How many on here are former e36/37 owners whether in M, roadie or coupe form?

[baege]

I almost bought a 2000 estoril blue M coupe back in 2003. I ended up buying a 350Z instead and regretted it after a few months.

It was partly that regret that led me to seek a Z4C in later years.

Curious to hear from those who've gone down a similar path and how the cars compare.

[G80indy]

I have an e36 and e46, with the M-R. Can't part with them. They still possess that raw, connected feeling, that is slowly being diluted with electric steering.

Although, I drove an F30 328 sport manual yesterday at the dealership, while waiting for the M-R coolant flush.
It was impressive. The N20 is a strong motor with linear throttle response, for a turbo.

[dazed^]

Had a Z3 roadster before this, 2.8 flavor. Also a charming car, the Z4 is quite a different beast though.

Z4M doesn't have electric steering either, btw.

[VinnieAces]

always wanted an e36 m3...someday i'll pick one up as a project car im sure

[seank]

I have an e36 m3 and I find it boring to drive in stock form, compared to my e30 m3 which is mostly a track car. The e36 is practical for daily driving though. Love driving my wifes e90 wagon for a family car.

I am wanting something with more noise, more spirited, more fun. I want to hear the engine, the tranny, the diff, the exhause, but more tame than my e30 m3. Something that makes me want to take the long way home or wake up before the family to take an early morning drive. I think the z4 mc is what I want.

Let me know if I am wrong?

[phoenixbmwlife]

I had a e36 325is Montreal Blue modded suspension camber kit, Xbrace, intake, a chip, wheels and high performance tires and brakes done but lost it at a traffic light when a guy slammed into me at 50miles an hour.
I still miss it very much. It need a little more power but it will always be one of the best handling little cars I had.

Now my Z4 3.0si coupe is so much more fun to drive and it looks so much better so I'm quite happy.

[jmillet]

Started out with a 1994 325iS then moved up to a 1995 E36 M3.
Attachment 662564
Moved over to a 2000 E36/8 Z3 M Coupe
Attachment 662565
and after over 100K miles traded for a 2007 Z4MC.
The Z3 M Coupe is my favorite track machine because of its over steer propensity and sheer fun to drive.

[davebho]

I've owned an e36 325is, z3m coupe, z3m roady and a few other brands between before getting this z4m coupe.

I'd say the z3m coupe and roady are more raw cars, less complicated, less electronics, easier to handle and more compliant on the track versus this z4m. But my comparisions are somewhat jaded. Both older m coupe and m roady had coilovers and handled better then my bone stock z4m. The z4m seems to feel boaty in comparison, and it's much bigger.

But, i'd say the z4m, more modern interior, less dated look, and i'm happy to own and drive it. I'd have to say that even though my z3m's were nice, at some point, they got old for me...it takes a certain type of owner to buy and keep those cars.

The one thing they both share though, is the crappy audio system!

[schwank]

I wanted a z3 mc, but didn't quite fit with a helmet, and gave up the search... Bought a 350z. Drove it a year and the z4 mc came out. I love my z4mc

[The HACK]

Had a Z3 1.9L as my first BMW. Had a Z4 3.0i with SMG for my wife. Now have an MZ4 Coupe as my primary track vehicle of choice.

[Punko]

I had a 2000 Z3 M Coupe, really fun car.

[Z4MLover2012]

Originally Posted by seank

I have an e36 m3 and I find it boring to drive in stock form, compared to my e30 m3 which is mostly a track car. The e36 is practical for daily driving though. Love driving my wifes e90 wagon for a family car.

I am wanting something with more noise, more spirited, more fun. I want to hear the engine, the tranny, the diff, the exhause, but more tame than my e30 m3. Something that makes me want to take the long way home or wake up before the family to take an early morning drive. I think the z4 mc is what I want.

Let me know if I am wrong?

Sorry, but I can't tell you are wrong about the e86. It's raw, hard to drive well without constant focus, and it is a blast to drive. I didn't realize that these cars even had radios until the other day. The sound of the engine is really all I need. A bad day at work is erased in the first five minutes of driving, and I find myself looking for excuses to drive it as much as possible. If a Z4M is what you want, I say go for it.

[jra]

Drooled over the z3m's in college....was the brown/brown top offered?

[zBone]

I sold a '96 Z3 Roadster (1.9L) to move up to the Z4MC I've got now. Quite a bit of a difference. I do miss the Z3, though not the fact that it was auto (ouch) and 162hp (i think?). It was pristine though - had bought it in 2009 with 9200 miles on it, garage queen, and I had it up to 56k in 3 years.

Oh, and the stereo in the Z4 is LIGHT YEARS better than the one in the Z3, which sounded like a set of bad computer speakers from the 90's.

[G80indy]

Originally Posted by seank

I have an e36 m3 and I find it boring to drive in stock form, compared to my e30 m3 which is mostly a track car. The e36 is practical for daily driving though. Love driving my wifes e90 wagon for a family car.

I am wanting something with more noise, more spirited, more fun. I want to hear the engine, the tranny, the diff, the exhause, but more tame than my e30 m3. Something that makes me want to take the long way home or wake up before the family to take an early morning drive. I think the z4 mc is what I want.

Let me know if I am wrong?

You need the M Roady if you want to hear ALL that

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by torabone

I sold a '96 Z3 Roadster (1.9L) to move up to the Z4MC I've got now. Quite a bit of a difference. I do miss the Z3, though not the fact that it was auto (ouch) and 162hp (i think?). It was pristine though - had bought it in 2009 with 9200 miles on it, garage queen, and I had it up to 56k in 3 years.

Oh, and the stereo in the Z4 is LIGHT YEARS better than the one in the Z3, which sounded like a set of bad computer speakers from the 90's.

I'm pretty sure that the 1.9L engine in your car only put out about 138bhp. You made quite the quantum leap when you got the Z4MC.

[BookerM3]

I had a 94 Euro M3, still in the Family, it's my dad's weekend worrior.

Great car...

[baege]

Originally Posted by Punko

I had a 2000 Z3 M Coupe, really fun car.

there it is in the estoril blue, how would you compare it to the Z4MC?

Seeing your pic made me regret my 350Z purchase all over again, the Z3MC would have been so much more fun.

[ShakyDog]

Drove a 370Z two days before committing to a Z4 3.0i. It was the goofy-assed Nismo model, the only manual they had on the lot. I thought the trany was just horrible. It made me think, "damn I have been away from a manual too long" Then I drove the Z4 and was in love. The trany worked, the torque at low RPM just made me grin. That and the dash in the 370Z was way too Japan for me and rear visibility was non-existent. Told them to seach for a manual convertable, never heard anthing from them again.

Steve

[gigtime]

I started out with a 2000 Z3 2.5 roadster before getting my 2003 Z4 2.5 w SMG. The Z3 was probably more fun to drive. The doors are so low you almost feel like you're on a bike with the top and windows down. I really enjoyed it. I replaced the factory radio with an Alpine and JL Audio system that sounded great. It was a bit hard on my back on long road trips and there was minimal storage space.

The Z4 is, relatively, more comfortable and it handles like a completely different animal. It's more comfortable on trips and offers enough luggage room for two roll-on/carry-on bags and a couple of smaller bags in the trunk plus you get a little bit of storage area between the seats.

I now regret buying the SMG w 2.5. I wouldn't have gone with an M due to the higher cost on insurance and maintenance but a 3.0si with manual would have been perfect.

[Punko]

Originally Posted by baege

there it is in the estoril blue, how would you compare it to the Z4MC?

Seeing your pic made me regret my 350Z purchase all over again, the Z3MC would have been so much more fun.

350Z is a really nice car...don't knock it too much.

I think the Z4 is much more modern, but compared to other sports cars still very basic as was the the Z3.

I thought the Z3 had more trunk space....could fit a large cooler in there, can't in the Z4 because of the battery.

I really liked the Z3 gauges just below the heating controls.

I was always worried about the rear subframe on the Z3, no worries with the Z4.

S52 vs S54....

Now a 2001/2002 Z3 with the S54...that would be fun.

Loved the blues...estoril and leguna sega.

And of course that ass shot....

[kklin]

I sold my 1998 M3/4 last fall that was set up for both daily street and weekend autocross duty. I drove it for almost 12 years. Great balance and not quite enough motor to get you into deep trouble. Greatly improved after suspension/camber. It talked to you gently and made you think you were better driver than you probably are :-) Everyone should have a car like this once.

The original thinking was that the sedan would be useful when I had to take 4 people. I probably had people sitting in back maybe on average once a year. Very practical car with optional fold-down rear seats. The happy new adult owner drove home some 800 miles with 4 mounted extras and 2 unmounted tires in addition to the spare.

Decided I wanted the Z4 M Coupe, since no one ever sat in the back plus we're half way to becoming empty nesters. I contemplated keeping the E36, but after conferring with friends who have owned more cars than I, I was finally convinced myself that it would probably just sit and not get enough attention. No real regrets on the sale even though it was a great car. The first time I drove the Z4 M Coupe at autocross was last fall a few weeks after purchasing the car - just nutty joyous laughing at understeer (new dealer front tires) followed by glorious throttle oversteer. Roffle Waffle was passenger in a few of the runs. He probably thought I was nuts - I was at the time.