anyone know anything about this car or dealer

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805296962967?model=Z4M&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-asc&make=BMW&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=m300jq&page=1

Thanks


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

 

[Jembo]

Looks like that one has the carbon leather dash... very nice, makes the interior feel very plush & not dated against the ally dash

 

[Ed Doe]

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:

 

[Felix79]

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.

 

[Jembo]

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

 

[Felix79]

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

That's something I would like to talk to you about in the future, as like yours, my M will never see a track. I have always preferred to enjoy driving the B roads that surround Oxford and the wider county.

I have always tried to stick with stuff that is an option or product endorsed by the car company, like Alpina stuff etc. Because of this, I am always very wary of trying to alter too much with the suspension. Smaller changes and details are what make a car right for my own tastes.

 

[Papa_Zee]

I’ve thought hard about moving up to a M today from my 3.0 today and to be honest I find it hard to justify myself as tax is £500 + a year , insurance is more and you brakes and rotors are a lot more. The engine needs shins and a few of the guys recon that if it’s got miles on it then you also need to look at engine bearings to be safe. So I’ve kept my 3.0 . My father in law moved from a 2.0 to the 3.0 though and thought it very worthwhile

I understand, truly. But no one who had set their mind on an M will be put off by the road fund license in the slightest. In fact most M owners (Self inc) SORN their cars over the winter anyway.

Not to be rude but the M is very different to all the other Z models. I wouldn’t even consider it a daily driver like the others, including the 3.0 can be. They are that special.

 

[Zoomer]

I’ve thought hard about moving up to a M today from my 3.0 today and to be honest I find it hard to justify myself as tax is £500 + a year , insurance is more and you brakes and rotors are a lot more. The engine needs shins and a few of the guys recon that if it’s got miles on it then you also need to look at engine bearings to be safe. So I’ve kept my 3.0 . My father in law moved from a 2.0 to the 3.0 though and thought it very worthwhile

I understand, truly. But no one who had set their mind on an M will be put off by the road fund license in the slightest. In fact most M owners (Self inc) SORN their cars over the winter anyway.

Not to be rude but the M is very different to all the other Z models. I wouldn’t even consider it a daily driver like the others, including the 3.0 can be. They are that special.

I would knock an M at all as it’s a car to aspire too and perhaps one day or if I can find a very early one to get the lower tax bracket then who knows. The 3.0 though has more than enough power for most people

 

[Zoomer]

I’ve thought hard about moving up to a M today from my 3.0 today and to be honest I find it hard to justify myself as tax is £500 + a year , insurance is more and you brakes and rotors are a lot more. The engine needs shins and a few of the guys recon that if it’s got miles on it then you also need to look at engine bearings to be safe. So I’ve kept my 3.0 . My father in law moved from a 2.0 to the 3.0 though and thought it very worthwhile

I understand, truly. But no one who had set their mind on an M will be put off by the road fund license in the slightest. In fact most M owners (Self inc) SORN their cars over the winter anyway.

Not to be rude but the M is very different to all the other Z models. I wouldn’t even consider it a daily driver like the others, including the 3.0 can be. They are that special.

I wouldnt knock an M at all as it’s a car to aspire too and perhaps one day or if I can find a very early one to get the lower tax bracket then who knows. The 3.0 though has more than enough power for most people