Z4 jolly this lunchtime.....

[anniesdad]

Just had a lovely lunch with a business associate and drove to and from the restaraunt in a 3.0 Z4. It's the second time I've driven the car and thought I'd leave a couple of impressions;

Engine - plenty of performance on tap from low down but really comes on song in 3rd gear at 4K revs. Altogether a bit of a flier and certainly enough to pin you into your seatback.

Gearbox - a lovely swift, slick, shortthrow action, possibly the cars best feature.

Exhaust note - a little dissapointing and could probably benefit from an after market sports exhaust, but not really any complaints.

Handling - Tacked in nicely enough into the corners, but the nose is quite long and it's sometimes difficult to plant the car exactly where you want it to go. Couldn't get the car to oversteer in the dry (kept TC on), but out of courtesy to the owner didn't want to push it too hard. Mid corner bumps can upset the car a little because of the........

Ride - a bit harsh, probably due to the low profile run flat tyres, but altogether a rather jumpy experience, the car was running optional 18's. Made my E36 328 feel like a limo (and an MPV strangely enough), when I got back in it immediately after jumping out of the Z4. My cars got truly excellent damping.

Looks - its a Z4....some people like it, some don't.....I do. Turns plenty of heads, still.

Boot space - shmoot space.

Electric hood - a delight to use, simplification itself and very quick in operation.

Conclusion....one for the Wife...but very nice all the same.

>>> Edited by anniesdad on Friday 29th October 09:00

[Raify]

anniesdad said:

Ride - a bit harsh, probably due to the low profile run flat tyres, but altogether a rather jumpy experience, the car was running optional 18's.

If it's got optional (larger) alloys and run flats, it doesn't surprise me at all that the ride's hard!

It's bad enough on my MINI, and I specified smaller wheels. Those shtty tyres are coming off as soon as is possible.

Doesn't it say something that BMW have not included run flats on their flagship performance models like the M5?

Not a bad looking car the Z4, I'm warming to it. If only they'd let Motorsport get their hands on it.

[anniesdad]

Not sampled a Z4 without run flats, but iirc, EVO changed there Z4 tyres to standard, but it didn't make that great a difference.

[Bill Carr]

I test drove a 3.0 Z4 a few weeks back, and have to agree about the appalling ride - put me right off, it did. I think it's because the 3.0 has "M Sports Suspension" as standard, in addition to larger wheels AND lower-profile run-flat tyres. Not a great combination tbh. It held the road well enough (well enough for the salesman to be holding on to his seat through corners ) but over even moderately bumpy roads, it banged and crashed so much I thought the suspension arms had broken. Couldn't hold a candle to the RX8 I was in prior to that, or even my own MX5, which has hardly got the best damping ever.

[g4ry13]

I think Alpina have had a go with the Z4, i saw one recently and hadn't heard of one of them. So i did a search and came up with this

[Gimlet]

Hi,

I bought an Alpina Roadster S back in June following a major reliability issue with a brand new Tuscan and non-existant Customer Service from TVR.
I've done over 7,000 miles now including a trip around Europe (Le Mans, Geneva, Bologna, Strasbourg, Bonn and the Nurburgring, Bruges) and enjoyed every minute driving it.
www.thealpinaregister.com/photos.php?alpinaid=35&carid=466

[Hotcar]

I don't know why but the Z4 always looks to me like the Z3's effeminate big brother.
I did come across a Z4 Alpina in Belgium back in June. Come to think of it the bald-headed chap at the wheel did look a bit .... you know!

Chaz

[Gimlet]

Thanks for letting my secret out Vince.
Next time you need a haircut give me a call and I'll put some aubergine tints in to match the colour of your car.

[Hotcar]

Damn!