Z4MR - Vs Other M's
- Thread starter monzon
- Start date
Liverpool
The only similarity between an e46 M3 is the engine. The wheelbase is shorter on a Z4 too, so the car can feel more twitchy than an e46.
The e9x M3 is a completely different beast, as is the M5 and M6.
I find the older M's more involving to drive, but I do tend to find I'm driving faster in the newer cars on the same roads, mainly down to being isolated from the road more due to electronic interference.
If I could get a new e34 M5 (without paying £25k for a fully restored one of course), then I'd have that over an e6x M5 any day.
The e9x M3 is a completely different beast, as is the M5 and M6.
I find the older M's more involving to drive, but I do tend to find I'm driving faster in the newer cars on the same roads, mainly down to being isolated from the road more due to electronic interference.
If I could get a new e34 M5 (without paying £25k for a fully restored one of course), then I'd have that over an e6x M5 any day.
mmm-five said:
Z4 is E46 based so there is some overlap...and it has M3 CSL brakes. I've had both and they do feel similar ('familiar'?) in many ways but quite different in others. The handling is sharper, the steering rack is quicker, and the ride is firmer. It's a bit lighter, sounds FAR better (not as raspy) and feels more urgent...lower centre of gravity, long bonnet and over-the-wheels driving position makes it much more chuckable...
It doesn't feel like any current M, those are moving more towards GT comfort and effortless pace - the Z4M has some of that mental rev-me-rev-me-rev-me attitude the old E46 had.
pvr said:Nothing like getting the back out on a dry road starting an overtake in second gear.
Not that I just did that after being frustrated in a 30 mph queue in a 60 zone ...
Just don't try it on the M1/A14 junction roundabout as there's lots of diesel down there and the driver of the car you're overtaking doesn't appreciate it when you end up facing him through your's & his windscreens
Although not purely scientific, I have had a run with a mate in an SMG E46 M3, with nearly all the options ticked, and pulled comfortably on him each time. Same with an E39 M5.
Alternatively, the E60 M5 Ring Taxis out-dragged me at the 'Ring on the straights, and have had a couple of motorway run-ins with E92 M3s, and had a friendly play, and they have pulled comfortably on my Z4MC.
I'd say the Z4MR/C holds it's head quite highly amongst M's of it's own generation. However the new (latest) generations get the upper hand again. The modular engine that forms the new V8 and V10 powerplants are savage in their power delivery.
Alternatively, the E60 M5 Ring Taxis out-dragged me at the 'Ring on the straights, and have had a couple of motorway run-ins with E92 M3s, and had a friendly play, and they have pulled comfortably on my Z4MC.
I'd say the Z4MR/C holds it's head quite highly amongst M's of it's own generation. However the new (latest) generations get the upper hand again. The modular engine that forms the new V8 and V10 powerplants are savage in their power delivery.
Tbh guys no offence but you'd think the Z4M .. roadster and coupe would be alot faster...
You think exact and engine as the E46 m3 ... A massive 5 seater large booted sallon car..and stick it in a small 2 seater?
Wat do you get? 0.50 of 60? and barley faster overall?look at m5 board vids on you tube..Its hardly faster..and gets beaten by a csl ? ...and its a 4 seater still ? And tbh more practical? Suprising about the z4m is the weigth?wat is it? 1450-?1500kg?
I love the CSL its limited edition beast...but so's the z4m ,you can get a half decent csl for 24k now tho,I know what i'd rather have
You think exact and engine as the E46 m3 ... A massive 5 seater large booted sallon car..and stick it in a small 2 seater?
Wat do you get? 0.50 of 60? and barley faster overall?look at m5 board vids on you tube..Its hardly faster..and gets beaten by a csl ? ...and its a 4 seater still ? And tbh more practical? Suprising about the z4m is the weigth?wat is it? 1450-?1500kg?
I love the CSL its limited edition beast...but so's the z4m ,you can get a half decent csl for 24k now tho,I know what i'd rather have
+49 said:Tbh guys no offence but you'd think the Z4M .. roadster and coupe would be alot faster...
I love the CSL its limited edition beast...but so's the z4m ,you can get a half decent csl for 24k now tho,I know what i'd rather have
Actually it's pretty easy to see why the 'order' is CSL/Z4M/M3 (Z4 is, after all, derived from an E46):
E46 M3 : 1549 KG, 343 BHP
E86 Z4M Coupe : 1470 KG, 343 BHP
E46 M3 CSL : 1385 KG, 360 BHP
So the Z4M is 79KG lighter than the M3 but 85KG heavier than the CSL, which has more power. But then the CSL was £60k (Z4M, £40k).
Yes you can pick up a CSL for £25k and it's a damn fine car for that, but it will be a 2003 or 2004 with 40k+ miles on it. A good low mileage one is more like £30k, and that still gets you a 6-7 year old stripped out Coupe (solid bucket seats, few creature comforts). It's a fabulous weekend track car, and I would love one as a second or third car to keep forever. But you can have a 2008 Z4M with warranty and creature comforts that's a bit more daily drivable for that, and change. Plus the Z4M shares a fair bit with the CSL anyway - same brakes, same steering rack....
It depends what you want from a car, the Z4M fits perfectly between the E46 M3 and an M3 CSL.
mikedav said:+49 said:Tbh guys no offence but you'd think the Z4M .. roadster and coupe would be alot faster...
I love the CSL its limited edition beast...but so's the z4m ,you can get a half decent csl for 24k now tho,I know what i'd rather have
Actually it's pretty easy to see why the 'order' is CSL/Z4M/M3 (Z4 is, after all, derived from an E46):
E46 M3 : 1549 KG, 343 BHP
E86 Z4M Coupe : 1470 KG, 343 BHP
E46 M3 CSL : 1385 KG, 360 BHP
So the Z4M is 79KG lighter than the M3 but 85KG heavier than the CSL, which has more power. But then the CSL was £60k (Z4M, £40k).
Yes you can pick up a CSL for £25k and it's a damn fine car for that, but it will be a 2003 or 2004 with 40k+ miles on it. A good low mileage one is more like £30k, and that still gets you a 6-7 year old stripped out Coupe (solid bucket seats, few creature comforts). It's a fabulous weekend track car, and I would love one as a second or third car to keep forever. But you can have a 2008 Z4M with warranty and creature comforts that's a bit more daily drivable for that, and change. Plus the Z4M shares a fair bit with the CSL anyway - same brakes, same steering rack....
It depends what you want from a car, the Z4M fits perfectly between the E46 M3 and an M3 CSL.
And a 2.0 sounds even better!!
It actually weighs less than a CSL...a car designed as a light weight track special
Its obvious to me which is the better car... :|
Aaaahhhh
I'm surprised that the Zed weighs almost as much as the M3,( i think my M3Ci was about 100 lbs heavier than the normal M3 so hp/weight ratio was marginally worse.) A couple of hundred pounds does make a difference though, just put a fatty (sorry, large person) in the passenger seat and see how the performance changes.
Woots, this is about M cars, not Corgi toys.
(bein' nice there, could have called it a Dinky Toy)
Woots, this is about M cars, not Corgi toys.
(bein' nice there, could have called it a Dinky Toy)
Interesting comparisons, there's always something faster than you!
I've driven a couple of E92 M3s and they are fantastic cars but I'm yet to drive a convertible. From the drop -top perspective you have to compare the Z4MR with the M3 converts and the margin is a lot closer there. Much more dynamic and quicker than the E46 for sure.
I've driven a couple of E92 M3s and they are fantastic cars but I'm yet to drive a convertible. From the drop -top perspective you have to compare the Z4MR with the M3 converts and the margin is a lot closer there. Much more dynamic and quicker than the E46 for sure.
I did think my Z3 M (all the m stuff except the engine) was a little more nimble then my M3, to be expected from a much smaller and lighter car, I also drove an M6 convertible (2009) and found it to be like a barge compared to my M3. I guess I'll have to find an MCoupe to play with now 
My dad had an e92 M3 conv...and in my opinion as a passenger there isnt much between the Z4MR and the M3.sammyz said:
Tbh the m3 wasnt run in yet and perhaps the feeling of being lower down in the Z4 makes it feel quicker
But there isnt a great margin
It like comparing a 2.0 to an enzo...blindfold someone and they wont kno the diff
Well, after 500 miles of fast & twisty road sections I think I can safely say I don't like the e92 M3 :thumbsdown:
It just isn't 'immediate' enough for me. The throttle lags no matter what mode you're in, the steering needs a huge 'hint' before every corner to get it weighted up, the suspension takes about a second to settle once you're in a corner and it takes about a second for the rear suspension to settle down & track back in after the corner is over and done with. The seating position is also way too high, but any lower and you wouldn't see over the huge dashboard and bonnet bulge - but that just adds to the feeling of body roll.
The weight really does not do it any favours, and whilst I think it'd be better than a Z4MC for a high speed autobahn/autoroute trip across continents, I don't think it works as a 'sports car'.
In fact in some ways it's similar to a 20 year old e34 M5 I've driven (big sports seats, servotronic steering, EDC suspension, etc.) - except for the DCT box on the M3.
BTW, over 500 miles the e92 M3 averaged 16.7mpg, and over the same sort of roads (though 750 miles) a month ago, the Z4MC averaged 23.2mpg.
It just isn't 'immediate' enough for me. The throttle lags no matter what mode you're in, the steering needs a huge 'hint' before every corner to get it weighted up, the suspension takes about a second to settle once you're in a corner and it takes about a second for the rear suspension to settle down & track back in after the corner is over and done with. The seating position is also way too high, but any lower and you wouldn't see over the huge dashboard and bonnet bulge - but that just adds to the feeling of body roll.
The weight really does not do it any favours, and whilst I think it'd be better than a Z4MC for a high speed autobahn/autoroute trip across continents, I don't think it works as a 'sports car'.
In fact in some ways it's similar to a 20 year old e34 M5 I've driven (big sports seats, servotronic steering, EDC suspension, etc.) - except for the DCT box on the M3.
BTW, over 500 miles the e92 M3 averaged 16.7mpg, and over the same sort of roads (though 750 miles) a month ago, the Z4MC averaged 23.2mpg.
mikedav said:+49 said:Tbh guys no offence but you'd think the Z4M .. roadster and coupe would be alot faster...
I love the CSL its limited edition beast...but so's the z4m ,you can get a half decent csl for 24k now tho,I know what i'd rather have
Actually it's pretty easy to see why the 'order' is CSL/Z4M/M3 (Z4 is, after all, derived from an E46):
E46 M3 : 1549 KG, 343 BHP
E86 Z4M Coupe : 1470 KG, 343 BHP
E46 M3 CSL : 1385 KG, 360 BHP
So the Z4M is 79KG lighter than the M3 but 85KG heavier than the CSL, which has more power. But then the CSL was £60k (Z4M, £40k).
Yes you can pick up a CSL for £25k and it's a damn fine car for that, but it will be a 2003 or 2004 with 40k+ miles on it. A good low mileage one is more like £30k, and that still gets you a 6-7 year old stripped out Coupe (solid bucket seats, few creature comforts). It's a fabulous weekend track car, and I would love one as a second or third car to keep forever. But you can have a 2008 Z4M with warranty and creature comforts that's a bit more daily drivable for that, and change. Plus the Z4M shares a fair bit with the CSL anyway - same brakes, same steering rack....
It depends what you want from a car, the Z4M fits perfectly between the E46 M3 and an M3 CSL.
I know why it's slower.. its surprisingly heavy for bmw "small sports coupe" it's not far off the weigth of the full blown 5 seater M3... Creature comforts? A CSL isn't "that" bad the ride is similarly bad as the Z4M IMO, I think an m3 is better than my 3.0 Z4 SE ride with 18's and NON unflats.Surprisingly my mates 2006 911 2s Vert is atleast even with my car ride wise if not more surpressed and it has 19's also a better handling car ,So its win win there for the porker...
But thats like 45k 2nd hand value... u could get urself a cheap Z4M vert and a CSL for that almost you can get a nice CSL with 40-60k with warrenty for sub 28k no probs. but your buying a faster car... I limted edtion car... That tbh will hold its money better than Z4M...althou i think at the moment as Modern M classics go(that will be worth most in 20 years) It goes E46 CSL, Then Z4 Tin top etc etc ... for future classics anyhow so not putting down the Z4M at all
I seriously consider buying a Z4M coupe ..but i do less than 3k a year... I could just a bout bare to put those miles on a CSL...So think i know what my next car will be.Sadly i think 3 years from now Z4M will be easy 15k if not less. but CSL probs still last Teens.? 18-20k? where they both become unfashionably old
Bit high for me.. I can put 10k on top of my roaster at best
... What's my car gonna be worth in 3 years? 6k? 80k miles by then? 3.0 2003,Fully loaded?