Z4MC to E90/92 M3 - Anyone done it

[daz05]

I've gone MC to E92M3. I don't regret it, as above the M3 is the more accomplished car but a bit less special in standard form.

It's not a car you drive for 5 mins and think wow and after swapping I worried that it felt a bit cumbersome and refined in comparison but as I began to unravel the layers I soon realised it was the car I was going to be happier with. The chassis is another level and noise can be increased very easily and sharpening them up to competition spec is relatively easy.

I wouldn't have another MC without coiliver suspension but that's been well discussed on here. I would, however, like to have an MR alongside the M3.

Here's my before and after

 

[Beedub]

m3 on those stock 18s looks so perfect to my eyes!

 

[Sae]

m3 on those stock 18s looks so perfect to my eyes!

It really does have perfect proportions

 

[jimmybell]

I actually think the older style M3 wheels are better, the newer ones suit your Z4 better imo, beedub.

Also big fan of the E92 M3 competition version.

 

[LostBoy_84]

A few pics of my coupe and a friends M3






He came from a 3.0l roadster and whilst the M3 is obviously a lot faster he says it's not as fun to drive as you're not really able to push it towards the limits on the road.
It all depends what you want from a car OP.

 

[survivalist]

Thanks for all the replies, don't think I'm any closer to making a decision.

The daily drive was a 530D GT for the best part of a year, but couldn't get on with it so now have an 335i Touring (the E90 shape) and it's a massive improvement of the 530 and more practical than even an E90 M3. The thought had occurred to me to tune the engine and suspension on the 335i - but it looks like a lot to spend on an older car with little hope of getting that money back if I don't like it.

As many have said, there aren't many options for a manual, V8 car :-(

 

[jimmybell]

on a 335i touring, you can just buy a JB4 and add +80hp quite easily. Just make sure your turbos are in a good state before you do it, 335i turbos aren't.. great .. on the reliability front (common wastegate rattle issue that you'll want/have to argue to get fixed via warranty...)

Suspension i think bilstein do good stuff for not too much dollar.

 

[Argenta]

I came in from the other direction (Fiat Coupe 20VT) and the Z4MC deffo feels much colder/dryer/boring so I don't think I'll ever buy a M3/M4 etc. reading this thread. Older italians does have 'soul' which makes it difficult to move on elsewhere, although the new Guilia makes me hope.

 

[flatout]

I've had my e92 m3 for just over a year now and absolutely love it. It's not a car you can test drive for 5 minutes and decide whether you want one or not. I actually recall bmw elms giving me one for 4 hours whilst the Z4MC had a service and a few bits and pieces done. I found the car to be fairly bland and lacked excitement compared to my (extremely modded) MC. It was a comp pack car and despite this was I wasn't overly impressed.

Fast forward to now and the car has grown on me. I've have made a few tweaks to the car which to me have transformed the car positively. Upgrades are 1) intrax suspension 2) evolve stage 2 mod (primary cats and remap) 3) oem exhaust mod.

This is nothing compared to the Z4MC but I feel gets the car close to what the MC felt to drive - on track, the M3 will always be quicker. However, on a tight country road I still feel the weight of the m3 gives it away and you find yourself pressing a few car lengths behind the lead car. My guess is the Z weighed around 1,350kg ish and had AP BBks which helped.

All that being said, its faired very well as a family car (4 of us now.. ) - family road trips include South of France for 3 weeks, numerous weekends in Paris and Amsterdam as well as many center parcs in Uk and central France. On softest settings, ride quality is not bad at all and the exhaust mod means it drives just like oem until you press the loud peddle.

In summary, I'd say do it. You won't regret it, if your Z is lightly modded, then be prepared to spend a few £'k on getting the beast out of this incredible motor.

M4/3 in standard guise is sounds pants. However, it comes with proper brakes and is a proper tool to drive. It just feels so sure footed sInce it weights so much less than the e92. I had one for a week and loved its point to point agility. I could brake later as I approached a round about, steering feel was just about right and that shuv as you exit and the turbo spools up was just addictive. It just drove and gave me the confidence I had from the Z4 especially under braking and that thick steering wheel feel. But it sounded awful, more farts than high pitch - I believe you can now get good aftermarket upgrades which should transform these cars...

Hope this helps..

Short clip of boys being boys in the Alps...
http://youtu.be/-HS66jn3de8

 

[flatout]

Not mine but if ever you needed convincing...

http://youtu.be/I2yHG-DwmjU

Ideal scenario would be to keep both - maybe in another life ha..

 

[jimmybell]

Ideal scenario would be to keep both - maybe in another life ha..

Tempting! Not sure you can justify both though.. neither makes a runaround nor particularly practical car - and arguably both can fulfil similar roles (roadtrip, ring, weekend blast etc) - i'd imagine one would just get left alone quite a bit

 

[survivalist]

The only way to keep both would be to swap the 335 for the M3. Only potential issues with this would be that I'd have to buy a double clutch model as Mrs Survivalist wants an auto and would probably have to add a roof box for holiday luggage space. At which point a C63 AMG starts to look like a better option as I don't have a manual.

Cost aside, having all 3 (M3, Z4 and 335i) is too much duplication.

On the 335i Mod wise I'd be looking at Birds Suspension, LSD and JB4/remap - so probably 4K all in. The biggest bugbear currently is the suspension, so I'd fix that in preference to more power & better brakes.

Really want a V8, but it seems the universe is conspiring against me....

 

[AndyZ]

I've done it the other way round. E92 - Z4MC, Completely different animals but get much more fun out of the Z than the M3. The M3 is much more practical (unless you look at running costs, then you have to take a big gulp) The M3 in DCT format was an absolute beast but you never really felt connected with the driving experience. The z however continually makes you feel alive as you are always so close to death!
Both beauties but the M3 as a family car is massively expensive to run, but clearly you can't take 3 in the z. Solution - keep both! :driving:

 

[LeeZ4MR]

Really want a V8, but it seems the universe is conspiring against me....

I have had three V8`s and loved them all(M3 aside) so if you have that itch I suggest you scratch it one way or another!

I regret not going for a C63 AMG now but I really wanted a manual gearbox which the V8 M3 offered but if you are happy with an auto then the C63 wipes the floor with the V8 M3 on every level when it comes to noise, power and sense of occasion and that's not to mention the fact that is has some torque too...I say go for it. :driving:

 

[survivalist]

I've test driven the coupe and estate C63, pre and post facelift. The engine was awesome, but the quality of the interior was fairly poor for a premium car and I did find that the auto robbed you of some interaction. The only way the C63 makes sense would be as our family car. This would allow me to keep the Z4, but it's a fair bit to spend on a runaround.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

Yes the Auto is what puts me off the C63 and the V8 M3 only returns 18/19 mpg...so I dread to think how bad a C63 is on fuel so not the best choice really for a runabout.

I still lust after them though and always want one when I see one 8) and the noise the C63 delivers makes the M3 seem like it only has a 1.2 engine under its bonnet!! :lol: