Z3M or M Coupe ?
Discussion
Both are very quick in a straight line. The straight six is about 321bhp I think.
Only driven the Z3M - cant really comment on handling as I hardly pushed it to the limit (it wasnt mine).
Its quite cramped in the cockpit and, well, a bit gay realy isnt it?
I'd go for the M coupe everytime.
Only driven the Z3M - cant really comment on handling as I hardly pushed it to the limit (it wasnt mine).
Its quite cramped in the cockpit and, well, a bit gay realy isnt it?
I'd go for the M coupe everytime.
The M Coupe is meant to be 2.2 times stiffer than the Roadster, which makes the car feel a lot more planted, and avoids any scuttle shake.
Both models are two seaters, but the MCoupe has a much larger (estate-type) boot, which is deceptively spacious. I've fitted 3 sets of golf clubs in there, and plenty of luggage. One downside is the small fuel tank - I only get around 200 miles out of it.
The other main advantage is that people dont mistake it for a Z3 - its has quite radical, aggressive looks, and with only a few hundred in the country, its a rare sight to see another one (although this puts them at a premium of several thousand pounds above the roadster).
See www.z3mcoupe.com for more details.
Good luck with the hunting.
Cheers
Lee
Both models are two seaters, but the MCoupe has a much larger (estate-type) boot, which is deceptively spacious. I've fitted 3 sets of golf clubs in there, and plenty of luggage. One downside is the small fuel tank - I only get around 200 miles out of it.
The other main advantage is that people dont mistake it for a Z3 - its has quite radical, aggressive looks, and with only a few hundred in the country, its a rare sight to see another one (although this puts them at a premium of several thousand pounds above the roadster).
See www.z3mcoupe.com for more details.
Good luck with the hunting.
Cheers
Lee
Mcoupe! every time (i'm biased I have one) 
321 bhp for the older models, then 325 for the newer ones. Absolutely blisteringly quick, and wicked fun to drive.
Loads of space in the back of the Coupe (enough for a weekend / week away).
I've heard that the Z3M roadster needs front and rear strut braces to stop it wobbling off the road.
check out [url]www.z3mcoupe.com[/url] for more biased breadvan info!
321 bhp for the older models, then 325 for the newer ones. Absolutely blisteringly quick, and wicked fun to drive.
Loads of space in the back of the Coupe (enough for a weekend / week away).
I've heard that the Z3M roadster needs front and rear strut braces to stop it wobbling off the road.
check out [url]www.z3mcoupe.com[/url] for more biased breadvan info!
raks said:
ok, so people are further promoting the MC.
I must admit, it does have that certain edge to it over the Z3M.
When thinking about one, are there certain things to consider ?
1. achilles heel is VANOS system which can fail. Check the history to see if the uprated bolts have been fitted.
2. if not make sure it's got the BMW warranty (renewable for circa £400 p.a. but not if it has run out) Covers everything, even the battery
3. Everything else is basically rock-solid (minor things like seat runners and leaky rear washers might need attention)
Expect to pay £18-25k depending on age and provenance. And don't expect to see much depreciation, they're rare and in demand. A local BMW M specialist garage regularly has a list of 5-10 people looking for Breadvans. Again, there's a wealth of useful info on www.z3mcoupe.com
OK, just to clear things up, I'm not 6'5" ! I myself am between 6'3-4" 
To be honest, I do prefer the ZM, due to top-down ness. Maybe it's only me that likes the idea of topless-ness
Does that mean there was a revised engine also dropped into the ZM ? What's the price they are commanding ? I would have thought post £20k ?
To be honest, I do prefer the ZM, due to top-down ness. Maybe it's only me that likes the idea of topless-ness
Does that mean there was a revised engine also dropped into the ZM ? What's the price they are commanding ? I would have thought post £20k ?
raks said:
Does that mean there was a revised engine also dropped into the ZM ? What's the price they are commanding ? I would have thought post £20k ?
Half way through the production of the Z3 M Roadster and the Z3 M Coupe, the new M3 engine was introduced (S54) giving both 325 bhp (and traction control).
I've driven Raify's breadvan and recently driven Chimaera 400, 400HC, 450 and 500's. I myself just bought an Elise.... so I think I know a good drivers car when I'm in one.
Put simply, the ZMC is an awesome drivers car. It's docile as you like for bazzing round town but has utterly blistering pace when you push on the loud pedal. Combine that with the practicality of that big boot and (by all accounts) the fact that it's pretty reasonable cost-wise to run and maintain, and you have a no-brainer.
A soft top will always rattle and shake more, it's in it's nature. If you're hot in summer in the ZMC, turn on the aircon - if your arse is cold in winter, flick on the heated seats.
Aesthetically I think it is one of a few modern classics that are in a class of their own... always turns my head and IMHO, in Black or Silver looks like nothing else on the road. I also personally think that it has some of the sexiest seats ever put in a car and an attractive, well designed interior to boot. With a Harman Kardon stereo you're well looked after in that department too.
Quite simply, if I had the money, I'd get one.
>> Edited by S Works on Friday 5th March 16:35
Put simply, the ZMC is an awesome drivers car. It's docile as you like for bazzing round town but has utterly blistering pace when you push on the loud pedal. Combine that with the practicality of that big boot and (by all accounts) the fact that it's pretty reasonable cost-wise to run and maintain, and you have a no-brainer.
A soft top will always rattle and shake more, it's in it's nature. If you're hot in summer in the ZMC, turn on the aircon - if your arse is cold in winter, flick on the heated seats.
Aesthetically I think it is one of a few modern classics that are in a class of their own... always turns my head and IMHO, in Black or Silver looks like nothing else on the road. I also personally think that it has some of the sexiest seats ever put in a car and an attractive, well designed interior to boot. With a Harman Kardon stereo you're well looked after in that department too.
Quite simply, if I had the money, I'd get one.
>> Edited by S Works on Friday 5th March 16:35
having had an m coupe for 18 months, i can't really find fault with the car. ok, so the size of the petrol tank is poor, and being a 3.2litre engine, the beast drinks the stuff at an alarming rate. but, you don't buy a fast car if fuel costs are a concern.
(ok, so i'm talking b******s there!! i go through about £35 of super unleaded every 5 days!! breaks my heart, all the money i spend on fuel!! is it worth it??.....yes)
the car handles superbly, and as has been mentioned many times, the power is staggering. amount of space in the back surprising for a two seater.
only real problem i find is that every t**t on the road in his nova / saxo / etc feels he has a point to prove...........and every now and again, this t**t rises to the challenge!!
great car, leagues ahead of the m roadster.
(ok, so i'm talking b******s there!! i go through about £35 of super unleaded every 5 days!! breaks my heart, all the money i spend on fuel!! is it worth it??.....yes)
the car handles superbly, and as has been mentioned many times, the power is staggering. amount of space in the back surprising for a two seater.
only real problem i find is that every t**t on the road in his nova / saxo / etc feels he has a point to prove...........and every now and again, this t**t rises to the challenge!!
great car, leagues ahead of the m roadster.
oops looks like a Z3M owner has sneaked in somehow.
I've had mine now since january 2002 and covered about 16,000 miles in that time.
considering it was brought as a compromise to apease the missus i don't feel too hard done by. I was seriously considering getting an M Coupe, but she hated the way it looked got grumpy and pointed out that if your going to get a silly 2 seater car the you might as well get one without a roof. so i did :-)
its not often a 320bhp 2 seater convertible is the sensible option.....
I'm sure it doesn't go round corners as well as the coupe version. you can definately feel it flex and rattle over potholes which i'm sure it wouldn't do if it had a proper roof and its always good for a few creaks over speed bumps.
I did take it for a lap or two of an airfield trackday just the once and it goes without saying its seriously quick. 140+ with the roof down sure is loud.
and yes it does look like and ordinary Z3 to 90% of joe public, but if you drive round london and leave it on the street all week as i do then this is a good thing.
reliablity. pretty good for a 6 year old car mine is still under the bmw warranty which has covered the air con failure (got a crack in it and lost all its gas), a new battery (complete with a free jump start from the bmw recovery service) and both the rear ABS sender units packed up in the rain on the motorway. The rear shock absorber mounts have recently started to rattle and the drivers chair is beginning to rock so bit of TLC at bmw is required. Apart from that its been pretty painless starting every time, and never playing up. requiring a service every 7000 miles and a new tank of super every 200 odd miles. even the rear tires have lasted 15,000+ miles.
It does have a stupid plastic rear screen which is going a bit cloudy and will need replacing soon - about £200 i was told at the last service.
space. well i'm 6ft and the chair still has a bit to go back, a friend who is 6ft6 drove it once without too many problems but i don't think he would want to do it every day.
overall i'd say its definately a compromise to have the convertable, but if you like going out for a drive on a sunny sunday with the roof down listening to the glorious engine then its probably worth it. if you want to give it some serious welly and take it on the track then probably stick with the coupe.
a.
I've had mine now since january 2002 and covered about 16,000 miles in that time.
considering it was brought as a compromise to apease the missus i don't feel too hard done by. I was seriously considering getting an M Coupe, but she hated the way it looked got grumpy and pointed out that if your going to get a silly 2 seater car the you might as well get one without a roof. so i did :-)
its not often a 320bhp 2 seater convertible is the sensible option.....
I'm sure it doesn't go round corners as well as the coupe version. you can definately feel it flex and rattle over potholes which i'm sure it wouldn't do if it had a proper roof and its always good for a few creaks over speed bumps.
I did take it for a lap or two of an airfield trackday just the once and it goes without saying its seriously quick. 140+ with the roof down sure is loud.
and yes it does look like and ordinary Z3 to 90% of joe public, but if you drive round london and leave it on the street all week as i do then this is a good thing.
reliablity. pretty good for a 6 year old car mine is still under the bmw warranty which has covered the air con failure (got a crack in it and lost all its gas), a new battery (complete with a free jump start from the bmw recovery service) and both the rear ABS sender units packed up in the rain on the motorway. The rear shock absorber mounts have recently started to rattle and the drivers chair is beginning to rock so bit of TLC at bmw is required. Apart from that its been pretty painless starting every time, and never playing up. requiring a service every 7000 miles and a new tank of super every 200 odd miles. even the rear tires have lasted 15,000+ miles.
It does have a stupid plastic rear screen which is going a bit cloudy and will need replacing soon - about £200 i was told at the last service.
space. well i'm 6ft and the chair still has a bit to go back, a friend who is 6ft6 drove it once without too many problems but i don't think he would want to do it every day.
overall i'd say its definately a compromise to have the convertable, but if you like going out for a drive on a sunny sunday with the roof down listening to the glorious engine then its probably worth it. if you want to give it some serious welly and take it on the track then probably stick with the coupe.
a.
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