Some hate for the MC

[-Tom-]

A lazy piece of journalism at best. Whilst I agree the front end isn’t always the most flattering angle, I think somebody got carried away with their crayons writing this.

And the s54 being the “little engine that could” :rofl:




https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/bmw-m-cars-hits-and-misses?fbclid=IwAR33ppUf6sQFKsoBj5wpnb49GoEPLiqQCY586ieN3-0j5mNnyeGnDW2-dxA#1

 

[mr.tourette]

Haha..to be fair the engine ain't that big in terms of outright cubes and does go very well so that's a vieled compliment I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder though in terms of the body, she's still a good looking motor that has aged well to most of us on here but not everybody is going to see that

 

[-Tom-]

Very true, but it still sounds like a bitter article written about an ex after a bad breakup. Maybe the journo had a bad run with one :rofl:

 

[mr.tourette]

Oh he's definitely bitter about something :rofl:

 

[99ron]

What's he on about with the steering? The E46 M3 steering is often mentioned as being improved by the revised rack in the CS and CSL which is the same one as in the Z4M?

 

[Rucky]

In 96 I made a personal import of a 2.8 Twin Cab Hilux into the UK - one of the first and it used to get a lot of attention.
It was slated by Kate Humble? on Top Gear in 1999 - she basically said it was rubbish. I have liked neither Kate Humble not Top Gear ( in any format) evr since

I kept mine for over 20 years and confess to enjoying Top Gear change its mind with the indestructible Hilux that went viral - or the then equivalent.

Who says reporters are ever objective or let the truth get in the way of a good story.
As for the Muppets that "present" on Top Gear - do any of them actually know anything about cars other than how to rag a demonstrator and probably get pi55y when dealers dont give them their own way.

Enjoy your Z4 regardless - like the rest of us.!

 

[srhutch]

What's he on about with the steering? The E46 M3 steering is often mentioned as being improved by the revised rack in the CS and CSL which is the same one as in the Z4M?

Apparently not

M3: 15.4:1.
M3 CSL/CS 14.5:1.
330 Clubsport & Z4M Roadster 13.7:1
Z4M Coupe: 12.8:1

 

[R60BBA]

Haha you’ve been told chaps.

Buy an E46 M3!

:rofl:

 

[john-e89]

Sounds like his spat it’s bearings AND it’s vanos at the same time.....

 

[Commando_Rob]

E46 M3, one of the most overrated cars ever!

 

[Argenta]

Looks like its written by Chris Harris, in fact, it probably is. He’s actually known to pretty much hate the MC.

 

[Babw]

What's he on about with the steering? The E46 M3 steering is often mentioned as being improved by the revised rack in the CS and CSL which is the same one as in the Z4M?

Apparently not

M3: 15.4:1.
M3 CSL/CS 14.5:1.
330 Clubsport & Z4M Roadster 13.7:1
Z4M Coupe: 12.8:1

Steering in these are ok, certainly not worth writing about either way. Not terrible nor memorable. I think the speed of the rack has been mated with the responses and the use, I'd say the E46 M3 (I owned one for 4 years) is the laziest feeling and Z4M the most darty so needs a quick rack as it's the least settled/fidgety.

A rack is just one part of what contributes to the steering feel/feedback/precision etc etc

 

[Mr Tidy]

Looks like its written by Chris Harris,

According to the link at the bottom of Tom's post it was written by someone called Craig Jamieson - whoever he is!

I'm not sure why the number of M badges and tail-pipes has any relevance when the E46 M3 has the same number of both. :?

I'm still glad my S54 is fitted in an E86 not an E46.

 

[R60BBA]

What's he on about with the steering? The E46 M3 steering is often mentioned as being improved by the revised rack in the CS and CSL which is the same one as in the Z4M?

Apparently not

M3: 15.4:1.
M3 CSL/CS 14.5:1.
330 Clubsport & Z4M Roadster 13.7:1
Z4M Coupe: 12.8:1

Steering in these are ok, certainly not worth writing about either way. Not terrible nor memorable. I think the speed of the rack has been mated with the responses and the use, I'd say the E46 M3 (I owned one for 4 years) is the laziest feeling and Z4M the most darty so needs a quick rack as it's the least settled/fidgety.

A rack is just one part of what contributes to the steering feel/feedback/precision etc etc

The problem isn’t the rack but the front end.

The Z4M has a long bonnet and a shorter wheel base, and so despite a quicker rack, the turn in is not as good as the E46 M3.

This accounts for one of the main reasons for why the average driver will be quicker in an E46 M3 than a Z4M despite it being the heavier and slower car.

 

[Trav]

It must have been deadline time, easier to dislike it and write a quick Top Gear style rant. We have all driven lots of cars, some good and some not so good. I have only ever truly disliked one car I have driven on every level. It was a holiday hire, a Seat Altea XL. He could have pointed out the reasons why he preferred the E46. Maybe he has an E46 and is bitter about the E86M Coupes fantastic residual values. I don't understand his lazy views. :thumbsdown:

 

[Argenta]

Apparently not

M3: 15.4:1.
M3 CSL/CS 14.5:1.
330 Clubsport & Z4M Roadster 13.7:1
Z4M Coupe: 12.8:1

Steering in these are ok, certainly not worth writing about either way. Not terrible nor memorable. I think the speed of the rack has been mated with the responses and the use, I'd say the E46 M3 (I owned one for 4 years) is the laziest feeling and Z4M the most darty so needs a quick rack as it's the least settled/fidgety.

A rack is just one part of what contributes to the steering feel/feedback/precision etc etc

The problem isn’t the rack but the front end.

The Z4M has a long bonnet and a shorter wheel base, and so despite a quicker rack, the turn in is not as good as the E46 M3

Hmm that doesn’t make sense to me. A long bonnet per se does not affect turn-in, nor does short wheelbase (quite the contrary!)

I’ve found, and many of you too, what the Z4M always needed is to loosen those 3 nuts on top of each front struttower & press those struts in a bit. Done!
It needs a litte more camber, for some reason.

Not that the turn in is bad to start with, but I think the writer really complains about the handling? It was snappy and rough as we all know, suspension below par. Easily fixed of course.

 

[buzyg]

Haha you’ve been told chaps.

Buy an E46 M3!

:rofl:

Nah looks like a taxi.

 

[R60BBA]

Steering in these are ok, certainly not worth writing about either way. Not terrible nor memorable. I think the speed of the rack has been mated with the responses and the use, I'd say the E46 M3 (I owned one for 4 years) is the laziest feeling and Z4M the most darty so needs a quick rack as it's the least settled/fidgety.

A rack is just one part of what contributes to the steering feel/feedback/precision etc etc

The problem isn’t the rack but the front end.

The Z4M has a long bonnet and a shorter wheel base, and so despite a quicker rack, the turn in is not as good as the E46 M3

Hmm that doesn’t make sense to me. A long bonnet per se does not affect turn-in, nor does short wheelbase (quite the contrary!)

I’ve found, and many of you too, what the Z4M always needed is to loosen those 3 nuts on top of each front struttower & press those struts in a bit. Done!
It needs a litte more camber, for some reason.

Not that the turn in is bad to start with, but I think the writer really complains about the handling? It was snappy and rough as we all know, suspension below par. Easily fixed of course.

Drive an E46 M3 on a circuit and you will understand what I mean.

(Btw I’m not digging at the Z4M - I like them) just saying the M3 is much easier to handle to the average driver, which probably accounts for the Top Gear journalist’s comment.

 

[Argenta]

Sure, I've read it everywhere and I have no doubt - out of the box, the M3 is a better/easier handler. I'm just not convinced it's because of a "long bonnet" nor shorter wheelbase. More so the suspension setup..

 

[BMWZ4MC]

The short wheelbase makes the Zed more prone to snap oversteer, which can be hard to control without practice, especially if unexpected. Comparatively, the E46 is more docile at the limit and much easier to slide in a controlled fashion from the first time driving it. As such, it’s much less intimidating and likely faster on both road and track in the hands of a less experienced driver. However, I found that after a few suspension mods, an exhaust and intake and semislicks, my Zed was easily as fast on track an an ESS stage I M3 with a BBK, coil overs and a stripped interior.