vs Z3...

[proboner]

So I just went on a road trip with my buddy is his Z3 and I must say I liked it much better than my Z4 in a very specific way... ride/build quality. I sat in his car for 8+ hours today and got into my car a few hours after and BOY is there a difference. My car rattles like crazy, and when I hit even the smallest bumps I feel like it's going to fall apart.

His car by comparison barely made a peep and would absorb bumps with absolutely no problem. After driving a bit today I realized that these issues completely change the way I drive the car; I'm extremely cautious and honestly have a hard time enjoying it. After experiencing what I'd been feeling but had never been able to put to words, I think this may be a deal breaker for me.

His suggestion is that because he has 17's with a taller sidewall, it just absorbs the bumps better. I believe this to a point, but I doubt the difference could be THAT much. BTW, his car is a 2001 3.0 with 5-speed, I drive a 2003 3.0 with a 6-speed. Both are low mileage, with him at ~85k and me at ~71k, and both are basically stock. Could it maybe be bushings? Any suggestions? It has pretty much ruined this car for me.

[XMetal]

You didn't provide enough info for us to speculate:
?Does the Z3 have regular tires in addition to being 17"?
?Does the Z3 have sport suspension?
?Does your Z4 have run flat tires in 18 or 19"?
?Does your Z4 have sport suspension?

[Westersund]

I have a Z4MC and a Z3C and the Z4MC feels more refined/better to me, I know my Z3C have ran more than 3 times as much as the Z4MC but still. Both cars have 18" wheels and are lowered on coil's.

[Vanne]

I have both also, and the Z4 is by far the better ride. Ofcourse neither of my cars are stock. But you can feel the Z3 twist in the chassis around corners, where the Z4 doesn't even Batt an eyelid. But... I do hear what you say, my Z4 is pretty much for track duty. (I have rego check coming up this month and not really expecting it to pass) the Z3 on the other hand is soooooo much easier to drive. That and the fact that my Z3 was pretty much bought as a daily shopper beater.. so it's nice to cane it every now and then.

[GuidoK]

As far as roadsters go I agree that the z3 has better interior build quality.

The z3 has different interior plastic material. The z4 material is hard and creeks on places where different panels touch, especially behind the seats where the roof sits.
But the z3 also has quirks, especially with the seats

[ShakyDog]

Only noise I have in my Z4 is from the passenger seat being put all the way back and it squeaks where it contact that back of the interior. Oh, and if the seat belt on the passenger side is not sitting over the seat it will make a noise.
If I were you I would locate all of the noise and fix them before they cause bigger issues. Also if you have run flats, get rid of them!

Steve

[proboner]

Some good points here. Perhaps upgrading to slightly taller tires (which has been a plan of mine for a while now, for looks and ride quality) as well as going away from run-flats will make a significant difference.

[markp1958]

Got rid of my run flats , made a huge difference with my Pilot sport AS3s . Now the car doesn't grab every groove and imperfection in the road either .

[Vanne]

Yup

[Efthreeoh]

I have a 1997 Z3 (Wife's car) since new and a 2008 Z4 3.0 Coupe (acquired Dec. 2014). The Z4 is by far and away the better built car with better materials and far stiffer chassis (a buddy has a Z4 Roadster I've been in several times). The plastic on the Z3 is terrible. Try to take apart the interior and you'll never get a piece out without breaking it. Hell, the side window vents just break all by themselves. JB Weld was invented because of the Z3; just sayin'

Well, then the Z4 does have its cupholders...

I do think the Z3 is the more stable handling car between the two.

[NickyC]

C'mon OP, the Z4 is vastly superior in every single way. Are you sure the exhaust on that Z3 wasn't leaking into the cabin?

From the shitty seat belt holders which destroy themselves, to the unbelievable flexing, to the rear subframe and trunk destroying itself, on and on.

I love the Z3M dearly, having owned three of them. They don't compare in the slightest to the Z4M, it's night and day.

[Vanne]

+1. But love them both.

[Lunas72]

You may want to check the struts and shocks on your Z4. I have a 2003 Z4 2.5i with sport suspension, 17" non-runflat tires and 78K miles. Before I changed my struts and shocks the ride in my Z4 sounds similar to what you describe. Now the ride is solid and as quiet as a 14 yo roadster can be.

[StickMon]

Z3 is better looking. Love the hourglass figure.

[3GFX]

Originally Posted by XMetal

You didn't provide enough info for us to speculate:
?Does the Z3 have regular tires in addition to being 17"?
?Does the Z3 have sport suspension?
?Does your Z4 have run flat tires in 18 or 19"?
?Does your Z4 have sport suspension?

Don't forget the body of the Z4 is much stiffer than the Z3 as well.

Originally Posted by Lunas72

You may want to check the struts and shocks on your Z4. I have a 2003 Z4 2.5i with sport suspension, 17" non-runflat tires and 78K miles. Before I changed my struts and shocks the ride in my Z4 sounds similar to what you describe. Now the ride is solid and as quiet as a 14 yo roadster can be.

Disagree. It's old looking and IMHO isn't aging well.

I do like the Clown shoe MZ3 Coupe, thats a whole other ball game.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by 3GFX

Disagree. It's old looking and IMHO isn't aging well.

.

Gotta take a different view mate. My roadster is almost 11 now and a work colleague recently asked me if it was brand new.

[Eau_Rouge111]

Happens to me all the time about my Z4M Coupe...people assume it's new.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Gotta take a different view mate. My roadster is almost 11 now and a work colleague recently asked me if it was brand new.

He was talking about the Z3 I believe. Z3 does look old, Z4M I get new car compliments all the time.

[StickMon]

I guess that's why I like the looks of the Z3.
Yea, it looks old.
I look old.
'68 E-Type looks old ...

[Punisher3.0si]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I have a 1997 Z3 (Wife's car) since new and a 2008 Z4 3.0 Coupe (acquired Dec. 2014). The Z4 is by far and away the better built car with better materials and far stiffer chassis (a buddy has a Z4 Roadster I've been in several times). The plastic on the Z3 is terrible. Try to take apart the interior and you'll never get a piece out without breaking it. Hell, the side window vents just break all by themselves. JB Weld was invented because of the Z3; just sayin'

Well, then the Z4 does have its cupholders...

I do think the Z3 is the more stable handling car between the two.

Thank you for saying something. The Z4 is a more refined car in every way. The interior quality is leaps and bounds over the Z3. Reading this thread was the only time I've heard someone say the opposite.

[3GFX]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Gotta take a different view mate. My roadster is almost 11 now and a work colleague recently asked me if it was brand new.

I quoted the wrong thing apparently.

IMHO the Z3 isn't aging very well with the exception of the M Coupe because of it's pure uniqueness. It doesn't look new per say, but because of it's odd ball nature and swollen look, it is age appropriate for its time and has thus aged well.

The Z4 is a car that continues to turn heads. People don't think my car is 14 years old by any means!

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by 3GFX

I quoted the wrong thing apparently.

IMHO the Z3 isn't aging very well with the exception of the M Coupe because of it's pure uniqueness. It doesn't look new per say, but because of it's odd ball nature and swollen look, it is age appropriate for its time and has thus aged well.

The Z4 is a car that continues to turn heads. People don't think my car is 14 years old by any means!

True dat.

Although I have seen some lovingly maintained Z3's around here that, with a tastefully upgraded set of new rims, look very nice.