Looking to join the fold...

GraemeP

Member
Good afternoon Zedders!

I thought I would come and say hello, I am hoping to step into the world of the Z4 M Coupe in the next few weeks / month or so.

I have had a number of BMWs, but never owned any of the fruits of M Division's labour. After a bit of soul searching, I recently sold my Caterham Tracksport, and my E61 M Sport due to lack of travelling for work (the E61) and trackday time (or starting hill climbs as I keep telling myself I will).

So, after moving both cars on I purchased a supercharged Mk1 MX5 as a bit of a play thing. Typically after purchase work patterns changed, and I was using the MX5 to commute from home (the Isle of Wight) up to Farnborough for the shuttle flight. I have done zero trackdays in the MX, and can't see any in the immediate future, so have put this up for sale today.

I missed out on what could have been my dream "toy" car last year (a Pre-89 911 with a 993 3.6 lump), and have been kicking myself since. However, I have to be honest, and with time and cash constraints (plus work commitments), it is more sensible for me to buy something modern and reliable for work, that can double up for a bit of track time when time allows.

I have ruled out a 997 C2S on initial outlay and engine worries, and the Z4 M Coupe appears to tick all the boxes. I LOVE the Z3 M Coupe styling, but am drawn towards the overall package of the 4.

Sorry if this isn't the done thing (I looked in the new members section and didn't seem to be much of this type of thread, but if I have commited a foul I apologise!), but thought I would say hello.

There are a couple of cars I am interested in on the forum, but I want to try and get as much for my money as I can, and would like to try and keep within £14k budget (I would pay a bit more for a car with different brakes / exhaust possibly). I won't start going to see any initially until the MX goes just to keep the wife happy though!

Typically, every car I have seen or people I have rung are about 300 miles away from me! But I do travel to the NW for work a fair bit.

Rgds
Graeme
 
Welcome Graeme, you'll find plenty of information available on here and you'll be in an ///M before long.

Why would you be drawn to a car with different brakes? They are one of the ///M's stronger points. Springs I could understand, but the brakes are taken (I believe) from the E46 CSL, and tend to be very highly rated.
 
StevenH72 said:
Welcome Graeme, you'll find plenty of information available on here and you'll be in an ///M before long.

Why would you be drawn to a car with different brakes? They are one of the ///M's stronger points. Springs I could understand, but the brakes are taken (I believe) from the E46 CSL, and tend to be very highly rated.

Hi Steven. I was (possibly incorrectly) always of the understanding that the standard M3 (and CSL) brakes weren't one of their stronger points? I hadn't looked into a lot of detail to understand if this was inernet folklore, or had any substance, nor if this was a heat management issue that could be dealt with by additional cooling and sleeving the brake lines.

If they standard brakes stand up to prolonged hard use, then it isn't something I need to worry about which is great.

Rgds
Graeme
 
On the road the brakes are fine and very sharp but on a track they fade fairly quickly. They are the same on the Z4M as the CSL
 
You will not overstress the stock brakes on any road in this country - heavy track use is an issue after a few laps, as with any other M car.
On the road the OEM system is excellent
 
I have had a Z3M coupe,a couple of 911's and a Z4M roady....


Your making the right decision.....................by a looooong way!... :thumbsup:
 
pilchardthecat said:
You will not overstress the stock brakes on any road in this country - heavy track use is an issue after a few laps, as with any other M car.
On the road the OEM system is excellent

I have absolutely NO expectation of over cooking the brakes on the road, but the car will be used for trackdays definitely (although probably only 3 or 4 a year), and some hill climbing / sprinting / auto testing as a possible.

I am not after big brakes, just continued stopping ability. My Caterham managed ok on Metro brakes just with the addition of a decent master cylinder and good air flow, and I could pound round circuit all day long with barely a break for a brew! I don't expect to put a more traditional road car through that level of exposure to continued pounding of a circuit, but I would be dissappointed if I could not stay out for 10-15 laps with 15 mins to let things cool down afterwards.
 
G,the zm is like taking out a high class hooker and then telling her you don't have any cash... Its nothing like a Porsche and the better you get to know it the more you want to push it...
Have a look at ess tuning for low pressure supercharges. Depends what your goals are ap calipers look to be the way to go to take over from the csl setup...
It's 10 years of the csl, piston heads are making a big thing of it but I think the z4m would give it a run around a track ;-). At half the price...

I've got gars (the red z4mc) old roadster and its awesome...

So like everyone else has said go for it :-)
 
Holy Crap !...
The poor guy mentioned brakes and ..
Quick like a Ninja ..
He had to assume the defensive position !!! :cry:

Not to worry about thinking out loud here ..
Or making a mistake.
I think I hold the World Record for time taken to figure out the clock in my Zed..
I only wanted Daylight Savings Time !

Many have owned several similar marques.
Porsche appears not to be a bad word ...
Even Cayman S appeals to the dyed in the woolies...

You had me in your corner when you mentioned you had a Caterham ...
Something that Ive thought about since it was a Lotus Super 7 ...
Im in the New World so we don't see many over here.

Many here appear to love their Zeds but are susceptible to being fickle and are easily seduced.
Hopefully you will locate your M while you can still squeeze into one.
Those football injuries of your misspent youth do catch up to you.

Cheers and Welcome ....
The advice is free ...
BMW parts ...Not so much ..

Bumpy
 
Back
Top Bottom