135 M sport vs Z4 3.0si

[F87LUV]

Updated in the last post: decision has been made!

So I'm completely torn between a manual Z4 coupe and a dct 135i. I wasn't even considering the 135 but I stumbled across a recent trade in and of course, it ended up having a downpipe and intake. I really liked it. However, I've been pining over a coupe since I sold mine almost a decade ago. I'm supposed to be getting a "daily" driver as I'm putting way too many miles on my M2 but the coupe that I really love is a manual which makes me apprehensive since this would be my first manual car and I sit in a good amount of traffic on a daily basis. I feel like I would only drive it on weekends and maybe two-three times a week. I think if I got the 135, I definitely would drive it way more often since it's auto. Does anyone daily a manual Z? Any input would be appreciated!

[RABAUKE]

The advice I always give my kids is this, imagine yourself after you make your decision. Are you happy with your decision? I'd go with my gut on this, if you miss the coupe then get the coupe. If you don't you'll be regretting it. Just my two cents though....

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by RABAUKE

The advice I always give my kids is this, imagine yourself after you make your decision. Are you happy with your decision? I'd go with my gut on this, if you miss the coupe then get the coupe. If you don't you'll be regretting it. Just my two cents though....

Well if I'm going by that, I'd be buying a Z4MC

[wdb]

Get the 135 assuming it hasn't been flogged. Zeds are not cars well suited for sitting in traffic. Especially with a manual.

[Lucky1]

Kind of an odd question. I agree the Z4 isn't that much fun in traffic but did OP specify that was the case?

And whats wrong with putting too many miles on the M2? Lease?

My philosophy on cars is after you've bought it why deny yourself the pleasure of driving it? They can be fixed.

On the flip side I don't daily drive my Z4 because it rains a lot and I don't like driving it with the top up. But I self hate myself every time I leave it at home. Don't be like me; pick the car you really want to be driving and worry about the rest later.

[NickyC]

Loved my COBB Stage 2+ 135i, bought it and pieced it together immediately after selling my first Z4M Roadster. Drove it for a couple years, and then bought another Z4M Roadster which I've had going on three years now. Just my experience. ;D

[RABAUKE]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

Well if I'm going by that, I'd be buying a Z4MC

DO IT! I have had mine for about 3 years now and absolutely love the thing.

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by RABAUKE

DO IT! I have had mine for about 3 years now and absolutely love the thing.

Lol. I wish. Every single person I've spoken to that has one was like DO NOT GET THAT for a first manual car. Plus that would end up the garage queen and the M2 bumped outside.

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by wdb

Get the 135 assuming it hasn't been flogged. Zeds are not cars well suited for sitting in traffic. Especially with a manual.

Well it's priced about 2k under market value. I'll have to refinish the wheels and get new rotors/pads. There's literally no pad left! The guy that traded it in has a track dedicated drift Miata and this was his daily. My salesman is the one that took in the trade. He called the previous owner while I was standing there because I had a bunch of questions. I don't think it's abused but I'll never know for sure. I'm planning on getting the extended warranty.

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Kind of an odd question. I agree the Z4 isn't that much fun in traffic but did OP specify that was the case?

And whats wrong with putting too many miles on the M2? Lease?

My philosophy on cars is after you've bought it why deny yourself the pleasure of driving it? They can be fixed.

On the flip side I don't daily drive my Z4 because it rains a lot and I don't like driving it with the top up. But I self hate myself every time I leave it at home. Don't be like me; pick the car you really want to be driving and worry about the rest later.

Odd question to ask who drives a manual Z4 in constant traffic?

Anyway, I own the M2 but I have a crazy amount of miles on it already- 27k in 16 months. At this rate, I'll be at 100k in a few years. If production does end next year on the "base" then obviously it's in my best interest to keep it in the best shape possible. No one will care how much care I took of it when the miles are high.

Problem is there are bunch of cars I would like to own and I think it's slightly ridiculous for a single person to have three cars- none of which are AWD and practical for north east winters.

I had never driven a 135- albeit this one isn't stock but I was pleasantly surprised so now I'm like "I can track both!". I have issues.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

Odd question to ask who drives a manual Z4 in constant traffic?

Anyway, I own the M2 but I have a crazy amount of miles on it already- 27k in 16 months. At this rate, I'll be at 100k in a few years. If production does end next year on the "base" then obviously it's in my best interest to keep it in the best shape possible. No one will care how much care I took of it when the miles are high.

Problem is there are bunch of cars I would like to own and I think it's slightly ridiculous for a single person to have three cars- none of which are AWD and practical for north east winters.

I had never driven a 135- albeit this one isn't stock but I was pleasantly surprised so now I'm like "I can track both!". I have issues.

That is nothing. I have a 16 RDX which I bought in April of 16. It has 35k on it right now....

[Roadroach]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

Odd question to ask who drives a manual Z4 in constant traffic?

Uh.......I do. DD my coupe 70 miles a day in Austin traffic. Put on 30k miles since I bought it at the end of '15. NEVER regretted it. Of course all my dailys have been stick since 1978...... <old fart>

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by Roadroach

Uh.......I do. DD my coupe 70 miles a day in Austin traffic. Put on 30k miles since I bought it at the end of '15. NEVER regretted it. Of course all my dailys have been stick since 1978...... <old fart>

You basically don't even have to think about driving or the "how" involved. I generally panic when I see traffic ahead and I'm driving someone's manual car (which is a rare occasion). I think it's just a confidence thing since I haven't driven much.

[3002 tii]

I owned both at one point but ended up trading the 135is when I needed something bigger for the family.

The E82 is a great car, also falls under the love it or hate it design like the Z. It wasn't till I got the 135 I realized how small the Z cockpit is. The e82 felt perfect in size, exterior and interior, true sports car with some practicality.

Looking back the thing I missed the most was torque and balance of sport and comfort. My 135is had the ppk v2 from factory and that was plenty of power but despite similar redline as my n52, the car didn't feel as exciting in the upper rev range. The 7 speed DCT is fast but lazy in that short shifts more than I'd like. Holding the gears via paddles addresses that but then you wonder why you didn't get a manual.

I will note though mine was fine a lot of owners complained about the DCT lag and for some a software update fixed it, others not the case. But on those cars that have it it's definitely there and noticeable. Before picking mine up I test drove another DCT equipped 135 and vividly recall the car hesitating when trying to merge with traffic. It's as if you need to come to a complete stop (vs rolling stop) before getting on gas.

The hydraulic steering was a huge plus over the EPS in my car. Also maybe it was because I had a last year model but the build quality felt better than my 07 Z coupe. Handling wise, car actually feels really planted and steering is really precise. But on track, the short wheel base and inability to stuff wide rubbers is annoying. The offsets on the 128/135 are really high so most aftermarket wheels you find won't fit well. Best case you're looking at 245/265 using 18x8.5 et42 in the front and 18x9/9.5 with high 50 offset in rear. Only Apex offers wheels that match those rear specs.

End of day if I could've kept both I would've but if coming down to one I'd take the Z. Even though the 135i looks great it won't have the uniqueness of the Z. Sure power is nice but if you already have a m2 I don't think it matters as much. Here's how mine looked on BMW PS with the OEM carbon bits and blacklines.

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

I owned both at one point but ended up trading the 135is when I needed something bigger for the family.

MW PS with the OEM carbon bits and blacklines.

Thank you for taking the time to write that up. I didn't realize the older Zs don't have hydraulic steering. That would be something I'd like. I just had a BMW dealer run the VIN and it looks like the 135 has been in for Vanos issues so now I'm a bit hesitant on that.

Although I do have the M2 for power, I would prefer having it all the time. But I do loveeeee the way the coupes look. It's one of my favorite designs. Decisions decisions...

[wdb]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

Well it's priced about 2k under market value. I'll have to refinish the wheels and get new rotors/pads. There's literally no pad left! The guy that traded it in has a track dedicated drift Miata and this was his daily. My salesman is the one that took in the trade. He called the previous owner while I was standing there because I had a bunch of questions. I don't think it's abused but I'll never know for sure. I'm planning on getting the extended warranty.

Dealer is selling a car with worn out brakes? I take that as a major red flag.

[Roadroach]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

You basically don't even have to think about driving or the "how" involved.

That's actually a good point - for me, using a clutch is like breathing - no thought required, it's all muscle memory. Which is why - for me anyway - stop and go traffic is not an issue. I'm usually on autopilot anyway until I've had my coffee.

[Diesel_d66]

Originally Posted by wdb

...Zeds are not cars well suited for sitting in traffic. Especially with a manual.

Yup, I dont sit in traffic much but when I do, it drives me nuts, on top of the 1st to 2nd shift not being the smoothest sometimes.

[The HACK]

If you already have an M2, neither the 135i nor the Z4 would be a good DD choices IMO. But if *I* had to pick one, I'd drive the 135i.

Not that the Z4 isn't a capable daily driver. It absolutely is, my wife drove a Z4 3.0i daily for 3 years before we did a European Delivery of an E92 328i. I'm basing this recommendation on the fact that this will be your first manual. BMW manual transmissions aren't the easiest to learn on. I mean, not to discourage anyone from learning to drive a manual, heck I learned on a 1997 BMW Z3 driving daily in L.A. traffic. But personally, if I had to do it all over again, I'd learn to drive a manual on SOMONE ELSE'S car. And preferably not a BMW.

If you're set on the Z4, which it does not sound like you are, I'd borrow a manual from a friend, and drive that around for 2 weeks (and ONLY drive that) before you make any commitment to the Z4. That first week I had the Z3, I've thought numerous times to trade it in. It got especially bad when I was stuck in 405 traffic during rush hour near the airport, and in the span of about 5 minutes stalled at least a dozen times, with cars honking at me with the top down all around, for the 5th day in a row.

Frankly, given the fact you've got an automatic M2, if you pick up the Z4 you will end up driving it for the first two days, get frustrated by driving the manual, then go back to driving the M2 more and more regularly because you don't want the hassle or the embarrassment of stalling it in traffic, and you'll end up selling the Z4 in a month when you end up driving the M2 daily again. Again, nothing against manuals. But if you've never driven manuals before, learning it is like learning to drive all over again, and it's something that you have to do daily to get proficient at. But once you acclimate you will NEVER forget.

But good luck finding a friend to lend you a manual for a week.

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by wdb

Dealer is selling a car with worn out brakes? I take that as a major red flag.

It was a trade in. They're basically giving the car to me for less so I can fix it myself. It's a Ford dealership. I'd rather take the car to a shop of my own choice.

[F87LUV]

Originally Posted by The HACK

If you already have an M2, neither the 135i nor the Z4 would be a good DD choices IMO. But if *I* had to pick one, I'd drive the 135i.

Not that the Z4 isn't a capable daily driver. It absolutely is, my wife drove a Z4 3.0i daily for 3 years before we did a European Delivery of an E92 328i. I'm basing this recommendation on the fact that this will be your first manual. BMW manual transmissions aren't the easiest to learn on. I mean, not to discourage anyone from learning to drive a manual, heck I learned on a 1997 BMW Z3 driving daily in L.A. traffic. But personally, if I had to do it all over again, I'd learn to drive a manual on SOMONE ELSE'S car. And preferably not a BMW.

If you're set on the Z4, which it does not sound like you are, I'd borrow a manual from a friend, and drive that around for 2 weeks (and ONLY drive that) before you make any commitment to the Z4. That first week I had the Z3, I've thought numerous times to trade it in. It got especially bad when I was stuck in 405 traffic during rush hour near the airport, and in the span of about 5 minutes stalled at least a dozen times, with cars honking at me with the top down all around, for the 5th day in a row.

Frankly, given the fact you've got an automatic M2, if you pick up the Z4 you will end up driving it for the first two days, get frustrated by driving the manual, then go back to driving the M2 more and more regularly because you don't want the hassle or the embarrassment of stalling it in traffic, and you'll end up selling the Z4 in a month when you end up driving the M2 daily again. Again, nothing against manuals. But if you've never driven manuals before, learning it is like learning to drive all over again, and it's something that you have to do daily to get proficient at. But once you acclimate you will NEVER forget.

But good luck finding a friend to lend you a manual for a week.

I should've mentioned that I've had THREE Z4s that were my daily drivers since 2007 until last April when I got my M2. Obvi they were auto. The lack of a backseat and seating position doesn't bother me one bit.

I do feel that I may get frustrated but I've wanted a manual forever. Maybe I could incorporate the manual in gradually as I learn?

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

I should've mentioned that I've had THREE Z4s that were my daily drivers since 2007 until last April when I got my M2. Obvi they were auto. The lack of a backseat and seating position doesn't bother me one bit.

I do feel that I may get frustrated but I've wanted a manual forever. Maybe I could incorporate the manual in gradually as I learn?

Just make sure that any manual Z4 you buy has the hill assist feature (perhaps all of them do, even my automatic does) and that it is working. The idea is that if you stop on a hill and take your foot off the brake to start going again, the car's brakes hold it in place for a couple of seconds to prevent rolling back. That should make life way easier for you, as one of the most feared things for manual drivers is the dreaded "start on a hill in heavy traffic with a jabroni in a big Ford F-150 behind you" scenario .

Driving stick is literally like riding a bike. My last manual was my '89 VW Golf that I sold in 1997. In 2011, my buddy was so enamored with my 3.0si that he picked up one, only manual. He showed up at my place and insisted that I take it for a spin, despite my not having driven stick in 14 years. Anyway, I managed to not stall the car and within 5 or 10 minutes it was like I had been driving the car for years.

Good luck!