Potential 3.0si coupe upgrade to Z4MC

[CoupeChief]

Got the chance to upgrade my march 07 coupe 3.0si auto to a march 08 Z4MC with better spec and same mileage for less than a grand and need to know the following for the M:

Fuel economy - currently I do 90% city driving and car reckons I get 21.5 mpg (sit in traffic a lot!). What can I expect in the M? It'll be my daily commuter but only do 5 miles each way...  Would love to have to do more 

Service costs? I have only had the 3.0si for 3 months so haven't had any servicing so please can someone tell me rough prices for both cars for oil changes, inspection 1 and 2 etc? And any difference in frequency?

Any help much appreciated.

 

[mikedav]

Not 'The Chief' from UK MKIVs there is it....?

To answer, I think I get about 18MPG in town, but never really worked it out, and if you do the maths on a five mile journey it's barely worth worrying about. Servicing is where the big differences are, if you go to BMW an oil service is about £230, Insp 1 £600-£850, and an Insp 2 £850 - £1200, depending on the dealer and negotiation. 4+ scheme (cars over 4 years old) will reduce that a bit, Indys an awful lot cheaper. I think Birds quoted £600 or so for an Insp 2. Intervals are 12-15k and it runs Oil / 1 / Oil / 2 and repeat. It's based on 500 Gallons of fuel so varies. But if you buy one thats just had an Insp of some sort, you'll have a good 25-30k to save for a 'big' service.

If you don't lose tOo much on yours, buy one, they are giving them away right now

 

[original guvnor]

I'm currently getting 22mpg on mix of city and urban (OBC) so probably 20mpg real world. I think some of the London M boys are still getting 18-19mpg though (true not OBC).

Service costs reckon on paying

Oil Service £190-220
Inspection 1 - just had mine done for £670
Inspection 2 - circa £800-900

Frequency depends on MPG/style of driving but a typical car would be 12-15k between intervals.

 

[CoupeChief]

Not 'The Chief' from UK MKIVs there is it....?

If you don't lose tOo much on yours, buy one, they are giving them away right now

Not the same person I'm afraid.

Won't be losing (much) on my car... Long story... See thread "Dealer replacing my car". I'm sure it'll cost me somewhere along the line but looks like it'll be more or less a swap. Assuming service costs are not ridiculous (and judging by responses so far they don't seem to be) then think I'd be mental not to go for it. 

 

[Taz]

if you only commute 5 miles i would have thought the mpg was irrelevant

my motto is 'Like it, Buy it'

 

[Angus McCoatup]

Other things that'll be more expensive for the M will be insurance (it's in a higher group than the 3.0), road tax (it's in the £450 or thereabouts bracket) and the cost of extending the warranty.

If you're buying an AUC, I suppose you won't have to worry about the warranty for a year. Just got the quote through to extend mine and it's £835 for the comprehensive package including the emergency service and a £100 excess.

Have you driven one yet? They are nice and make a nice noise . Well worth taking it for a run and seeing if you think it's worth the higher costs.

 

[Wondermike]

For that type of commute your auto 'box is much better, TBH I'd quickly get bored/annoyed if I was driving mine in those circumstances.

Plenty of people on here use them as daily drivers and city cars, but for me the ///M is a beast for the open roads. If you had both on the drive, I reckon you'd pick up the keys to the 3.0 nine times out of ten, unless you were going for a run.

'tis a good deal though

 

[CoupeChief]

Have to admit and feel a bit daft doing so that I haven't driven an M yet so might drive it and decide don't like it but doubt it.... Just want to decide whether it's affordable cos I know myself that if I drive it and like it then sense will go out the window and I'll buy it!

One thing I am worried about is the move to a manual from an auto - the auto is perfect for my commute. I did have a manual mark 5 golf GTI and it wasn't a huge issue although at the time I did think it would be good to have an auto.... But I reckon I could live with it given all the other positives. Also, I'm a contractor so chance of staying at same place of work for any length of time is slim and the other places I could work are either train rides or a good long drive away 

 

[Daffy]

I wouldn't be driving at all on a 5mile commute. My M barely warms up by the time it's been driven for 10miles or 20 minutes.

 

[CoupeChief]

I wouldn't be driving at all on a 5mile commute. My M barely warms up by the time it's been driven for 10miles or 20 minutes.

The 5 miles takes me 25 minutes! And even longer on the way home! :headbang:
I know its crazy but public transport takes an hour.... :thumbsdown:

Just checked insurance and only £30 more expensive so that's one box ticked!

 

[CoupeChief]

Silly question - does a Z4M have runflats?

 

[mikedav]

Nope, Conti Sport Contacts are stock. There are a few other subtle changes too - hydraulic power steering instead of hydraulic, CSL steering rack and brakes, etc etc

 

[Daffy]

I use a bicycle 3 days per week to commute a 25 mile round trip, takes only slightly more time than the car.

Ms don't have run flats.

IMO, I don't think it'd be a great trade for a daily drive.

You'll increase you fuel cost by a third, have to change gear all the time and the Ms are notoriously jerky between first and second gear, which you may do a lot.

Just my 2p worth.

 

[CoupeChief]

Just my 2p worth.

That's why I asked. Thanks for everyones input.
Fuel not a concern with the mileage I'm doing. As for being jerky, the dealer is actually on my commute home so will do a trial run test drive.

I use my bike a lot in the summer but in winter just too dangerous.

 

[IK.]

You'd be daft not to! As long as you actually like the M, that is. I didn't get on with an M, no matter how hard I tried.

 

[ben_p]

What are peoples thought on the actual upgrade from a 3.0c to a Mc?

Like is the extra cost worth it as it's *that much faster, more fun and Obv the extra cool points.

I've had a e46 m3 which I loved and only had the 3.0c for a few weeks, when my I insurance is due I can chop it In for a few kk and get into a M, but then I think for the extra few hundred on insurance, few hundred on tax, fuel, servicing costs etc.. Could I justify it. been there done that on the m3, mainly due to there being no real close second to the thing at the time! Closest you could get was about a 100hp less in a e46!

Having come from the M3 the 3.0 never leaves me feeling that I want more power and it certainly goes round the bends well enough! Tough one!

 

[Daffy]

I hate the electric steering on the standard Z, so the hydraulic was a big + fir me, the noise, power and brake difference was also noticeable over my 3.0se and 330ci. It's wasted as a daily driver though, I take my e46 330ci auto almost every time.

Again for me, the M is all about feel. I drive it when I want to go for a drive, when I want to be entertained, when I'm feeling blue, etc. :driving:

Quiet twisty roads + Z4MC = Driving Nirvana :!:

I'll say again though, It's 100% wasted commuting in traffic, t'is on my commute anyway. :headbang:

 

[Taz]

i want an M now

 

[CoupeChief]

I'll say again though, It's 100% wasted commuting in traffic, t'is on my commute anyway. :headbang:

Seems to be the general consensus.

I could get a 335 coupe instead? Any thoughts on that? Or would I spent my time wishing I'd gone for the Z4M?

 

[ben_p]

How come you want out of the 3.0 so bad?