Should I get an M in the mid to long term?

[Bing]

I am fortunate to have 4 BMWs. One with a mini engine, and ones with the B58, the N52 and the S54.

The B58 in the 2 Series chassis is sublime and super fast. But it’s not that engaging really. The N52 (like in a E86) is super smooth and sort of nice. The Mini engine is a rocket ship but again a little anodyne. The S54 is a complete animal…..

You can’t compare the 3.0Si and the ZM in my view. You buy the ZM for the S54. Simples. Okay it has LSD and four exhausts but it’s the motor that singles it out. As others have said, it’s the car to take out when you want to drive and feel alive and be part of the experience. For me, with limited experience (despite decades of trying), it’s border line terrifying. But that’s what is so good about it.

If you want to trundle and just have a good looking car, buy a 3.0si. If you want to feel as though you have bought something special, get a ZM. There is really nothing like it save a 2.7 Carrera R/S perhaps.

Our second car is an M240i. Same power as the M, faster to 60 because of the auto box. It terrifies me, and not in a good way. I simply cannot drive it in the way I can push my M because the back end just lets go without warning. All that power and no LSD is why they end up in fields backwards, and why the insurance is £200+ more than my M. And as you say, for all the power it’s not the same as the drama you get with the M.

 

[Fred Smith]

Are you in sales by any chance, or are they just that good?

One day, hopefully.

 

[Bing]

Funnily enough I was in sales when I bought it, but not for a long time now. For me, it’s just that good, so it’s what I spend my money on. I also have no young children and a tolerant wife

 

[BMWZ4MC]

My [Exige] is my daily driver in all but monsoon conditions

Absolute hero 8) I'm jealous! Currently making do with a 320d Touring daily, I'd take an Exige any day, especially on the roads I take my toddler to and from nursery on!!

One man’s hero is another man’s wife’s idiot husband who refuses to grow up :lol:
I had a 320d daily for a long time, but mine was a compact. From there, my daily changed to an S2000, an RS4 and now an Exige… Perhaps it’s time to sell your 320d and get something petrol, NA and with a higher rev limit :driving:

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Funnily enough I was in sales when I bought it, but not for a long time now. For me, it’s just that good, so it’s what I spend my money on. I also have no young children and a tolerant wife

Welcome back Mr Bing! It’s very strange to think that Bing Junior must be Adult Bing II by now. Hope life is treating you well :cheers:

 

[Bing]

Been while man - Wee Bing is approaching 25 now, making me feel old

Life is good - you are doing well down under

 

[sars]

[ref]Bing[/ref], darling, so good to know you're alive and well (your family too) and blimey, wee Bing is 25 where does the time go........

Our second car is an M240i. Same power as the M, faster to 60 because of the auto box. It terrifies me, and not in a good way. I simply cannot drive it in the way I can push my M because the back end just lets go without warning. All that power and no LSD is why they end up in fields backwards, and why the insurance is £200+ more than my M. And as you say, for all the power it’s not the same as the drama you get with the M.

Yet, the Z4 M40i, inspires so much confidence, helped by a wider track, LSD and huge 275's on the rear, it's only let down by numb steering

 

[Z4MPower]

[ref]Bing[/ref], darling, so good to know you're alive and well (your family too) and blimey, wee Bing is 25 where does the time go........

Our second car is an M240i. Same power as the M, faster to 60 because of the auto box. It terrifies me, and not in a good way. I simply cannot drive it in the way I can push my M because the back end just lets go without warning. All that power and no LSD is why they end up in fields backwards, and why the insurance is £200+ more than my M. And as you say, for all the power it’s not the same as the drama you get with the M.

Yet, the Z4 M40i, inspires so much confidence, helped by a wider track, LSD and huge 275's on the rear, it's only let down by numb steering

I own a low mileage 2006 Z4 M Roadster and recently had the opportunity to drive the new 2025 Z4 M40i manual. They are altogether different cars. The new Z4 is longer, wider, taller and heavier, and it shows in the driving experience. While marginally faster 0-60, it offers a less tactile driving experience overall. In essence it behaves more like a high-powered luxury touring GT. The 2006 Roadster is far less well mannered. The driving experience is very mechanical in both feel and sound .. you can literally feel the clutch and drive train engagement. And it is more nimble under performance driving conditions. Both are nice cars, but they are very different drivers. Where the new M40i is powerful, high-tech, and refined .. the Z4 M Roadster is a raw, elemental, no-frills, high revving machine.

 

[sars]

it's apparently called progress, my 1973 MG Midget was a fabulous driving experience in the late 80's when I had one, it wasn't particularly fast, but great fun to drive and taught me a lot about driving. I doubt there is any argument anyone can make that states the Z4 M40i is a better drivers car than the Z4M, it's just that for 90% of the time the Z4 M40i is the better package and I suppose that's the progress.

Interestingly, the G29 wheelbase is shorter than the e85, which in theory makes the car able to change direction easer and quicker.

 

[Z4MPower]

"Interestingly, the G29 wheelbase is shorter than the e85, which in theory makes the car able to change direction easer and quicker"

In theory, but I drove the M40i over some seriously twisty roads .. what I call 2nd gear roads .. and it just didn't respond nearly as decisively as the Roadster. Still a nice car, though .. one that I'd be happy to own.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Been while man - Wee Bing is approaching 25 now, making me feel old

25… I’m sure he was almost a teenager around two years ago - that makes me feel very old too ldman:

Life is good - you are doing well down under

Good to hear. All is well with us, thanks. We’re married with two small people who are doing their best to become medium sized people as rapidly as possible.

 

[Fred Smith]

it's apparently called progress, my 1973 MG Midget was a fabulous driving experience in the late 80's when I had one, it wasn't particularly fast, but great fun to drive and taught me a lot about driving. I doubt there is any argument anyone can make that states the Z4 M40i is a better drivers car than the Z4M, it's just that for 90% of the time the Z4 M40i is the better package and I suppose that's the progress.

Interestingly, the G29 wheelbase is shorter than the e85, which in theory makes the car able to change direction easer and quicker.

That seem like a fair assessment to me, ditto Z4M Power comment above.

For me, in an ideal world (but not going silly) I would own three cars. I'd own a small runaround for town, I'd own a very comfortable, fairly quick estate for the odd long journey, and I'd own something sporty and fun for everything else. But for me the "everything else" is usually everything from very narrow country lanes to winding, undulating A roads... if I was always on dual carriageways and motorways then I can see why a more modern "GT style" Z4 not the older sportier ones might make more sense. But even then, I have never once sat in my E86 manual and thought I'd consider sacrificing anything sporty about it for anything more comfortable or convenient.

Why do modern cars look so massive? The G29 is not that much bigger than the E85 (23cm longer, 8cm wider, marginally shorter wheelbase) but they just look oversized (and I am the sort of stubborn fucker whose view is "I want a small car, as a matter of principle I am willing to write off a car as a potential purchase simply because it is marginally bigger than the car I own now".

I'll be buying an MG Midget before a G29! Saw a midget to coupe conversion somewhere online recently, looked pretty cool

 

[Bing]

[ref]Bing[/ref], darling, so good to know you're alive and well (your family too) and blimey, wee Bing is 25 where does the time go........

Our second car is an M240i. Same power as the M, faster to 60 because of the auto box. It terrifies me, and not in a good way. I simply cannot drive it in the way I can push my M because the back end just lets go without warning. All that power and no LSD is why they end up in fields backwards, and why the insurance is £200+ more than my M. And as you say, for all the power it’s not the same as the drama you get with the M.

Yet, the Z4 M40i, inspires so much confidence, helped by a wider track, LSD and huge 275's on the rear, it's only let down by numb steering

SARS !!! So great you are still around too :heart:

I have driven the 2.0. I was put off by 3 things - it felt much bigger and heavier, there was too much tech for me in a sports car with all the screens and particularly annoying lane assist that it took me 10mins to figure out how to switch off (I love the analogue feel of the M), and the sales person was a 22 year old w***er who, when I said I liked it but preferred mine, said, “you will go away and the desire for newer tech will eat at you slowly as you drive that old one”… I almost offered to let him drive mine but decided he would not be able to appreciate it…

The 240 has all the toys, but I’m ok with that as when I’m driving it we’re generally on longer, non-hoon journeys.

 

[Bing]

Been while man - Wee Bing is approaching 25 now, making me feel old

25… I’m sure he was almost a teenager around two years ago - that makes me feel very old too ldman:

Life is good - you are doing well down under

Good to hear. All is well with us, thanks. We’re married with two small people who are doing their best to become medium sized people as rapidly as possible.

I know right ? Little bugger is still living at home though :roll:

Congrats on your small humans. And well done for retaining all your toys despite them :lol:

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Staying at home seems much more common now - I left home as soon as I could and didn’t move back. I suspect it’s a necessity driven by high rents and unaffordable house prices as often as it is a choice.

Thank you. It’s not been easy - lots of negotiations have been required and I’m permanently on my best behaviour!

 

[pvr]

Staying at home seems much more common now - I left home as soon as I could and didn’t move back. I suspect it’s a necessity driven by high rents and unaffordable house prices as often as it is a choice.

Thank you. It’s not been easy - lots of negotiations have been required and I’m permanently on my best behaviour!

Best behaviour? Your contributions on the "Daily Drive" thread implies otherwise :lol:

 

[alane29]

I sold my M coupe in August this year , great car and no comparison to the non M , but TBH the road tax killed it for me for a car i only drove for 1000 miles a year.
Owned it 4 years only lost 2k between buying and selling so that's not too bad considering the market .
Enjoyed it always wanted one so an itch was scratched , the other half asked if i would buy another of if i missed and i said no.

 

[Jembo]

IMO it's a bit of a 4 Weddings & a Funeral dilemma.

Charles went for a test drive with Carrie...

Dithered, wasted time & missed the initial opportunity...

Fiona threw her keys in the ring, Henrietta somehow muscled in as the sensible option but Charles was by then emotionally corrupted.

Moral: Don't try out the ///M unless you're fully prepared for the heartache of both living with & without it

 

[pvr]

Moral: Don't try out the ///M unless you're fully prepared for the heartache of both living with & without it

:rofl:

 

[Mr Tidy]

Moral: Don't try out the ///M unless you're fully prepared for the heartache of both living with & without it

Very well put, as I discovered in 2019.