Is it even reasonable to compare 135i vs. Z4M?

[whya1?]

Originally Posted by esscolab

Quotes from Clarkson on the Z4M

"appears to have been styled by someone who wasn't concentrating."
- "just plain, like a supermarket checkout girl."
- "If you want this sort of car, the Gayman is an obvious rival," he writes.
- "It goes harder but is deeply embarrassing to be seen in. So what I'd do is buy the soft-top Z4 M instead. "

I have to agree, he should have added at the end "only driven by hairdressers, footballers wives and socialites"

Since when are the British right about cars? If they knew anything about cars maybe they would still have automobile manufacturer?

The Z4 might indeed have hairdressers buy the car. But the 1 series has overly aggressive early 20s men who think they are not only the best drivers in the world but that they are within their rights to pass you on the inside lane, even the shoulder, if necessary.

Poof or a-holes? Your choice.

[HondaGoneRogue]

Originally Posted by whya1?

Since when are the British right about cars? If they knew anything about cars maybe they would still have automobile manufacturer?

The Z4 might indeed have hairdressers buy the car. But the 1 series has overly aggressive early 20s men who think they are not only the best drivers in the world but that they are within their rights to pass you on the inside lane, even the shoulder, if necessary.

Poof or a-holes? Your choice.

Sounds like somebody got smoked lol. :iono: Don't bother responding because I've read most of your other 1 bashing posts. Don't be mad because my CRX has the same quality interior as your NSX and will still walk it. :biggrin: You sir, are a troll.

[Duckw]

Here we go again. The two cars come from very different strands of the BMW DNA. The 135 is in the 2002-E30-E36 tradition of small sedans that combine the performance envelope of affordable sports cars and the amenities appropriate to their form factor. These cars have always given up some of the light weight and raw feel of "true" sports cars in the interest of utility and, to some extent, comfort. The ones I've owned have been plenty driver centered, even though they lack the visceral quality of the dedicated sports car. The "M" cars aim to be more like cars widely accepted as sports and frequently succeed, although there have been some who doubt even their qualifications, especially now that many of them are also pretty large and pretty heavy compared to, say, the Boxster/Caymans or a Lotus.

There is no point in getting into a slanging match over which kind of car particular buyers prefer. Maybe the mods should butt in here before this thread becomes a clone (to stick with the stale DNA analogy) of "The 135 is boring."

[Guibo]

Originally Posted by whya1?

I would get the Z4M.

No surprise there.:biggrin:

Originally Posted by whya1?

Since when are the British right about cars? If they knew anything about cars maybe they would still have automobile manufacturer?

That probably has more to do with mis-management rather than whether they "know anything about cars." Lotus Engineering, Cosworth, Aston Martin, Prodrive, Honda Formula One, Ilmor Engineering, McLaren...it's not by accident that many major players (teams and/or team principals) in F1 or WRC hail from Britain.

I agree with Clarkson on some things (like the 135i), but he's wrong (or, rather, intentionally provoking) on other things. Z4 M is no more a hairdresser's car than the SL55 he bought. I think the M Coupe is hot.

[john970]

I'm in denver so the 135 would walk an m coupe, but i'm sure it would be more fun to drive around the track.

Also with a $100 JB1 a 135 would destroy the m coupe at any altitude. You can't get 35 extra hp out of an m coupe for $100.

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by whya1?

Since when are the British right about cars? If they knew anything about cars maybe they would still have automobile manufacturer?

The Z4 might indeed have hairdressers buy the car. But the 1 series has overly aggressive early 20s men who think they are not only the best drivers in the world but that they are within their rights to pass you on the inside lane, even the shoulder, if necessary.

Poof or a-holes? Your choice.

Please everone, let's keep it civil so the thread doesn't get locked.

Anyway, if you read closely.. Clarkson makes fun of the LOOKS of the Z4M, not the performance. I will agree the body styling isn't the best. I rented a base model Z4 and it was very fun to drive around with only 184hp. I guess you need to drive one to understand the feeling.

I'm afraid the Z4M would have to be more of a 2nd/weekend car.. something many people can't afford to have these days. It definitely couldn't be my only car.

[uofmtiger]

Originally Posted by crzy4135i

Anyway, if you read closely.. Clarkson makes fun of the LOOKS of the Z4M, not the performance. I will agree the body styling isn't the best. I rented a base model Z4 and it was very fun to drive around with only 184hp. I guess you need to drive one to understand the feeling.

I don't think he was a fan of the ride, either:

"“The traction control light flickers constantly, suggesting that the suspension is so stiff the rear wheels are actually airborne half the time. So it lurches and pitches and is generally pretty horrid"

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by uofmtiger

I don't think he was a fan of the ride, either:

"“The traction control light flickers constantly, suggesting that the suspension is so stiff the rear wheels are actually airborne half the time. So it lurches and pitches and is generally pretty horrid"

Oh, OK, thanks for the correction. As I said, I rented a base model and it drove great but I have heard the M's ride *very* stiff.

[bmwzone]

Originally Posted by esscolab

The Z4M is also a hairdressers car I wouldn't be seen dead in it.

Given Z4 sales in september were down 66% looks like hairdressers have lost some major purchasing power.

Z4 Roadster and Coupe 337 990 -66.0%

Biggest loser in % terms in the BMW NA lineup.

[bmwzone]

Originally Posted by john970

I'm in denver so the 135 would walk an m coupe, but i'm sure it would be more fun to drive around the track.

Also with a $100 JB1 a 135 would destroy the m coupe at any altitude. You can't get 35 extra hp out of an m coupe for $100.

Stock performance #'s:

135i 0-60 4.8s
Z4M 0-60 5.0s

Tough to top the low-end torque and power band of the 2 time engine of the year in the 135i.

[MatthewDFW]

Originally Posted by bmwzone

Stock performance #'s:
135i 0-60 4.8s
Z4M 0-60 5.0s
Tough to top the low-end torque and power band of the 2 time engine of the year in the 135i.

Spot on...! But don't forget our high-end torque, which gives you two kicks in the pants for the price of one: In the 135i, I gotta say 60-120 is more righteous fun than 0-60.

"Yoiks! Our wee twin turbos might be a little on the small size, but they do the job when called upon!"

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by Blacky

Sorry does the Z4 M have a cast iron block, not the Alu/Mag in the 1er?

The 135i's block isn't the magnesium core aluminum block of the NA 3 liter motors. BMW didn't think the block could handle the power so they went back to the old block.

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by bmwzone

Stock performance #'s:

135i 0-60 4.8s
Z4M 0-60 5.0s

Tough to top the low-end torque and power band of the 2 time engine of the year in the 135i.

Get your facts straight.

0-60
135i: 5.1
Z4 M: 4.9

Note: magazine comparisons are not actual numbers. They're manipulated. Interestingly, both these cars suffer from OEM tire choices. The 135i has runflats, although grippy. The Z4 M has quite inferior Continentals, not very grippy. Put the same tire on both cars if you want a real 0-60 comparison. Personally I couldn't care less about that measurement.

And the S54 is a 6 time engine of the year. The N54 has marginally more torque, but with no LSD it's wasted.

Stepping up to my level of analysis, I'd say who cares about all this hair-splitting. Both are more than powerful enough. They both have far more power than even a Cayman S and only a fool would take either Bimmer over the Porsche if the price was the same. Peak power is not everything. It only matters to adolescent forum debaters.

[esscolab]

Someone should do 1/4 mile drag with these two as stock. I'd have my money on the 135 any day.

[Guibo]

C&D got
0-60
135i: 4.7
M coupe: 4.8

Motor Trend
135i: 4.7
Z4 M Coupe: 4.9

[moff]

Originally Posted by whya1?

Since when are the British right about cars? If they knew anything about cars maybe they would still have automobile manufacturer?

mmmm let me think....

- Aston Martin!!!
- McLaren
- Caterham
- Lotus
- Westfield
- Noble
- Bristol
- Lola (yes the company that designs and build the chassis for the US Champ car series)

to mention a few 'sports' car brands.

Do I even have to mention that the UK is the epicentre for F1 development too with the many of the teams being based in the UK.

Bentley and Rolls Royce (chassis in Germany) are designed and manufactured in the UK.

Having said that, Clarkson is hardly the best automotive commentator... I good presenter and comedian, but many of his views are done for effect.

So, although we are no longer a dominant force within automotive manufacturer ownership we are still a major player and producer of cars (Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall (GM), Honda, Peugeot, Mini, and many other cars are built in the UK).

Rant over :biggrin:

[bmwzone]

Sorry Ball"Z" the 135i is faster than your Z"M" car and the N54 is the reigning 2-time champ of motors. Enjoy your antique.

2008 Base Price:

135i 35K
Z4M 50K

You can always mod it up like you had to do to that lead sled TT? :wink:

[bmwzone]

Originally Posted by Guibo

C&D got
0-60
135i: 4.7
M coupe: 4.8

Motor Trend
135i: 4.7
Z4 M Coupe: 4.9

Not bad territory for a 35K BMW.

Like MattDFW wrote, this car isn't just fun 0-60 but at the higher speeds the available HP is just intoxicating.

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by bmwzone

Enjoy your antique.

Thank you I will, but I prefer to think of it as a modern classic.

Here's a good read for anyone contemplating a Z4 M Coupe purchase:

http://www.bimmerfile.com/2008/01/25...coupe/#more-10

Excerpt: The M Coupe is the most testosterone laced, (dare I say it) manly modern car I’ve ever driven.

[esscolab]

You mentioned the 135i has turbo lag, I must be day dreaming every time I drive then as I have not felt this even once. I used to drive a VXR, now there was turbo lag.

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by moff

mmmm let me think....

- Aston Martin!!!
- McLaren
- Caterham
- Lotus
- Westfield
- Noble
- Bristol
- Lola (yes the company that designs and build the chassis for the US Champ car series)

to mention a few 'sports' car brands.

Do I even have to mention that the UK is the epicentre for F1 development too with the many of the teams being based in the UK.

Bentley and Rolls Royce (chassis in Germany) are designed and manufactured in the UK.

Having said that, Clarkson is hardly the best automotive commentator... I good presenter and comedian, but many of his views are done for effect.

So, although we are no longer a dominant force within automotive manufacturer ownership we are still a major player and producer of cars (Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall (GM), Honda, Peugeot, Mini, and many other cars are built in the UK).

Rant over :biggrin:

Don't mind them, some are quicker to type than think. And yes you're correct about the UK being the epicenter of F1, although that's less true today than yesteryear. Nearly half the teams are based outside the UK these days...especially the best one!

Cheers!

[bmwzone]

Originally Posted by esscolab

You mentioned the 135i has turbo lag, I must be day dreaming every time I drive then as I have not felt this even once. I used to drive a VXR, now there was turbo lag.

He's obviously confusing the 135i with his used GTI 2.0 turbo :wink:

Now he's trying to *justify* his supposed 50k Z4 with quotes saying it's *manly*.

Whatever ya say bro...