Z4 M roadster quick questions

C

christoffer

Member
Hi,

Does the M have the same sound as the manic metallic sound of the E46 M3? If so it must sound fabulous when the roof is down.

Also, do you notice the added weight over the front wheels compared with the 3.0 i / Si ? In short - is the handling compromised?

Regarding running costs, I'm guessing around 3.000 euros in insurance and 4.000 in service/tires a year? Is that about right in your view?

Thank you.
 
The M does sound quite like the M3 in my opinion and yes it does sound fabulous with the roof down. If it is not to your taste there are various aftermarket exhaust options to get it how you'd like sounding too. From the extreme of RPi to the more subtle enhancements of an Eismann.

I only test drove a 3.0i briefly but to me the M is a significanlty better handling car due to non-runflats and more direct steering. I came from a Boxster so can obviously feel the weight a lot more over the front wheels compared to that but then I would with the Porsche being mid-engined!

Re insurance and servicing, well I don't know the state of insurance in France but €3000 seems like an awful lot, although I guess it depends on circumstances.

Your servicing and consumable costs seem high too. Again I don't know French prices but in the UK tyres all round would cost about the equivalent of €1200 and servicing depends on Oil, Inspection 1 or Inspection 2, but these are about €300, €700 and €1100 I would think if similar to the UK. Unless you're doing huge mileage with multiple services a year then I can't see it racking up to €4000 in services and tyres. If you're not planning on taking an official BMW warranty on it then the difference between my stated costs and your planned ones would be useful as a slush fund in case anything goes wrong.
 
christoffer, you get the same metallic bark from the engine but a far different exhaust note from the E46 M3, the Z4 M doesnt sound nearly as raspy and there's even the odd pop and crackle from the rear pipes. The stock exhausts sound nice although a bit muted for my tastes. At higher revs it's all engine note, you cant even hear the exhausts.
 
I went from a 2.5si to an M and it felt like a whale the first time i threw it into a corner. :o Compared to the 2.5 it was very nose heavy and didn't flow in the same way. However, once you realise it's a different beast you set about relearning the inputs needed and it is a very rewarding car to drive quickly. Very 'old school', TVR like really.

The 'M' is a great drivers car and much loved by most who own one. :)
 
Cant really comment on the handling compared to other Z4s because i've not driven any others but in general it is understeery but you can drive around that and a more aggressive alignment (more negative camber at the front) will also help a bit.

As for the running costs, 4000 a year is more than enough provided you dont drive like a lunatic everywhere requiring rear tire changes every 5 months and services every 6... Insurance costs, i have no idea how it is where you're from. I pay 900 euro a year here.

edit: I assume you dont figure fuel in that 4000 right? Because you'd need a lot more if you factor in that as well.
 
christoffer said:
Hi,

Does the M have the same sound as the manic metallic sound of the E46 M3? If so it must sound fabulous when the roof is down.

Also, do you notice the added weight over the front wheels compared with the 3.0 i / Si ? In short - is the handling compromised?

Regarding running costs, I'm guessing around 3.000 euros in insurance and 4.000 in service/tires a year? Is that about right in your view?

Thank you.
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In the Z4M coupe it can sound a bit muted. In my opinion the Z4M roadster sounds great with the stock exhaust! There are other things on the car (wheels, brakes) where I would put my money then on an other exhaust system.

About the handling; I can not compare... From the Z4 range I have only driven the Z4M roadtser, Z4M coupe and Alpina Roadster S. They all drive great!
Maybe these reviews can help you.
Pistonheads: http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=100&i=14400
Top Gear (boxter vs Z4M): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FTcr2IFeg0
Fifth gear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9U4MeydwQ0

I don't know how much insurance is in France, but 3.000euros sounds like a lot (all depends on your age and insurance history). I think running costs (without fuel) are around 2.500-3.000 euro a year (service-costs-tyres).

sammyz said:
The 'M' is a great drivers car and much loved by most who own one. :)
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TRUE I LOVE IT :D
 
Sounds nothing like an E46 imo...Much deeper. Ironically it's a car which sounds completely different to what you'd expect; Inside Vs. Outside.

Can't comment on handling as never driver any other Z4.

Money wise, thats ambitious, but dependant on factors.

For me Insurance: 680 Euros per year
Service every 2yrs roughly/Same for tyres!: 500 Euros...

Again depends on what service you need.

I also pay 90 Euro's a month on warranty. Thats about it. Company pay for the car and fuel. Voila.
 
Great, great answers everyone. Thank you very much.
I was contemplating whether to go for the 3.0i / 3.0 Si / M - and I'm a massive car enthusiast, so I think that the M is the one for me, even if it understeers a bit more.
The thing about 'understeer' and 'oversteer' is that you read so much about it in magazines such as evo and in reality when it's your own car you dont drive around with the tires screaming on the edge of adhesion all the time, and when you read reviews they seem to place a massive weight on these factors. What I find more relevant is how responsive the car is to your inputs, and if you can alter the balance of the car a little in the corners, without driving over the limit, within the car's limits, then it's good fun.
Im moving to France soon , from Denmark - the hell of the motorist - and obviously I cant try every different model ( they simply are not available in Denmark due to the tax ) so I have to choose which one to buy before I try the car.
I just love the design of the 1st gen Z4.
 
The point about understeer is highlighted in the top gear review, simply apply right foot harder to correct! Lots of folks have had the geo done to add more camber within the normal settings too, me included. Reducing the toe in is also good for sharpness but ultimately its never a bad thing to have a bit of understeer on the road! Great cars but really small so if you like a big boot or giving lifts go with the m3!
 
Go for a drive yourself and make your own mind it, it's so subjective. I couldn't believe how much sharper,stiffer and generaly more driver orientated the M roadster is, compare to the cooking Z4 models and particulary the Alpina I drove (and found too soft / uninvolving). It really is such a different car.

No problems at all with understeer tbh, the chassis feels so much stiffer than non M versions and much more adjustable on the throttle. My last car was a 993C2 which needed heavy trail braking / weight transfer to turn it at all on track.

The engine sound is also epic, more vocal with lovely bass than even an CSL, roof down. Give it a go!
 
You can improve front end grip by fitting CSL wheels and a strut brace... Here is a review from EVO magazine.

Like us, Davies was frustrated at the Z4 M Coupe’s lack of front-end grip, rightly attributing it to BMW’s risible decision to fit it with ContiSportContact tyres which are some two generations out of date. Having decided to replace them with Michelin Pilot Sports 2s, Davies also chose a set of gorgeous M3 CSL rims, which in addition to transforming the Z4 M’s looks also increase the rim diameter by an inch (to 19in) and reduce unsprung weight by a total of some 7kg.

In an effort to further distinguish his Z4 M from the lesser 3-litre model, Davies also fitted a pair of side skirts, picked from the M Sport range of body styling parts. Like the CSL rims, they have a subtle but amazing effect on the look of the car. In fact we’d go so far as to say that all Z4 M Coupes should leave the factory this way.

The final stage of Davies’ makeover was a strut brace, again chosen from the Z4 accessories catalogue. At just £200 it’s a modest outlay, but it has a tangible effect on improving the front end’s rigidity by spanning the Z4’s sizeable engine bay.

To be honest, the cosmetic effects of the wheels, tyres and side skirts more than justify the outlay (Davies reckons his tweaks have added no more than £2500 to the car’s cost, including fitting and painting by his BMW dealer), but the improvement in feel and response is even more compelling.

Where the standard car lacks incisive turn-in and, ultimately, front-end grip, Davies’s car is more immediate and confidence inspiring. It also has the grip to back up the instant turn-in, so that you’re more prepared to commit to the corner, safe in the knowledge that the nose isn’t about to wash wide of your intended trajectory.

It’s not a complete transformation. Indeed, as Davies readily concedes, the car still displays the same sharp-edged low-speed ride and remains keen to trigger the ASR system when accelerating hard on lumpy tarmac. However, the sharper, grippier front end is better able to harmonise with the rear, which makes it a much more positive machine to hustle – more intuitive and entertaining when you want to provoke it, yet sweeter and more cohesive when you want to make smooth, swift progress.

A definite improvement, both dynamically and visually, Davies’s upgrades release more of the Z4 M Coupe’s obvious potential.
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Franzino said:
You can improve front end grip by fitting CSL wheels and a strut brace... Here is a review from EVO magazine.
Click to expand...
Which is about as accurate as the rest of their reviews.

They can't even get the acronyms correct most of the time (the Z4MC doesn't have ASR in this case), and I've written in a good few times complaining about inaccuracies, but they just say that there was probably an error in editing and there's nothing they can do about it.

The combination of wider & better tyres on the front probably made a more difference to the understeer than the strut brace - as that will just give it more rigidity, which is not something the Z4MC needs on the front end IMHO :headbang:
 
It seems like you are all very happy with your cars. I will definately be looking to buy an M Z4. I like it more and more. Edit: It seems like you all think the engine sound is great as it is, and that it doesn't need a new induction system.
 
christoffer said:
It seems like you are all very happy with your cars. I will definately be looking to buy an M Z4. I like it more and more. Edit: It seems like you all think the engine sound is great as it is, and that it doesn't need a new induction system.
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It doesnt need it but no one can deny that a good intake makes it sound even better.


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