z4m vs e46 m3...thoughts???
- Thread starter z4all
- Start date
z4all said:
Stock Z4M is not bad, handling and brakes are pretty dreadful when pushed on a track, the stock geo is naff. But with some choice mods its sooooo much better and becomes a bargain for the performance you get. If you are going to get one, the forum has a huge list of things you should do, for not much money through to loads of cash hehe, to transform the handling, turn in, grip, balance etc. So my choice would always be Z as its more rare, going up slowly in value, a proper sports car, and is an event every time you drive one.
pHilli0 said:
i think the z4m was setup as such to be safe to stop people binning them.... which still happened.... i all NEVEr forget the video of the guy on here who trashed his into a tree and shouted... GET THE ROOPPPPEEEEE
its not funny laughing at his misfortune but god it tickled me... and because he posted it... forum hero!
I own both, E46 M3 SMG and Z4MC. I would say that that Z feels slightly faster in straight line, has better steering feel, sounds better but is less planted and more scary!
M3 is definitely more confidence inspiring and way more comfortable.
I prefer the SMG to the Z4's manual box but that just personal preference.
M3 is definitely more confidence inspiring and way more comfortable.
I prefer the SMG to the Z4's manual box but that just personal preference.
Had an e46 M3 SMG after my last 3.0 Z4
In short it just felt to big and heavy with a mass of car behind me compared to the Z4 which left me not feeling as confident in it on fast corners. I guess that should of come as no surprise coming from a two seater where you practically sit on the back axel. The ride in it was much smoother though.
All the time I had it, it just made want the engine in a Z4 body. So now I'm in Z4M which I find puts the best of the two cars in one. I do miss the foot to floor gear changes you could do with the SMG, but I don't miss the thought that it might give out on me at any time. Though mine was at nearly 90k miles when I sold without ever giving a hint of a problem with the SMG.
In short it just felt to big and heavy with a mass of car behind me compared to the Z4 which left me not feeling as confident in it on fast corners. I guess that should of come as no surprise coming from a two seater where you practically sit on the back axel. The ride in it was much smoother though.
All the time I had it, it just made want the engine in a Z4 body. So now I'm in Z4M which I find puts the best of the two cars in one. I do miss the foot to floor gear changes you could do with the SMG, but I don't miss the thought that it might give out on me at any time. Though mine was at nearly 90k miles when I sold without ever giving a hint of a problem with the SMG.
I want the z4m as a daily. Won't be tracking, just enjoying it. I think I'm going to have to buy one now lol will wait til after summers gone to get my roadster. Will keep the 3.0 even if it's just stood for ages. Love it so much and it's so well specd it will b v hard to find another like it.
I love the e46 massively.. But after having the Z4M I'd take it any day of the week.
Much more *insert typical buzzwords eg connected, raw, thrilling, exhillerating* than the m3 imho. It felt faster (I remember feeling like the '46 lacked a bit next to the supra I had at the time). The suspension was a little crashy on the bumps but it added to the charm. With some good rubber and the strut it handled nicely on the road and I loved the long nose short back layout. Much more tail happy and felt more of a sports car compared to the sports coupe/family car type feel.
Much more *insert typical buzzwords eg connected, raw, thrilling, exhillerating* than the m3 imho. It felt faster (I remember feeling like the '46 lacked a bit next to the supra I had at the time). The suspension was a little crashy on the bumps but it added to the charm. With some good rubber and the strut it handled nicely on the road and I loved the long nose short back layout. Much more tail happy and felt more of a sports car compared to the sports coupe/family car type feel.
breezer said:
LOL the CSL is a great car but...and on the Z4M the fronts are indeed the same as the CSL, but they are pretty terrible. I think some of this is due to poor cooling on the Z, and you can go some way to help this by installing some custom brake duct cooling. Regardless they just dont stop the car that well, even with aftermarket pads. I had new discs, yellowstuff pads, and dot1 fluid. Still pretty rubbish. When I put the 6 pot / 4 pot brembos on, with Pagid RS29s, it was like night and day difference. The confidence you get on the track and road means you can take advantage of the cars performance, and properly ring it out without being worried about getting to the end of the straight and not being able to stop.
Most if not all csl owners change their brakes to AP or Brembo, just go and have a look on csl register. They're really not suitable for sustained hard driving be it on track or also on the road. The csl/m3/z4m toffee brakes are pretty well documented, and it's good to see that BMW have listened, the latest F8x M3 brakes are leagues ahead of the mono piston design used on our cars.breezer said: