Great comparison video! As a Z4M Coupe fanatic, I can suggest a few modifications that will transform the suspension to something a lot more capable but also compliant: Bilstein B12 shocks with eibach springs, monoball rear trailing arm bushings, and style 163M wheels with Michelins, all aligned to bmw CSL specs (you can find it online). The sum total of these changes makes the car a truly incredible driving machine. It went from “this is fun” to “this is astonishing” in my mind, and puts it up with similar level Porsches as a result. I hope you keep yours for many years to come, mine has 175k and hasn’t skipped a beat!
People are waking up to what this car has to offer: NA straight 6 with individual throttle bodies, over 100hp/L, manual Getrag 6sp. gearbox, hydraulic steering rack from CSL M3, brakes from CSL, M Sport LSD. It's rare. Very rare. I have an Interlagos Blue one with the Style 260M wheels, as your car. Mine has done just 64,000kms (39,000miles). I also have a Porsche 997.1 911 C2 manual, which has near identical performance but they are such incredibly different drives. They complement each other perfectly, the 911 being smoother, more refined and more comfortable. The Z4 is the wild child brother. Raw, connected, and lairy. On rough roads its uncomfortable unless you're really pushing it along.
Just watched most of your Z4 videos. Good content lad! I’m now onto my first Z4M Coupe after owning a few non M coupes and a roadster variant. I like that fact that here in England when driving it people just assume it’s a regular old Z4 so fits in well and you don’t have to worry about it too much.
Great comparison video. Former Z4M coupe owner here and current Z4 3.0si coupe owner. Swapping in lightweight forged 17x9 (more tire height) wheels on the Z4M will greatly improve the ride quality. 18" factory wheels are really quite big for such a tiny car.
Great video. I have an 06 M Coupe (very low miles, not even 15K) and have recently been thinking about getting a Z3 M Coupe also and was wondering how it would compare. This was very helpful!!
Hi, nice video says a fellow interlagos Coupe 06 owner! :) Tried the Eibach Pro springs? Makes a world of difference, nice low stance too. I’m on KWV3 now which are ’almost’ as soft in comfort mode. Very expensive tho, for the money I’d say the Eibachs are my favourite mod
Great guy. Unfortunately you're in the USA and showing the lesser powered (z3) M Coupe. Yes your expressions say it all, if it was the Euro spec, it would be a completely different video.
Yup, don’t know why they put the less powerful engine in the ‘99 and 2000. When they switched to the S54 in 2001 it was a game-changer - they sold so few of those here that they are extremely pricey to get hold of.
You hit the nail on the head, the Porsche is more accessible, it's easier to go fast with relatively little seat time. The Z4M requires significantly more seat time to learn its eccentricities. The BMW will bite you if you screw up, the Porsche is more forgiving.
nice video, hope you get more subscribers, but tip; get whatever microphone stuff you need to isolate your voice and take out the wind noises, it will make you sound clear. It was a bit hard to hear you when driving and turning up the volume only increased the wind noise.
Honest review (Z4M) but you've got some suspension issues to deal with at that mileage! I've driven on frost heaved roads and potholes here in Ont,Canada and do not hear those crashes and bangs. Tire whir as well unless its due to mic placement? A great analog blast to drive- I enjoy mine every weekend - April to Nov lol. Cheers.
Thanks. The previous owner replaced a lot of the original business with poly, which may be part of the reason for the harsh ride - it did have a reputation out of the gate for being too stiff, but I agree, there are some worn components in there. The whine is from the differential - for whatever reason it was replaced twice with aftermarket diffs from diffsonline.com and it makes quite a racket - it's on my list of items to address. Agreed it's a great analog car and is my goto car these days, along with my E39 M5!
Z3MC. S52 for leisure, S54 for garage queen. But then again, I'm one of those who really hasn't warmed up to Bangle's car design although I must admit that the Z4MC is an exception. :)
You feel like you’re sitting lower in the Z4 bc of the shoulder line. Doors sit at your shoulder vs mid-arm on the Z3. Probably sit at the same height in both cars.
@@trackrekord Thanks and Wow, it looks wider than that. I bet 265's would be huge on that car. One day imma get a Z3 Coupe. That's gonna be a glorious day. 💯😎
Sorry the Z3m Coupe is legendary and super unique.. the z4m sure more HP and all the electronic goodies but the interior and the drive feel so generic.. The z3 you feel it.. I love both but z3 M coupe is a forever car.
Right there with you on the M Coupe (the Z3 version will always be just the M Coupe to me). The Z4M has fabulous exterior styling, but there is nothing that really differentiates it from other cars out there. The Clown Shoe has unique styling.
I had to at least check! How is the high milage z4 M doing? I’ve looked at high mile ones over 200k miles and been scared. If they’re maintained, can they last over 300k miles??
It’s running great - if they are well maintained and not thrashed (particularly when cold) there is no reason why they cant last 300k miles. Rod bearings are a known weak point - mine were changed around 150k miles, I think, as a preventative measure and they looked fine. The VANOS is notorious for wear also, but serviceable.
Great comparison video! As a Z4M Coupe fanatic, I can suggest a few modifications that will transform the suspension to something a lot more capable but also compliant: Bilstein B12 shocks with eibach springs, monoball rear trailing arm bushings, and style 163M wheels with Michelins, all aligned to bmw CSL specs (you can find it online). The sum total of these changes makes the car a truly incredible driving machine. It went from “this is fun” to “this is astonishing” in my mind, and puts it up with similar level Porsches as a result. I hope you keep yours for many years to come, mine has 175k and hasn’t skipped a beat!
Great input, thanks!
People are waking up to what this car has to offer: NA straight 6 with individual throttle bodies, over 100hp/L, manual Getrag 6sp. gearbox, hydraulic steering rack from CSL M3, brakes from CSL, M Sport LSD. It's rare. Very rare. I have an Interlagos Blue one with the Style 260M wheels, as your car. Mine has done just 64,000kms (39,000miles).
I also have a Porsche 997.1 911 C2 manual, which has near identical performance but they are such incredibly different drives. They complement each other perfectly, the 911 being smoother, more refined and more comfortable. The Z4 is the wild child brother. Raw, connected, and lairy. On rough roads its uncomfortable unless you're really pushing it along.
You have nailed it with every observation! I was out in it today, it’s a car that I cant resist turning around an looking at as I walk away.
Just watched most of your Z4 videos. Good content lad! I’m now onto my first Z4M Coupe after owning a few non M coupes and a roadster variant. I like that fact that here in England when driving it people just assume it’s a regular old Z4 so fits in well and you don’t have to worry about it too much.
Glad you like them!
Nice video, I have a 2000 Z3 M Roadster with the S52. It has a Eurosport Twin-screw supercharger bolted on which really brings it to life.
Nice - have you had it on a dyno to see how much the supercharger added?
Great comparison video. Former Z4M coupe owner here and current Z4 3.0si coupe owner. Swapping in lightweight forged 17x9 (more tire height) wheels on the Z4M will greatly improve the ride quality. 18" factory wheels are really quite big for such a tiny car.
Thanks - good thought about the wheels - won’t be hard to improve the ride quality!
Great video. I have an 06 M Coupe (very low miles, not even 15K) and have recently been thinking about getting a Z3 M Coupe also and was wondering how it would compare. This was very helpful!!
Thanks. Keep the 06 and get the original, you wont be disappointed!
Hi, nice video says a fellow interlagos Coupe 06 owner! :) Tried the Eibach Pro springs? Makes a world of difference, nice low stance too.
I’m on KWV3 now which are ’almost’ as soft in comfort mode. Very expensive tho, for the money I’d say the Eibachs are my favourite mod
Thanks for the tip!
Great video, Steve. Your beard gave me massive 'yes Rowntree. Yes Grosvenor. Yes. Yes. Yes.' vibes... I'm sure you know what I am saying!!
Thanks, the beard maybe, the hair not so much!
Great guy. Unfortunately you're in the USA and showing the lesser powered (z3) M Coupe. Yes your expressions say it all, if it was the Euro spec, it would be a completely different video.
Yup, don’t know why they put the less powerful engine in the ‘99 and 2000. When they switched to the S54 in 2001 it was a game-changer - they sold so few of those here that they are extremely pricey to get hold of.
You hit the nail on the head, the Porsche is more accessible, it's easier to go fast with relatively little seat time. The Z4M requires significantly more seat time to learn its eccentricities. The BMW will bite you if you screw up, the Porsche is more forgiving.
Absolutely, but in the right hands the Z4M is a hoot to drive!
nice video, hope you get more subscribers, but tip; get whatever microphone stuff you need to isolate your voice and take out the wind noises, it will make you sound clear. It was a bit hard to hear you when driving and turning up the volume only increased the wind noise.
Yup, I agree - I have a wired microphone but have been having issues when plugging it into the GoPro. Will try better isn’t he future!
Honest review (Z4M) but you've got some suspension issues to deal with at that mileage! I've driven on frost heaved roads and potholes here in Ont,Canada and do not hear those crashes and bangs. Tire whir as well unless its due to mic placement? A great analog blast to drive- I enjoy mine every weekend - April to Nov lol. Cheers.
Thanks. The previous owner replaced a lot of the original business with poly, which may be part of the reason for the harsh ride - it did have a reputation out of the gate for being too stiff, but I agree, there are some worn components in there. The whine is from the differential - for whatever reason it was replaced twice with aftermarket diffs from diffsonline.com and it makes quite a racket - it's on my list of items to address. Agreed it's a great analog car and is my goto car these days, along with my E39 M5!
love both keep them both
I am blessed to have both!
Z3MC. S52 for leisure, S54 for garage queen. But then again, I'm one of those who really hasn't warmed up to Bangle's car design although I must admit that the Z4MC is an exception. :)
And of course, appreciate the great video. :)
Thanks!
I would have to say the Z4 is the best of the Bangle-era designs. Am driving the Z4 as my daily at the moment and am really enjoying it!
@@trackrekord I hated Bangle's designs... and now own one of his best, Z4MC! Go figure. Timeless design, aged like a good wine.
You feel like you’re sitting lower in the Z4 bc of the shoulder line. Doors sit at your shoulder vs mid-arm on the Z3. Probably sit at the same height in both cars.
I agree - it's a big greenhouse in the Z3 which make you feel like you are sitting higher. However, the M Sport seats in the Z4 are thinner and lower.
what size rear tires are you running on the Z3M Coupe?
245/40R17
@@trackrekord Thanks and Wow, it looks wider than that. I bet 265's would be huge on that car. One day imma get a Z3 Coupe. That's gonna be a glorious day. 💯😎
Sorry the Z3m Coupe is legendary and super unique.. the z4m sure more HP and all the electronic goodies but the interior and the drive feel so generic.. The z3 you feel it.. I love both but z3 M coupe is a forever car.
Right there with you on the M Coupe (the Z3 version will always be just the M Coupe to me). The Z4M has fabulous exterior styling, but there is nothing that really differentiates it from other cars out there. The Clown Shoe has unique styling.
I remember Clarkson saying it is like sitting on a sofa made of Chuck Norris 😂.
That's funny
You’re not interested in selling one of them are you??
Sorry no!
I had to at least check! How is the high milage z4 M doing?
I’ve looked at high mile ones over 200k miles and been scared. If they’re maintained, can they last over 300k miles??
It’s running great - if they are well maintained and not thrashed (particularly when cold) there is no reason why they cant last 300k miles. Rod bearings are a known weak point - mine were changed around 150k miles, I think, as a preventative measure and they looked fine. The VANOS is notorious for wear also, but serviceable.
Keep Chickens in a coop.
Drive a Coupé
Were I still living in the UK I would definitely call it a Coupé!