09 BMW E92 M3 or 08 BMW Z4M Coupe??

[Endless619]

What would you take and why? Looked at the Porsches and none of them looked good to me. GT3 looked ok but again interior from 1980 and cannot get past the "Back to the Future" look.

There is a BMW dealer in Norcal that has an 09 E92 M3 for high $30s which is pretty cheap so may just pick it up and keep the Z4M but your thoughts please.

[cmark8]

I say buy the E92 M3 and keep the Z4MC! Damn they're going for cheap nowadays!

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by cmark8

I say buy the E92 M3 and keep the Z4MC! Damn they're going for cheap nowadays!

^WHS

I've owned both cars. Different as night and day.

The E92 is faster, much more comfort-oriented, larger and heavier (and feels larger and heavier), very refined, and a great GT. Most comfortable car I've ever owned, you can drive it for hours and hours and it will not beat you up or wear you out. When you punch it, it goes! Handles really well too. The only downside (for me) being the larger/heavier, and that you need to be really fast to have fun.

The Z4M is not as fast, lighter, more responsive, very very raw, and feels like a small car--it's pretty pure sports car. Seems to be more connected with the road and IMO you can have more fun at lower (read street legal) speeds. Still runs damn fast, and you feel the speed a bit more than the E92 M3.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

^WHS

I've owned both cars. Different as night and day.

The E92 is faster, much more comfort-oriented, larger and heavier (and feels larger and heavier), very refined, and a great GT. Most comfortable car I've ever owned, you can drive it for hours and hours and it will not beat you up or wear you out. When you punch it, it goes! Handles really well too. The only downside (for me) being the larger/heavier, and that you need to be really fast to have fun.

The Z4M is not as fast, lighter, more responsive, very very raw, and feels like a small car--it's pretty pure sports car. Seems to be more connected with the road and IMO you can have more fun at lower (read street legal) speeds. Still runs damn fast, and you feel the speed a bit more than the E92 M3.

Thanks for your input. I am getting older and I honestly love the feel of my X5. My lower back has been sore for like 20 years with lowered cars and I am thinking about getting it due to comfort reasons. lol I hate to say I am getting older and I am in my 30s. I am 6'1" and 190 pounds so the Coupe is not the biggest car out there I must say.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by EndlessZ4M

Thanks for your input. I am getting older and I honestly love the feel of my X5. My lower back has been sore for like 20 years with lowered cars and I am thinking about getting it due to comfort reasons. lol I hate to say I am getting older and I am in my 30s. I am 6'1" and 190 pounds so the Coupe is not the biggest car out there I must say.

You're welcome. Similar discussion over here, sore back and all, from yesterday, along with some stuff on M3s that may be of use.

[krnnerdboy]

just got to drive the e92 m3 on my favorite track(thanks mthrice!) and I must retract my statements about it feeling like a boat, it's a scalpel! It may never feel as raw as an e86m but it will do everything else better, but then again, this is coming from someone who jumped from a bmw to a ford


If your done with the size of it and the nvh that give the e86 its character, then you should swap and not look back, otherwise you will never get the raw natured feeling of the e86m in anything short of a gt3

[KevinM]

Wow, high 30s for a E92 M3...I'd be a bit suspicious, but if everything checks out that is a steal.

For a daily driver, the M3 makes perfect sense. I've driven the E9X M3 extensively, and love it. It is just too similar to my M5 to make the switch. I love the M coupe for all the reasons it is not my daily driver - it is an event to drive it: heck, just getting in and out of it you know you have a "real" sports car. Then there is the insanely stiff suspension, the (relative) inability to actually see out of the car, needing the rev the hell out the S54 to reach the sweet spot of the power curve, hearing the rasp of S54 as you do so...I love this car! But, not so much as a daily driver.

As others have said (and believe me, we love spending your money), keep the coupe, add the M3.

[lawwailok]

Can't say no to a V8 and comfort.

For your needs and overall pros and cons of both cars, I'd easily take the M3 as it's practical for everyday whereas the Z4 M isn't as comfortable and a bit slower.

6'1?! Get into that M3 quick!

[kcdedric]

Originally Posted by lawwailok

Can't say no to a V8 and comfort.

For your needs and overall pros and cons of both cars, I'd easily take the M3 as it's practical for everyday whereas the Z4 M isn't as comfortable and a bit slower.

6'1?! Get into that M3 quick!

I'm 6'1 and don't feel cramped in the Z4M at all. Not the best DD in the world, but it sure is fun.

EndlessZ4M: Since you mention lower back pain, I think the choice is easy. Gotta lookout for your well-being here! I've driven an E92 M3 and it is still a very fun car. No Z4M, but way more practical in terms of comfort and space.

[SHEEDI]

Is that M3 Certified P.O?

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by kcdedric

I'm 6'1 and don't feel cramped in the Z4M at all. Not the best DD in the world, but it sure is fun.

EndlessZ4M: Since you mention lower back pain, I think the choice is easy. Gotta lookout for your well-being here! I've driven an E92 M3 and it is still a very fun car. No Z4M, but way more practical in terms of comfort and space.

I agree. I am also in the medical field so I know something has to be done. When I drive my x5 for extended periods my back issues go away. I inquired about the M3 and am awaiting a call, email back.

It still has the extended maintenance but the warranty is about to expire in March of 2012.

[wyatth]

$3x,xxx for anything greater than a bare bones higher mileage 09 E92M should raise flags.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by wyatth

$3x,xxx for anything greater than a bare bones higher mileage 09 E92M should raise flags.

To me any M3 is a standard 3 series BMW. These should not be going for what they are going for. Thats just me though.

[wyatth]

^ they are. just like M roadsters and coupes are just Z4s. in fact, the M3s have more distinctions from their 'regular' counterparts than the Z Ms. Being rare means squat; they produce what the market's demand will bear.
'Should' and 'are' are very different sometimes. Fact is, clean examples seem to be a bit north of that price. If you found that deal and it's clear and clean, consider it closely.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by wyatth

^ they are. just like M roadsters and coupes are just Z4s. in fact, the M3s have more distinctions from their 'regular' counterparts than the Z Ms. Being rare means squat; they produce what the market's demand will bear.
'Should' and 'are' are very different sometimes. Fact is, clean examples seem to be a bit north of that price. If you found that deal and it's clear and clean, consider it closely.

Yeah I hear you. You know whats even funnier is I bet the general public has no idea what is actually paid to produce these. Its far from the asking price, yet us Americans still pay the outrageous markups.. lol

[shimmy09]

I got both.. gotta consider gas mileage if ur gonna go for m3 that v8 is freakin thirsty for a daily driver.. I love it though gotta wring that v8 to really have fun..

[Mirko]

Originally Posted by EndlessZ4M

Yeah I hear you. You know whats even funnier is I bet the general public has no idea what is actually paid to produce these. Its far from the asking price, yet us Americans still pay the outrageous markups.. lol

LOL .. you pay outrageous markups .. my friend please come to Canada where that M3 will cost $20K more just cause. Australia is even worse. I think America has the cheapest prices in the world for new cars.

Wish we would follow suit and match your prices

I'd consider it but the V8 gulps gas. I'd find something more pratical as a daily driver that is cheap on gas and insurance. Keep the M as the weekend/track warrior but that is me. Besides don't you have a stable of nice cars to choose from?

[Finnegan]

I didn't notice the M3 gulping any more gas than my Z4M in mixed city/highway driving. Highway mileage was a bit better than the Z4M; city a bit less. My average MPG was just about the same as the Z4M. My experience was that it wasn't that thirsty unless you're doing a lot of very short very cold runs in heavy stop and go or city traffic. And for that kid of use, outside of a Prius or a small diesel, most cars will suffer from fairly poor MPG.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by Mirko

LOL .. you pay outrageous markups .. my friend please come to Canada where that M3 will cost $20K more just cause. Australia is even worse. I think America has the cheapest prices in the world for new cars.

Wish we would follow suit and match your prices

I'd consider it but the V8 gulps gas. I'd find something more pratical as a daily driver that is cheap on gas and insurance. Keep the M as the weekend/track warrior but that is me. Besides don't you have a stable of nice cars to choose from?

Old news and I would never pay those types of prices in Canada or Australia. Just not worth it. You guys are getting robbed on tax and mark-ups. Plus I probably wouldn't live in Australia anyway. lol Canada possibly, but would have cars purchased TAX FREE in Oregon.

When I see a 2009 E9X M3 for $38,000, I expect to pay another $100 for license fees and THATS IT. Out the door price of $38,100. I am sorry other countries charge close to $100k USD but that just is not the case in certain US states.

[wyatth]

Yeah, silly prices here.. But sillier in almost every other country due to taxes. Canada and Australia aren't outliers. You are lucky with sales-tax free OR, though I suppose it's made up for in your property taxes. $38K OTD for a clean 09 E92 M3 is a killer deal. That seems to be the bottom of the clean 08 E90 M3 market.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Yeah, silly prices here.. But sillier in almost every other country due to taxes. Canada and Australia aren't outliers. You are lucky with sales-tax free OR, though I suppose it's made up for in your property taxes. $38K OTD for a clean 09 E92 M3 is a killer deal. That seems to be the bottom of the clean 08 E90 M3 market.

Its closer to $40K OTD but you are correct. They are like $38K-$67K. Crazy ranges but I agree with you. I am a resident of California and living in Oregon. I pay property tax via California. lol not the cheapest out there either. lol

[MZHammer]

Originally Posted by EndlessZ4M

Old news and I would never pay those types of prices in Canada or Australia. Just not worth it. You guys are getting robbed on tax and mark-ups. Plus I probably wouldn't live in Australia anyway. lol Canada possibly, but would have cars purchased TAX FREE in Oregon.

If you lived up here, you'd have to pay tax when you import the car. If you could get around that, I am sure Oregon would have another 35 million customers lined up, cash in hand!!