I went the other way. Swapped a Z4 for a Z3.
Both great cars in their own way but found driving the Z3 much more fun for some reason.
Both great cars in their own way but found driving the Z3 much more fun for some reason.
Z3 to Z4
- Thread starter Firefox116
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I think it's wrong to compare a Z3 with a Z4, it's like comparing apples and oranges, as said above they are totally different cars. A couple of years ago I bought a Z4 (E85, 2.5Si) to try it for a few months, the intention was to see if I enjoyed driving it as much as my Z3. It was a totally different driving experience and would have been a great daily driver but didn't give me the smile factor of my Z3. I still own the Z3
, the Z4 has gone...
, the Z4 has gone...
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I was at a rather posh party a month or so ago, and there were quite a few nice cars around; z4, jaguars etc. There was a ~15 years old guy on parking duty, and he came to me and said I had the coolest car of them all, he absolutely loved it.
So there
So there
I have a Z3 3.0 M Sport and my brother has a Z4 3.0.
He says the Z4 is more modern but has less character. He used to have a Z3 2.8 and he still prefers the Z4.
I've driven the Z4 and it's just like any other modern car....competent in every way but a bit soulless.
But for somebody who wants to drive a sports car, park it, and get it serviced once a year, but do nothing else to it, it's ideal.
He says the Z4 is more modern but has less character. He used to have a Z3 2.8 and he still prefers the Z4.
I've driven the Z4 and it's just like any other modern car....competent in every way but a bit soulless.
But for somebody who wants to drive a sports car, park it, and get it serviced once a year, but do nothing else to it, it's ideal.
I started with a Z3 2.8 auto and sold that after 3 years and bought a Z4 3.0 coupe manual. The bext way l can describe tbe Z3 is that it looked far better than it drove.. was twitchy at high speed and you sat 'on' the seats rather than 'in' them and l suffered with terrible backache after half an hour behing the wheel .. whereas the Z4 is tight and precise and the seats plush and comfortable.. to me now the Z4 is bigger and more 'manly' and Z3's now look small and dated..
None of those problems with my Z3, although mine is the M Sport which has much better seats, and uprated suspension.
My brother's Z4 3.0 is certainly competent as you say, but it's just lacking in character and fun.
It makes a great GT though.
My brother's Z4 3.0 is certainly competent as you say, but it's just lacking in character and fun.
It makes a great GT though.
Done a 500 mile trip in my Z3 on standard seats and floated out of the car, very comfy says the man with a glass back. Love it.
N
N4LLY
Guest
Z3 Sports seat's = Hour's 1-3 Really comfortable
Hour 3-4 Slight uncomfortableness
Hour's 4 + Real pain in the arse.
I think the Z3 has softer lines and is more curvaceous I have a 2001 2.2 and it is a joy to drive,it has something of an old sports car feel to it and it tends to let you know what it is going to do and feeds the road conditions to the driver and its a bit like putting your favourite Levis on.
The Z4 is admittedly a smart car with ample performance to match but also looks more angular and ever so slightly brutish but there again some people would go for that style,personally I am happy to stick with my Z3,and as someone mentioned the interior looks slightly more classic than the Z4.Anyway good luck with whatever you choose.
The Z4 is admittedly a smart car with ample performance to match but also looks more angular and ever so slightly brutish but there again some people would go for that style,personally I am happy to stick with my Z3,and as someone mentioned the interior looks slightly more classic than the Z4.Anyway good luck with whatever you choose.
dt7734
Zorg Addict
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I drove back home from Le Mans in a day visiting Pont de Normandie, Honfleur on the way to Calais (562 miles) with the roof off all the way in my 1999 2.0 Z3 following my buddy in his TVR Griffith 500.
Apart from a numb backside and deafness in my right ear and the TVR breaking down three times all went well
Apart from a numb backside and deafness in my right ear and the TVR breaking down three times all went well
I used to buy them things, gave me a sore back after 100 miles, you did well to last that long.
Don't think you can even compare the two, the z3 was a toe in the water for bmw, they used existing e36 kit without spending a shed load on production costs, once they realised how successful they were bmw set about designing the z4, this is a stand alone design unlike the z3. To be honest I think most z3 drivers will end up with a 4 simply because of the age related with the z3, they are getting expensive to maintain as parts become harder to find, coupled with the hassle ( this doest effect those who use them on the odd occasion, but as a daily they are becoming impractical, we're they ever practical 
) I can see a time when I will need a z4, the 3 will always be with me simply due to reasons I purchased it to start with, sentiment reasons but it's inevitable. So the answer is simple, buy the z4 but also keep the 3
) I can see a time when I will need a z4, the 3 will always be with me simply due to reasons I purchased it to start with, sentiment reasons but it's inevitable. So the answer is simple, buy the z4 but also keep the 3The newer Land Rovers are better, l have a TD5 110 County, before that l had a 300tdi and while it was a classic Land Rover l wouldn't have wanted to do the journey in that.
The other thing about the Z4 is that it's unlikely to ever be collectible, the Z3 is turning a corner and the larger engined versions are becoming sought after. While l doubt the Z3 will shoot up in value any time soon, good ones are no longer depreciating.
The other thing about the Z4 is that it's unlikely to ever be collectible, the Z3 is turning a corner and the larger engined versions are becoming sought after. While l doubt the Z3 will shoot up in value any time soon, good ones are no longer depreciating.
Exactly, they won't really be worth any serious money so keep the 3 as a fun car like me. I remember the first time I spotted a z3 ( I didn't see the James bond film) I was driving I work and I came up behind one, we sat at the roundabout and I realised what I was looking at, WOW a two seater bmw how cooooooool is that. Never realised I would actually own one.
Obviously everybody is different but I won't be buying a Z4 in addition to my Z3 despite the fact they look great. I'll stick to a nice 4x4 for my daily and have the Z3 for fun.Don't think you can even compare the two, the z3 was a toe in the water for bmw, they used existing e36 kit without spending a shed load on production costs, once they realised how successful they were bmw set about designing the z4, this is a stand alone design unlike the z3. To be honest I think most z3 drivers will end up with a 4 simply because of the age related with the z3, they are getting expensive to maintain as parts become harder to find, coupled with the hassle ( this doest effect those who use them on the odd occasion, but as a daily they are becoming impractical, we're they ever practical
Well yes there are other cars, given the choice I don't know if I could actually desided on a daily. But I too do like the z4 but as you say if your keeping the 3 then why not go for something different like for instance a GTR Nissan, now your talking
It's a though however, such a car would just get battered going up and down the farm track every day, more so in the winterWell yes there are other cars, given the choice I don't know if I could actually desided on a daily. But I too do like the z4 but as you say if your keeping the 3 then why not go for something different like for instance a GTR Nissan, now your talking
Only a grand, I wish