Z4M Coupe, 1M, or M3

[mtla4]

I'd keep the Z4M and trade in the 530 for something else...

[cmk227]

Originally Posted by mtla4

I'd keep the Z4M and trade in the 530 for something else...

Good choice. Wait another year after wedding and get a gently use e90m.

[skim]

i have both e90m and e86m like some of owners here.
if i'm forced to sell one, it'll be the m3. e90 is just a better car as simple as that, but my heart belongs to the e86.
whichever decision you make, all great cars.

[BlackMoupe]

Keep the Z4M, nothing compares to it.

I had the choice of E9X M3, 335is, and an M Coupe. I picked the coupe because it's AWESOME. it's rare, beautiful, I get asked questions about it all the time. My friends call it "the sexier version E46 M3". Its so much fun to drive, i wakeup every morning racing to get out the door just to drive, i take the long way home every night. I just can't see myself ever wanting another car.

[DarkstarZero]

Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to keep the M Coupe, possibly forever. On the track, it's almost unbeatable as far as the smile factor goes. While a new M would be nice for daily living, track time with the M Coupe is life-defining fun.

As for the 530, I'll keep it around until I run into some extra money or hold out for the 2014 M3.

[adc]

Originally Posted by U235

The ride quality of the Z4MC is horrible though, it gets quite taxing especially if you're driving someone else around and just trying to drive civil. It makes up for it in performance.

The interesting bit is that it actually doesn't.

I haven't seen any track times to suggest it's faster than the E46 M3, let alone the E9x M3.

[Serious]

Originally Posted by adc

The interesting bit is that it actually doesn't.

I haven't seen any track times to suggest it's faster than the E46 M3, let alone the E9x M3.

Having owned both an e46 and e86 trust me it isn't even close, the coupe is faster in every aspect. As for track times, well there isn't a ton of track times posted for M coupes anyways which is why it might be difficult to compare times.

I have no doubt on a twisty track, on equal tires, with a hint of additional front end negative camber a z4M coupe would be every bit as fast as an e9x m3.

Besides who cares about track times really... there is no such thing as timing in an HPDE so who really cares if car X was .15 of a second slower through turn 5 with an f1 driver at the wheel on a track you will never drive on 3 years ago? The driving experience is what you want, and just about everyone agrees the mz4 is one of the purest driving BMW's of the last 20 years.

[Sedan_Clan]

Keep the Z4, and trade the 530i in for a used E9X.

[pbonsalb]

I like the little Z4M, but have a small toy already in my 500 rwhp E36M3 on coilovers. I wanted a more comfortable and practical and fast daily driver and the E90 M3 is that. I was driving my 99 528i during the latest round of projects on the E36 M3 and got really bored with the 528i when the projects took longer that expected -- which led me to replace it with the E90 M3. I like having two fun but very different cars when I can afford it. Tough to choose which when you can have only one fun car, but I would pick the one that I would drive more.

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by adc

I haven't seen any track times to suggest it's faster than the E46 M3, let alone the E9x M3.

Actually, I can compare. Around the track I'm able to keep pace with the e9x M3s and can easily pull away from the e46s. On my Skyline Run events, e9x M3s say they struggle to keep pace with me around the corners. I'm running on the same tires too, PS2s.

You can see my mods in my signature, they're nothing huge or costly. The only thing I've done to the handling is put on some used $150 Dinan springs. This car doesn't need coilovers IMO.

Its not a nice place to be in traffic though, that's why I got the 530 and was thinking about trading up both cars for one.

[DarkstarZero]

Update:

While sitting in traffic in the e39 530i the other day, going over my finances in my head, I came to the conclusion that I'm spending a lot of my money on a car that I rarely get to enjoy. I'd rather spend it on a car that I'm enjoying all the time. So while I'd like to keep the M Coupe forever, I think I'd be happier with one car that can do everything.

So I'm seriously thinking about selling the M Coupe in the coming months and getting a 2011 M3 on a 36 month lease and doing European delivery.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

Update:

While sitting in traffic in the e39 530i the other day, going over my finances in my head, I came to the conclusion that I'm spending a lot of my money on a car that I rarely get to enjoy. I'd rather spend it on a car that I'm enjoying all the time. So while I'd like to keep the M Coupe forever, I think I'd be happier with one car that can do everything.

So I'm seriously thinking about selling the M Coupe in the coming months and getting a 2011 M3 on a 36 month lease and doing European delivery.

That is pretty much why I sold my Z4MC and bought an E92 M3. Hopefully, in near future I'll get an E30 M3 or S2000, modify it lightly to use it as DD and Track car. I'd LOVE to get a Z4MC as a track car, but it is expensive to maintain for that purpose, and still some what heavy. In the mean time E92 M3 is a perfect car to drive everyday, or on the weekends, or occasionaly on the track.

[adc]

Originally Posted by erhanh

That is pretty much why I sold my Z4MC and bought an E92 M3. Hopefully, in near future I'll get an E30 M3 or S2000, modify it lightly to use it as DD and Track car. I'd LOVE to get a Z4MC as a track car, but it is expensive to maintain for that purpose, and still some what heavy. In the mean time E92 M3 is a perfect car to drive everyday, or on the weekends, or occasionaly on the track.

E30 M3 is also expensive to maintain for track duty.

Miata before S2000, E30 325 before M3.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by adc

E30 M3 is also expensive to maintain for track duty.

Miata before S2000, E30 325 before M3.

Yes that's what I'm hearing. It will most likely be an S2000.

I've heard that Miata is a little too weak in the engine department. The possible problem of that is assuming I'm fast through the corners, powerful cars with less skilled drivers will be hard to overtake, and they will slow me down. And I don't want to heavly modify the car, especially the engine.

[adc]

Originally Posted by erhanh

Yes that's what I'm hearing. It will most likely be an S2000.

I've heard that Miata is a little too weak in the engine department. The possible problem of that is assuming I'm fast through the corners, powerful cars with less skilled drivers will be hard to overtake, and they will slow me down. And I don't want to heavly modify the car, especially the engine.

I used to run a 1990 325 for half a year, between my 335i and M3 periods. I was entertaining thoughts of turning it into a track car - it had the right ingredients: no rust, a shot suspension and decent motor.

It's what I would do for a track car - 2500-2600lbs of weight, decent power, tons of aftermarket. Convertibles are tougher - I want to enjoy it in bad weather too...

[nez]

i suspect you'll be disappointed in the m3 if you intend to replace the z4m for the track. The z4m is much more nimble than the e9x m3s and a better track car imho. If it's a bit slow for you, get it supercharged with an ESS kit. My mate has supercharged his z4m and it's taken the car to whole new level.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Serious

You guys are forgetting that BMW was offering $7500 trunk cash in 07 and people were buying mz4's brand new for $40,000 (some as low as $38,000).

If 07's are still hovering around $30k average, thats only a 25% drop in depreciation over 4 years which is stronger than any M3. Yes if you bought an 06 or 08 for near sticker you got screwed but when most of the cars were sold with a bunch of trunk cash obviously the used value must reflect that.

I'm sorry to go back to a slightly older topic here.... but WHAT??!?! BMW was offering a 7500 credit towards the purchase of a z4m? Is that for real? or am I missing something?

If that was the case, I'm shocked that this car didn't sell much more than it did - such a beautiful car.


Let me offer this suggestion. Keep the z4m - it truly is one of BMWs finest designs in the past 20 years, and will be a true collector's piece given its very finite production numbers. Though you might feel that it would be more "logical" to get rid of the z4m, something tells me you will look back on your logic with a great deal of regret. Consider this - keep the z4m and sell the 5 series. Use the proceeds of the sale to purchase a new car using the BMW select program - which allows you not only lease like payments, but also the ability to capitalize on the spectacular purchase interest rates available at the moment (.9%) - rates the like of which you can't currently get from a BMW lease at the moment. If after the term of the Select financing ends you realize you like this car more than the z4m - you THEN sell the z4m to pay off the balloon. And if you decide you'd rather keep the z4m, sell the 'new' car to pay of its balloon - knowing that you enjoyed a brand new daily driver for several years with lease-like payments. Win win. (You could even do this on a European Delivery.. win win win)


- esquire

[lucid]

I think people get too attached to their cars sometimes (no offense intended--happens to me as well). There is really nothing extremely special about the Z4M IMO. Nice car, fun to drive, etc, but so are many other cars. I am not impressed with the stock suspension at all. Nervous and floating on the track (was expecting more from an M car). You can really hear the engine through the firewall though, and that's nice (the E92 M3 is too insulated). It is my daily driver though, and I don't see why the OP needs another car for a DD unless he needs to carry people around. The Z4M will continue to depreciate for a long time. Maybe in 15 years, if you have one in perfect condition with low miles, you can get something close to its MSRP, but who wants to stash a car away like that? And, that's a big maybe. Don't get me wrong; I really like the Z4M, but it sounds like the OP is going to move on (the fact that he started a thread to raise the question says the chances are he will move on). Good luck either way...

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by lucid

I think people get too attached to their cars sometimes (no offense intended--happens to me as well). There is really nothing extremely special about the Z4M IMO. Nice car, fun to drive, etc, but so are many other cars. I am not impressed with the stock suspension at all. Nervous and floating on the track (was expecting more from an M car). You can really hear the engine through the firewall though, and that's nice (the E92 M3 is too insulated). It is my daily driver though, and I don't see why the OP needs another car for a DD unless he needs to carry people around. The Z4M will continue to depreciate for a long time. Maybe in 15 years, if you have one in perfect condition with low miles, you can get something close to its MSRP, but who wants to stash a car away like that? And, that's a big maybe. Don't get me wrong; I really like the Z4M, but it sounds like the OP is going to move on (the fact that he started a thread to raise the question says the chances are he will move on). Good luck either way...

Z4MC could be a better car and that always bugged me. I'm not expecting M division to spend as much time on it as they do for the M3, but they could've make it better. Especially, as you mentioned, with the suspension. Too rough for no good reason. Also the MT was very notch. Sure it is a raw car, but that doesn't mean it should've grindy transmission.

[Serious]

Originally Posted by lucid

I think people get too attached to their cars sometimes (no offense intended--happens to me as well). There is really nothing extremely special about the Z4M IMO. Nice car, fun to drive, etc, but so are many other cars. I am not impressed with the stock suspension at all. Nervous and floating on the track (was expecting more from an M car). You can really hear the engine through the firewall though, and that's nice (the E92 M3 is too insulated). It is my daily driver though, and I don't see why the OP needs another car for a DD unless he needs to carry people around. The Z4M will continue to depreciate for a long time. Maybe in 15 years, if you have one in perfect condition with low miles, you can get something close to its MSRP, but who wants to stash a car away like that? And, that's a big maybe. Don't get me wrong; I really like the Z4M, but it sounds like the OP is going to move on (the fact that he started a thread to raise the question says the chances are he will move on). Good luck either way...

The point isn't to eventually make money on the car, it's to reduce the amount you lose through short term depreciation.

If you go out and buy an $60k m3 today in 5 years it will be worth $25k. Every generation of m3 has followed the same depreciation curve throughout it's first 8-10 years.

The mz4 has been the most resilient new BMW against depreciation of any over the last 9 years. With only the s54 mz3 exceeding it.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by Serious

The point isn't to eventually make money on the car, it's to reduce the amount you lose through short term depreciation.

If you go out and buy an $60k m3 today in 5 years it will be worth $25k. Every generation of m3 has followed the same depreciation curve throughout it's first 8-10 years.

The mz4 has been the most resilient new BMW against depreciation of any over the last 9 years. With only the s54 mz3 exceeding it.

My Z4M had a sticker price of $52k I think (I am the second owner). It is probably worth $28k now. That's a major hit for a MY07. How exactly is 46% depreciation in 3 years resilient?

It is not all that relevant to point out that some MY08 Z4Ms were sold with $8k trunk cash at the end of the production run. Many people got killer deals on E9X M3s as well when the economy really tanked a couple of years ago.

At any rate, however you do that math, I doubt that there will be major differences between how a E92 M3 depreciates compared to a Z4M in the short term. Yes, the Z4M might hold its value a little better, but I don't think that is a big deal.

People keep on talking about what an iconic car the Z4M is. If it is so iconic, why is there still limited demand and why are people having a hard time selling theirs at firm prices, say $30k+ for a MY07? Just check the FS threads in the Z4 forum. This is a limited production car for a rather limited market/demand.

[Serious]

Originally Posted by lucid

My Z4M had a sticker price of $56k I think (I am the second owner). It is probably worth $29k now. That's a major hit for a MY07. How exactly is 48% depreciation in 3 years resilient?

It is not all that relevant to point out that some MY08 Z4Ms were sold with $8k trunk cash at the end of the production run. Some folks got killer deals on E9X M3s as well when the economy really tanked a couple of years ago.

At any rate, however you do that math, I doubt that there will major differences between how a E92 M3 depreciates compared to a Z4M in the short term. Yes, the Z4M might hold its value a little better, but I don't think that is a big deal.

People keep on talking about what an iconic car the Z4M is. If it is so iconic, why is there still limited demand and why are people having a hard time selling theirs at firm prices, say $30k for a MY07? Just check the FS threads in the Z4 forum. This is a limited production car for a rather limited market/demand.

It's completely relevant why would anyone 3 years ago pay 40k for an 07 with 10k miles when they could buy a brand new 08 for $40k. When you drive down the value of new cars you also directly affect the value of used cars.