Garage update: 325i + Z4M => M2 + Alpine A110 :)

[Franzino]

I owned a Z4M roadster for 8 years and loved it very much (it was my first BWM M and my first real sportscar). The Z4M was my weekend/track car and the occasional daily car of my girlfriend. I modified it completely to my taste as some sort of dual purpose car (street - track) with Bilstein PSS-10 / Full AP racing brakes / Vibratech Engine Mounts / CSL wheels / CUP 2 tyres / etc. It was epic on street and track!







Then I got a M2 as my daily car instead of my 325i. I also started driving the M2 on track and the Z4M stayed more and more in the garage. The M2 is also great on street and track. My girlfriend stopped using the Z4M as her daily car and took the old 325i, because it was easier to drive in heavy city traffic. I Never expected I would like the M2 that much; so at the end of 2018 I sold the Z4M because it got so little use after I got the M2 + Z4M together.







After the Z4M was gone, my girlfriend got bored of the old 325i and bought her own car (that I will obviously drive also ). Something completely different but ooo so fun! It's lower, but also longer and wider then the Z4M roadster.

 

[Lynchy]

So basically it's only a matter of time before your girlfriend gets bored with you. Only joking OP, I love the M2

 

[Vanne]

How's the Alpine go? Can you give us a bit of a review compared to the Z4m. I love the alpine heritage.

 

[wonkydonkey]

I really really like the A110.

 

[Franzino]

So basically it's only a matter of time before your girlfriend gets bored with you. Only joking OP, I love the M2

I'm such an exciting ride...that she will not change so fast :lol:

 

[Lynchy]

So basically it's only a matter of time before your girlfriend gets bored with you. Only joking OP, I love the M2

I'm such an exciting ride...that she will not change so fast :lol:

 

[Franzino]

How's the Alpine go? Can you give us a bit of a review compared to the Z4m. I love the alpine heritage.

That's not a easy question...the A110 is a completely different car on every aspect. It drives completely different! For example; the difference between my M2 and my Z4M was not that big in the way it drives (besides the NA vs Turbo engine of course). After you get used to the bigger size of the M2 and the slightly heavier weight...the driving experience between my Z4M and my M2 was not that big of a difference in my opinion. But Z4M vs A110; I don't know where to begin to be honest. The suspension of Z4M was rather hard (Bilstein PSS-10) with not so much body movement and the A110 is rather soft with more body movement. The standard Z4M brakes were crap, my AP racing brakes were awesome...the A110 Brembo brakes are more like the AP brakes (not exactly same level; with less initial bite on the A110) and they compare best with the M2 brakes.

The handling and the way you need to drive the car is also night and day different between the Z4M and A110 (front engine RWD vs mid engine RWD <=> manual gearbox vs DCT gearbox <=> grippy Cup 2 tyres vs Michelin 4 tyres <=> high revving 3.0L engine vs small 1.8L turbo engine). They feel equally fast; the Z4M had the more exciting engine and engine note; but in my opinion the A110 has a more unique driving feel and something you don't experience in any modern car these days (it has to do with the low weight and the bespoke suspension). The only things they share is two seats and not that much luggage space. When driving on the street I almost never see another A110, same story with the Z4M; so that is the same also.

What did suprise me; is that the A110 is wider and longer then the Z4M roadster.

Alpine A110
1.100KG
Wide: 1798mm
Leght: 4180mm
Height: 1252mm

BMW Z4M Roadster
1.400KG
Wide: 1781mm
Length: 4113mm
Height: 1302mm

 

[Franzino]

I really really like the A110.

It's awesome...

 

[R60BBA]

Some nice cars there buddy.

How are you finding the power delivery of the N55 M2 vs the S54 Z4M?

 

[Franzino]

Franzino

Some nice cars there buddy.

How are you finding the power delivery of the N55 M2 vs the S54 Z4M?

When I owned both cars; I once made a full comparison when I had some time to kill on a flight
Z4M vs M2 (long and personal review about owning both cars): https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=102188

What I said about the engine:

The M2 is my first turbocharged engined car I owned myself. When I test drove the M4 in his first building years; I did not like the power delivery, hated the steering feel and disliked the sound. The fact that the M2 does not have the S55 engine is a plus point for me. It sounds so much nicer and power delivery is also better then with the M3/M4. The N55 engine is not a full blown M engine, but a "modified" M2 version of the normal N55 engine. The M2 engine is not that special and IMO it's not going to be remembered as one of the great, iconic BMW M engines. The S54 engine of my Z4M (also fitted in the e46 M3, in modified form in the e46 CSL and in the very last generation of the Z3M) is such a nice and characterful NA engine. The way it revs and sounds (OEM exhaust) is so nice and creates a unique feeling. If possible I would always like to have a car with a high revving NA engine in my garage. It's so nice to pull al the way to the redline in this screaming metallic sounding beast. It's something a turbocharged engine can never deliver...but those engines have other nice features like the massive amount of low end torque and the feel of instant power on almost the full rev range. I never thought I would say this; but on a daily basis in traffic I like the turbocharged M2 engine more then my NA Z4M engine. The torque is so nice and fun in traffic….but on track or wide open mountain roads is nicer to have a high revving NA engine.

When accelerating really fast you can feel the turbo lag and the M2 engine need's a fraction of a second to get back on power. It is not as lineair and seamless power delivery as in a NA engine. You also feel the turbo lag more with the 6 speed manual then with the faster shifting 7 speed DCT. Once you’ve got over the fun of the forceful, torque-rich power delivery of a turbo motor, a similarly powerful non-turbo engine is just more enjoyable to pull to the red line. The soundtrack, the way the rate of acceleration builds and builds in one seamless flow throughout the rev range, the drama of the delivery right at the top end… It’s no contest, a powerful high revving NA engine will always win the drama prize.

If I could only have one car; I would 100% take the M2 over the Z4M…it’s good & fun on track and it’s practical & fun as a daily on the street.

I also said this...and one year later I sold the Z4M...so even petrolheads can change their mind :|

Honestly; I can not see me selling my Z4M roadster and the only car I would ever sell it for is a Porsche GT4, GT3 or a Lotus Exige. My Z4M was my first M car that I bought, it is modified and set-up exactly how I want it (CSL wheels, AP brakes, Bilstein suspension) and I'm emotionally attached to it.

 

[RedUn]

You'll be back one day, or at least in an N/A car 8)

 

[buzyg]

Loving the Alpine. 8) How is it for leg room.

 

[Franzino]

You'll be back one day, or at least in an N/A car 8)

That is true...I will be back in a NA car in the near future. A NA flat six is the engine that is highest on my list.

 

[Franzino]

Loving the Alpine. 8) How is it for leg room.

Leg room and headroom is perfect...I’m 1.82m and zero complaints.

 

[RedUn]

You'll be back one day, or at least in an N/A car 8)

That is true...I will be back in a NA car in the near future. A NA flat six is the engine that is highest on my list.

Make sure it's a good one, the 'normal' ones remind me of the N54 :?

 

[Franzino]

You'll be back one day, or at least in an N/A car 8)

That is true...I will be back in a NA car in the near future. A NA flat six is the engine that is highest on my list.

Make sure it's a good one, the 'normal' ones remind me of the N54 :?

Honestly; the only car I see myself buying is a GT4 or GT3. They are expensive cars; but nothing else is (for me personally) a step up from the Z4M or my current garage. I had the idea to buy a used 981 GT4; but the more I know about the 981...the more not so great things I discovered about the car when used hard (3rd gear failure and strut tower failure = $$$$). Maybe when prices of the 997.2 GT3 (clubsport) drop some more...then who knows what can happen :roll:

 

[RedUn]

That is true...I will be back in a NA car in the near future. A NA flat six is the engine that is highest on my list.

Make sure it's a good one, the 'normal' ones remind me of the N54 :?

Honestly; the only car I see myself buying is a GT4 or GT3. They are expensive cars; but nothing else is (for me personally) a step up from the Z4M or my current garage. I had the idea to buy a used 981 GT4; but the more I know about the 981...the more not so great things I discovered about the car when used hard (3rd gear failure and strut tower failure = $$$$). Maybe when prices of the 997.2 GT3 (clubsport) drop some more...then who knows what can happen :roll:

I have the exact same thoughts, I was close to going for a GT4 a few years back but I used to have a Cayman and I don't think it's special enough to warrant the price, as you say better off going for a GT3. I didn't realise they had issues mind that's a shame! Ideally I'd love a 996 RS but the prices are mad these days for a good one

 

[Franzino]

I have the exact same thoughts, I was close to going for a GT4 a few years back but I used to have a Cayman and I don't think it's special enough to warrant the price, as you say better off going for a GT3. I didn't realise they had issues mind that's a shame! Ideally I'd love a 996 RS but the prices are mad these days for a good one

GT3 (RS) prices are getting a bit more realistic in Germany; but it will need some more time to level out when the hype is over and most speculators/investors are gone towards other area's to invest in. The 981 GT4 is a great car on paper (besides the long gearing), but a 981 has it's issues (stated above) and the new 718 GT4 is also rather expensive, has the same long gearing and the addition of OPF filters.
Also; with my girlfriend her A110 in our current garage this means there is already a mid engined car in the garage, so it would be nicer to have something different with the engine way at the back. In the "perfect car" world; I would have a 991.2 GT3 (manual) also sitting in the garage..in a "maybe one day" world I would also have 997.2 GT3. In the real world...were I actually live in; I'm perfectly happy with the current garage and it's already a petrolhead dream to have the availabilty of two great driving machines