1 Week with the M Coupe and other thoughts......

[Karacticus]

Gonna bring it up to Hallett next year?

In which case I might see you at the KC/Sunbelt No Excuses Driving School...

[TexasZed4MC]

I might if we can organize a big group from the DFW area and the dates work for us. Alot of our group has wanted to make the trip for the last few years, just never worked out. What are the dates?

[Karacticus]

Originally Posted by TexasZed4MC

I might if we can organize a big group from the DFW area and the dates work for us. Alot of our group has wanted to make the trip for the last few years, just never worked out. What are the dates?

It's usually the weekend after Labor Day-- it was Fri 9/9 thru Sunday 9/11 this last year.

We usually have a fair size group (8ish) that makes the trip from Iowa-- it's worth it!

[Blind32]

Welcome!

Great post! I notice myself doing some of those same things. (peeking in the garage for just one more look, walking faster to the car once I see it in the parking lot, etc..) Glad to see another Z4MC in Dallas. I've made it out to a few LSC AutoXs but haven't been able to work my schedule around a track day yet. I live up near Allen, TX.

Rekla - I think I may have met you at the AutoX a few months ago. You had showed up towards the end and mentioned you were going to the track day. I couldn't remember what you had said your user name was or else I would of messaged you.

I've been kinda busy with work so I haven't been on the forum lately, didn't notice all the DFW members. With this many Z4s popping up in Dallas/Ft. Worth, I think we should get a meet together before the weather turns for the worse.

[TexasZed4MC]

Sounds great to me! I will be over this weekend to help with the STREET SURVIVAL our BMWCCA chapter is teaching.

[Rekla]

Yes, that is me.

Originally Posted by Blind32

Rekla - I think I may have met you at the AutoX a few months ago. You had showed up towards the end and mentioned you were going to the track day. I couldn't remember what you had said your user name was or else I would of messaged you.

[TexasZed4MC]

When do you stop just walking into the garage just to look at the car or look out the window just to see it. Its cast a spell on you for sure!

[kklin]

Hi TexasZed4MC,

I have a similar story. Like you, I owned an older M3 (E36 sedan) for almost 12 years before it found the right new owner (it will be in good hands) this summer. After watching boards, sites, and auctions for several months I then found and jumped on the M Coupe (7/08 build) that was right. This was just a few weeks ago.

This past Sunday I had a hoot at our local autocross (161 drivers that day) with it (I've been autocrossing since 1995 I think). I was just laughing crazily on my first run while my friend and long time competitor, Bob, was riding along - understeer (brand new front Continentals the dealer had to install) followed by throttle oversteer. I felt kind of like Clarkson on Top Gear when he tries out an AMG and claims it's bonkers. Gave rides on all my runs.

I invited and met Roffle Waffle (real nice guy) and gave him a couple of rides and then gave him guidance on his runs. I suspect he might be hooked.

Here's a picture of me where I was caught actually not grinning like crazy and laughing out loud - http://autox4u.zenfolio.com/p247874247/e1c50cf26

Enjoy your rides ladies and gentlemen!

[ZStig]

definitely hooked. like on crack!

was thinking about the steering angle to throttle position thing today as I was driving.

[Kgolf31]

Welcome, awesome car and story!

[md2mhk]

Love the spreadsheet info!

[03BeastCharmer]

Congrats Steve,
Glad to see you found a Blue one

[polar]

Originally Posted by TexasZed4MC

Matt I just got through cleaning the trunk opening. Yes I am that anal about the car already. the dust around the hinges and mounting bolts and screws was driving me crazy. Today was the first chance I had to take care of it, now when you open the back its as clean as the outside. Also ordered all new P21S wax, detailer, shampoo. I took her to a local car show last night also and plenty were taking pictures and asking questions about the car, even 2 Hennessey Viper owners were drooling over the car!

You're not anal yet, you have to polish those balls first

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by polar

You're not anal yet, you have to polish those balls first

lol , now THAT's anal.


...nice job

[TexasZed4MC]

Do I really want to know HOW he did that and the time spent on them! wow!

[Fatty Duckets]

Hey Tex,

Its posts like yours that make me wonder if I should have held out a little longer before I picked up my e92 335i. Like you, I salivate whenever I get the rare chance of seeing a z4mc. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to drive one but after reading countless reviews, it seems like the perfect ride. The one great thing about the 335i is obviously the boost, which can certainly be addicting. What are your thoughts? Have you driven any of the turbo powered BMWs? How about others here on the board?

[TexasZed4MC]

I have instructed a novice student in a 135i in October and driven a friends 335i this summer also. The feel of the boost is very noticable in both of them. Me myself I prefer a smoother feed of torque and power. Now saying that I feel the reason I like that is driving the E30 M3 so many years. THat is a momentium car. You have to so smooth with the throttle and braking to make that car fast. Once you learn that the car is amazing, you can dance with it all over a track. The M Coupe being a NON-turbo car is more like the E30 M3, it lets you feel what the car is wanting to do. You feel the twitches and slides faster. Personally I thenk the M Coupe has the best steering feedback along the same lines as the M3. I just find the turbo cars harder to make as smooth a throttle input. At least thats my thought and I am sure the 1M guys would disagree with me. For me I prefer the M Coupe over the 1M.

[TexasZed4MC]

BTW I now am gonna have to polish the mufflers! Damn pictures!

[kklin]

Originally Posted by TexasZed4MC

The M Coupe being a NON-turbo car is more like the E30 M3, it lets you feel what the car is wanting to do. You feel the twitches and slides faster.

After driving an E36 M3 on street and autocross for almost 12 years, when I got the Z4MC (completely dealer stock) a few weeks ago, I was a tiny bit worried. The latter's front felt lighter than the E36 in terms of feeling what the fronts were doing, at least on the street.

So I was a bit worried when I took it to the autocross that the feel of the fronts might not be up to what I expected. Fortunately I was proven wrong, once you flog it a bit - all 4 corners are talking to you as I expected.

BTW, have fun at Street Survival. I've alway enjoyed the aha moments when the kids understand what it feels like to connect with the car. I tell them that now know how to dance with their car. I remember after one such episode a girl exclaiming "I love my car", which was a bit "old" looking.

[polar]

Originally Posted by TexasZed4MC

BTW I now am gonna have to polish the mufflers! Damn pictures!

hahaha... yes, I need help! ...and now, you too!

Does'nt yall feel the urge for polishing those dull, matt, rusty, ugly things hanging down, very visible, from under the car.
Just look at Tex pictures and imagine those cans shine like they were chromed?

And it's not a very hard job at all. Grab an electric screwdriver, equip with a cloth polishing pad/wheel and add some Autosol (or some other metal polish).
After a few runs the steel starts to shine!!! Finally smear a layer of sealer to protect the bling. This is a very easy fix and it takes about 2 beers each.
The cans will look so nice you think they are aftermarket

FYI (my excuse) I had the RPI's on so the cans were laying around just begging for a polish. The "hard" part about this fix is just the dismount/mount.
The can on the left in the picture has got 3 runs, the other 1.

DO IT!

[TexasZed4MC]

Exhaust cleaned, tips polished inside and out, rear diffuser cleaned and treated with protectant. so from the rear axles back you can eat off of now!

[KevinM]

Congratulations!

Originally Posted by Fatty Duckets

Have you driven any of the turbo powered BMWs? How about others here on the board?

I tested the 335 extensively before buying my first M coupe. Great car to to be sure, but it did not feel like an M, and that is a feeling I am now addicted to. An M is truly the sum of its parts - engine, suspension, diff, and steering. And yes I do believe the the new M turbos are M cars but have not driven any of them yet.