SI owners opinion

I can't really make a comparison betwen then 3.0si and the ///M but I can say this...

I love my 3.0si to bits and have absolutely no intention of changing it for an M. Also I kept up with all the M boys this weekend on the Hampshire meet no worries. In fact they were all complaining that their traction control light was continually coming on and consequently they couldn't put the power down whereas I had no such problem. I also only used 1/2 a tank of fuel whereas they were all getting close to empty.

I prefer the quad exhausts of the M I have to admit, but my car benefits from being mine from almost brand new, still having 3 years warranty and not being quite so much to run. I guess I could've afforded the M running costs, but they really did put me off. For the type of driving I do day to day mine is perfect and it seems now if I want to drive in a spirited fashion I am not that far behind the ///M

I also dont like the lines on the bonnet of the ///M :fuelfire: :P
 
Hey a question for you 3.0Si coupe owners. If BMW had come out with a 180HP version Z4 coupe with even smaller and worse performing brakes, single exhaust outlet/tip (not single muffler; single exhaust TIP), worse steering sensation, more feminine exterior styling, plastic dash trims, but it gets 40MPG and is dirt cheap to insure/maintain, how many of you would've bought it over the 3.0Si? It's got softer suspensions, quieter interior, and generally less fun to drive than the 3.0Si. And let's say it costs $10K USD than the 3.0Si, too.
 
And a question to the 3.0Si Roadster owners who claim the 3.0Si is just as quick as the M under regular driving and therefore the M isn't worth the extra money.

Since the Z4M's gearing is 12% more aggressive than the 3.0Si roadster (3.62 versus 3.23), the 75HP difference turns out to be more like 105HP.

And since the 3.0Si's gearing is 4.6% LESS aggressive than the N52 3.0i (3.23 versus 3.38), the 40HP difference turns out to be more like 38HP.

So if you can't feel the difference of essentially an extra 105HP under regular driving, why did you feel compelled to get the 3.0Si over the 3.0i since the difference is essentially only a mere 38HP? If you couldn't feel the difference of 105HP, you certainly wouldn't be able to feel the difference of 38HP, right? It certainly wasn't because of the body styling, since the 3.0i and 3.0Si share 100% of the body panels. So what was it?

EDIT: Well I did my math wrong and am glad nobody found out. For the 3.0Si versus 3.0i, the difference actually turns out to be about 30HP, so even less than the 38HP I originally mentioned.
 
I think it comes down the individual whether the M is worth it or not, the insurance can be a factor for starters and the mileage each person drives a year and people are on different wages etc. Do the sums of each and only then can you say whether its worth it or not for YOU.
 
Dunno, GP20, but I HAVE driven the M3 and don't like it at all in lower gears--even though the gearing is "more aggressive" and here's why---in those first couple of gears, it feels like, to me, that the transmission is holding the car back. The gearing is too low and narrow to really get a good shot.

Again, if I had occasional track days, the M would be in the driveway. Mine's a daily driver and she's perfect...spirited enough I can really go and handles just right.

Not to mention, I doubt all those who have Ms know how to truly drive them. :fuelfire:
 
GP20 said:
Hey a question for you 3.0Si coupe owners. If BMW had come out with a 180HP version Z4 coupe with even smaller and worse performing brakes, single exhaust outlet/tip (not single muffler; single exhaust TIP), worse steering sensation, more feminine exterior styling, plastic dash trims, but it gets 40MPG and is dirt cheap to insure/maintain, how many of you would've bought it over the 3.0Si? It's got softer suspensions, quieter interior, and generally less fun to drive than the 3.0Si. And let's say it costs $10K USD than the 3.0Si, too.
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I take your point GP20, but I'm not going to change my mind. I think the overall package is just right for me at least and I prefer the feminine interior
 
Adam D said:
Its called a mk1 audi TT isn't it? :poke:
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:rofl: :rofl:

GP20 said:
And a question to the 3.0Si Roadster owners who claim the 3.0Si is just as quick as the M under regular driving and therefore the M isn't worth the extra money.

Since the Z4M's gearing is 12% more aggressive than the 3.0Si roadster (3.62 versus 3.23), the 75HP difference turns out to be more like 105HP.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:
 
Wondermike said:
GP20 said:
And a question to the 3.0Si Roadster owners who claim the 3.0Si is just as quick as the M under regular driving and therefore the M isn't worth the extra money.

Since the Z4M's gearing is 12% more aggressive than the 3.0Si roadster (3.62 versus 3.23), the 75HP difference turns out to be more like 105HP.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yep, there is tons more torque and power on tap in the M model... ok it weighs a bit more, but it still has the edge low down, and up the gears at speed the power is king!

The Alpina might be worth a look by the OP, if they can find one... definately worth a look I rekon :)
 
GP20 said:
And a question to the 3.0Si Roadster owners who claim the 3.0Si is just as quick as the M under regular driving and therefore the M isn't worth the extra money.

Since the Z4M's gearing is 12% more aggressive than the 3.0Si roadster (3.62 versus 3.23), the 75HP difference turns out to be more like 105HP.

And since the 3.0Si's gearing is 4.6% LESS aggressive than the N52 3.0i (3.23 versus 3.38), the 40HP difference turns out to be more like 38HP.

So if you can't feel the difference of essentially an extra 105HP under regular driving, why did you feel compelled to get the 3.0Si over the 3.0i since the difference is essentially only a mere 38HP? If you couldn't feel the difference of 105HP, you certainly wouldn't be able to feel the difference of 38HP, right? It certainly wasn't because of the body styling, since the 3.0i and 3.0Si share 100% of the body panels. So what was it?
Click to expand...

Those who claim the Si is just as quick as the M under regular driving (presuming this means pushing on), are lying. The M will be faster.

As for the i to the Si, the Coupe only comes in Si form, and I don't personally like the Roadster. That's why I pesonally chose the Si.
 
Nobody is lying, we`re talking normal road use - not necessarily pushing on. Normal road use keeps the 3.0 in quite a torque sweet spot. At these RPMS`s the //M of course has a bit more torque but it is far from it`s sweet spot.

We all know the ///M will ultimately be faster. On a track I`m sure it`s a lot faster with long straights.

Somebody mentioned previously that they knew the 3.0 owners would get excited but the ///M owners are as bad :evil:

Also I think many 3.0 owners could of bought an ///M - it`s not always about what one can and cannot afford. When I bought mine I know the ///M was close to 45% more expensive - definately wasn`t worth it IMO.

Don`t get me wrong, I nearly bought an ///M recently and if the price is right, I will still do.....but as an alround package the 3.0Si is 'arguably' the better choice.

Lets not compare the interiour and exterior looks for the ///M and non-M cars - they are practically the same :D
 
GP20 said:
And a question to the 3.0Si Roadster owners who claim the 3.0Si is just as quick as the M under regular driving and therefore the M isn't worth the extra money.

Since the Z4M's gearing is 12% more aggressive than the 3.0Si roadster (3.62 versus 3.23), the 75HP difference turns out to be more like 105HP.

And since the 3.0Si's gearing is 4.6% LESS aggressive than the N52 3.0i (3.23 versus 3.38), the 40HP difference turns out to be more like 38HP.

So if you can't feel the difference of essentially an extra 105HP under regular driving, why did you feel compelled to get the 3.0Si over the 3.0i since the difference is essentially only a mere 38HP? If you couldn't feel the difference of 105HP, you certainly wouldn't be able to feel the difference of 38HP, right? It certainly wasn't because of the body styling, since the 3.0i and 3.0Si share 100% of the body panels. So what was it?
Click to expand...

That is probably the best apples to apples comparison argument I have seen about the two.
But I will not comment on either. I do not own either, yet.....
 
Well I did my math wrong and am glad nobody found out. :D For the 3.0Si versus 3.0i, the difference actually turns out to be about 30HP, so even less than the 38HP I originally mentioned.

Darren M said:
Lets not compare the interiour and exterior looks for the ///M and non-M cars - they are practically the same :D
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Almost identical - to the untrained eyes. But when the 2 cars sit next to each other, http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9923

And the M gets the sexy carbon fiber leather trims. :evil:
 
GP20 said:
Well I did my math wrong and am glad nobody found out. :D For the 3.0Si versus 3.0i, the difference actually turns out to be about 30HP, so even less than the 38HP I originally mentioned.

Darren M said:
Lets not compare the interiour and exterior looks for the ///M and non-M cars - they are practically the same :D
Click to expand...

Almost identical - to the untrained eyes. But when the 2 cars sit next to each other, http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9923

And the M gets the sexy carbon fiber leather trims. :evil:
Click to expand...


No, still pretty identical to the trained eyes - it`s not like we`re comparing an E30 325 with an E30 M3 here, where the later only shares one body panel with the standard E30. A few lines in the bonnet, a differnt front bumper and a few interior differences hardly makes up to much :poke:

Although I must admit I do quite like the carbon fibre trims but is it real carbon fibre ? I think I prefer the brushed aluminium effect available on the non-///M however :P

And the ///M still has the nasty interior door handles that look like metal but are plastic :x I scratched one so easily recently.

I saw the two parked next to each other in a BMW dealership a few weeks ago. I actually throught the Si Coupe looked more racey than the ///M. The Si has lower profile tyres than the ///M and the ///M wheels don`t do it justice in making it look racey but multi spokes available on the Si do. On the other hand, there was an ///M coupe near me in a town today and it sounded sh*t hot as it pulled away :thumbsup:
 
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