So she's only gone and done it, M40i Handschalter

[Argyll Andy]

Argyll Andy, of all the guys on here, you are the one I would have thought beat me to a manual Z4 M40i, given how much you love "driving" yours

I still had the option to change my order to a manual when they were launched as they hadn’t started building mine. The single colour option was just not happening. I then got offered pretty much a straight swap after I’d had mine for about 3/4 months for one the dealership “had to take”, and still have as far as I’m aware.

But…….only at the weekend there I got asked by the OH what colour was I thinking for the next one so never say never and why my comment about watching with interest and asking for a friend

 

[Argyll Andy]

[ref]john-e89[/ref],

Good to see you posting, hope all is well with you

 

[sars]

For the past twelve years, with the four cars I've owned during this time, all have been automatics with 7, 8 or 9 gears, this has meant cruising on the motorway at 70 mph, the engine is ticking over at a relaxed 1800 rpm or so. I'm a little nervous that with 6MT, a steady 70 mph is around 2500 rpm, so I find it surprising that they haven't made sixth longer for cruising. I'm sure I will get used to it, all the cars I head before would have been the same.

 

[Nanu]

So don't cruise at 70, simples :evil:

 

[9designs]

Do we know when they will end the Z4? Had an idea to get one of the last, having a colour choice does make a manual tempting again.

 

[B21]

Do we know when they will end the Z4? Had an idea to get one of the last, having a colour choice does make a manual tempting again.

March 2016 was the last published date

 

[Mr Tidy]

For the past twelve years, with the four cars I've owned during this time, all have been automatics with 7, 8 or 9 gears, this has meant cruising on the motorway at 70 mph, the engine is ticking over at a relaxed 1800 rpm or so. I'm a little nervous that with 6MT, a steady 70 mph is around 2500 rpm, so I find it surprising that they haven't made sixth longer for cruising. I'm sure I will get used to it, all the cars I head before would have been the same.

My MC is doing a bit more than 2,500rpm at 70, but the bonus is you hardly ever need to change down on a Motorway to get some decent forward motion so maybe that's part of the thinking. I'm only guessing but if it revs past 7K I wouldn't want higher gearing than that. Mine revs to 8K and it would only be doing about 6K in 6th at the speed limiter.

In answer to 9designs' question B21 posted somewhere that production ends in March 2026.

 

[Pondrew]

For the past twelve years, with the four cars I've owned during this time, all have been automatics with 7, 8 or 9 gears, this has meant cruising on the motorway at 70 mph, the engine is ticking over at a relaxed 1800 rpm or so. I'm a little nervous that with 6MT, a steady 70 mph is around 2500 rpm, so I find it surprising that they haven't made sixth longer for cruising. I'm sure I will get used to it, all the cars I head before would have been the same.

You can't have it all ways.
I had a 200 mile boring motorway trip today. I had the choice of a (boring but easy) auto or a (not boring at all but more manic) manual car to take. I chose the boring Audrey auto, as it would have been a boring drive in whichever, so the easiest won.

If the B58 is 'cruising' at 2500rpm, so be it. Maybe look into the possibility of adding 'overdrive'?

 

[matsmith749]

My manual box m240i (same engine & box I think) was fine on the motorway.

Yes revs were just over 2k, but it was quiet & sipping fuel at mid 40s MPG.

Nothing to worry about IMHO.

 

[sars]

My manual box m240i (same engine & box I think) was fine on the motorway.

Yes revs were just over 2k, but it was quiet & sipping fuel at mid 40s MPG.

Nothing to worry about IMHO.

Thanks that's really useful, looks like the gearbox ratios are the same, however the final drive ratio is slightly lower, probably due to the larger rear wheels on the Zed. In sixth at 1000 rpm, this equates to 28.3 mph in the M240i and 27.2 mph in the Zed.

Once I realised the lower ratios, I took mine out and ran it in manual mode, held it in sixth at 60 mph and it wasn't noticeably louder at 2,500 rpm

 

[Smartbear]

Well that's odd isn't it?

The Lotus Elise has larger diameter rear wheels than its fronts
Rob

So do Massey Fergusons

You forgot Raleigh choppers.
Rob

 

[Nictrix]

Did the astra Gtc not have larger rear wheels too?

 

[craig3.2]

Have you had a test drive in a manual M40i. If so how does it compare to your auto?

It's difficult to get a test drive when no one has any to test drive :lol: I kind of agree with [ref]pvr[/ref], my first two zeds were both manuals and I wouldn't be surprised if the e89 manual is the same gearbox as this. As a regular motorway driver I'm not looking forward to stop start traffic on our congested, and full of road works, motorways, but everything else I am positive will be better.

One thing I do like, on a forum for sports cars, full of men, it's a woman that's purchased the first manual M40i 8)

Looks lovely says....I'm sure it will be great and live upto your expectations. Nice one at being first on here to order one

 

[Zed Baron]

You forgot Raleigh choppers.
Rob

Yes, and with the chopper if accidentally squeezing the front brakes instead of the rear there was a tendency to slide forward along the seat and straight on to the dangerously positioned gear lever – an eye-watering experience. You're much safer with an automatic

 

[sars]

Have you had a test drive in a manual M40i. If so how does it compare to your auto?

It's difficult to get a test drive when no one has any to test drive :lol: I kind of agree with [ref]pvr[/ref], my first two zeds were both manuals and I wouldn't be surprised if the e89 manual is the same gearbox as this. As a regular motorway driver I'm not looking forward to stop start traffic on our congested, and full of road works, motorways, but everything else I am positive will be better.

One thing I do like, on a forum for sports cars, full of men, it's a woman that's purchased the first manual M40i 8)

Looks lovely says....I'm sure it will be great and live upto your expectations. Nice one at being first on here to order one

Thanks [ref]craig3.2[/ref], I'm dizzy with anticipation

 

[sars]

Great news, the car is in the UK woohoo

 

[Argyll Andy]

Great news, the car is in the UK woohoo

 

[Mr Tidy]

Great news, the car is in the UK woohoo

That is definitely great news.

Your car seems to have come through pretty quickly too!

 

[sars]

[ref]Mr Tidy[/ref], I was lucky that the dealer had build slot for me to take, originally I didn't want the car until June, but I'm to excited to wait :lol:

 

[ori]

So when you collecting?