Opinion from people who know their Z4's

[PawnSacrifice]

Pawn - you missed the auto / manual debate ...

:lol:

Funny you should say that - it did occur to me when I viewed the active topics! Lets not forget SMG.

In fairness there's some quite interesting contributions to this so far... but yeah, there will never be a conclusion we all agree on.

 

[original guvnor]

I never considered a 2.5 when I bought my 3.0 back in '05 (pre M days) because it just didn't really have the power or performance I was looking for. In the brochure I was given at the time it quoted the following performance figures for the 192bhp 2.5iSE and the 231bhp 3.0iSE

0-62 7.0 and 5.9 (7.5 and 6.2 for the Auto's)
50-75 in 4th/5th 6.9/8.9 and 5.8/7.5

Autocar recorded a 0-60 (not 62) of 6.6 and a 0-100 time of 17.2 for the 2.5 whereas for the 3.0i it was 0-60 in 5.8 and 0-100 somewhere between 14.8 and 15.4 depending on which road test you believed.

I guess the difference between the facelifted more powerful of the two 2.5's and the 3.0 would be similar.

They aren't massive differences but i never regretted my choice put it that way.

 

[Jimmy Gee]

I think the 2.5 is probably on par with a lot of hot hatches where as the 3.0 is quick enough to blow most of them away and I think for a true sports car thats how it should be.

 

[bmwangler]

I went for the 3.0l (couldn't afford the 3.0si, or I'd have gone for that) because I know, if I'd gone for the 2.5l, after a while I'd regret it and want the faster model.

Now I'm content with having the best "bang for buck" in the range (IMO, of course )

I discount the ///M because it's in a totally different league as far as running costs are concerned (still have one if I could afford it though)

 

[Greytay]

Go for a two litre. Less weight at the front (-2pots) better fuel consumption.(almost). Looks the same and can carry off bright green wheels if you really wanted........plus i was feeling left out.............All right if i had the choice i would have gone for am 'M'

 

[bmwangler]

Hey, Greytay, come to think of it, if I didn't opt for the 3.0l I'd probably just go for the 2.0l - get my kicks from still having a great car for sod all expense

 

[Animal]

As clarkson said the M3 is the best end of get a M :roll:

 

[sammyz]

I had a 2.5 si before the 'M' and thought it was a fantastic car, well balanced, quick and a proper sports car. If you plough through this forum people are mostly concerned with spec, it's a BMW and the badge appeal is strong so the more toys the better.

3 litres usually have better specs so I think that's a big plus when looking to buy. You don't see many owners ditching their expensive heated memory sports seats for a pair of manual ones to save weight and increase speed

As long as you are happy with the model you have then that's fine. The 2 litre is a good alternative to the MX5 and at the other end of the scale the 'M' is a real alternative to a TVR or Boxster S.

 

[IvanDobskey]

I think whatever size engine you have under your hood, you always want more power :lol:
For me, my 2.5 litre 192bhp car is a good balance of performance v running costs. Yeh, i'd love an M but it would suck up most of my disposable income So for now I am happy with what I have got

 

[tomTVR]

I have a 'low' spec 3.0i because i like acceleration and this was my main criteria, the high spec 3.0i was out of budget and the 2.5i didnt have enough power for my needs. If you dont drive fast (which many people dont) then you would be stupid NOT to buy a smaller engined car if it means saving a chunk of cash. Its not like any Z is a slow car anyway!

The only option i'm glad mine came with is the HiFi system as i enjoy hooning around with the beats on max. Things like sports seats, heated seats, xenons, wind deflector are all things i can happily do without as i dont miss them.

I have never understood the obsession with 'spec'. At the end of the day we all buy a Z for the same reason's. They look superb on the outside and inside, they are great to drive, have fantastic engines yet don't cost the earth to buy and run. These are all standard features. The most important thing is to buy a good one.

 

[billygilly]

As clarkson said the M3 is the best end of get a M :roll:

Yeah the "M3" he also pretty much said he didnt like the z4m

 

[billygilly]

I think whatever size engine you have under your hood, you always want more power :lol:
For me, my 2.5 litre 192bhp car is a good balance of performance v running costs. Yeh, i'd love an M but it would suck up most of my disposable income So for now I am happy with what I have got

Just seen this and its so true, had the 5.5amg clk and all i could think about was getting the 5.5 amg sl as it had a supercharger

 

[SixShoota]

I owned a Z4 coupe 3.0si and am about to buy another one. I test drove the 2.5 roadster and thought there was a massive difference. The engine in the coupe is a monster in my opinion. Press the sport button and it shifts!!!

My advice get a coupe 3.0si Sport... i don't think you will be dissapointed and it's so satisfying beating little Boxters off the lights :evil:

 

[bmwangler]

I owned a Z4 coupe 3.0si and am about to buy another one. I test drove the 2.5 roadster and thought there was a massive difference. The engine in the coupe is a monster in my opinion. Press the sport button and it shifts!!!

My advice get a coupe 3.0si Sport... i don't think you will be dissapointed and it's so satisfying beating little Boxters off the lights :evil:

Why only a coupe? The roadster's just as quick

Oh, and the Sport button makes no difference to the power at all. :wink:

 

[sammyz]

As clarkson said the M3 is the best end of get a M :roll:

Yeah the "M3" he also pretty much said he didnt like the z4m

Actually JC was very complimentary about the Z4MR but didn't like the coupe, especially the looks.

 

[playalistic]

As clarkson said the M3 is the best end of get a M :roll:

Yeah the "M3" he also pretty much said he didnt like the z4m

Actually JC was very complimentary about the Z4MR but didn't like the coupe, especially the looks.

He didn't like both actually. Least on the top gear I have watched several times, the one with the imola roadster that Hammond puts against the yellow boxster. It gets round the track quick enough though!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SixShoota]

I haven't driven a roadster so can't comment on the power... I'm just a coupe man but each to their own

The sport button according to BMW

"Activating sport mode makes the BMW Z4 Coupé feel even more dynamic. Just press the "Sport" button and the vehicle's electronic control units switch to sportier settings for the engine, steering and, on automatic models, the transmission. The engine responds more keenly, the steering's power assistance is reduced at low and medium revs for a more direct feel and the transmission adopts sportier shift characteristics"

I've pushed it to the max with button off and on and can defnitely notice a difference. I'm not saying power is increased but response is defnitely better with the button pressed!

 

[Zed_Steve]

I haven't driven a roadster so can't comment on the power... I'm just a coupe man but each to their own

The sport button according to BMW

"Activating sport mode makes the BMW Z4 Coupé feel even more dynamic. Just press the "Sport" button and the vehicle's electronic control units switch to sportier settings for the engine, steering and, on automatic models, the transmission. The engine responds more keenly, the steering's power assistance is reduced at low and medium revs for a more direct feel and the transmission adopts sportier shift characteristics"

I've pushed it to the max with button off and on and can defnitely notice a difference. I'm not saying power is increased but response is defnitely better with the button pressed!

The roadster has the same (3.0si) engine.

Correct regards the sport button. No increase in power, just makes it feel more sporty, hence the name obviously. Quite a nice feeling when pressed

 

[ferrelscent]

Regardless of whether there is any actual difference in performance, if I had bought a 2.5, every time I put my foot down I would have wondered if it would have been better in a 3.0.

So I bought a 3.0.

 

[SixShoota]

Regardless of whether there is any actual difference in performance, if I had bought a 2.5, every time I put my foot down I would have wondered if it would have been better in a 3.0.

So I bought a 3.0.

Agreed. My mate was stressing about cost so purchased a 2.5. I know he is gutted he didnt go for the 3 litre after going in mine. Might just be the way i drive though