As a die hard E46 M3 owner I've been curious to try a Z4M for ages. Wasn't disappointed with this one - shocked at how different it feels to the E46, and the edgier handling is exciting without being scary. That carbon airbox is absolutely obscene, as is the S54's ever present 8,000RPM red-line. Whoever buys this will be lucky to have the privilege to hear that induction note whenever they choose...
Great video on BMWs most underrated sports car! I really appreciate your sophisticated analysis of the suspension and dynamics; you hit the nail on the head and concluded much the same as me who’s owned a coupe for several years now. Driving a modified version like this with the Airbox, proper suspension, and ZCP wheels makes a world of difference to stock however, and you likely wouldn’t have liked it as much in that configuration, like all the journalists did when it came out. Chris Harris famously trashed this car, sealing its fate as a forgotten M car.
It’s sad to see a lot of cars fall under the radar due to them just needing a little fettling to reach their full potential. M cars inherently have a good chassis so we knew the Z4 M was no exception and we’re glad to hear from an owner that we’ve done the car justice. Hopefully more people get to enjoy this video and see how great of a car the Z4 M is! Thank you for your kind words and we’re glad you enjoyed watching. Wishing you many more happy miles in your coupe!
It is an honest review on a totally forgoten M car. I totally love mine and I could not see myself replacing it. The fact it can be temperamental at the limit makes the drive totally unique and alive.
Great video. Pretty spot on review. I use to change cars every couple years. Had my Z4MCoupe for 12.5yrs. Yes it’s not perfect, but that’s what makes it special and gets under you skin. Wish there were more reviews on these.
Every day I have to find reasons to not buy this carbon fiber intake. This video might be the end of me lol. Awesome review, and agree with everything you said! On perfect weather days I sometimes think about what the Roadster would be like, but every time I approach the fastback lines of the coupe, I'm reminded of why I went for it.
Great video! 👏. You explain (much better than I could) exactly why I own one. It’s a fantastic car. Having owned an M3 too so can compare in the same way. Def a future classic. I won’t be selling mine anytime soon! Keep up the great work.
Brilliant review on an outstanding car! I've had 11 BMWs including a 1999 'clownshoe' Z3M coupe. I was prepared to make the Z4M my latest BMW but I just couldn't afford to get into one up here in Canada (rare! - and at $35000, minimum...) I loved everything about it. Even the hatch space! So instead i had to 'compromise' with the 3.0si coupe with sport suspension. Black on black leather. With instead the 260hp N52, I'm never yearning for more power, oddly? Very torquey down low, with some saying it's in some ways more enjoyable as a daily because of the grunt down low, as opposed to up top like the M. The N52 has a (partial?) magnesium block which saves something like 140 pounds on the front end so the weight distribution is even better! Often quoted as 80% of the M coupe with 50% the maintenence costs. I've got zero complaints so far. So to those that can't quite make the financial leap to the Z4 holy grail, don't disregard the little brother 😁
Agreed. Much cheaper to maintain. And initial price for mine was $8000 last year (Florida car). Yes, I had to take care of the oil leaks that seemed to come from any and all orifices and some other fixes, but now that all that is behind me I can enjoy the top down driving here in a month or so.
This was a fantastic film. Bravo, Shooting Brake - my first time coming across your content, and I am now keenly subscribed. As a Z3 owner, I marvel at the number of detractors Z cars have. Blending the top-down fun and handsome styling of a roadster (Miata, S2000) with the torque, sound and usability especially inherent to straight-six 3 Series cars. Both the Z3 and E85 Z4 are now significantly discounted compared to their competition - all the better I say, because nothing I’ve experienced comes close for smiles-per-mile.
The E46 M is greater but the E86 is a bit greater, edgier, twitchy on the limits, a more demanding car to drive, currently driving a Porsche with precise high speed stability but the trills of the E86 M is legendary.
Thinking about selling my ND2 Miata for this car, opinions? Yes the BMW has more power, is a 6 cylinders engine (one of the most legendary), and will probably increase in value. However, I love the dynamic of the Miata so much that it is for me one of the best car ever built. Will I miss it?
I think you are on the right track in understanding the dichotomy between the two cars. The Z4M is an exciting and powerful car with a masterpiece of an engine but you may miss the sweetness and dynamic poise of the ND2. I would recommend moving towards Porsche if you're looking for a dynamic upgrade from something as focused as an ND2.
@@shootingbrake Interesting take about the Porsche, I actually also had a 982 Boxster in mind. Was thinking Alpine as well but turbo ain’t for me, I love high rev NA engine too much. Thanks a lot for answering, kinda makes me wanna keep my ND2 in the end 😊 (btw, I have the BBR 220 upgrade so the car feels actually quite powerful already)
Only on the later generation. This generation was only available with a soft-top roadster (also available with a removable one piece hardtop) or a fastback Coupe
I just think it's not a good looking car, despite the driving experience. The front is so bad. Who designed that horrible horizontal bonnet line? Would rather the Z3m, or 1m if going for 4 seats
It's definitely a divisive design. I think they look great in person, particularly in real life contexts. Crucially I think they are one of those cars for which the design comes alive with a mild drop and some chunky wheel / tyre fitments!
😊 Same brakes as M3 E46 CSL, not the smaller ones as on standard M3. Great review!
As a die hard E46 M3 owner I've been curious to try a Z4M for ages. Wasn't disappointed with this one - shocked at how different it feels to the E46, and the edgier handling is exciting without being scary. That carbon airbox is absolutely obscene, as is the S54's ever present 8,000RPM red-line. Whoever buys this will be lucky to have the privilege to hear that induction note whenever they choose...
We couldn't agree more!
In what way Z4M feels different to e46 M3?
@@mariusbagdshorter wheelbase, less weight, quicker steering rack. It’s a more edgy playful car.
Is the carbon airbox, stock from bmw ?
Great video on BMWs most underrated sports car! I really appreciate your sophisticated analysis of the suspension and dynamics; you hit the nail on the head and concluded much the same as me who’s owned a coupe for several years now. Driving a modified version like this with the Airbox, proper suspension, and ZCP wheels makes a world of difference to stock however, and you likely wouldn’t have liked it as much in that configuration, like all the journalists did when it came out. Chris Harris famously trashed this car, sealing its fate as a forgotten M car.
It’s sad to see a lot of cars fall under the radar due to them just needing a little fettling to reach their full potential. M cars inherently have a good chassis so we knew the Z4 M was no exception and we’re glad to hear from an owner that we’ve done the car justice. Hopefully more people get to enjoy this video and see how great of a car the Z4 M is!
Thank you for your kind words and we’re glad you enjoyed watching. Wishing you many more happy miles in your coupe!
It is an honest review on a totally forgoten M car. I totally love mine and I could not see myself replacing it. The fact it can be temperamental at the limit makes the drive totally unique and alive.
I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of listening to an S54 singing away! 🤌🏼
We could listen to it all day…🫶🏽
Great content! Subbed! As a Z4M owner myself, I can fully agree with all of that 😂
Awesome! Thank you!
Great video. Pretty spot on review. I use to change cars every couple years. Had my Z4MCoupe for 12.5yrs. Yes it’s not perfect, but that’s what makes it special and gets under you skin. Wish there were more reviews on these.
Well said!
Every day I have to find reasons to not buy this carbon fiber intake. This video might be the end of me lol. Awesome review, and agree with everything you said! On perfect weather days I sometimes think about what the Roadster would be like, but every time I approach the fastback lines of the coupe, I'm reminded of why I went for it.
Great video! 👏. You explain (much better than I could) exactly why I own one. It’s a fantastic car. Having owned an M3 too so can compare in the same way. Def a future classic. I won’t be selling mine anytime soon! Keep up the great work.
Brilliant review on an outstanding car! I've had 11 BMWs including a 1999 'clownshoe' Z3M coupe. I was prepared to make the Z4M my latest BMW but I just couldn't afford to get into one up here in Canada (rare! - and at $35000, minimum...) I loved everything about it. Even the hatch space! So instead i had to 'compromise' with the 3.0si coupe with sport suspension. Black on black leather. With instead the 260hp N52, I'm never yearning for more power, oddly? Very torquey down low, with some saying it's in some ways more enjoyable as a daily because of the grunt down low, as opposed to up top like the M. The N52 has a (partial?) magnesium block which saves something like 140 pounds on the front end so the weight distribution is even better! Often quoted as 80% of the M coupe with 50% the maintenence costs. I've got zero complaints so far. So to those that can't quite make the financial leap to the Z4 holy grail, don't disregard the little brother 😁
Ever driven the GR86? It’s a good drive too
Agreed. Much cheaper to maintain. And initial price for mine was $8000 last year (Florida car). Yes, I had to take care of the oil leaks that seemed to come from any and all orifices and some other fixes, but now that all that is behind me I can enjoy the top down driving here in a month or so.
great review, nice video!
Thank you!
Didn’t expect myself to sit through the entire video but boy was this really enjoyable!👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
Glad you enjoyed it!
I respect the Z4M a lot & will own one some day
Highly recommend!
This was a fantastic film. Bravo, Shooting Brake - my first time coming across your content, and I am now keenly subscribed.
As a Z3 owner, I marvel at the number of detractors Z cars have. Blending the top-down fun and handsome styling of a roadster (Miata, S2000) with the torque, sound and usability especially inherent to straight-six 3 Series cars. Both the Z3 and E85 Z4 are now significantly discounted compared to their competition - all the better I say, because nothing I’ve experienced comes close for smiles-per-mile.
Not to mention the assy handling!!
Thank you for your kind words! Glad to hear you enjoyed it and well said about Z cars. They are for sure under appreciated gems in the market.
I have one in South Africa with 16000km in showroom condition for sale
Aw, I live in Llangynidr at the bottom of the hill from where you shot most of this. If I'd known, I'd have let you also look at my Z4M coupe
Small world! You’re very lucky to have those roads on your doorstep as well as a great car to match. We’ll be back in the area for sure 😉
Ahh the lust to drive one of these
Place a bid and make it yours!
Huge respect to my brother Iftikhar for Shooting this stunning footage.❤
Glad you liked it!
The E46 M is greater but the E86 is a bit greater, edgier, twitchy on the limits, a more demanding car to drive, currently driving a Porsche with precise high speed stability but the trills of the E86 M is legendary.
Agree on all counts
Cracking video chaps!
Thank you very much! 🫶🏽
Looks like the Batmobile!
We think so too! 😎
Fantastic example!
We agree!
this is where the new Supra came from
Thinking about selling my ND2 Miata for this car, opinions?
Yes the BMW has more power, is a 6 cylinders engine (one of the most legendary), and will probably increase in value. However, I love the dynamic of the Miata so much that it is for me one of the best car ever built. Will I miss it?
I think you are on the right track in understanding the dichotomy between the two cars. The Z4M is an exciting and powerful car with a masterpiece of an engine but you may miss the sweetness and dynamic poise of the ND2. I would recommend moving towards Porsche if you're looking for a dynamic upgrade from something as focused as an ND2.
@@shootingbrake Interesting take about the Porsche, I actually also had a 982 Boxster in mind. Was thinking Alpine as well but turbo ain’t for me, I love high rev NA engine too much. Thanks a lot for answering, kinda makes me wanna keep my ND2 in the end 😊 (btw, I have the BBR 220 upgrade so the car feels actually quite powerful already)
@@stefanck Sounds like a fantastic car with the BBR package, enjoy!
MY BRUDDA!!
great video
How does it ride on the street with the bilstein coil over?
Was there ever a retractable hardtop?
Only on the later generation. This generation was only available with a soft-top roadster (also available with a removable one piece hardtop) or a fastback Coupe
Reason = Z4M is more expensive.
Bingo!
My Z4 e86 3ltr Si beats your E46 M3 #JustSaying 😂
I just think it's not a good looking car, despite the driving experience. The front is so bad. Who designed that horrible horizontal bonnet line?
Would rather the Z3m, or 1m if going for 4 seats
It's definitely a divisive design. I think they look great in person, particularly in real life contexts. Crucially I think they are one of those cars for which the design comes alive with a mild drop and some chunky wheel / tyre fitments!
Great review though. Thank you