exdos
20-06-2006, 01:50 PM
I had my test drive of the Z4 MC yesterday. A lovely Imola Red Z4 MC was waiting by the dealer's front door.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53FrontZ4MC.jpg
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53sideZ4MC.jpg
Although this was the first Z4 MC I've ever seen in the metal, it looked like a design, which was quite familiar, and it didn't quite make me feel "Wow! I must have it", which is what I'd hoped I would feel. Perhaps that's because in photographs the Z4 MC very much reminds me of the Triumph GT6 MkII that I once owned, or, is it a touch of the Chrysler Crossfire about it?
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Rear_Z4_MC.jpg
Before I had my test drive I had a look over the Z4 MC, which had a black leather interior with a brushed aluminium trim, and then went into the dealers and looked over the Z4 3.0 Coupe in Montego Blue (Dark blue metallic) on display.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53InteriorZ4MC.jpg
Edited Comment: This photo just doesn't give enough justice to how tacky this interior looks. Trust me, it's bad :!:
I don't know whether I'm starting to feel my age, but this car had pale cream leather upholstery with a mahogany panel dash, and to me, it looked as though the car was twice as expensive with twice the build-quality as the Z4 MC I was about to drive.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Interior_Coupe.jpg
The salesman gave me a passenger ride demonstration of how the car handles for about 10 miles, which I could have done without before he let me drive back to the garage. He admitted that he was having a bit of trouble with engaging the clutch in 1st gear without the car kangarooing, and he had this problem each time he pulled away. As a passenger, the car was comfortable, but I do NOT like the brushed aluminium fascia on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat - it really does look cheap and tacky. I'd have to choose an alternative, such as a contrasting coloured panel of leather, which is an optional extra.
When it was my turn to take the wheel, I found the driving position to be comfortable and not much different to the Z3 MC (referred to as MC from now). The steering wheel is a little chunkier than the MC's and it has the buttons for the sound system on the horizontal bar. The first time I engaged the clutch, I also found that the car had a tendency to kangaroo, but I also experienced this with my MC when I first got it, so from then on I knew how to avoid this.
The engine in the Z4 MC is the same as my S54 MC, so the engine basically delivered what I expected. However, since it has a 6-speed box, I found that the gear changes were coming at inappropriate intervals to what I'm used to. I must admit that I really like the long-legged nature of the 5-speed gearbox of the MC, and although I only had a relatively short trial of the Z4 MC, I'd have to say that I prefer the MC's gearbox. One of my previous cars had a close ratio 6-speed box and my wife's car also has a 6-speed box, so I am familiar with driving with both 5 and 6 speed boxes.
All the press reports of the Z4 MC that I've read so far, have been saying how bloody uncompromising and "hardcore" the Z4 MC is, so I didn't quite know what to expect. I found the road holding was indeed excellent and is definitely better than the OEM MC and the ride quality is on the firmish side but certainly not jarring in any way. For me, the Achilles’ Heel of the MC is it's suspension, and I've replaced it with KW Variant 3, H&R ARBs and added a strut-brace and butt-strut and which I have set up to handle like a go-kart. I can therefore state as fact that the Z4 MC's handling falls well short of what BMW could have done with the Z4 MC, had they chosen to give it adjustable suspension. For me, they've spoilt the ship for a ha'pporth of tar, by not doing this. I found that it was quite easy to get the Z4 MC to lose its poise over each corner, particularly on hard braking in anything but a straight line; I find this disappointing that the designers have failed to completely contain the performance in this way. Instead of testing their cars around Nurburgring and other tracks, BMW would do well to bring its prototypes on to some ordinary English roads to really put them through their paces because they'd soon see the inadequacies in handling. The brakes are very good though. I think the salesman was relieved that I'd managed to get both him and the car back to base without a scratch on both.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Wheel_Z4MC.jpg
The general feel of Z4 MC is of a much more modern design and more of a bigger car like the BMW 3 series, whereas, to me, the MC feels a more nimble and agile car, especially with all my handling mods. The Z4 MC does come with a strut-brace and butt strut as part of the design though and you can feel the stiffness of the design. I had a look under the car and I was surprised to see that it did not have a flat underfloor tray as does the lesser speced Z4 roadsters, so the underside of the Z4 MC has all the underfloor clutter like the MC.
The Z4 MC comes in some nice paint colours and upholstery choices, and I think if you were to buy one from new, you'd want to come up with interesting colour combos of leather interiors to contrast with the body colour to add some vibrancy to the car. The basic car costs £41,600 to put it on the road, but to add a few extras, such as hi-fi sound system, sat nav and even heated seats will cost more. There are various different leather upholstery choices which are all pretty expensive, so to spec the car to your own requirements might eventually make the car cost nearer to £50k.
The rear luggage compartment of the Z4 Coupe has a similar floor area to the MC, but in the case of the Z4 MC there is a large box shape occupying the floor immediately behind the driver's seat. This apparently houses the battery and the tool kit, etc. but it unfortunately reduces the rear luggage compartment floor area and makes it a most awkward shape.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Luggage.jpg
Why BMW had to do this defeats me, because under the bonnet there would be sufficient room to fit a battery, because unlike the MC, where the engine bay appears full to bursting, the S54 engine under the Z4 MC’s bonnet seems to appear much smaller.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Engine.jpg
The sloping rear door also reduces the vertical height of the luggage compartment, which restricts what you can get in the back. I wonder if a set of golf clubs would fit in there, if they don't, then I expect that the potential sales of the Z4 MC will be automatically reduced since the "Golf Club Set" would not entertain such a car. Likewise, I doubt if I could fit the luggage for my wife and I to go away for a week and also take our 2 smallish dogs, as we often do with the MC.
Do I like it? Yes. Will I buy one? Possibly, but in a few years time as a highly specced low mileage used car. Hopefully, BMW will revise the Z4 MC and produce a version with the V8 lump. I'd also want an adjustable suspension upgrade on the Z4 MC and until any aftermarket suspension companies produce this, then I think I'd hold off buying.
Would I swap it for my MC? NO WAY :!: I'm afraid that the Z4 MC just lacks the odd-ball character which the MC has. On my way back home, I drove through a town centre where as often is the case, people stopped to look at my MC waiting at traffic lights - I doubt if the Z4 MC has that same WTFIT head-turning effect, because it looks just too perfectly designed with no idiosyncrasies.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53FrontZ4MC.jpg
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53sideZ4MC.jpg
Although this was the first Z4 MC I've ever seen in the metal, it looked like a design, which was quite familiar, and it didn't quite make me feel "Wow! I must have it", which is what I'd hoped I would feel. Perhaps that's because in photographs the Z4 MC very much reminds me of the Triumph GT6 MkII that I once owned, or, is it a touch of the Chrysler Crossfire about it?
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Rear_Z4_MC.jpg
Before I had my test drive I had a look over the Z4 MC, which had a black leather interior with a brushed aluminium trim, and then went into the dealers and looked over the Z4 3.0 Coupe in Montego Blue (Dark blue metallic) on display.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53InteriorZ4MC.jpg
Edited Comment: This photo just doesn't give enough justice to how tacky this interior looks. Trust me, it's bad :!:
I don't know whether I'm starting to feel my age, but this car had pale cream leather upholstery with a mahogany panel dash, and to me, it looked as though the car was twice as expensive with twice the build-quality as the Z4 MC I was about to drive.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Interior_Coupe.jpg
The salesman gave me a passenger ride demonstration of how the car handles for about 10 miles, which I could have done without before he let me drive back to the garage. He admitted that he was having a bit of trouble with engaging the clutch in 1st gear without the car kangarooing, and he had this problem each time he pulled away. As a passenger, the car was comfortable, but I do NOT like the brushed aluminium fascia on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat - it really does look cheap and tacky. I'd have to choose an alternative, such as a contrasting coloured panel of leather, which is an optional extra.
When it was my turn to take the wheel, I found the driving position to be comfortable and not much different to the Z3 MC (referred to as MC from now). The steering wheel is a little chunkier than the MC's and it has the buttons for the sound system on the horizontal bar. The first time I engaged the clutch, I also found that the car had a tendency to kangaroo, but I also experienced this with my MC when I first got it, so from then on I knew how to avoid this.
The engine in the Z4 MC is the same as my S54 MC, so the engine basically delivered what I expected. However, since it has a 6-speed box, I found that the gear changes were coming at inappropriate intervals to what I'm used to. I must admit that I really like the long-legged nature of the 5-speed gearbox of the MC, and although I only had a relatively short trial of the Z4 MC, I'd have to say that I prefer the MC's gearbox. One of my previous cars had a close ratio 6-speed box and my wife's car also has a 6-speed box, so I am familiar with driving with both 5 and 6 speed boxes.
All the press reports of the Z4 MC that I've read so far, have been saying how bloody uncompromising and "hardcore" the Z4 MC is, so I didn't quite know what to expect. I found the road holding was indeed excellent and is definitely better than the OEM MC and the ride quality is on the firmish side but certainly not jarring in any way. For me, the Achilles’ Heel of the MC is it's suspension, and I've replaced it with KW Variant 3, H&R ARBs and added a strut-brace and butt-strut and which I have set up to handle like a go-kart. I can therefore state as fact that the Z4 MC's handling falls well short of what BMW could have done with the Z4 MC, had they chosen to give it adjustable suspension. For me, they've spoilt the ship for a ha'pporth of tar, by not doing this. I found that it was quite easy to get the Z4 MC to lose its poise over each corner, particularly on hard braking in anything but a straight line; I find this disappointing that the designers have failed to completely contain the performance in this way. Instead of testing their cars around Nurburgring and other tracks, BMW would do well to bring its prototypes on to some ordinary English roads to really put them through their paces because they'd soon see the inadequacies in handling. The brakes are very good though. I think the salesman was relieved that I'd managed to get both him and the car back to base without a scratch on both.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Wheel_Z4MC.jpg
The general feel of Z4 MC is of a much more modern design and more of a bigger car like the BMW 3 series, whereas, to me, the MC feels a more nimble and agile car, especially with all my handling mods. The Z4 MC does come with a strut-brace and butt strut as part of the design though and you can feel the stiffness of the design. I had a look under the car and I was surprised to see that it did not have a flat underfloor tray as does the lesser speced Z4 roadsters, so the underside of the Z4 MC has all the underfloor clutter like the MC.
The Z4 MC comes in some nice paint colours and upholstery choices, and I think if you were to buy one from new, you'd want to come up with interesting colour combos of leather interiors to contrast with the body colour to add some vibrancy to the car. The basic car costs £41,600 to put it on the road, but to add a few extras, such as hi-fi sound system, sat nav and even heated seats will cost more. There are various different leather upholstery choices which are all pretty expensive, so to spec the car to your own requirements might eventually make the car cost nearer to £50k.
The rear luggage compartment of the Z4 Coupe has a similar floor area to the MC, but in the case of the Z4 MC there is a large box shape occupying the floor immediately behind the driver's seat. This apparently houses the battery and the tool kit, etc. but it unfortunately reduces the rear luggage compartment floor area and makes it a most awkward shape.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Luggage.jpg
Why BMW had to do this defeats me, because under the bonnet there would be sufficient room to fit a battery, because unlike the MC, where the engine bay appears full to bursting, the S54 engine under the Z4 MC’s bonnet seems to appear much smaller.
http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/data//500/53Engine.jpg
The sloping rear door also reduces the vertical height of the luggage compartment, which restricts what you can get in the back. I wonder if a set of golf clubs would fit in there, if they don't, then I expect that the potential sales of the Z4 MC will be automatically reduced since the "Golf Club Set" would not entertain such a car. Likewise, I doubt if I could fit the luggage for my wife and I to go away for a week and also take our 2 smallish dogs, as we often do with the MC.
Do I like it? Yes. Will I buy one? Possibly, but in a few years time as a highly specced low mileage used car. Hopefully, BMW will revise the Z4 MC and produce a version with the V8 lump. I'd also want an adjustable suspension upgrade on the Z4 MC and until any aftermarket suspension companies produce this, then I think I'd hold off buying.
Would I swap it for my MC? NO WAY :!: I'm afraid that the Z4 MC just lacks the odd-ball character which the MC has. On my way back home, I drove through a town centre where as often is the case, people stopped to look at my MC waiting at traffic lights - I doubt if the Z4 MC has that same WTFIT head-turning effect, because it looks just too perfectly designed with no idiosyncrasies.