Flatcapdriver

Has anyone else tried one of these? We have a 3.0 litre 'cooking' version, which is due for replacement and I'm thinking about the M version which I drove today. However, I'm a little puzzled by the engine which I've always been told is the dog's danglies having been transplanted from the M3.

Initial impressions are that this Z4 is far better in the ride, handling and braking departments mainly due to the lack of runflats I guess but I was not as impressed by the engine as I wanted to be. It sounds great with the lid off but was a tad too loud and sounded quite 'tappety' but most importantly felt underwhelming in the torque department lower down the rev range. To get the best out of it required a good caning, which was fun but no way to keep my licence.

Do they get better with some miles on them or is this typical of this engine? Jumping back in to my wife's Z4 didn't feel like I'd just lost 100bhp - puzzling.

Anyone with experience of these engines? Numpties need not apply.

AudiLover

wait for the 300hp or 350hp TT. The 2.0T FSI is nearly as fast round hockenheim as the Z4M.

Of late BMW have fallen off. Maybe taking this whole sport thing a little too seriously.

andys

I have drive both the M3 and Z4m on extended test drives. It was almost as if it was a different engine, it pulled like a rocket in the Z4M compared to the M3. Did find with the Z4M that the handling on uneven B roads taken at speed was down right dangerous and would throw you across the road with out warning. I also think if you were going to use it as an everyday car it would soon loose its appeal.
Best car I have driven in that style so far is a SLK 55 AMG but the 350 was not far behind.

Flatcapdriver

Andy, the best way of countering that is to turn of the DSC not because I'm a driving God but it's one piece of technology that doesn't work that well. Interesting comments about the differing performance though.

andys

Well it was the first time I had driven a rear wheel drive car in ages and was not brave enough to turn off the DSC. I think what sumed up the differnce nicely is that with the M3 I had it in sports mode all the time where as the Z4M did not need it.

leonpoole

A friend of mine has a Z4M. He's only had it 4 months and is sick of it already and doesn't find it fast. I think otherwise but he's the one who drives it every day so his opinion means more than mine. He' just waitin for his new M3 to arrive and his Z4M is gone

MarkWRX

In Autoexpress test this week it finishes in last place behind the Cayman S and 350Z.......depending upon how much credibility you give to AE

Flatcapdriver

Well,

on the basis of an extended test drive today and Her Indoors agreeing to pay for most of it, the Z4M should be with us in three weeks. Had a pop in the Boxster, which is a fantastic handling car but the engine felt a bit weak - horses for courses I suppose and the seats in the Z4 are a lot better and that engine sounds great. Usual bitch fest surrounding the colour when women buy cars but we got there in the end - hopefully it will turn out to be a decent second car.

AudiLover

what colour did you get

Flatcapdriver

Interlagos blue.

AudiLover

My favourite colour for cars after black, good choice.