Z4 M Coupe vs E46 M3

[bmwboi]

Hey guys. I've been thinking about Z4 M coupes. Here are my questions:

1.) How harsh is the ride? Would it be harsher than an e46 M3 ZCP? As a point of reference, I currently drive a 335xi with fun flat tires and find the ride acceptable.
2.) How cramped is the interior (particularly for anything more than a short drive)? I am 6 ft.
3.) How would you guys rate the car for daily driving? I wouldn't purchase one till the end of the year and I'd DD it for ~8 months at which point I'd drive ~4k miles per year.

FWIW, I've driven the car a few times but it's only been on smooth surfaces and it's never been long enough to really get a feel for some of the above questions. As an alternate, I'm looking into some e46 M3 ZCP's but it's tough to find a low mileage 6spd example at this point. I used to own an e46 and would love to get into one again but as I stated earlier, it's tough to find a low mileage ZCP 6spd example and even rarer to find one with some CPO warranty left.

Thanks in advance for any answers!

[doozyj]

I don't think anyone is buying a Z4M for its comfort. IMO Z4M>M3 in every aspect except for comfort for obvious reasons.

[schwank]

ive taken mine on a few 12 hour drives and been happy, Im 6.2 and 210. I use mine as a DD from April to November and love it. Am I typical? probably not hahaha in all seriousness its a little rough, but im not uncomfortable. It has plenty of leg/head room, and enough adjustment to the seats to make long trips.

Good luck, have fun...

[r4gs]

i used to drive an '07 e92 335i with stock conti runflats.

1. the m coupes have an extremely stiff chassis and ride correspondingly harsh. i've driven through the gamut of rough, uneven highways and smooth, just-paved roads, and find the drive to be comfortable. compared with the e92 though, it is a lot harsher, and if u're at any rate sensitive to having ur teeth gnashed on the odd occasion, i'm leaning towards the m3 for the better ride comfort.
2. i'm 5'11'' and have plenty of supremely comfortable space (seat is adjusted mid height and forward, so quite some ways lower and back to go).
3. i don't dd my m coupe (work is about 0.5 miles down the street from my apartment) and would be happy to daily drive it (cos it's a bloody invigorating car to drive!), but ur mileage will vary.

bottom line - dd, maybe an m3 will better suit u. for all out crazy, unbridled fun, i'd still put down for an m coupe any day.

[bmwboi]

Originally Posted by doozyj

I don't think anyone is buying a Z4M for its comfort. IMO Z4M>M3 in every aspect except for comfort for obvious reasons.

No doubt comfort isn't a main consideration when buying this car but I'm just curious how it would compare to the e46 M3 ZCP or 335xi with run flat tires. I've had very limited experience with the Z4 M and just want to get some input from those with more experience.

[bmwboi]

Originally Posted by schwank

ive taken mine on a few 12 hour drives and been happy, Im 6.2 and 210. I use mine as a DD from April to November and love it. Am I typical? probably not hahaha in all seriousness its a little rough, but im not uncomfortable. It has plenty of leg/head room, and enough adjustment to the seats to make long trips.

Good luck, have fun...

Originally Posted by r4gs

i used to drive an '07 e92 335i with stock conti runflats.

1. the m coupes have an extremely stiff chassis and ride correspondingly harsh. i've driven through the gamut of rough, uneven highways and smooth, just-paved roads, and find the drive to be comfortable. compared with the e92 though, it is a lot harsher, and if u're at any rate sensitive to having ur teeth gnashed on the odd occasion, i'm leaning towards the m3 for the better ride comfort.
2. i'm 5'11'' and have plenty of supremely comfortable space (seat is adjusted mid height and forward, so quite some ways lower and back to go).
3. i don't dd my m coupe (work is about 0.5 miles down the street from my apartment) and would be happy to daily drive it (cos it's a bloody invigorating car to drive!), but ur mileage will vary.

bottom line - dd, maybe an m3 will better suit u. for all out crazy, unbridled fun, i'd still put down for an m coupe any day.

Lol thanks for the input guys.

[doozyj]

I owned both cars. Granted my M3 was SMG and lowered, even so the comfort of that car exceeds the Z4M in terms of roominess. I can say that the M3 seats are horribly uncomfortable during longer drives, the Z4M got it right in terms of seat comfort and support. You will also hear the same thing among M3 owners about the seats at other forums.

M3 has a bigger trunk, bigger cabin, you can recline your seats further, no dangerous blind spots, and your seating position isn't near the rear axle.

[doozyj]

You're right just because the M3 is more comfortable, I too am not saying the Z4M is uncomfortable by all means. If you don't need back seats go with the Z4M again IMHO it is a much better car.

[k2pilot]

i DD'ed my m coupe from december to august, and had a very modded e46 m3 prior with bilstein pss9's, and while the m3 definitely had more room, i don't find the ride to be all that unbearable, it's certainly not uncomfortable as others have also pointed out.

i suspect the m coupe will probably be the best car i'll own shy of when i buy an aston.

[mfanatic325]

The M Coupe feels as stiff as if you were sitting in the back of the E46 M3 as a passenger. Stock for stock, M coupe is stiffer all around, but it more than makes up for it in terms of performance and agility in an all-around package over the M3. As stated prior, if you don't need rear seats or a larger trunk, M coupe is the winner

[r4gs]

^ and just to add, the m coupe is just waaaaaaaay sexier!

[doozyj]

Originally Posted by r4gs

^ and just to add, the m coupe is just waaaaaaaay sexier!

/thread on that note.

[mfanatic325]

true that.

[esqu1re]

Never been in a e46 m3, but if you're going to drive only 4K miles a year in it and you don't have any back problems, you could even DD a elise. IMHO, 4K a year isn't enough seat time to worry about DD comfort.

Trunk space and rear room...that's a different story.

[r4gs]

^whs. if u need space for more than two, the e46 m3 would fit the bill nicely. i'm thoroughly happy with the trunk space of the m coupe, plenty for just myself.

[Swashplate]

I chose the Z4MC over a E46 M3 because of the following reasons.
It is very hard to find a good low mile M3
It is very easy to find a good low mile Z4M
The Z4M is more modern and had depreciated like a lead balloon, good for second owners.... M3 has less so due to its a more practical car.
But life is short and why the hell not if you don't have kids or the sort.

[The HACK]

I have a MZ4 Coupe, my carpool buddy has an E46 M3. I've driven both to and from work extensively. For a while the MZ4 Coupe was driven to and from work daily with my carpool buddy let me drive the E46 M3 when he got new tires and needed me to "break them in" while he's away on vacation.

The E46 M3 rides like a Buick compared to the MZ4 Coupe. If those are the only two cars in the world that I ever drive, I would consider the E46 M3 to be the most cushy, comfortable ride in the world. Stock for stock, the MZ4 Coupe is significantly stiffer and significantly harsher, and with the short-ish wheel base, bouncier with less "cushion" on the seat area, plus it sits significantly lower so getting in and out is more difficult.

That said, I didn't have any significant problems with driving the MZ4 Coupe daily, except for the miles I was putting on such a "rare" breed.

[O-cha]

Ive owned a 335 and own an e46 m3 and m coupe.

e46 m3 is in the middle in terms of ride, is the least stiff chassi
335 is mushiest ride but middle stiffness in terms of chassi
m coupe is the stiffest ride and stiffest chassi.

The rest of what you ask is purely opinion, I'm 6'1" and I fit fine and find it to be plenty of room and DD the Mcoupe.

You need to test drive one on bumpy roads, no one can tell you how you will feel.

[esqu1re]

If you replace the stock continental tires with ones with a softer sidewall (eg: hankooks ventus V12), the ride will be much more complacent over small bumps. To be honest, the M coupe is bearable for me as a DD. I came from a Honda Accord.

[gatorfast]

I dd my M coupe and am perfectly fine with it. Its not as rough as your typical car with lowering springs/coilovers would be.

You know the obvious drawbacks of the Z4 M...less interior room, trunk space, etc. For me, those things didnt matter as I rarely have more than 1 passenger and dont regularly need to carry a load of things in the trunk (although the z4m does have a decent size trunk).

The main drawback I saw in comparing the z4m and e46 m3 was a subjective one...I thought the e46 looked dated and the z4m looked modern and would for a while.

[dekaliber]

With 4K miles a year, I'd go Z4 M, no question.

For one, it isn't going to cost much more than an M3 ZCP with comparable miles, and you will usually have some warranty left, and you get a newer, more unique car.

[Eccentric]

Had runflats on my e92... I didnt mind the ride, but it was much harsher than my Z4MC with PS2s