Z4M Coupe

[jellyfishfields]

Bought this a couple of months ago, not quite a classic, but i could maybe get away with calling it a modern classic.

In the current market I think they've become good value, I see it as a bit of a modern 240z, or maybe a GT6. Straight six coupe, slightly lairy handling it's certainly good fun, and a bit different.

It came with an AC Schnitzer exhaust and strut brace, and I've since added an Eventuri carbon intake, makes a great sound.

Sadly, the photos are not my garage 🙂

[Lesworth]

I think they are a classic for sure. Nice purchase - suitably 'left field' which is a very good thing in my book. 

[Phill]

Looks good. Far nicer than a convertible.

[Baz]

Very nice and looks good for its age, got to become a usable classic that one.

Baz

[jellyfishfields]

Almost surprised how much I like it. They get mixed reviews, but once you spend some time getting used to them, they're huge fun.

Bought it with 32K miles on it, I'm up to 34K already, which is a lot for me in a couple of months, alothough 600 of that was driving it home.  Great  engine, the noise with the air intake is quite addictive, a quick trip to the shops often ends up in an extended drive to somewhere else.

[johndglynn]

I have a regular 3.0 E86 Sport manual - such a great car! Mega fun. Well done 👍🏻

[World Citizen]

Always like these, looks great !

[jellyfishfields]

Thanks for the comments. 👍

On 04/12/2021 at 22:51, johndglynn said:

I have a regular 3.0 E86 Sport manual - such a great car! Mega fun. Well done 👍🏻

How many cars do you have? 😃

Have you had the coupe long?

[Mondrian]

On 06/12/2021 at 06:48, jellyfishfields said:

Thanks for the comments. 👍

How many cars do you have? 😃

Have you had the coupe long?

I don't think @johndglynn really knows, it's a bit like asking Boris how many kids he has.

[johndglynn]

3 hours ago, Mondrian said:

I don't think @johndglynn really knows, it's a bit like asking Boris how many kids he has.

yeah I have a few cars for sure... Z4 is a great one to own!

[Beaky]

Out of pure curiosity and putting aside costs, is the Z4M better that a Cayman R/S?

[sopor]

My 2p...

I had a Z4M for 2 years and loved/hated it. I'm an unashamed BMW fan and at one point had a Z1, the Z4M and a V10 M5 estate concurrently. Did I say I was a BMW fan?

I liked the styling and the overall package. Lovely quick steering. Decent if slightly clunky gear shift with good ratios. Good build quality. Fab engine - very torquey yet loved to rev out and sounded awesome doing it. Said to have had BMW's stiffest body shell until the i8 came along so an ideal platform for a great handling car. It was great on smooth roads. Sitting almost over the rear wheels gives super feedback on what the back end is doing so easy to hang the tail out as much or as little as desired. An absolute hoot on alpine hairpins. But on a bumpy B road... I found it diabolical. Nowhere near enough compliance and composure; just too stiff. Might have been fine on smooth South Carolina tarmac but not on undulating, cracked, potholed and bumpy UK roads. Amazing that BMW would sign off on such a car - made me wonder what the design brief was. Even Chris Franklin at Centre Gravity shook his head a bit at what BMW's intentions must have been.

I replaced it with a Boxster GTS which is a complete contrast. Even with the X73 suspension and 20" wheels it is so much more composed and sure footed than the Z4M. I'm sometimes astonished at how well the Boxster handles whatever the tarmac throws at it; the Z4M would have been spat off into the nearest hedge at the same pace.

Hard to believe two German car companies could come up with two such different answers to the 2 seat entry level sports car question.

[jellyfishfields]

They are often compared with a Cayman, but in many ways they do not compare. A Cayman will be the better car in nearly all measurable ways, lower c.o.g more compliant suspension etc will see to that on UK roads. I feel much more comfortable cornering quickly in the IB than in the BMW, it feels quite edgy.

However, for me the Z4M has another kind of appeal, the layout, shape and suspension gives it a retro feel, and with the addition of a more open exhaust and the carbon intake it sounds fantastic. Possibly the best sounding car I've owned to date. 

If your looking for the ultimate handling on UK roads it will disappoint, but for pure fun and making each trip and advent, it's great. Depends what you're after I guess. Many change the suspension to KW, which apparently makes quite a difference. 

[Richard Bernau]

Like this car 👍

Can I just add a naughty idea - CSL rep wheels.  You know you want to.

Also happy to share thoughts on KWs.  Short story, they are very good but also more suitable to smooth German roads.

 

[jellyfishfields]

11 hours ago, Richard Bernau said:

Like this car 👍

Can I just add a naughty idea - CSL rep wheels.  You know you want to.

Also happy to share thoughts on KWs.  Short story, they are very good but also more suitable to smooth German roads.

 

Thanks, I have looked into both, but the KWs have became more expensive, around £2K is the cheapest I can see them at.

From what I've read, the KW can be made more compliant than standard, is that not your experience? I don't think I'd want 19" wheels with the suspension as it is, it's firm enough already.

All I've done with it suspension wise so far is to max out the negative camber on the front. It improves the cornering, but introduces a little tram-lining, not too bad though.

[sopor]

I fitted KW V3s on my car - on virtually full soft they gave the compliance that I felt was previously missing.

Beware of CSL wheels or worse yet CSL reps - they’re quite heavy which is not what that car needs.

 

[SurlySurdi]

Lovely looking quirky motor, nice.

[jellyfishfields]

On 19/01/2022 at 22:36, sopor said:

I fitted KW V3s on my car - on virtually full soft they gave the compliance that I felt was previously missing.

Beware of CSL wheels or worse yet CSL reps - they’re quite heavy which is not what that car needs.

 

It's a shame the KW set is so expensive, it would be interesting to try out.

I need to keep my eyes peeled for any deals on them.

17 hours ago, SurlySurdi said:

Lovely looking quirky motor, nice.

Thanks 👍

[sopor]

Just checked my emails - I paid £1314 for the set in June of 2015. Sterling was rather stronger against the Euro back then.

[Richard Bernau]

I have non-adjustable V1s, which I was happy with in UK/EU.  Firm, but damping is night and day better than OE stuff.  Much more affordable than V3s, or look at the ST range which is exactly the same without the stainless body and is made by KW.

 

[jellyfishfields]

On 21/01/2022 at 08:53, sopor said:

Just checked my emails - I paid £1314 for the set in June of 2015. Sterling was rather stronger against the Euro back then.

Wish they were still that price now, I  may send a few emails and see if anyone can do a deal.

16 hours ago, Richard Bernau said:

I have non-adjustable V1s, which I was happy with in UK/EU.  Firm, but damping is night and day better than OE stuff.  Much more affordable than V3s, or look at the ST range which is exactly the same without the stainless body and is made by KW.

 

Sounds ideal, but I could only find springs for the z4m, in that range.

Edited January 24, 2022 by jellyfishfields