Tell me about the BMW Z4

Cyrus

Cyrus

Cyrus

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Bubblin in Dublin
My 530i is now for sale and my thoughts have turned to my next car.

Porsche boxster s is high on the list, but it seems rude not to consider the 3 litre z4. I like the styling myself, how does it stack versus the boxster? is one more suited to longer journeys than the other?

Is the 3 litre the engine to go for?
 
You considered the Z4M? the hardtop one that, looks much sharper than the Convertable version imo..

On paper, you get more Horsies out of the Z4 Conv, but you can bet the Porsche will be quicker.. theres also a 3.2l version of the Z4 and I think the Z4m is also 3.2l
 
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Z4M comes as both a roadster and a coupe, I have a normal 3.0 Roadster and having a convertible roof makes driving much more fun :) - weather permitting!

What is your budget? I drove a 986 boxster S and really liked it, however at the time it was hard to find one with the facelift (53 plate on for the glass rear screen) and a decent spec (Bose, litronic headlights, heated seats). The Z4 I found was loaded with every option minus a TV Tuner and much better value but the porsche is the better sports car.

Not saying the porsche is without its troubles, the engine is known for issues with the rear main seal, some gearboxes go pop... as can the engine and at £7k+ for a replacement you must factor in 1k year running costs in purchasing and maintaining the porsche warantee - to add this the car needs to undergo a thorough check and be no older than 10 years.

I have been looking at the prices and the newer 987S is now starting to creep down to the 25k range - its got the same problems as before but looks so much nicer and has more grunt with 280hp up from 260hp. Early Z4 3.0's has 231hp, later 2006 facelifts use a different engine with 260 ish and the M spec 340 ish.
 
What's your budget and how old are you looking to go? Roadster or Coupé?

I haven't driven the 3.0i (231bhp) Z4 but have had quite a bit of time in the 3.0Si (265bhp) both the roadster and coupé. I have also had a brief drive in a 2002 Boxster (not sure which model number that is) 3.2S.
The Boxster was a wonderful car, the handling was immaculate and the engine was great. However, they are pretty expensive compared to the Z4 and the 3.0Si comes quite close to the Boxster. The handling isn't quite as precise but it is more suited to cruising than the Boxster is. I preferred the BMW engine out of the two. I can't quite put my finger on why but the way it drove was more suited to me.

They are both very fine machines but given the significant price difference, I considered the Z4 Coupé to be the best overall package, one of the main factors being that it was better suited to long journeys.

Besides, the Z4 looks a million times better :D
 
Pro's

Nice interior
Great engine
Great noise
Comfortable
Decent size boot
Reasonalbe MPG (30+)
Lots of toys (heated seats, electric seats, sat nav etc.)

Con's

Run flat tyres (spit)
Ride can be harsh on poor roads (see above)
 
Guys, budget is max £16k stg so i am looking at 01 boxster or 03 z4 vert :) thanks for all the input so far, still undecided!
 
£16K should get you more than 03 Z4 3.0 SE fully loaded!

A £16K Boxster will look more dated than an 03/04 Z4 IMHO, the "facelifts" to the Z4 have been minimal.
 
If you've got 16k to spend, you looked at the 350z at all?

Out of the Boxster S and Z4M i'd get the Z4 just because it doesn't look gay.
 
The 350z is a good car and certainly worth a drive, they "really" hold the road. For me while I liked the cars dynamics I didn't like the interior and the styling wasn't my cup-o-tea. Obviously "style" is objective so the 350z might tick all your boxes.

Also I think the Z4 makes a better "soft top", the 350z feels too much like a "normal" car with the roof removed to me.
 
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I've owned the 2.5i, 3.0i and currently have the Z4M Coupe. I also had a 3.0si for about six weeks so I'm quite familiar with the Z4 in its various guises.

The performance between the 2.5 and 3.0 is similar along with the MPG so the obvious choice would be the 3.0. The jump from the 3.0i to the 3.0si is more noticeable, the engine feels more willing to rev and the exhaust note is better, it just feels more sporty. However I'm not sure your budget stretches that far so we will ignore the 3.0si and Z4M.

The Boxster S is without doubt the better handling car, and has the edge on the power front against the 3.0i. The mid-engined porka is more like a go-kart and comes alive when you push it hard. However I thought the interior was a massive let down and felt cheap given the premium over the Z4. The other problem I had with the Boxster was the seat position, I felt uncomfortable after about 40 minutes behind the wheel.

The Z4 on the other hand whilst not quite so quick in the corners is a great ride, very comfortable on long journeys (driven to Lemans without any complaints) reasonable boot space and a decent level of kit. I've used mine as a daily driver for 3 years and racked up over 40K with only 1 problem. For me the Z4 also has the edge in the styling department but again thats subjective.

All these views are personal the only way you can tell which car is for you is to drive both and decide for yourself. Try and get an extended test drive in both as a 5 minute blast round the block isn't enough to discover which tickles your driving fancy.
 
It's true that the 986 interior is severely dated now, if you can stretch to a base 987 (~22k+ private) the interior is MUCH improved. 987's start on an '05 plate generally.

How about an S2K?
 
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Cyrus said:
My 530i is now for sale and my thoughts have turned to my next car.

Porsche boxster s is high on the list, but it seems rude not to consider the 3 litre z4. I like the styling myself, how does it stack versus the boxster? is one more suited to longer journeys than the other?

Is the 3 litre the engine to go for?
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Hello there fellow boardsie :rolleyes::D

I'd say have a look at the Z4 hardtop, I think they look pretty damn mean. But how are you going to find it going from a 5 series to a small coupe ?

Hj
 
hey there joe :) i bought the 530i because i loved it not because i needed it :D its just me and my girlfriend ever in the car so i can do without the back seats and body bag size rear boot!!
 
Cyrus said:
hey there joe :) i bought the 530i because i loved it not because i needed it :D its just me and my girlfriend ever in the car so i can do without the back seats and body bag size rear boot!!
Click to expand...

You know that as soon as you buy the Z4 she'll tell you she's pregnant.

Still, nice car. Someone in our car park has a black one, looks very nice. Without driving them, and based on image and percieved quality (and a small amount of fanboism) I would prefer the Z4.
 
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