Z4M

A

aliveankikin

Member
Iv'e been thinking about buying a Z4M but after looking at the difference in price of road tax, insurance, massive fuel economy difference and only 0.7 second 0-60, I really can't justify it. Iv'e done so much to my 3.0si, (dare not go over 300bhp though) but wanted more.

Just fitted the new LED H7 cree bulbs (4500lm per bulb) to my projectors and I must say they seem better than the xenon Ive seen on others. They give a very sharp concentrated white light without blinding oncoming traffic. At last, I can see where I'm going.

After having MPV's & SUV's then going MUCH lower facing traffic headlights head on (if you know what I mean) I found it really difficult driving at night, or is it I'm just getting older lol
 
It depends on what miles you do...

I do about 5k a year and the differences in running costs are negligible.

Tax is a pain...But in reality is only a few quid extra a week..
Insurance was no different for me.
Fuel... Again,depends on miles but £5 a week if that ?

Maintenance is where it can be expensive if the previous owner has let things slip.. But the 2 x Z4M's i have had have been cheap to run,not as cheap as the 3.0si but the difference is neither here nor there.

Speed wise..... The paper tales do not tell the story.. The M would leave the 3.0 for dead..
 
I have the same problem at night, I find it really hard seeing at night with lots of oncoming traffic! I put it down to sitting much lower in the Z and getting old :? Lucky for me I don't do much night time driving anymore!
 
I also do about 5k annually. I do take it easy most of the time and get about 35mpg which is amazing really. LOL I travelled along the A303 at 60mph just to see and was averaging 47mpg (in real terms prob about 40mpg).
So thats
Fuel at least £25 a month extra
Road Tax is nearly £20 a month extra.
Insurance would also be £20 a month extra
Maintanance about £35 a month extra

Yes sure the on the occassions when my mate and I were "playing", he left me a bit (ok, a lot) on the straights but funnily enough, over a 25 mile run I was always with him.

Last year, I went on a track day at Donnington and kept up (but could'nt overtake) 2 standard Z4M's on the 1st session but got past both in the 2nd (ok, so they got me back).

I suppose its also about the condition of the vehicles, state of tune and driver ability, skill & experience, Which brings me back to justification.

I guess the obvious answer is the get an Z4M, spend a few bob on tuning and to blow with the cost lol
 
aliveankikin said:
I also do about 5k annually. I do take it easy most of the time and get about 35mpg which is amazing really. LOL I travelled along the A303 at 60mph just to see and was averaging 47mpg (in real terms prob about 40mpg).
So thats
Fuel at least £25 a month extra
Road Tax is nearly £20 a month extra.
Insurance would also be £20 a month extra
Maintanance about £35 a month extra

Yes sure the on the occassions when my mate and I were "playing", he left me a bit (ok, a lot) on the straights but funnily enough, over a 25 mile run I was always with him.

Last year, I went on a track day at Donnington and kept up (but could'nt overtake) 2 standard Z4M's on the 1st session but got past both in the 2nd (ok, so they got me back).

I suppose its also about the condition of the vehicles, state of tune and driver ability, skill & experience, Which brings me back to justification.

I guess the obvious answer is the get an Z4M, spend a few bob on tuning and to blow with the cost lol
Click to expand...

Yea....Thats the answer.. :thumbsup:

Would insurance really be an extra £240 a year...? Mine doesnt cost £240 to insure...lol..


I dunno about the maintenance costs too..... Brakes and inspection 2's are expensive... But at 5k miles a year,you could go a long time before anything needs doing..

Anyway.... You know the M guys only wanted to be nice to you..If you was getting past them on the track then they must have had 2 coils unplugged.. :poke:
 
At 5k a year that's 6 years between inspection services, so hardly breaks the bank if you put a little by each month.
 
aliveankikin said:
I also do about 5k annually. I do take it easy most of the time and get about 35mpg which is amazing really. LOL I travelled along the A303 at 60mph just to see and was averaging 47mpg (in real terms prob about 40mpg).
So thats
Fuel at least £25 a month extra
Road Tax is nearly £20 a month extra.
Insurance would also be £20 a month extra
Maintanance about £35 a month extra

Yes sure the on the occassions when my mate and I were "playing", he left me a bit (ok, a lot) on the straights but funnily enough, over a 25 mile run I was always with him.

Last year, I went on a track day at Donnington and kept up (but could'nt overtake) 2 standard Z4M's on the 1st session but got past both in the 2nd (ok, so they got me back).

I suppose its also about the condition of the vehicles, state of tune and driver ability, skill & experience, Which brings me back to justification.

I guess the obvious answer is the get an Z4M, spend a few bob on tuning and to blow with the cost lol
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, when I was looking to buy a Z4 the cost of insurance between the 3.0si and ///M was very similar, within £20 a year not a month (was 25 at the time, with 5 years no claims bonus).

Also for maintenance, £35 extra month seems fairly excessive. As stated above, brakes will be a once every 8 year service, tyres every 4 years (but not much difference between the two), Insp I / II will be every 4 years. I'd have thought £20 per month would be more than plenty.

For 5k miles a year, if you average 35mpg in the 3.0, you'll average 28 in the ///M.

let's use 420 miles a month for simplicity:
At 35mpg you'll require 12 gallons of fuel, approx 54.5 litres, which @ £1.20 = £65.40
At 28mpg you'll require 15 gallons of fuel, approx 68 litres, which @ £1.20 = £81.60

Putting this together, you'll need an extra £55 per month (£20 tax, £20 maintenance and £15 fuel). More than worth it :thumbsup:
 
Servicing and maintenance costs as said, on 5k per year, are not really much more. And worrying about fuel costs on a car you drive so little is - IMO - pointless. You fill it up when you want to drive it and burn it all off for fun. Where's the fun in worrying about a few MPG ?

Adamski got it dead right though - it is certainly not about 0.7secs. Or any ability to out-do others on a track. It's about the experience, the aurally orgasmic noise, the thump in the back when you really bury the loud pedal at 3,500 RPM in second, the shimmy from the rear end as the LSD does its job and gets the power down. Drive one, then try and come back and say you don't want it because it drinks too much fuel - bet it wouldn't happen :D

You might hate the gearbox or the heavier steering, but you'll never look at the cost of V-power the same way again. Admittedly I'm a little biased :lol:
 
Bing said:
Servicing and maintenance costs as said, on 5k per year, are not really much more. And worrying about fuel costs on a car you drive so little is - IMO - pointless. You fill it up when you want to drive it and burn it all off for fun. Where's the fun in worrying about a few MPG ?

Adamski got it dead right though - it is certainly not about 0.7secs. Or any ability to out-do others on a track. It's about the experience, the aurally orgasmic noise, the thump in the back when you really bury the loud pedal at 3,500 RPM in second, the shimmy from the rear end as the LSD does its job and gets the power down. Drive one, then try and come back and say you don't want it because it drinks too much fuel - bet it wouldn't happen :D

You might hate the gearbox or the heavier steering, but you'll never look at the cost of V-power the same way again. Admittedly I'm a little biased :lol:
Click to expand...

As Bing said :thumbsup:
 
halifaxbantam said:
Bing said:
Servicing and maintenance costs as said, on 5k per year, are not really much more. And worrying about fuel costs on a car you drive so little is - IMO - pointless. You fill it up when you want to drive it and burn it all off for fun. Where's the fun in worrying about a few MPG ?

Adamski got it dead right though - it is certainly not about 0.7secs. Or any ability to out-do others on a track. It's about the experience, the aurally orgasmic noise,the thump in the back when you really bury the loud pedal at 3,500 RPM in second, the shimmy from the rear end as the LSD does its job and gets the power down. Drive one, then try and come back and say you don't want it because it drinks too much fuel - bet it wouldn't happen :D

You might hate the gearbox or the heavier steering, but you'll never look at the cost of V-power the same way again. Admittedly I'm a little biased :lol:
Click to expand...

As Bing said :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

And Again 8)
 
///Mikerw said:
halifaxbantam said:
Bing said:
Servicing and maintenance costs as said, on 5k per year, are not really much more. And worrying about fuel costs on a car you drive so little is - IMO - pointless. You fill it up when you want to drive it and burn it all off for fun. Where's the fun in worrying about a few MPG ?

Adamski got it dead right though - it is certainly not about 0.7secs. Or any ability to out-do others on a track. It's about the experience, the aurally orgasmic noise,the thump in the back when you really bury the loud pedal at 3,500 RPM in second, the shimmy from the rear end as the LSD does its job and gets the power down. Drive one, then try and come back and say you don't want it because it drinks too much fuel - bet it wouldn't happen :D

You might hate the gearbox or the heavier steering, but you'll never look at the cost of V-power the same way again. Admittedly I'm a little biased :lol:
Click to expand...

As Bing said :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

And Again 8)
Click to expand...

And again :thumbsup:
 
Similar topic on another thread really. I'd say don't over stretch...the money per month worked out here doesn't really add up in the real world...would you really put £50 away every month for the additional service costs? With any M car you could easily take it in for a service and end up £1500 lighter...and that's real world experience. I'm sure some people on here have spent £3k on maintenance over a year.

Of course, if you find you have a few hundred quid spare at the end of each month then I'd say 100% go for it....it's a much better car than the 3.0.
 
I deliberately wrote what I did the way I did to provoke a true natural reaction, without the normal "yea its a really great car mate". I already know its a great car but I wanted peoples honest opinion.

I hope I have'ntI offended anyone and would sincerely like to thank each and every one of you for your replies and helping me decide which way to go.
 
Longtallhowie said:
I have the same problem at night, I find it really hard seeing at night with lots of oncoming traffic! I put it down to sitting much lower in the Z and getting old :? Lucky for me I don't do much night time driving anymore!
Click to expand...

Sound like we're in the same boat my friend lol
 
Different car to the 3.0Si nuff said! IMO worth the extra premium but ask me again in a month when road tax is due :driving:
 
aliveankikin said:
Iv'e been thinking about buying a Z4M but after looking at the difference in price of road tax, insurance, massive fuel economy difference and only 0.7 second 0-60, I really can't justify it. Iv'e done so much to my 3.0si, (dare not go over 300bhp though) but wanted more.

Just fitted the new LED H7 cree bulbs (4500lm per bulb) to my projectors and I must say they seem better than the xenon Ive seen on others. They give a very sharp concentrated white light without blinding oncoming traffic. At last, I can see where I'm going.

After having MPV's & SUV's then going MUCH lower facing traffic headlights head on (if you know what I mean) I found it really difficult driving at night, or is it I'm just getting older lol
Click to expand...

Forget all the hot air on this thread - clearly you've not driven a Z4M? :poke:
 
fridaypassion said:
Do the 3.0's have LSD? That alone would be enough for me to go for the M. Lots of fun.
Click to expand...

No, only the M has LSD. No other model, including the Alpina or E89.
 
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