M-Spec's cars: Track photos (Post 104)

[///M-Spec]

Sure. The original high-rez version is at the office at the moment. I'll upload it tomorrow morning.

Are they the 'run-flats' that BMW are insisting on putting on all cars or do 'M' get their own way with tyre choice?

No, they are not runflats. There is no runflat version of the SportContact that I'm aware of. Which is good because I shudder to think how much worse it can be.

M cars are all fitted with traditional non-RF tires. There is no spare, so in case of a puncture, BMW gives all M cars lifetime roadside assistance and an M Mobility Kit, which is just a sealant and compressor kit.

Some of the other ways the M version of the Z4 differ from standard.

-Z4 M has a traditional hydraulic steering rack, instead of electric assist
-Z4 M has no intake 'resonator' box that "pipes in engine sound" into the cabin
-Z4 M has a one switch off for stability control, instead of standard two stage system non Ms have
-Z4 M has a true mechanical limited slip differential (M-diff) Standard Z4 has an open diff and relies on DSC to control slip.


M

 

[Pebb]

Because you have one of these, what do you do as a job in real life ///M-Spec?

 

[///M-Spec]

I pimp Russian prostitutes.

You lookin' for a date, big boy?


M

 

[Pebb]

I pimp Russian prostitutes.

You lookin' for a date, big boy?


M

You wish

Anyway, what job do you really do, because it sounds like you have more money then Jordan.

----

The reason I am asking this is, because first Jordan may not be able to afford a Z4 M and 2nd it would be good research.

 

[///M-Spec]

You wish

C'mon man, it was a joke Lighten up.

Anyway, what job do you really do, because it sounds like you have more money then Jordan.

----

The reason I am asking this is, because first Jordan may not be able to afford a Z4 M and 2nd it would be good research.

I have no real job title at the moment. I am part operations manager, part buyer, part IT manager, part marketing director, part whatever else needs doing at the moment including pickups and deliveries guy for a distribution company that I happen to part own. So I am a small business owner.

As for what Jordan can and can not afford, it's not any business of mine (or yours) and I have pretty much zero interest in discussing it. Hope that answers your questions.


M

 

[OZZYGT]

Big time Ouch!....

--------------
Great car M! congratulations on your new purchase and I don't think I need to say: "I hope you enjoy your ride"

Now, I know this is a much premature question but, if you were to finally upgrade from your Z4 M, what car would you choose in exchange?

 

[///M-Spec]

Grazie, Vito



As for what to replace the Zed with, I'm not sure. I would like to replace the car with two.. maybe a 535xi or A6 Quattro for daily duties and an Elise for the weekends. The Z4 is a great toy, but nowhere near as comfortable as the 330 was for commuting. It's also not great for snow days like later today either (it's at home right now because I have no snow tires for it yet).

But the 2 car thing is a bit further down the road. For now I'm happy to enjoy it.


M

 

[OZZYGT]

I know


BTW, don't bother to take it out when there's snow on the streets man, I'd say keep that baby in the garage for now and besides, I'm sure the Murano can do well replacing the Z4's place on snow days
And yeah, we're also expecting quite a bit of snow here in the NY area as well...

 

[Swift]

Can't wait to see it in person Spec, enjoy!

 

[1X83Z]

It's nice, I guess, but I think you could have done better. I mean, it doesn't even have an automatic transmission or a back seat. You were fleeced, my friend.

Who are you?! Me?!

 

[McLaren]

You wish

Anyway, what job do you really do, because it sounds like you have more money then Jordan.

People can have more money than Jordan ya know.


As for M, maybe it's me, but do you think the Z4 M is worth the price of what a new E46 M3 went for? Before it was taken off, BMW of America stated a M3 was worth about $54,000.

And I'm almost jealous now that your car costs about $2K less than what mine goes for.

 

[///M-Spec]

As for M, maybe it's me, but do you think the Z4 M is worth the price of what a new E46 M3 went for? Before it was taken off, BMW of America stated a M3 was worth about $54,000.

And I'm almost jealous now that your car costs about $2K less than what mine goes for.

It depends on what you want. The M3 Coupe is a great car. But the top doesn't come down. Plus with an M3 it would be a 'been there, done that' sort of experience for me. There's no objective answer here; it just depends on what you're looking for. Now the wobbly porky 3750+ lb M3 Vert interests me not a single bit. Z4 M definitely wins again.

If you start looking at $ ... At full MSRP, the Z4 M is slightly overpriced for what it is. But nobody is paying MSRP for the car, since there's an obvious glut of them on the dealer lots. My 2006 was heavily discounted. I'm talking several thousand below invoice. At this price point, it starts to make real sense. (Well.. as much sense as a 300+ hp 2 seat toy car can make) In fact, it becomes a good deal.

Of course, the test drive secured the deal. The Z4 M is more interesting to drive than the M3. The M3 can't put a foot wrong. It does anything you ask of it all day long and comes up smelling like roses. It's the class president, track star and national merit scholar.

The Z on the other hand commands a certain level of intimidation and respect. It doesn't coddle you. The controls are stiffer; the clutch heavy and somewhat grabby, the shift notchy and seats snug and unyielding. The short wheelbase makes it an edgier handling wise. You need to concentrate and work at driving this car fast. While the M3 will let you drive it the way you want, the Z4 M dictates the experience to you; my way or the guardrail, tiger. It's the class president's stubborn, willful, rough around the edges cousin who traveled overseas, backpacked through Burma and learned Krav Maga from the IDF.

Forgive all the hyperbole that's my 250 mile impression, anyway. I've read from other owners that you really need to just grab the car by the scruff of the neck and show it who's boss, provided you're brave and capable enough. And that has a certain amount of appeal to me.


M

 

[Swift]

That sounds good to me spec. I've always enjoyed driving cars with 'quirks'. It's more challenging and at the end of the day, more rewarding.

 

[TheCracker]

It depends on what you want. The M3 Coupe is a great car. But the top doesn't come down. Plus with an M3 it would be a 'been there, done that' sort of experience for me. There's no objective answer here; it just depends on what you're looking for. Now the wobbly porky 3750+ lb M3 Vert interests me not a single bit. Z4 M definitely wins again.M

You didn't fancy hanging on a few months to see what the new V8 M3 is like?

- or will that be out of your potential price range?

 

[///M-Spec]

You didn't fancy hanging on a few months to see what the new V8 M3 is like?

- or will that be out of your potential price range?

Pretty much. The car will probably come in (I am just guessing) around $62,000 USD and $65-66k after options. And of course there will be no discounts for at least 18-24 months and I never pay sticker price. And that's about 15k more than I can spend. The Zed was enough of a splurge as it was..


M

 

[Diablomonkey]

So Umm when are you going to slap a turbo on that thing Anyway I love your new car congratulations on getting it.

 

[Roo]

I can't believe no-one's used the smiley yet.

Lovely car, and in the right colour too 👍

 

[McLaren]

It depends on what you want. The M3 Coupe is a great car. But the top doesn't come down. Plus with an M3 it would be a 'been there, done that' sort of experience for me. There's no objective answer here; it just depends on what you're looking for. Now the wobbly porky 3750+ lb M3 Vert interests me not a single bit. Z4 M definitely wins again.

If you start looking at $ ... At full MSRP, the Z4 M is slightly overpriced for what it is. But nobody is paying MSRP for the car, since there's an obvious glut of them on the dealer lots. My 2006 was heavily discounted. I'm talking several thousand below invoice. At this price point, it starts to make real sense. (Well.. as much sense as a 300+ hp 2 seat toy car can make) In fact, it becomes a good deal.

Of course, the test drive secured the deal. The Z4 M is more interesting to drive than the M3. The M3 can't put a foot wrong. It does anything you ask of it all day long and comes up smelling like roses. It's the class president, track star and national merit scholar.

The Z on the other hand commands a certain level of intimidation and respect. It doesn't coddle you. The controls are stiffer; the clutch heavy and somewhat grabby, the shift notchy and seats snug and unyielding. The short wheelbase makes it an edgier handling wise. You need to concentrate and work at driving this car fast. While the M3 will let you drive it the way you want, the Z4 M dictates the experience to you; my way or the guardrail, tiger. It's the class president's stubborn, willful, rough around the edges cousin who traveled overseas, backpacked through Burma and learned Krav Maga from the IDF.

Forgive all the hyperbole that's my 250 mile impression, anyway. I've read from other owners that you really need to just grab the car by the scruff of the neck and show it who's boss, provided you're brave and capable enough. And that has a certain amount of appeal to me.


M

So, your dealer has a huge abundance of them too, heh?
They have so many at Classic, it's kind of amazing. But do they have a lot M Coupes at your's? Only seen 2 here. They go too fast.

As for the test drive, I drove a Z4 M Roadster once, and I agree. I haven't driven a M3 in the longest time when I drove the M Roadster though so I can't really compare.

And I remember now you said you had an E36 M3 once. True, you've been down the M3 route, but hey, it's not a bad one.

Given though, that you bought your M Roadster way under MSRP makes me even more jealous. The M Roadster/Coupe also sports an engine based off the E46 M3, correct?

Anyways, I'll probably join you in December as a new BMW owner after the 3 is gone. By then, you can take the M3 and I'll take the 335i.

 

[///M-Spec]

So, your dealer has a huge abundance of them too, heh?
They have so many at Classic, it's kind of amazing. But do they have a lot M Coupes at your's? Only seen 2 here. They go too fast.

As for the test drive, I drove a Z4 M Roadster once, and I agree. I haven't driven a M3 in the longest time when I drove the M Roadster though so I can't really compare.

And I remember now you said you had an E36 M3 once. True, you've been down the M3 route, but hey, it's not a bad one.

Given though, that you bought your M Roadster way under MSRP makes me even more jealous. The M Roadster/Coupe also sports an engine based off the E46 M3, correct?

Anyways, I'll probably join you in December as a new BMW owner after the 3 is gone. By then, you can take the M3 and I'll take the 335i.

I think BMW over produced the 2006s. That's why you can still find them in the showroom. Within a 50 mile radius of where I live, a search turned up 10+ '06 Roadsters. Did a wider search and one place down in Virginia had 5.

There was a Black Sapphire '07 Coupe at the dealer where I got my Roadster. I've physically been to four BMW dealers in my area and that was the first Coupe I've seen. So, yea, they seem to go pretty fast.

Yes, the Z4 Ms have the S54 from the E46 M3. But due to plumbing restrictions (or possibly the work of maraudering marketing people) of the exhaust system, we are heinously robbed of 3 horsepower.

And yes, I've actually had two E36 M3s. A coupe, then a sedan.

So.. you're getting rid of the 330? You have an Imola Red CiC with ZHP, right? Getting tired of it already?


M

 

[Danny]

Hows the fuel consumption been?

As expected?

 

[///M-Spec]

Not so hot, as expected. ~16.8 mpg according to the computer. And I've been pussyfooting around too because of the break-in period. It should get better once the motor loosens up a bit.

But my commute is 80% city driving. Even the 330 only managed ~19.6 and that was a car that would get 29+ mpg on the highway.


M

 

[Nickbag]

I never even knew they came out with a M edition Z4. Are they going to make a Z4 coupe M with the hardtop? I love the styling they did for the Z4's.

 

[rovens]

I never even knew they came out with a M edition Z4. Are they going to make a Z4 coupe M with the hardtop? I love the styling they did for the Z4's.

Done and done.

 

[Roo]

You mean like this?

 

[Milliethemutt]

Nice car M-Spec. I got the chance to drive my friends E46 M3 some of the way back from buying and got to drive a really good local road. That engine is something everyone has to hear. I was totally shocked at how brutal it is. And I didn't even have it in sport mode.

 

[McLaren]

I think BMW over produced the 2006s. That's why you can still find them in the showroom. Within a 50 mile radius of where I live, a search turned up 10+ '06 Roadsters. Did a wider search and one place down in Virginia had 5.

There was a Black Sapphire '07 Coupe at the dealer where I got my Roadster. I've physically been to four BMW dealers in my area and that was the first Coupe I've seen. So, yea, they seem to go pretty fast.

Yes, the Z4 Ms have the S54 from the E46 M3. But due to plumbing restrictions (or possibly the work of maraudering marketing people) of the exhaust system, we are heinously robbed of 3 horsepower.

And yes, I've actually had two E36 M3s. A coupe, then a sedan.

So.. you're getting rid of the 330? You have an Imola Red CiC with ZHP, right? Getting tired of it already?


M

I'm a long way from getting tired.

I still have 11 more months on it. I do like the 335i Conv., but I think my conv. days are over for now unless of course I can magically keep and maintain a Diablo Roadster.

But until after December 2007, yeah, I may be getting tired. A couple of my friends don't like the back (though they do admit it's larger than other convs.), which now ultimately leads to the TL.

And I can see what you mean. Classic though seems to have a "M Phase" going on. Last time I went, there were 2 new M6 Cabriolets, a model I had no idea was out yet, 1 M5 (2 now), a good supply of the M Roadsters, 2 760iLs, and just about any other top of the line model now...all in black. And yet, not one M Coupe.

Luckily though, they're moving to a much larger facility they built, and should be able to handle more vehicles. I hope I can spot the M Coupe there, and perhaps, test drive one. The 2 I had seen (grey and black; most likely the same black you saw), were sold and inside the dealer which pretty much kept me from a test drive. I did get the, "How about a M Roadster?" though...which I accepted.

EDIT* Looks like they update about it.
http://www.classicbmw.com/news.aspx
In case you become interested.

 

[Keef]

Thank you for the picture, M! It's beautiful. I love the blue car, the whote wall, the gray asphalt. It all just works together, and the reflections off the spotless car make it even better. Hope you have fun with the car, and get rid of those tires!

 

[franz]

Very nice M-spec car indeed
good to hear get a bargain price
I didn't know there is a huge difference between M3 and Z4M in terms of driving dynamics
however I do think you have made a very good choice
congrats 👍

 

[Sureboss]

Top stuff.

What's the insurance like?

 

[Nickbag]

I didn't even know BMW came out with a M edition of the Z4. Is there going to be a hardtop coupe version?