Been itching for a toy for ages, struggling to think of what to get next. Been getting slowly bored with vRS and need something faster, more of a challenge. I drove the new Leon Cupra 280 and while it's quick it was too easy to drive fast. Felt like my car just a little quicker. Came to the conclusion a long time ago that if I want to get better I need to get RWD or a good 4WD.

Was thinking GT86 but I'm worried I'd get used to the performance quite quickly. And then last week I got a go of a BMW Z4M. It was such a step on from everything I've ever driven. Fast, stiff, a screamer of an engine yet buckets of low down torque. Was a handful that needed respect at all times but really nice to drive. After it and the drive home in my car I really started to notice how much roll there was, despite the Eibachs and Bilsteins. It's definitely made me seriously consider one. Started doing the maths on it and it's not too bad. Only £100 more to insure than my vRS, Tyres only a bit more, servicing and tax is noticeably more but I could afford one. Don't need the estate for space anymore and there are options in it to carry a bike. Plus I've moved so my mileage has dropped dramatically so even though it would be worse on fuel it wouldn't be much worse than now.

Has anyone here owned or know someone who has owned one? Just curious is there anything I should be looking out for. I've seen the clutch delay valve is something common. Also what would be an alternative to it?

Do it! Guess you need to check for vanos rattle, pinking indicating head gasket failure, they are suppose to be pretty strong cars through, not sure if they suffer the subframe carrier panel cracks but worth researching.

They are awesome.

Just be careful though mate. They snatch when on the limit.

My mate had one. Best driver i know, had GTR's and alsorts. He crashed the bmw over a wall at 100mph last year.

Luckily everybody was fine. He said it was all good, until it snatched all of a sudden, he corrected it but it wouldnt find traction. Snatched again, hit a curb, flew over a while whilst rolling and eventually landed in a field.

Says he loved it, but he'd never have another.

Just be careful fella!

These will bite you if you don't respect them, the are a bit more wild compared to the M3.

 

Servicing is expensive, especially the inspection services (where the valve clearances should be checked and adjusted)

I wouldnt be brave enough for one. I'll tell you that haha. N i ride pretty high powered bikes for fun

They are pretty awesome. I'd have one as a second car/toy but not as a daily driver as too compromised and the ride is fairly brutal.

I started looking at E46 M3's but most are a bit old now, not sure which have subframe issues or not, etc. Have done a bit of research into them and running Michelin tyres instead of standard Conti's and getting the geometry sorted helps massively. Also been told when driving after fitting new tyres because of the camber it takes a while to bed them in which means like a bike there's not much grip for the first few hundred miles.  The one I drove, while nowhere near the limit felt OK but gear changes were hard to get smooth but that would come with practice.

Edited 1 October, 201411 yr by MartynVRS

I started looking at E46 M3's but most are a bit old now, not sure which have subframe issues or not, etc. Have done a bit of research into them and running Michelin tyres instead of standard Conti's and getting the geometry sorted helps massively. Also been told when driving after fitting new tyres because of the camber it takes a while to bed them in which means like a bike there's not much grip for the first few hundred miles. The one I drove, while nowhere near the limit felt OK but gear changes were hard to get smooth but that would come with practice.

Theres a very thin line between being 'okay' and 'trying to kill you' with these things haha

But the same applies to a bike. I'd be under no illusion that there's risk involved and I don't plan on trying to driving it beyond my abilities. I looked at Exige's a while back and also looked into skid pan training and a few track days with tuition to help me learn how to use it properly.

 

But I welcome any recommendations for alternatives.

Go on you know you want one. An awesome car

Sent from my Galaxy S5

You will love it. Just aslong as you respect it and dont expect the traction control to restrain it, cos it wont.

The first time my mate gave it any power around a corner with the traction control on, there was a great big powerslide going on haha.

Hmm. Alternatives...

Clutch delay valve is nothing serious

Every bmw has one fitted (newer ones)

You can get rid of it fairly easily (drill old one out or fit a bigger diameter valve)

My boss has a Z4M not as a daily driver though just as a weekend summer car. Wouldnt fancy one all year round as id imagine it would get a bit uncomforable for every day use.

I havent drove his Z4M but i did drive his previous 3.0l Z4 and it shifted so id imagine the M to be some machine

I take it itd be an every day drive too?

I always had a soft spot for the Z3M breadvan thing.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=z3m&biw=1600&bih=1066&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=euwsVLfHD9bmasn-gvAL&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/bmw/z3m

 

J.

I take it itd be an every day drive too?

It would be an everyday drive too. Did think Exige again but prices are going up and is less practical than the M. Plus if someone reverses int the M it's a normal bumper. A clam for a Exige is £3k and a 6 month wait.

Look into a nice S2000 GT aswell. Not as quick but the vtec is addictive

Agree that RWD is the way to go for you. Have you considered a Nissan 350Z, reliable and some real cheapies out there.    Fuel consumption is on the high side though.

350z's are a bit heavy. Did just look at the Cayman S but is a bit more money and some of the repair bills are even more scary than the M.

Maybe worth trying a Z4 3.0l rather than the Z4M? A mate of mine has one and they are great fun. Will still be very quick and have that great straight-six NA soundtrack only much much cheaper to buy and run, especially on servicing. Probably more examples to choose from too :-)

Maybe worth trying a Z4 3.0l rather than the Z4M? A mate of mine has one and they are great fun. Will still be very quick and have that great straight-six NA soundtrack only much much cheaper to buy and run, especially on servicing. Probably more examples to choose from too :-)

That's true. I'll have to look into performance figures.

You can get a 3.0 litre z4 cant ya. Supposed to be a good compromise from the M version apparently.

Not sure how much cheaper they are though

get a good Z4m and you won't lose any money on it, might even make a bit

get a good Z4m and you won't lose any money on it, might even make a bit

Yeah I've seen. My boss got his for a good price but is immaculate. Judging by prices of M3 CSL's the good ones will only go up in value.  

get a good Z4m and you won't lose any money on it, might even make a bit

If looked after and kept rubber side down lol.

If looked after and kept rubber side down lol.

 

True, like with any RWD car there needs to be some respect, I certainly don't think they are a "widow maker" lol

 

I can't see prices mimicking the M3 CLS, that's just obscene.