While most BMW enthusiasts clamor on about the wonderful absurdity that is the Z3 M Coupe, the Clownshoe, there’s actually another car that’s quite similar and arguably better — the BMW Z4 M Coupe. The Z4 M Coupe is certainly better looking than the Clownshoe it replaces. In fact, it’s one of Bangle’s better looking cars and has one of the best rear ends of any BMW of its era. But what makes it so great is that it’s one of the best driving cars of the modern BMW era, yet it seems to be forgotten among enthusiasts. So Everyday Driver took it for a drive in this latest video to remind us of how good it is.
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What makes the BMW Z4 M Coupe so brilliant is just how simple it is. It’s a very small, short wheelbase coupe with a big engine up front, a six-speed manual gearbox in the middle and drive going to the back. Inside all of that are very few electronics, hydraulic steering and just one suspension mode. So it’s about as simple a recipe as it gets but that’s what makes it so wonderful.
Under the hood lies the same S54 3.2 liter I6 engine that powered the E46 BMW M3. It makes 330 hp at a sonorous 7,900 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque at 4,900 rpm. Those lofty rpm peak power figures make you work it to achieve them. Good news is that the S54 is a wonderful engine to rev, as it loves to stretch its legs and makes a spectacular noise doing so. While 330 hp might not seem like a lot anymore, considering the BMW 340i makes more and isn’t an M car, you won’t care in the slightest when you’re rowing the BMW Z4 M Coupe through its gears.
But it’s not just a great engine. The BMW Z4 M Coupe has some of the most enjoyable handling of any modern-ish BMW. Its hydraulic steering is incredibly talkative while also being a bit light and delicate. Its suspension is stiff but it’s solid and controlled and makes the car feel very rigid. It just loves to hunt down corners and it loves to play.
The only problem with the BMW Z4 M Coupe is that now I want one. Dammit.
Thank you for posting this article and this video! I own both the E86 M Coupe as well as an E92 M3. I love the M Coupe so much and to me, exemplifies everything that a BMW and a car should be…I’m keeping mine forever! I still just can’t believe that BMW M does not plan to build another one of these. The fact that the division now seems to concentrate on SUVs is a terrible shame and at best, a major disappointment.
And yes, I realize that “concentrate on SUVs” is both inaccurate and an exaggeration; there is at least still the M2 being produced. Yes, I understand that the market for a Z4 is minimal and people buy those damn SUVs. It makes me at least feel a bit better to vent frustration that the Motorsport division is building SUVs instead of a real sports car. It really is a terrible shame.
Damn good car Z4 is… My is not M, but has N54B30 engine inside. >:)
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Why this car us slower than e46 m3 despite the fact e46 is heaver?
“The Z4 M Coupe is certainly better looking than the Clownshoe it replaces.” The reason why this car is only “arguably” better than the original M Coupe is because of the old car’s looks. In pretty much every other way the Z4 is a superior car, but it’s the appearance of the two cars (exterior, but also interior) that results in the Z3 M Coupe commanding double to triple the price. It does polarize opinion, but fortunately the people who don’t like the look of it… are wrong!