2007-2008 Z4M Coupe Vs. 135i

[M3R1]

I have had 2 e46 ///M's, they were more raw in feel. This is probably the case with the ///M coupe as well. The 135 can be a monster though. A few bolt ons and a piggy on a low setting, and you will have a great everyday car that will put a hurt on all but the top tier cars on the road. If track days are your thing just get a good set of CO's as well and you have an aggressive car. The S54 motor while a gem in it's own right can not make much more power without a big investment.

Do I miss the M cars, sure... Do I love my 135i, absolutely...

Seems like a good position you are in...

Good luck whatever you decide...

[kalvar]

I own the '09 135i coupe, but I can objectively tell you now -
Go for the 2008 Z4M without a doubt - if that's the only other option for you!

The Z4M is lighter, tighter, quicker, and most importantly, has better build quality -
you just don't have to deal with STUPID issues like the HighPressureFuelPump failures that all of us 135i owners are dealing or eventually deal with. The 135i's 3 liter inline6 twinturbo is a great engine - but only with marginally better torque and less HP than the Z4M's time-tested 3.2 liter naturally aspirated inline6).

This may beg the question - so why did I buy the 135i??? Simple - I cannot currently afford the only M-car I would ever buy - M3 ;-)

Enjoy your shopping; Cheers!

[guardianangel3290]

Hmm... as for curb appeal, the z4m definitely beats out the 1er..

But in terms of performance, the N54 is SO much more advanced than the S54. The only thing the Z4M would definitely beat the 135 in is the twisties, but that can be solved with a set of coilovers. As for acceleration and torque, no question they belong to the 1er. I've had a ///M3, and while the exhaust note is intoxicating and there is somthing indescribable about the drivers connectivity with the car, if you are looking for raw performance, the 135i is the clear winner.

The S54 may have more HP on paper, but in the real world, the N54 will pull on the S54 on almost every occasion (and thats stock). Then, if you so desire, for about a grand you could pick up a piggy back tune, intake, and downpipes which will put you at around 360-380whp, which then means you'll be competing with new ///M models

Now, I'm not singing the 1ers praises simply becasue i own one. The ///M is definitely an amazing car, but that little badge on the back means nothing... I'm sorry haha. Don't buy into the whole BMWNA marketing scheme which tries to instill within the public that the ///M cars are some how leaps and bounds above not only it's competitors, but also every other model BMW. The Z4M is an amazing car, but its begining to show its age.

Ok... let me hear your rebuttals, ///M guys... lol

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by guardianangel3290

Hmm... as for curb appeal, the z4m definitely beats out the 1er..

But in terms of performance, the N54 is SO much more advanced than the S54. The only thing the Z4M would definitely beat the 135 in is the twisties, but that can be solved with a set of coilovers. As for acceleration and torque, no question they belong to the 1er. I've had a ///M3, and while the exhaust note is intoxicating and there is somthing indescribable about the drivers connectivity with the car, if you are looking for raw performance, the 135i is the clear winner.

The S54 may have more HP on paper, but in the real world, the N54 will pull on the S54 on almost every occasion (and thats stock). Then, if you so desire, for about a grand you could pick up a piggy back tune, intake, and downpipes which will put you at around 360-380whp, which then means you'll be competing with new ///M models

Now, I'm not singing the 1ers praises simply becasue i own one. The ///M is definitely an amazing car, but that little badge on the back means nothing... I'm sorry haha. Don't buy into the whole BMWNA marketing scheme which tries to instill within the public that the ///M cars are some how leaps and bounds above not only it's competitors, but also every other model BMW. The Z4M is an amazing car, but its begining to show its age.

Ok... let me hear your rebuttals, ///M guys... lol

+ 1

[EINSER M]

everybody is different in what they appreciate and what they value. i had both cars at one point and sold the z4m. it was a great car, a different beast but at the end of the day, i liked the 135 better...

[ridin135]

Originally Posted by cleverclive

Just checked and those cars are outa my league. I don't think I would switch to an american car after driving an M and covetting the handling like I do. The lotus is a bad ass car but with very little backing (corporation wise)and the matrix engine just puts a bad taste in mouth. The porche cayman could be fun but I dont think it looks as good and I'm not sure it is even as fast.

The C5 Z06 has better handeling then the z4m and the C6 is in a different league all together. But if you are stuck between the z4m and 135 I would say go with the 135, I have driven both and ended up getting the 135. Your insurance will also be less to.

[jlee]

i also had a 98 m3 supercharged by AA, but I definitely love my 135i alot more. With the JB3, its everything I wanted that m3 to be...

[onehungevo]

IMO the z looks like a girls car especially convertible.

[cleverclive]

JLee what would you say you find better about the 1 than your 98 m3? Do you think your 1 could compete with it?

[Hans Delbruck]

Depends on what you want to do with the car. I agree with the guys above.... Z4MC is a better weekend car but the 135i is better pretty much everywhere else.

Let's just say the Z4MC is ... unique. I owned a 2006 Z4 M Coupe for 9 months before I sold it. It just wasn't for me. IMO you have to wind it out and drive the car hard for it to be fun. The clutch pedal has little feel and it grabs like an on-off switch when it does grab. The brakes have too much power-boost initially and are hard to modulate. The S54 engine is high-strung and its feel wasn't appealing to me - it felt like it was going to explode at high rpms. It just didn't seem happy being wound out, but that's what you need to do to get the power. The Z4 MC is a difficult car to drive at a relaxed pace -- it wants to be spanked all the time. So for around town, I found it frustrating.

Also, the seating position has the driver sitting over the rear wheels, pointing that big nose out front. Visibility out the rear is difficult.

It's not a great daily driver or around town car in my opinion. On the freeway it's very bouncy sitting over the rear wheels. Maybe it would be fun on the track?

But it does look good.

Definitely test drive and think hard before you buy. I didn't get to test drive mine because I had it trucked in from a dealer out of state (they were actually hard to get in the beginning!)

I have never owned a car for such a short period of time. That's how much I didn't like it.

[bimmerboy]

Interesting clip I found from car & driver, comparing the Z4M v 335i coupe among other cars. Very surprising results, skip to 1:38 for the comparison

If the 335i was faster than the Z4M, im sure the 135i would give it a beating on a track. From owner responses it also would be the easier everyday car. Seems like a no brainer

[cleverclive]

thats pretty surprising... I have always been a little apprehensive about the Z4M understeer and oversteer issues b/c m friend had a z3 that had sever understeer problems cornering

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by cleverclive

thats pretty surprising... I have always been a little apprehensive about the Z4M understeer and oversteer issues b/c m friend had a z3 that had sever understeer problems cornering

I'd guess that you mean oversteer. At least in Z3 M Coupes and M Roadsters, it's more of an oversteer balance that tends to catch new drivers out. The Z4's were a little more balanced, but still had short wheelbases and could catch unsuspecting drivers asleep at the wheel.

On another note, aside from C&D, I haven't seen many situations where a 335i has put up faster lap times than a Z4MC or MR, given similar drivers. Further, the 135i does tend to have more built in stock understeer than the 335i, so I'd guess that stock for stock, the 335i would put up similar lap times with the same driver, even with the added weight.

Of course, none of these cars is really a track machine, a C5 Z06, a C6 Z51 or an Elise will all make quick work of all three BMW's on almost any track.

[jlee]

Originally Posted by cleverclive

JLee what would you say you find better about the 1 than your 98 m3? Do you think your 1 could compete with it?

What I love about my 1 is that it's basically what I tried to create with the AA supercharger on my 98 M3. That classic E36 chassis, a 4 seater but still tight and nimble, but the E36 motor lacked the grunt and torque. So I slapped the s/c on it but i still never got the torque and response I was looking for.

The twin turbo six is a marvel, its so responsive and you throw the JB3 in there and its a monster. Yet still so civil to drive in the city.

I just drove a few miles around the beltway, found a Z4 M Roadster and once he saw me he tried to take off but I was right on his tail. Once we hit the beltway I passed him pretty readily..

I'm sure the M roadster feels better but the 135i is just a better all around car. And like someone said, the bolt-ons make such a big difference. I felt like with the E36 each mod was adding a little bit at a time.

Jeff

[cleverclive]

Wow Jeff, I can't believe that the 135i has more "grunt" than the e36 supercharged 3.2L. What mods do you have? Are you worried about warranty issues?

[cleverclive]

thanks for all the input guys! Besides the performance aspects, are there any glaring differences on the interior baring the lack of a backseat? (radio quality, leather feel reduced visibility, sunroof, cool options..etc)

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by cleverclive

thanks for all the input guys! Besides the performance aspects, are there any glaring differences on the interior baring the lack of a backseat? (radio quality, leather feel reduced visibility, sunroof, cool options..etc)

Z4 M Coupes don't have sunroofs, the Nappa leather is very noticeably better than the 1er (it's semi-aniline), the limited slip is a big plus, but alas, at 6'1", I can't see out of them and feel like I'm in a bath tub, so I've kept my Z3 MC, hoping the Z2 will ever show up.

I like the 1er, but to me, either generation of M Coupe is much more engaging and rewarding, if not as quick.

[Si-M240i]

Just to conuse the OP even more. They now do the Z4 with the 135i engine... from memory its now called the Z4 35i.

So you could have the looks of the Z4 with the 135i mod capability and blow 400+BHP....now there's a thought ?????

[guardianangel3290]

Originally Posted by Si-135i

Just to conuse the OP even more. They now do the Z4 with the 135i engine... from memory its now called the Z4 35i.

So you could have the looks of the Z4 with the 135i mod capability and blow 400+BHP....now there's a thought ?????

with a budget a "36k", I think new z4 is out of the question

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by guardianangel3290

with a budget a "36k", I think new z4 is out of the question

+ 1

[tbird]

Lots of good info, lots of thoughts on each car. But to point out probably the best point here that people have mentioned. Is this a "Weekend" car, or your Daily Driver? That is probably the most important decision.

2 seater, cramped up, with the folding hardtop taking up all your trunk space, that would not be very practical. The Z4 is fun, I had a loaner for a month and I enjoyed it. But it is not a practical car. PLUS, the way you have to raise/lower the top at a dead stop and with foot on brake and emergency brake pulled for MT or in Park for AT, with a $500 charge if you ever accidentally break that rule, that's annoying. The 1 can raise/drop in 22 seconds and at up to 25mph. Plus, it is far more practical.

On my "personal" bias, we are called 1Addicts for a reason. Once you truly drive the 1, you are addicted. The 3, the 5, the Z; sedan or coupe; the 1 still stands out as my favorite, and even Jeremy Clarkson/Top Gear said it is the best BMW made today. The one and only other BMW I would consider is the M3 Coupe/M3 Vert.

Good luck.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Si-135i

Just to conuse the OP even more. They now do the Z4 with the 135i engine... from memory its now called the Z4 35i.

So you could have the looks of the Z4 with the 135i mod capability and blow 400+BHP....now there's a thought ?????

The new Z4 sDrive35i starts at $51,650. It is also a new body style with a retractable hard top. There is no dedicated coupe or M version (at this point anyway).