For those that have owned both...

[t-tony]

Both excellent cars in their own way, I can understand now why some people have one of each.
Maybe I should buy a Z4 now while they're rock bottom and then sell either the 3 or 4 come the spring once I've had chance to drive both long term. Just need to convince Mrs Z...

I must admit I wasn't a huge fan of the early Z4 but it's really grown on me over the last few years, at least its distinctive, as is the Z3.

A bad idea really, because you need to drive both in the good weather (roof down) driving home from Shepshed in the sun with the top down even on the M1 was really nice.. I wasn't a fan of the Z4 when it first came out, but, I didn't like the Z3 either. Both cars look better from the rear in my opinion, and I agree about Dave's comment re the long bonnet of the Z4. I don't like particularly either car from the front view to be honest but the side on view, I like my Z4 better.

I think it 's improved by the addition of the boot spoiler, 18" wheels and by virtue of being lowered a little.

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

A bad idea really, because you need to drive both in the good weather (roof down) driving home from Shepshed in the sun with the top down even on the M1 was really nice.. I wasn't a fan of the Z4 when it first came out, but, I didn't like the Z3 either. Both cars look better from the rear in my opinion, and I agree about Dave's comment re the long bonnet of the Z4. I don't like particularly either car from the front view to be honest but the side on view, I like my Z4 better.
View attachment 44507
I think it 's improved by the addition of the boot spoiler, 18" wheels and by virtue of being lowered a little.

Tony.

I agree Tony, both look better from the side

 

[t-tony]

I agree Tony, both look better from the side
View attachment 44509

Especially in that lovely shiny blue. If I can ever afford it mate, you got yourself a job!!

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

Especially in that lovely shiny blue. If I can ever afford it mate, you got yourself a job!!

Tony.

Ooooooh a Z4 in Protonic blue, I'd like to see that

 

[t-tony]

I'm saving, I'm saving

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

I'm saving, I'm saving

Tony.

Might have a proposition for you in April mate

 

[Mint]

I'd definitely go for a car without run flats and preferably smaller wheels to try and make the ride sorted…

In fact when we did our Euro trip to Italy last year in the Z4 I put the wheels of the Z3 on for the trip. It totally tranfomed the ride, so had I kept the 4 I would have changed to normal tyres.

 

[t-tony]

I have 18" non run flats on my car. Although I still have the original 17" Turbine style wheels (with run flats) which may go back on over winter. I will soon see how much I like/dislike these.

Tony.

 

[ge45ton]

A bad idea really, because you need to drive both in the good weather (roof down) driving home from Shepshed in the sun with the top down even

We use the Zed all year round and unless it's raining particularly hard then the roof is always down and the heater is on full, no such thing as bad weather just the wrong hat lol...
Lots of good thoughts regarding the run flats etc, thanks everyone.

 

[Brian H]

Lots of very valid points in this discussion, new to the Z4 myself and my initial (rather random) thoughts on the Z4 are: -

• More room internally, Width and Height. I am long in the back and my head touches (well hair) the roof on the Z3, plenty of space in the Z4.
  
• Handling characteristics are not to be compared (thoughts from on track experience): -
  • Z3 - you work hard to drive fast and are rewarded with feedback and a feeling of speed, you are involved at all times.
  • Z4 - lets you drive fast out of the box, no worries, it just happens.
    • Summary - anybody can drive a fast Z4, not every body can drive a Z3 fast.
• The cabin on the Z4 is a draughty place with the roof down, not yet worked out the best solution to top down motoring.
  
• Love the look of the rear of the Z4, not a huge fan of the front though, don't like the front folds under the car, the aero bumper is a better styling options for me as well as the Alpina front spoiler.
• The Z4 cabin in my car creaks! the plastic trim above my head must move a little, going to buy some squeak reduction tape to sort this out.
• The Z4 wheel base is a good few mm wider and it feels this way too.
• Love the roof operation, simple and easy to operate, no plastic window to worry about.

Do I like it... hell yes I do, clocked up a good few miles now and it is any easy relaxed car to drive, only real problem is that mine will not pass a petrol station

 

[t-tony]

Agree with all of the that Brian, apart from, I can do every other fuel station.

Tony.

 

[GazHyde]

@Brian H, the wind ingress in to the cabin is much more frustrating on the Z4. The OE mesh screens are about as good as it gets, either the one between the hoops or the one I have which goes over the hoops (like the Z3). Perspex are shockingly bad as they force the airflow down behind and below the seats straight in to the foot wells. Beyond that, it's something you have to live with.

Luckily you have the M seats which are heated all the way up the back like mine. On a cold day put those on, and then all the hot air through the dash vents. Keeps me pretty warm, and in my first Z4 I could manage temps down to around minus 4 degrees (with a woolly hat).

 

[Brian H]

@Brian H, the wind ingress in to the cabin is much more frustrating on the Z4. The OE mesh screens are about as good as it gets, either the one between the hoops or the one I have which goes over the hoops (like the Z3). Perspex are shockingly bad as they force the airflow down behind and below the seats straight in to the foot wells. Beyond that, it's something you have to live with.

Luckily you have the M seats which are heated all the way up the back like mine. On a cold day put those on, and then all the hot air through the dash vents. Keeps me pretty warm, and in my first Z4 I could manage temps down to around minus 4 degrees (with a woolly hat).

Thanks Gary, it is almost like we need some side winglets to cover the gap between the hoops and the window.

 

[ge45ton]

Now that's interesting, didn't expect you'd have wind issues lol, the Z3 isn't bad on a cold winters day with the roof down, heater on max and the windows up, so it it much of a problem?
The other good point was involvement, I expected the Z4 to be a slightly easier drive but hope it's still reasonably involving, would that be true?

Cheers
Keith

 

[Brian H]

The drive is still great Keith, I suppose the point I was trying to make is that it is different.

 

[Mint]

The drive is still great Keith, I suppose the point I was trying to make is that it is different.

As has been said above you need to treat it as a totally different car and also agree about the wind in the cabin, very cold in the winter even with the heated seat on and the heater on

 

[billz]

I have not really noticed the wind in the cabin compared to the Z3, that maybe because i had the perspex deflector in the Z3, which i found to be a lot windier than the standard mesh one

 

[Mint]

I have the mesh deflector in the Z3 and the Z4 was definitely more blowy even with the mesh deflector.

 

[billz]

Thats what i was getting at Dave as the Perspex ones when fitted in the Z3 are a lot more blowy than the Mesh. I think because we ran the Z3 with the Perspex one in for our last 2 years of ownership was why i never really noticed the difference when we got the Z4

 

[Althulas]

I finding this thread interesting as much as I love my ///M has caused an empass for me. I love the styling of the car but find the cabin a little cramped for me. As it stands it needs quite a bit of money to be spent on it total suspension refurb, new roof and a respray to complete. As prices are rising on these it's proberly worth the investment untill I'm to crippled to drive but looking recently at some of the metal hard top Z4 version with there more luxurious interiors but 'softer drive' from what I read on here do I have to omit I'm getting older for the more rawer vehicle I own. Maybe a case of explaining to the wife of keeping the ///M for retirement fund and buy a 'run around ' and take the b*******ing later I do admit to liking @Mac Romans car