Think I should have test driven one

[Jembo]

May be worth revisiting why you bought it in the first place.

Like you, I love the shape as I once had a vert & recently bought the Coupe.

Mine certainly isn’t tappy at low revs but reminds me of the M134D Gatling gun when I start to get her to sing.

Handling needs a little work though is booked in for some Bilsteins when I get back in September, otherwise I’d invite you for one of the Kent breakfast meets - I have a Dragon Lady pass for Goodwood FOS, going for Sunday as well would just be suicide

 

[Bodyboarder]

All good points

I’m not just going jump ship straight away , as I really need to get to know the car and this thread has put my mind at rest with regards the engine note , so thank you :roll:

If I think back to when I got my S2k I remember feeling very similar.... I guess you have an expectation of what something should be like . With a couple of choice mods it was transformed though .

Once I get it back from the service and all being checked over I’ll go out for a few days and really get a better feel for it I suspect ... and knowing me start to enjoy it

Previous S2k owner too, I had the same feeling for a long time as the S2k, once setup properly, is verging on lotus territory - not many people understand the development that went into the S2k it was quite astonishing.

In any case once you sort the zed out it is like a big S2k really, it's just a bit more all over, more power, more grip, more noise, more weight etc.

Where are you based? I'm sure a few people would be willing to take you for a quick blast in a tweaked zed

I’m in Southampton.... and yes the S2k is a very special little car once set properly. All I have done is a set of ohlins , AP brakes and some sticky Tyres .

 

[Simon 3.2M]

May be worth revisiting why you bought it in the first place.

Like you, I love the shape as I once had a vert & recently bought the Coupe.

Mine certainly isn’t tappy at low revs but reminds me of the M134D Gatling gun when I start to get her to sing.

Handling needs a little work though is booked in for some Bilsteins when I get back in September, otherwise I’d invite you for one of the Kent breakfast meets - I have a Dragon Lady pass for Goodwood FOS, going for Sunday as well would just be suicide

Goodwood FOS well jealous!!

 

[BMWZ4MC]

All good points

I’m not just going jump ship straight away , as I really need to get to know the car and this thread has put my mind at rest with regards the engine note , so thank you :roll:

If I think back to when I got my S2k I remember feeling very similar.... I guess you have an expectation of what something should be like . With a couple of choice mods it was transformed though .

Once I get it back from the service and all being checked over I’ll go out for a few days and really get a better feel for it I suspect ... and knowing me start to enjoy it

Previous S2k owner too, I had the same feeling for a long time as the S2k, once setup properly, is verging on lotus territory - not many people understand the development that went into the S2k it was quite astonishing.

In any case once you sort the zed out it is like a big S2k really, it's just a bit more all over, more power, more grip, more noise, more weight etc.

Where are you based? I'm sure a few people would be willing to take you for a quick blast in a tweaked zed

I ran an S2000 as a daily driver side by side with my Z4M coupe and my Westfield a few years ago. The Westfield is 600kg with me in it and my Zed is extensively modified for track use, so next to those the S2000 was a fantastic road car but had a lot to live up to on the handling front.
I don’t think the Zed gearbox will ever come close to that in the S2000, even after removing the CDV and fitting a weighted shift knob. In contrast, the lack of steering feedback in the S2000 let the whole car down, whilst the ///M is extremely commmnicative and really allows precise placement of the car. The engines in both love to rev and are more rewarding as you go up the rev range.
Grab the ///M by the scruff of the neck and give it a good thrashing and it will come alive (or punt you through a hedge) :evil:

 

[Top pup]

TBH the fact your not feeling this car right away imo prob means it not for you.... This thing is awesome, its raw, its got that classic brutish feeling thats just so rare now days unless your spending big money, big motor, small relatively light , manual, amazing seating position, fantastic steering, i adore mine. You shouldn't have to grow to like a car like this, it either works for you or it doesnt.....

Beedub sums it up with this post, it's probably just not the car for you, different strokes for different folks.
As a comparison I think my Z4MC is fantastic and have no intention of ever selling it, however the M2 I got last year I'm massively disappointed in, haven't boned with in the slightest, and plan to get rid of very soon. TBH I thought of getting rid of it after a few weeks and looking back should of done. Doesn't mean the M2 is a bad car but it's certainly not the car for me.

Give the Z4M a few weeks and if you don't gel with it change it for something else.

 

[srhutch]

All good points

I’m not just going jump ship straight away , as I really need to get to know the car and this thread has put my mind at rest with regards the engine note , so thank you :roll:

If I think back to when I got my S2k I remember feeling very similar.... I guess you have an expectation of what something should be like . With a couple of choice mods it was transformed though .

Once I get it back from the service and all being checked over I’ll go out for a few days and really get a better feel for it I suspect ... and knowing me start to enjoy it

Previous S2k owner too, I had the same feeling for a long time as the S2k, once setup properly, is verging on lotus territory - not many people understand the development that went into the S2k it was quite astonishing.

In any case once you sort the zed out it is like a big S2k really, it's just a bit more all over, more power, more grip, more noise, more weight etc.

Where are you based? I'm sure a few people would be willing to take you for a quick blast in a tweaked zed

I’m in Southampton.... and yes the S2k is a very special little car once set properly. All I have done is a set of ohlins , AP brakes and some sticky Tyres .

Come and join us at Beaulieu on Saturday. There will be a couple of hatchbacks there to keep you company.

 

[FD3S]

The first drive with a S2000 was love at first sight. That gearbox, the handling, the sound , the way it steers and the feeling of it...
My first drive with a Z4M damn. I got out of it and I was scared. My stomach was squeezed. Different kind of animal...
After many years together 2,5 I believe now that this car is so good in so many ways. My 2 cents are give it some time to understand it and some tasteful mods always help...

 

[Gazza51]

I’ve had my Z4MC for just over a month now, absolutely loving it.

The S54 engine does need to be driven to get the best out of it

The Z4MC is very different to my S54 Z3MR, the Z4MC seems to have much more torque, perhaps the different gearbox ?

I can’t compare the Z4MC to my M3 CSL as that is just a different animal altogether.

Everyday driving and grin factor sees the Z4MC getting used the most :driving:

 

[Simon 3.2M]

I removed the CDV this evening, as I did with my previous Z's however, this is by far the most noticeable difference. Now the car is far nicer to drive

 

[Bodyboarder]

Thanks all appreciate the feedback and thoughts ... hopefully get the car back on Friday after a service , cdv delete and full health check and be able to get to grips with it .

 

[Muckinonthesofa]

The car has eibach springs on and I find the ride pretty good .... the main issue I have is actually the engine !

Not a fan of the noise it makes at low rpm , sounds very tappy , almost like there’s a leak in the exhaust and is not particularly smooth in the lower rev range . Higher up sounds better .

If you don't like tge noise of the s54, you should consider a Gruppe M, Eventuri or similar. I can only speak for he Gruppe M but it's brilliant, the noise is amazing and totally transforms the character of the s54.

 

[Bodyboarder]

Yes as soon as get it back I’ll be going for an eventuri.... although the gruppe m is highly recommend, I can’t justify nearly 1k on it

 

[Viren]

Thanks all appreciate the feedback and thoughts ... hopefully get the car back on Friday after a service , cdv delete and full health check and be able to get to grips with it .

I can't stress how much the car makes sense when you take it on track and push it. It all makes sense and will also teach you how to use it on road. Before considering changing/modding learn how it drives and learn the cars character.

 

[mr wilks]

Yes as soon as get it back I’ll be going for an eventuri.... although the gruppe m is highly recommend, I can’t justify nearly 1k on it

One just listed on forum at £550 , grab it quick , you won't be disappointed :evil:

 

[Bodyboarder]

Yep ... just pm’d him

 

[Snow Mole]

Coming from Z3MR to a Z4MR its completely different. The Z3 had been tickled by Evolve with induction kit and remap - the Z4 is as standard and is a bit meh.
The gear ratio on the Z4 takes some getting used to but once up to 6th cruises nicely on the motorway. Perhaps with the new back boxes on it might grow on me. The wife loves it but then again pootles everywhere!

Richard

 

[Jembo]

Yes as soon as get it back I’ll be going for an eventuri.... although the gruppe m is highly recommend, I can’t justify nearly 1k on it

One just listed on forum at £550 , grab it quick , you won't be disappointed :evil:

We had the windows down with Jantekin all through the lanes to Goodwood yesterday, we both couldn’t stop grinning - great bit of kit

 

[philbo909]

Yep ... just pm’d him

I see it's sold, were you the buyer?

 

[Franzino]

Stock suspension etc? If so there is hope.
Coming from an Elise I didn't like the ride too much when I just bought it, but after the following (relatively cheap) mods I have been enjoying it almost every day for the past 4 years :driving:
- CDV delete
- Eibach Pro Kit
- RTAB limiters
- Vibra Tech engine mounts

Good basic upgrades!

 

[Franzino]

I loved my Z4MR from the day I bought it in 2010... In the years after I modified some aspects to my personal liking. 8 years later the time has come to sell it...it will be painful to sell this car this summer. But the Z4M needs to make room...because my M2 is my daily, the Z4M is the one that needs to go. Will be a sad day, because I loved every minute of owning my Z4MR. A truly great car and I hope you will feel the same in time...