Z4MC; So good I may have to get rid of it!

[GTWayne]

I have owned this car since October last year and have not even covered over 2K miles in it, but over this last weekend I have discovered what these cars are REALLY about!
Initially I found that I was giving it to much respect, kind of hiding in its shadow if that makes sense? I love everything about it but it just didn't give me that thrill that I was looking for, maybe it is that I have had a period, all be it a short one, of riding some proper phat bikes, mind blowingly fast, and have owned a plethora of much faster machines over the years, but it all kind of fell into place on Sunday as I went for a proper tour and had a healthy portion of enlightenment by way of learning how to get the best from your M car
Switch off the DSC, take the thing by the scruff of its neck and make it have it.
It can be a brute but work with it and a delicacy can be achieved, poise and accuracy + POWER = a delightful machine to cover ground in, FAST!
My only worry is that I will never again be able to drive the car at a sensible rate as the shear unadulterated pleasure of driving such a harmonious tool has finally hit home and I really don't want to end up doing bird. I really should get rid of it but it is too good.

[Beedub]

sounds good wayne but i havent got the balls to turn off the DSC and let it have it!!!!! can you post pics of your car please!!! id love to see a fellow z4m er

[R1_NUR]

http://www.youtube.com/v/9JA0NMoJrSs

Edited by R1_NUR on Monday 19th May 23:30

[GTWayne]

Try this for a picture;

If that is no good do a search for ; Z4 M Coupe; Underrated or what?

[DavidCane]

That's what track days are for!

My Z3MC has no traction control and in the dry it's not an issue at all. It's just not necessary in the dry. In the wet however.....I'd leave it switched on

Get on a track day, you'll love it and so will your car*

• You're wallet probably won't though.

[kentmotorcompany]

R1_NUR said:

http://www.youtube.com/v/9JA0NMoJrSs

Edited by R1_NUR on Monday 19th May 23:30

Great video!!

[john_p]

kentmotorcompany said:

R1_NUR said:

http://www.youtube.com/v/9JA0NMoJrSs

Edited by R1_NUR on Monday 19th May 23:30

Great video!!

Definitely. But I can make out the rear plate, you might want to watch that.

[ASBO]

john_p said:

kentmotorcompany said:

R1_NUR said:

http://www.youtube.com/v/9JA0NMoJrSs

Edited by R1_NUR on Monday 19th May 23:30

Great video!!

Definitely. But I can make out the rear plate, you might want to watch that.

Closed road though.

Fabulous spot of car control there

[R1_NUR]

john_p said:

kentmotorcompany said:

R1_NUR said:

http://www.youtube.com/v/9JA0NMoJrSs

Edited by R1_NUR on Monday 19th May 23:30

Great video!!

Definitely. But I can make out the rear plate, you might want to watch that.

Cheers guys.

Yeh I did thank about that - I was worried about my friend but you can't see his face so I kinda hoped it would be OK. Oh and the road was closed.

[ian in lancs]

GTWayne said:

I have owned this car since October last year and have not even covered over 2K miles in it, but over this last weekend I have discovered what these cars are REALLY about!
Initially I found that I was giving it to much respect, kind of hiding in its shadow if that makes sense? I love everything about it but it just didn't give me that thrill that I was looking for, maybe it is that I have had a period, all be it a short one, of riding some proper phat bikes, mind blowingly fast, and have owned a plethora of much faster machines over the years, but it all kind of fell into place on Sunday as I went for a proper tour and had a healthy portion of enlightenment by way of learning how to get the best from your M car
Switch off the DSC, take the thing by the scruff of its neck and make it have it.
It can be a brute but work with it and a delicacy can be achieved, poise and accuracy + POWER = a delightful machine to cover ground in, FAST!
My only worry is that I will never again be able to drive the car at a sensible rate as the shear unadulterated pleasure of driving such a harmonious tool has finally hit home and I really don't want to end up doing bird. I really should get rid of it but it is too good.

totally agree! A few weeks ago I had a go on Prodrive's test track; awesome car, especially without DSC

[GTWayne]

ian in lancs said:

totally agree! A few weeks ago I had a go on Prodrive's test track; awesome car, especially without DSC

I did not want to track this car initially and that fact is what has been holding me back to date but now I am looking at things in a slightly different light. I have had the car re-mapped and intend to fit KW 3 suspension soon + camber plates etc. I already have the obligatory CSL rims and am now looking at an airbox. Lighter seats are also being considered but I am sorely tempted to take a trip to the Ring latter this year at the most and to do Donington/Snet/Brands? at the least. I don't want to kill the car and I won't be punishing it but I don't think that it will be necessary and am confident that I will come away from a days action fulfilled no matter where I go

[ian in lancs]

GTWayne said:

ian in lancs said:

totally agree! A few weeks ago I had a go on Prodrive's test track; awesome car, especially without DSC

I did not want to track this car initially and that fact is what has been holding me back to date but now I am looking at things in a slightly different light. I have had the car re-mapped and intend to fit KW 3 suspension soon + camber plates etc. I already have the obligatory CSL rims and am now looking at an airbox. Lighter seats are also being considered but I am sorely tempted to take a trip to the Ring latter this year at the most and to do Donington/Snet/Brands? at the least. I don't want to kill the car and I won't be punishing it but I don't think that it will be necessary and am confident that I will come away from a days action fulfilled no matter where I go

The car suspension is fine as it is! In fact the car is extremely well develeoped already. I went with these guys and had a good day (tank ave 10mpg) on a safe track http://www.driverdp.com/hancourse.asp I wouldn't want to put an expensive car on an open pit lane with loons about!

[GTWayne]

ian in lancs said:

The car suspension is fine as it is! In fact the car is extremely well develeoped already.

Initially I did not think the suspension too bad at all and put my suspicions down to the bad press I had read regarding the matter but as time has gone by, I think that the combination of a progressive spring, and a damper that works well in conjunction with the spring in some conditions and not in others is the main culprit of the wayward handling label, but only in certain circumstances. The KW 3 will give the opportunity to adjust bump, rebound and compression. Now I will not be fiddling endlessly to change and sample but once a suitable setting has been found, it can be tweaked if need be depending on the track I am at. Correct suspension is a science indeed, but not a black art and if I am to enter into this pursuit, I am keen to have suspension that I am able to tailor to my exact requirements.

[KENZ]

Agree it's a car that needs to be driven by the scruff of the neck in order to find out how truly well balanced it is.

Edited by KENZ on Tuesday 20th May 23:08

[graeme36s]

My sisters just picked up a brand new Z4M roadster today after giving up on her M3 Cab with smg. Healthy discount on the new car and an unusual colour ruby black. She loved it as soon as she test drove it, like her old 130iMsport but much better. I have not driven it yet, I better wait until she's run it in.

[derestrictor]

Superb stuff and yes, push beyond the twiglet (comfort) zone and it's amazing what state of the art chassis balance and trick diffs allow.

Trackdemon's Z4 3.0iS at a previous Vmax was a lesson in point; ok, truly heroic wheelcraft but beyond Scooberishic cuts of choicest drift mignon, bien cuit.

[sixspeed]

Anyone that hasn't had the DSC off yet in this/these cars is sorely missing out...

Maybe it comes from a previous line of cars such as the VX and Tuscan, which never had such nanny-ing options, but I rarely drive the Z4MC with DSC on.... It's too intrusive and cuts in far earlier than it needs to a lot of the time.

GTWayne - when are you thinking of heading to the 'Ring? We're next over 11-14th July if you fancy it?

[GTWayne]

sixspeed said:

Anyone that hasn't had the DSC off yet in this/these cars is sorely missing out...

Maybe it comes from a previous line of cars such as the VX and Tuscan, which never had such nanny-ing options, but I rarely drive the Z4MC with DSC on.... It's too intrusive and cuts in far earlier than it needs to a lot of the time.

GTWayne - when are you thinking of heading to the 'Ring? We're next over 11-14th July if you fancy it?

The main reason for not driving the car without DSC up until now for me was that A/ You have to manually switch it of and B/ The weather has, up until now at least, been poor and with DSC on the car is unlikely to get into trouble in such conditions.
This is not my only car and as I have previously stated, I have as yet hardly driven it in the six months of ownership.

The Ring, bloody typical this is! We too were going on those exact dates but since hitching up with a bunch of fellas that have been going for years, we have been advised that it will be hell on said weekend due to the truck GP going on at the same time and so we have decided to cancel, ( which is good because it is the same weekend as the LM Classic, so we are going there instead now! ). I am going to the ring for the first time in June and plan to go again in September but it will only be in the Z4MC if my 650bhp Ultima GTW is not back up and running by then, which incidentally, does not have DSC

We WILL meet one day, count on it

[sixspeed]

According to the guys on Northloop, the TF is pretty quiet on the TruckGP weekend, because they're all watching the racing... but accommodation was a nightmare. We managed to find some though, with a bit of dedicated Google'ing... might have been a room still spare IIRC, but can't guarantee it's still there.

If you're going over later in the year though, give me an email... will see what my plans are Hoping to fit the KW Clubsports before the July trip, all going well

[m12_nathan]

Can I ask why you chose the clubsports over Intrax? I had the same dilemma and went the other way so be interested to know your thoughts?