Z4M
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 1
From: At Home
I had a Z4M R for 9 months ... I couldn't get on with the gearbox - great when pressing on but oh so notchy and annoying in town driving.
It handled really well - but is big. If you take it by the scruff of the neck and give it some it loves it ... everything else and it objects !
Fuel for me was good - 22-23mpg which isn't bad for 340bhp. Servicing less so - looking at £750 Insp 1 and £1000 for Insp 2 due to the 'extras' you will need, like a brake fluid change, etc.
One thing really found disappointing compared to an S or, say, MX5, is that the heater seems wholly inadequate to keep you even remotely OK when it gets colder. I used to love having the roof down on a crisp day and I couldn't do that in the Z4M Roadster.
If you can manage the gearbox and servicing costs then they are a great car. Beautiful engine but beware it is very linear and doesn't feel as quick as it really is.
I am glad I sold mine though ... I just hated the gearbox for the driving I do which is a shame as I miss open top driving
It handled really well - but is big. If you take it by the scruff of the neck and give it some it loves it ... everything else and it objects !
Fuel for me was good - 22-23mpg which isn't bad for 340bhp. Servicing less so - looking at £750 Insp 1 and £1000 for Insp 2 due to the 'extras' you will need, like a brake fluid change, etc.
One thing really found disappointing compared to an S or, say, MX5, is that the heater seems wholly inadequate to keep you even remotely OK when it gets colder. I used to love having the roof down on a crisp day and I couldn't do that in the Z4M Roadster.
If you can manage the gearbox and servicing costs then they are a great car. Beautiful engine but beware it is very linear and doesn't feel as quick as it really is.
I am glad I sold mine though ... I just hated the gearbox for the driving I do which is a shame as I miss open top driving
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,652
Likes: 17
From: Market Harborough, Leics.
There are a few people that moved from the S to a Z4M. From memory, Blurter, Alfamale, RedUn and myself.
I have a Z4M coupe which i've owned for about 18months and like it a lot.
I can't comment on the roadster because i've never driven one, but there's a lot of crap talked about the handling.
They are not in the same league as an Elise handling wise, but more than comparable to an S2000. The handling is a lot more confidence inspiring, it feels more planted and on track they are bloody fast. My experience of it track is that you steer it with the throttle and it is really good fun. Initially i found it too fast for the road and the power scared me a bit. In the lower gears its seriously quick.
Brakes are great for the road, weak on track. Notchy gear change its its weak point but they seem to vary and mine is ok.
Running costs are in the M league as you'd expect. However, service intervals are longer than the S so even though major services are expensive at BMW dealers the servicing costs are too bad. Its the parts that sting though. Independents are far more reasonable, as you'd expect.
Overall, i like mine a lot. I'd recommend one. People who comment on the handling usually haven't driven one.
I have a Z4M coupe which i've owned for about 18months and like it a lot.
I can't comment on the roadster because i've never driven one, but there's a lot of crap talked about the handling.
They are not in the same league as an Elise handling wise, but more than comparable to an S2000. The handling is a lot more confidence inspiring, it feels more planted and on track they are bloody fast. My experience of it track is that you steer it with the throttle and it is really good fun. Initially i found it too fast for the road and the power scared me a bit. In the lower gears its seriously quick.
Brakes are great for the road, weak on track. Notchy gear change its its weak point but they seem to vary and mine is ok.
Running costs are in the M league as you'd expect. However, service intervals are longer than the S so even though major services are expensive at BMW dealers the servicing costs are too bad. Its the parts that sting though. Independents are far more reasonable, as you'd expect.
Overall, i like mine a lot. I'd recommend one. People who comment on the handling usually haven't driven one.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,571
Likes: 0
From: Merseyside
I bought one getting on for 12 months now, I didn't get a coupe because IMO there is no advantage to one, some people say the chassis is a bit stiffer but meh. The car comes alive with the roof down, IMO it's one of its stronger points.
The gearbox is heavy and notchy, especially second, put it this way it's not really that much different to other modern BMWs just a bit heavier, it's no S2000 box though.
The engine is simply awesome the way it builds speed and keeps on building it is epic, it really is a quick car oh and the noise is just another thing especially with the roof down
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining, something that is missing from the 987 Boxster IMO.
The car is a real sense of occasion, I commuted in mine everyday for 9 months, it never became tiresome, it's comfy and fairly refined albeit thirsy, 21mpg average for my commute.
Now that it is a toy it does sit in the garage only to be used for fun and roof off action, the brakes are great but will groan after a while and it can be difficult to get into a rhythm with it but when you do it's proper fun, it will oversteer in the dry very easily if provoked, which is regularly
Running costs are higher than the likes of an S2000 but I only do around 4k a year anyway.
PS Did I mention the noise?
The gearbox is heavy and notchy, especially second, put it this way it's not really that much different to other modern BMWs just a bit heavier, it's no S2000 box though.
The engine is simply awesome the way it builds speed and keeps on building it is epic, it really is a quick car oh and the noise is just another thing especially with the roof down
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining, something that is missing from the 987 Boxster IMO.
The car is a real sense of occasion, I commuted in mine everyday for 9 months, it never became tiresome, it's comfy and fairly refined albeit thirsy, 21mpg average for my commute.
Now that it is a toy it does sit in the garage only to be used for fun and roof off action, the brakes are great but will groan after a while and it can be difficult to get into a rhythm with it but when you do it's proper fun, it will oversteer in the dry very easily if provoked, which is regularly
Running costs are higher than the likes of an S2000 but I only do around 4k a year anyway.
PS Did I mention the noise?
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,652
Likes: 17
From: Market Harborough, Leics.
I didn't get a coupe because IMO there is no advantage to one, some people say the chassis is a bit stiffer s.
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining
I've not driven the roadster, but my coupe isn't noticeable understeery. In fact under power when you'd expect the understeer the front seems to dig in and it feels like the rears are rotating the car through the corner. Its quite an odd sensation but very effective and i guess due to the fact you're virtually sitting on top of the rear wheels.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,571
Likes: 0
From: Merseyside
Originally Posted by Jonsey Boy!' timestamp='1348750133' post='22041467
I didn't get a coupe because IMO there is no advantage to one, some people say the chassis is a bit stiffer s.
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining
I've not driven the roadster, but my coupe isn't noticeable understeery. In fact under power when you'd expect the understeer the front seems to dig in and it feels like the rears are rotating the car through the corner. Its quite an odd sensation but very effective and i guess due to the fact you're virtually sitting on top of the rear wheels.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 1
From: Northampton,UK
Originally Posted by Jonsey Boy!' timestamp='1348750133' post='22041467
I didn't get a coupe because IMO there is no advantage to one, some people say the chassis is a bit stiffer s.
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining
Initially when you first drive it hard it seems to be very understeery but as others have said if you hoon in it the handling is great and above all entertaining
I've not driven the roadster, but my coupe isn't noticeable understeery. In fact under power when you'd expect the understeer the front seems to dig in and it feels like the rears are rotating the car through the corner. Its quite an odd sensation but very effective and i guess due to the fact you're virtually sitting on top of the rear wheels.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 0
From: Milton Keynes
Had my coupe around 2 years now and still love it, it's much faster than a standard S but that's to be expected with another 100 hp on tap
It's not as light to drive as the S you feel the cast iron straight 6 up front but you can attack corners at speeds that in the S you would be holding your breath with. As I don't do so many miles I find servicing about the same as the Honda around £1400 for 4 years driving, it's not as complicated as some of the other M cars so no magnetic dampers etc, they are prone to breaking rear coil springs. If you want to modify then it can be expensive like the S And like the S the best way to get any significant power is to go FI
An ESS supercharger can up the power to around the 500 hp, I think it's more than fast enough in standard trim.
If you go for the coupe it's quite an exclusive club, not many in uk
It's not as light to drive as the S you feel the cast iron straight 6 up front but you can attack corners at speeds that in the S you would be holding your breath with. As I don't do so many miles I find servicing about the same as the Honda around £1400 for 4 years driving, it's not as complicated as some of the other M cars so no magnetic dampers etc, they are prone to breaking rear coil springs. If you want to modify then it can be expensive like the S And like the S the best way to get any significant power is to go FI
An ESS supercharger can up the power to around the 500 hp, I think it's more than fast enough in standard trim.
If you go for the coupe it's quite an exclusive club, not many in uk
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 11,445
Likes: 7
From: Plymouth
Bloody good deal here, sound bloke too it seems...
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748881
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748881