BMW and M Power Owners

I am having similar experiences, I don't love it like I did my MX5's, but its much more comfy day to day and I do enjoy peoples reactions to it. I am amazed what a BMW badge on a sporty looking car will do in terms of how non car people treat you when it comes to the subject of cars. I get a lot of people I barely even know coming to me for car advice now alongside a lot of very funny questions about the Z4M and I don't think its a coincidence.
I've now got the Lexus LS430 for boring daily duties and will buy something properly suited to what I really want than a compromised package.

I never had any attention in it, no one knew what it was and the majority thought it was a trim level like the more modern cars that bmw sell lol!
 
I know mine isn't an M car, but I've noticed a definite change in road manners I experience from other people since getting it.

Firstly, in the 5 series I think it pretty much just blended in and I'd have no trouble being let out of junctions and so on. In the Z4, nobody seems to want to let me out at all.

Secondly, people seem to feel challenged/threatened by it somehow. I've had people do all manner of stupid things just to "get ahead" like trying to overtake me where two lanes merge into one (particularly on the M27 after the 4-lane stretch, when I've usually just got cruise control on sat at 70, but also at traffic lights and things).

The thing is, it is "just" a Z4 - it doesn't show the fact it is the 3L twin turbo model anywhere bar the twin exhausts as there is no model designation, so only people that know BMWs would know (which is to say, almost nobody). I don't drive any differently in this car than I did in the 520d or in the S6 (which was WAY shoutier) or the MX5. I guess people just don't like the fact it is a BMW sports car. Whatever the reason, it is very strange that it should be treated differently by people.

I've had a few "nice car" type comments from strangers and also been asked if the roof goes down a couple of times. I struggle to see how it isn't obvious but maybe because it is a folding hard top people don't clock it straight away? :confused: Who knows, the general public can be so stupid...

On an unrelated note, I've put nearly 1500 miles on it now in the 2 weeks I've had it and I'm definitely starting to bond with the car and understand it a lot better. So, for those that were commenting about the driving dynamics, here's a bit of a rundown on how the car performs, bearing in mind it has been quite cold and the RE050A RFTs suck a bit!

First things first, that engine. What an engine! the N54 is a torque monster. Pretty much only ever needs 6th and 7th. Above 30ish in 7th and it'll accelerate as quickly as you'd ever need in day-to-day driving thanks to the ever-present mountain of torque. The gearbox is pretty damn good - it actually does feel like a manual to drive when you're rolling on and off the throttle. As good as the ZF8HP is, it just cannot ever feel as 'connected' as the DCT gearbox does. In D it is every bit as smooth as the ZF 8 speed of my previous F10 but in S or M with the car in Sport+ it is a pretty lively gear change. The noise from the exhaust changing gear at 7K is pretty addictive, which I'm going to have to wean myself off before it gives me some gold stars on my licence...

Handling wise, while I've not ventured as far as to drive with the DSC all the way off (Sport+ turns it down a bit but not off), I've pushed it pretty hard and I'd say that it is a lot better than the reviews would have you believe but it isn't perfect. The slower/tighter bends of a B road are where reviews would have you believe the E89 is a total mess but in reality it is completely fine unless you're wanting to drive at 10/10ths - in which case you're probably going to be disappointed. On the bright side, the disappointment won't last long because you're either going to prison or to the mortuary. Turn-in is everything you'd want it to be for a road car, transitioning into very slight understeer once the car has rolled if you're cornering close to the limit. If you're driving at a pace, turning in with some throttle completely avoids the understeer and you get a bit of a waggle from the tail if you're a bit too eager. That said, oversteer doesn't feel completely natural somehow and I wouldn't want to be holding too much slip for too long in this car. Not sure if that is me not really having pushed it enough to know or if the communication from the chassis just isn't quite there to be confident.

For some comparisons to cars I have owned: A to B on all but the narrowest, twistiest country lanes, this car is massively faster than my SC'd MX-5, which was properly set up on Gaz Gold Pros etc etc. As fun? Overall yes, but in a different way entirely. It is lots more comfortable, makes a better noise, the gearbox and engine is loads better. Is it quite as sharp on the limit? No, but it is better than a stock MX-5 by a fair margin even if you have to be a bit smarter behind the wheel.

It is much faster than my S6 was despite being down on power, unless of course it has been raining. Of course the S6 was a big and very heavy saloon car but it feels a world away in performance terms. I've not yet had big speeds out of the Z4 but on a derestricted autobahn the S6 pulled quite well all the way to the 155mph limiter (165ish GPS before it pulled me back to 155) and from what I've seen of the Z4 so far, it'd leave the S6 for dead at those trans-100 speeds.

Overall, I really enjoy the way it drives. I just need to ditch the frankly awful RE050A runflats and get some MPSS on there in time for the summer which will only help the car by softening the sidewalls a touch while increasing grip.
 
Staggered they are still worth so much, 8 grand for an 11 year old pre facelift E60.

That's what I paid for my E39 530i - when it was less than 5 years old! :eek:

Madness.

Still, if that's what they are worth its what they are worth and it's a good spec.
 
[TW]Fox;29228351 said:
Staggered they are still worth so much, 8 grand for an 11 year old pre facelift E60.

That's what I paid for my E39 530i - when it was less than 5 years old! :eek:

Madness.

Still, if that's what they are worth its what they are worth and it's a good spec.

Surely some of that is to do with inflation?
 
Heard a good one today whilst getting the airbag recall done on my M3.
Some guy was in with his 65 plate M4 convertible. Sounded like he'd had numerous problems with it including the roof motors replaced, front and rear light units replaced, exhaust replaced and was in today getting the brakes checked.
I said to him if he's considered rejecting the car and he said "rejections not really an option because I paid loads extra to put all the M Performance kit on it and it's putting out over 500bhp".
I felt like replying "Really? So how much extra carbon fibre do you need to get over 500bhp?" :D Of course I didn't but I just nodded and said "ok".
 
Can finally start posting in this thread.

Ordered my ('borrowing') new car. Going from a 2001 1.6 Astra to a 228i MSport. Should arrive in June!

Nice that's a good jump :)

I said to him if he's considered rejecting the car and he said "rejections not really an option because I paid loads extra to put all the M Performance kit on it and it's putting out over 500bhp".
I felt like replying "Really? So how much extra carbon fibre do you need to get over 500bhp?" :D Of course I didn't but I just nodded and said "ok".

That sounds like two separate points, as in he's put the full m perf kit (which if dealer installed is betalinked therefore not possible to remove and resell) and he might have a tune on it which would basically screw him out of being able to return it. Though I wasn't there so maybe he did think the carbon adds power :p.
 
That sounds like two separate points, as in he's put the full m perf kit (which if dealer installed is betalinked therefore not possible to remove and resell) and he might have a tune on it which would basically screw him out of being able to return it. Though I wasn't there so maybe he did think the carbon adds power :p.

Just realised I didn't mention; he had the M Perf spoiler on with some carbon fibre interior and that was it. Not even the M Perf exhaust.
 
Just realised I didn't mention; he had the M Perf spoiler on with some carbon fibre interior and that was it. Not even the M Perf exhaust.

I've got the M perf exhaust on mine and that doesn't add power (officially) :p. He may have still had a tune? Or Akra Evo with Downpipes? If stock how bizarre lol.
 
I think if he'd had a tune on his car he would have mentioned it rather than just say he's paid for the M Performance parts. Definitely a stock exhaust too as he'd just had it replaced because "it made a really horrible rattling noise". had it since December and done 1500 miles in it (allegedly). Think he was just trying to show off to a random stranger. Always find it very sad when people are like that. Not many people are stupid enough to tune their car before the running in period!
 
Undertray is wrecked, they have quoted me £200 to replace it.

Is that good value or can I just buy the undertray from elsewhere for loads cheaper?

Also mentioned my coolant is wrong and quoted £100 to replace that too. Was only done a week ago by a BMW specialist, they said no antifreeze is present at all so it all needs changing? Can't you just add anti freeze to the coolant?
 
I think if he'd had a tune on his car he would have mentioned it rather than just say he's paid for the M Performance parts. Definitely a stock exhaust too as he'd just had it replaced because "it made a really horrible rattling noise". had it since December and done 1500 miles in it (allegedly). Think he was just trying to show off to a random stranger. Always find it very sad when people are like that. Not many people are stupid enough to tune their car before the running in period!

Indeed or he's utterly clueless!
 
Thoughts on the Z4?

Was looking at the porsche boxster but it seems like they have shed loads of potentially extremely expensive issues.

Z4 looks pretty nice, and apparently you can get a BMW warranty which would take the hassle out of ownership (though the caveat at not replacing "worn" stuff does seem like a bit of a get out of jail free card for them....)

Would probably be looking at a 2005-2007 model and would save the additional cash for a properly nice car in the future.

Any particular things to note? Would be looking for the 2.0 or the 2.5 litre. Tax is a bit more 710 vs 1080 euros, but I've learnt my lesson about quibbling such things over a year.

Running costs and one of costs are my major concern, I've no appetite for a xxxx euro bill.
 
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