Z4's 3.0i > M

[Mr Whippy]

Well, I've had mine almost seven months now, and it's a good car.

BUT, ultimately it does seem to have a soft side which has been engineered in to satisfy nancies and hairdressers. I could always mod mine to bring the fun side out more, but it costs plenty and hurts resale.

I am totally happy with it, don't get me wrong, but I was quite surprised how un-compromised it was. I was almost wanting something that hammered home it was a sports car to me every day, but I can end up at work getting out, and looking back expecting to see a 330Ci convertible sat there, not a low-slung fantastic looking sports car that is softened a fraction too much. It really is fractions. I could live with it for another two years without issue, but would hate to think I missed out on what is ultimately the better Z4 for someone wanting a sports car, for the sake of a £1000 or so over the next two years, before it's time to move on and away from sports cars for a bit!

I reckon the M car is where the sports car that lays underneath this veil of almost too much 'normalness' is hiding, and all said and done it's not that far away, considering you are getting a 3yr newer car vs my 04 car especially!


Now, assuming nothing goes pop, what realistically are the cost differences per year, doing about 12k a year miles.


Not even sure I can afford it yet, just pondering. I want a Z4 for a good few years, but in a few years I won't want to buy an M to only keep it at tops a year, so would prefer to do it sooner than later, and then go back to a nice saloon of some variety in a few years (kids are likely to begin sprouting, and my partner wants the sports car next (Boxster))


Getting married in a couple of months so in the aftermath of bank balance battering I'll have to see what is left, but if it looks good I may well go try out an M just to see, but interested to hear from those who have gone 3.0i > Z4 and most especially the difference in feel and sensations etc. Worth the jump etc.


Thanks

Dave

 

[pvr]

Went from the 3.0 to the M and never looked back

The roadholding (LSD), the engine, the exhausts ... yummy.

Cost wise - hardly anything in it so far in the 2 years I had it. Insurance was about £50 more a year, roadtax was obviously more at £400 a year.

Servicing no difference so far as I brought my own oil so worked out cheaper then when I had the 3.0 overall.

 

[a11y]

T350T :wink:

Seriously though, sensible plan and I know where you're coming from: I know I'll probably not own a Z4M if I don't get into one in the next year or so either. It'll either be kids or I'll go the other way and get something really stupid like the TVR. Interested to hear what the honest running cost differences are though.

 

[WLH]

Went from the 3.0 to the M and never looked back

The roadholding (LSD), the engine, the exhausts ... yummy.

Cost wise - hardly anything in it so far in the 2 years I had it. Insurance was about £50 more a year, roadtax was obviously more at £400 a year.

Servicing no difference so far as I brought my own oil so worked out cheaper then when I had the 3.0 overall.

X2...

 

[Shooter]

Servicing no difference so far as I brought my own oil so worked out cheaper then when I had the 3.0 overall.

How is that possible ?
AS far as i know (and i'd like to be proven wrong here, because that would change my own mind toward the Z4M...), servicing the M is more than twice the price of the regular Z, at least here in France, according to the BMW service manual.
If you keep the standard "Oil service -> inspection 1 -> Oil Service -> inspection 2" cycle and you strictly stick to the BMW recommandations, here are the prices (in France, price in €, and "mileage" in kilometer...) :

Event if you skip the oil service by doing it yourself, 10W60 oil for the M is at least 50% more expensive than the 5w30 of the regular Z.

Again, if i'm wrong here, in any way, please tell me where.

 

[mmm-five]

...servicing the M is more than twice the price of the regular Z, at least here in France, according to the BMW service manual.
If you keep the standard "Oil service -> inspection 1 -> Oil Service -> inspection 2" cycle and you strictly stick to the BMW recommandations, here are the prices (in France, price in €, and "mileage" in kilometer...)

There's not really anything more to do on an M than there is on a non-M - the price increase is mainly BMW taking the piss. Go to a reputable independent/specialist and the prices will be similar. However you might need to service the M more regularly. My Z4MC will need an Inspection 1 at 23,000 miles (37,000km) according to the computer.

Event if you skip the oil service by doing it yourself, 10W60 oil for the M is at least 50% more expensive than the 5w30 of the regular Z.

The oil is the same price from my regular seller - OpieOils.

 

[pvr]

1.Bought the oil from Opie oils which was for the M cheaper then the oil for my X5. It was not expensive at all.
2. Service intervals are strange, we don't have 6000 miles service intervals on an M in the UK. The service interval for an M is the same as the 3.0.

 

[sammyz]

I went from a 2.5si to the M. i thought the 2.5si was a superb car that hit all the 'right' points. Quick (enough), economical, good looking, excellent road holding, etc etc. I'd driven all non-'M' variants when I bought the 2.5si and at the time I was sure it was the right car for me as I couldn't afford £45k for the 'M'

So the 'M' was just a dream, I had a launch pic as my screen saver in Imola Red and that was that! 6 months later and I saw how prices had dropped and I just had to have a drive to be sure I didn't really want one. That was my mistake/best decision ever (delete as appropriate)

The only way to be sure is to drive one!

 

[Mr Whippy]

I think I'll have to do a little reading/costing, and then wait till after the wedding, see what is what, and go for a test drive and see what I think

Costs don't seem that bad if I stick to independents, and I suppose the buyers of Z4 M's as they approach 6 years old+ will be true M heads, and will see past the non-FBMWSH...

Also, it seems, that 3.0i's have had a bigger ressurgence of value than the M's have, with a £10k gap being normal when I bought, but now an £8k gap seems more appropriate... also, I think the M's are almost at a stop point not swinging much, while the 3.0i's swinging down to sub £10k shows they have the ability to drop a fair old way!


You can see I'm selling it to myself here now haha! Will have to see if the wife agrees in a few months

 

[Smokin]

From a pre-facelift 3.0 to a post-facelift M, there'll be a pretty big jump in performance, etc.

Now, if you had a post-facelift 3.0Si....

 

[chetalien]

There has been discussion about 3.0 v M so many times,everytime I read it I feel i made the best decision. have had the M for 7 months, never looked back, fantastic.

 

[Ian_Mac]

I'm test driving the 3.0si and the M back to back on Sat morning. Going to take the si first then see what difference the M provides. Can't wait to be honest!

Hopefully the weather will be nice and won't spoil things too much.

 

[Shooter]

There's not really anything more to do on an M than there is on a non-M - the price increase is mainly BMW taking the piss. Go to a reputable independent/specialist and the prices will be similar. However you might need to service the M more regularly. My Z4MC will need an Inspection 1 at 23,000 miles (37,000km) according to the computer.

That would mean the Oil Service is to be held every 11500 miles / 18500 km. That's still a bit more than the regular Z, but not as often as i was told initially.
Could you confirm that the "service interval" is approximately 11000 miles between operations ?

The oil is the same price from my regular seller - OpieOils.

1.Bought the oil from Opie oils which was for the M cheaper then the oil for my X5. It was not expensive at all.

Why, why do i have to live on the wrong side of the channel !!!!
Well, it's the first time i ever see this, the Castrol EDGE 10W60 cheaper than the 5W30...
Definitely NOT the same thing here in France.

2. Service intervals are strange, we don't have 6000 miles service intervals on an M in the UK. The service interval for an M is the same as the 3.0.

I can't believe that the S54 does not require a more intensive service than the M54.
Beside oil services and inspections, the other fluids in the car (transmission, gear box and LSD) are also charged more by BMW.
I understand that you have a good network of "indies" in UK, but here in France, i'm not very keen on leaving my Z4 to anybody else than BMW, at least for "big" operation like the Inspection 2. Having the official BMW stamp on the car booklet is very important here.


Again, i want to be proven wrong !
That would change my mind about getting one of those sexy Z4M Roadster....

 

[Mr Whippy]

I understand that you have a good network of "indies" in UK, but here in France, i'm not very keen on leaving my Z4 to anybody else than BMW, at least for "big" operation like the Inspection 2. Having the official BMW stamp on the car booklet is very important here.

While over here I can't bring myself to trust BMW generally.

Last time I went they had me talk to 1 person to find out what I wanted, then waited, to speak to a 2nd person to tell me how much a service would be, then I'd pass the car to another person to drive it into the garage, then another person to do the work... 4 people, none of whom have any specific interest in the business except a salary.

While a good independent will own the very business and reputation it keeps, and talk to me directly, and do the very work being asked for!

Tis a tough one

Dave

 

[pvr]

Shooter, nothing to stop you buying the oil from Opie oils and have it sent. After I got the M (and after the 1200 miles service), the car wanted just an oil service at 14k. I had it done early as it was coming up to 2 years old and had the brake fluid done at the same time.

Next service is now at about 26 - 27k as per the indicator, which in my case will be in 2 years time so when the brake fluid service is due again.

My car is dealer maintained, but I only supplied my own oil. As I mentioned, at 4 years I will not have spend any more on servicing then I did on the previous 3.0 and if I sell it before it needs the service, I will have only had 1 oil service in the 4 years I would have had it (assuming a max mileage of 26k miles).

 

[ksher]

The only thing to keep me away from M cars are fuel and maintenance cost. My annual mileage is 12k miles. Z4M has combined mpg of 22, compared to my 2.5's 33. Extra fuel will cost just over £800.

It is hard to find a good BMW specialist in my area. So dealer is the only choice (3 miles from home). The expensive and more frequent service is main reason that I can have M cars. I think 3.0si is not that far from Z4M, and should provide 90% of what M can offer (I have not driven Z4M).

 

[senwar]

I think everyone should own an M once in their life!

A truly fantastic car that to be honest is nowhere near as expensive to run as you'd expect it to be.

I went from a 2.5 roadster to my M coupe and I adored every moment of ownership. And I agree with the earlier comment - going from a pre facelift z to an M you will see an even bigger difference.

 

[srhutch]

I'm still planning to get one next year, as the wife doesnt want me to get an M3 as she sees this as a backwards step from the Z4.

I'm only doing 6k a year but with the ///M would get a DD for work as the ///M would be my keep forever car.

 

[zeddy]

From a pre-facelift 3.0 to a post-facelift M, there'll be a pretty big jump in performance, etc.

Now, if you had a post-facelift 3.0Si....

Still worth getting the M ......I don't regret it at all

 

[Mr Whippy]

The Si just doesn't interest me really. I drove a 2.5Si and it wasn't any different to my pre-facelift 3.0i for feel/sensory feedback etc.

For all I care the M could have 250bhp only, it's the ethos of the setup, response, sound etc, that I would upgrade for... the speed is kinda irrelevant really.

Dave