Should i trade my Z4 3.0 for a Z4M?

P

PeteUKZ4

Member
 Leicester
HI,
I have a Z4 3.0 which i have been considering trading for a Z4M. I love the Z4 and find it to me one of the only Roadster's that i can fit in comfortably being 6ft4

What are the main differences in the cars apart from the performance. I am fortunate to own a low milage 3.0 with a Huge spec including Pro Sat nav, TV, New England Leather, 6 changer, Xenons. Do most Z4M's have a good spec?

Also can anybody give me an idea of the annual insurance on a Z4M, the Z4 3.0 is unbelievably cheap to insure for myself & the missus at £271 Fully comp for the year on a 5000 mile a year policy.

Another question i have is do the Z4M's suffer from rear spring failure & roof motor failure as I have had both problems repaired on the 3.0?

Look forward to any comments.

Regards

Pete
 
I believe they suffer less with roof motor problems as they have a sealed motor but suffer with the spring failure just as much.
 
Parkers.co.uk will give you a good view on spec etc.

Sounds like your zed is fully loaded, which might make it hard to find an M with equivalent spec. Might take you a while to find your M but it'll be totally worth it.

Some folk on here have found that insurance decreases with an M. However I reckon you might find it increases a bit.


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I have the Z4M Coupe, but...
My Z4M standard spec includes:
Multi function steering wheel; Anthracite Roof Lining (only the Coupe, obviously); Headlamp washer system; Xenon Headlamps; Automatic Air-con; M Steering wheel; M Sports Seats; Instrument Panel Letter (the M logo in the speedo); illuminated gear knob with M logo..

In addition there are a long list of options that were available, mine got these:
Remote Control alarm; Black Carbon-structure leather trim on dash; floor mats with contract edging; first aid kit and triangle; Auto-dim interior mirror; smokers pack (ash tray and cig lighter to you and me); Electric seats with drivers memory; storage compartemt pack (mesh pocket in passenger footwell and cup holders under both side air vents); heated seats (buttons on the under dash consol, by ash tray); Park Distance Control (PDC) at rear; Cruise control; Navigation system professional; BMW Assist; Blue tooth phone prep and telematics; Rain sensor and auto lights activation; Hi-Fi system professional DSP; CD Preparation (means the 3 and 6 pin plugs are installed ready for the CD changer.
About the only thing else I know of are the 6 CD changer, folding door mirrors.
Having looked quite hard for a few months I found that most Ms were pretty well speced with a lot of them having most of these options. What was dissapointing was that the dealers didn't know what the cars had, or what was standard and what was an extra. If a BMW dealer they can print out the spec sheet for the car which is where I got my info from.

As for insurance, I have just paid £397 fully comp for me and wife for 20,000 annual milage through Confused.com. I was pleased. Adding Mrs reduced it by £100.

Rear spring failure - a known issue. Mine had one snapped rear, but this and its unbroken other side spring were replaced by the dealer as the broken one was picked up in MOT.
Roof motor - can't help as mine is the coupe.

As for room inside, with the seat down and at 6'1" I have plenty of air above my head. If you are looking for the roadster just leave the roof down :lol:
 
i am going through the very same issue in myself! really very tempted to swap my 3.0si for an M as well! there are some very cheap ones going at the moment and its just sooooo tempting! :D
 
Having just upgraded myself from a 2.5si and having a wedge of receipts for my new car that yes rear spring do go. My new car has done 35k and has had one replaced.

Regarding insurance I save over £100 pa compared to my old car :?

I'm with classic line on a 5k year 2nd car (so no commuting)
 
is there really that much difference in performance between am m and a 3.0ltr? Maybe on a track yes, but would you notice it in every day use? enough difference to give up a good car?
 
if this for a daily driver i personally would stick with the 3.0l.... great car with none of the ///M model pitfalls..... i find this car very expensive to run as well .....
for me its worth it as i use it only on a dry weekend, for everyday use?? no thanks, id much rather a 3.0l model....... just 2pence worth.
my old 130msport was 70% of the car with 0% of the hassle......
 
Taz x said:
is there really that much difference in performance between am m and a 3.0ltr? Maybe on a track yes, but would you notice it in every day use? enough difference to give up a good car?
Click to expand...

Top speed of course no, you will never use it, but the acceleration is something else, not to mention the noise.

Just make sure you buy a proper one though, not one with a lid. :evil:
 
Thanks for the comments & info. The car would be a weekend/ Dry weekday car so it has not got to be a everyday driver.

It's really interesting to see the insurance comments as i was quoted over £700 for the Z4M on compare the market.
 
Insurance should be more for the M all things considered as it's a higher insurance group but there are those who've paid less.

TBH I've had the M for over 4 years and 30k, it's been incredibly reliable, not a spring, sensor or bulb in over three years. Best car I've ever owned by a mile.
Expensive to run? Yes compared to 3 litre perhaps but no compared to an equivalent Porsche or TVR.
Performance is better than a 3 litre but you really need to be in that final 10% of roadholding/speed before you can notice the difference. And that's a place where large testicles are always required be you on a track or on a road :evil:

The interior is a much nicer place to be than the standard car if the car has carbon leather, nappa leather seats etc, it lifts the interior quite a lot.

Finally, the evidence that you will find on this site is that the vast majority who've stepped up to an M from other Z4s or other sports cars have no regrets :)
 
It's a completely different proposition, which you can't truly appreciate until you actually own one, oddly. I went for a test drive in an M when I had my 3.0si Coupe, and it didn't blow me away... In fact, I was happy to get back into my Coupe.
 
Beedub said:
if this for a daily driver i personally would stick with the 3.0l.... great car with none of the ///M model pitfalls..... i find this car very expensive to run as well .....
for me its worth it as i use it only on a dry weekend, for everyday use?? no thanks, id much rather a 3.0l model....... just 2pence worth.
my old 130msport was 70% of the car with 0% of the hassle......
Click to expand...

Not surprising you find it expensive to run considering.


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I agree with Byron though; the 3.0si is certainly much easier to live with, and if you're like me, you'll rarely exploit the benefits the M offers. (I just happened to pick up an M because it was there - I'd equally have bought a 3.0si)
 
VvrooomM said:
Beedub said:
if this for a daily driver i personally would stick with the 3.0l.... great car with none of the ///M model pitfalls..... i find this car very expensive to run as well .....
for me its worth it as i use it only on a dry weekend, for everyday use?? no thanks, id much rather a 3.0l model....... just 2pence worth.
my old 130msport was 70% of the car with 0% of the hassle......
Click to expand...

Not surprising you find it expensive to run considering.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I think in general they are really expensive to run, i cant tell u how many dog rough examples their are out being sold with poor service records, or incomplete records, a car thats maintained 100% properly is very expensive....

But for me as a weekend thing, thers no other car out ther that id like
More other than an mp4 12c, ill have to do some saving for that one :-) thats were ill be going next god willing but the z4m in the right circumstsnces is a true rare beast and soo much fun, and that engine...... Ive never smiled and enjoyed ownership more than this car.... I enjoy pampering it to death.

If this is for your weekend blat car... Do it for sure.. DD not a chance imo...

A properly maintained ///m is a rare find, im pleased to have had mine from new, i know exactly how its been treated, and i kinda feel like that makes it unique with its as new condition. Find a jem and just do it!!! Btw mine has had a single thing go wrong yet....

Byron.

Ik i loved my 130msport!!!! Live the tq that engine had!!!


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Beedub said:
Ik i loved my 130msport!!!! Live the tq that engine had!!!
Click to expand...


Definitely! The engine is an absolute peach - I don't use that term often, but the engine is stunning. The low down torque is more suited to my sort of driving really - you have to push the M to get the best out of it, so it's not so suited to just driving to work, for example. I've now taken to cycling/walking to work and leaving my car for the weekend.
 
I test drove an m after I already bought my car.... Just to get the itch out of the way. I loved the way the m drove... Much more agressive gearing, and the little lights on the dash telling you when it's safe to thrash it!

However that's great for a test drive.... Everyday living I found the low gear torque less then my car.... And aside from nicer exterior trim (m bumper and quad exhaust) it didn't really blow me away.... Not as much as I had expected.

That being said.... If i was about to buy a z now, knowing what I know now I would get an M over a 3.0si :lol:
 
Bought my M coupe 3 weeks ago and absolutely love it, 21k miles, FSH, been stored under cover in a garage by previous owner. I bought it because of the S54 engine and I have been blown away by it. Nothing like the Z3M Roadster I had, much, much sharper throttle response and a genuinely rapid car with a simply awesome sound track.

Never driven the 3 litre engine, but it too is allegedly a brilliant engine. However, for me the coupe is a second car for special occasions, and therefore I really wanted the M.
 
I really dont understand people who talk about the M being expensive to run. Unless you have big repair bills it isn't.

Having had a 3.0 Si I was bored with it in a year. I've had my MC for over 2 years now and every journey is still an event.
 
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