Great job, great video !
I have 5 years a Z4 E89 35i with more than 350HP, lovely design, not a M but GT. I sold it and buy for two years a Z4M E85.
This a reel sports car, S54 is singing like ACDC !! Your video explain very good how it works. You have to understand the car, you have to feel it. I need often 10/15 minutes to find my place in it. I think a reel BMW M car doesn't have a turbo. and don't forget it's lighter than the others cars, 100Kg between E89 and E85 that's important. I love those cars, no turbo, no turbo ;-) thanks, good work you did

Sold my 99 C5 Corvette and bought a 22 G29 Z4…388hp B58 all the tech,  8 speed auto… sold it.  Now I drive a 2006  E85 M Roadster. Love the music of the S54 and 3rd gear…😍

I got a Z4MC myself, and a modern x5m and I agree, nothing beats old m division. the z4m drives like a go card, you feel the grip through the steering wheel and the sound is heavenly, modern bmws are fast, yes, they turn well, they are performing incredibly. but you arnt the driver, its the computer. if you wanna drive, go old bmw. and the z4m is the pinnacle of that old bmw m feeling.

Excellent video! Completely agree, as a z4MC owner along with many others - I appreciate and love this era above all else. BMW nailed it with these cars.

Bought the G87 M2 with high hopes but whilst it had impressive performance I never really connected with it (I actually preferred my first gen M2 which was more go cart like) and I sold it after a year and bought a Z4M Roadster that a friend was selling. Best decision ever! A totally different story. Totally immersive even at legal speeds. Now considering moving from the Roadster to a Z4M Coupe which I have tracked down.

I've owned a Z4MC for 11 years and track it at least once a year. I've also been to BMW Performance Center West and tracked the current M2, M3 and M5. The M2 is an 3xciting car, with plenty of on track potential and very toss and catch behaviour on tight courses. The thing is, that the electronics are keeping the extra weight and power in check, and you can feel it. The Z4M although not a light car, is just more engaging, you feel connected to it. You know the mistakes you make because it's just you and the car, nothing in between.

I own a Z4M Coupe with CSL intake and Hartge exhaust, plus an E92 M3 Competition. I completely agree with your take on the newer M cars. A friend recently let me test drive his X3M with 510hp, and while it's undeniably fast with impressive acceleration numbers, it lacks that engaging, rewarding driving experience that makes you feel truly connected to the machine. That's what older models give you. I can't daily new cars, they opress me... I am still having my 130i (with the Birds B1) for daily use.
Just discovered your channel, I really like your inputs.

I have current gen Z4 M40i with a new M2 due in a month.  The coupe featured here is a classic, stunning unique design and I’m sure a joy to drive but sadly I’ve never had the privilege. Having that and the M2 is the best of both worlds 😊

I'll be honest, I'm of the opinion that our perception of cars and what the "status quo" of a particular car/brand should be is often influenced by the times we live in, as well as our susceptibility to nostalgia. I'm sure when the Z4M first came out, there were those who bemoaned that the Z3M was a more raw experience, and that was mainly due to the perception that the Z4 overall was a far inferior car to the Z3.
On a related note, I stumbled across an old PistonHeads review from July 2007 of the then-new E92 M3, and his concluding statement was this:
"Contrived, maybe; an exciting prospect, definitely. But in the meantime, perhaps just a little of the M3 magic has been lost…".
That line could have easily come from a review of the current G80 M3, and it doesn't stop there. In a forum post also dated to 2007, one person wrote this colorful comment in regards to the E92 M3's design:
"hmmm... We'll i guess thats what happens when you get inspired by aftermarket honda civic aero parts... Whats this the old Mitsubishi buldge they moved to the center of the hood . They took a beautiful 3er and complete destroyed it. Sucks..."
Those M cars were criticized for the exact same things as the current lineup - "ugly" design, numb steering, increased weight and so on.
Point being, we're more fond of certain models because we either "grew up" with them, or they were the cars that made us enthusiasts in the first place. For example, I remember watching the first Bayformers movie as a kid and I adored the then-prototype Chevrolet Camaro used by Bumblebee. That was the car that made me an enthusiast, and I hadn't looked back since. For someone else, it might have been a 90s Nissan Skyline GTR, an 80s Ford Sierra Cosworth, a 70s Dodge Challenger or a 60s Jaguar E Type.
I'm sure in 15-20 years from now, someone will make a retrospective just like this one and bemoan how the G87 M2 had a "raw, mechanical connection to the driver" compared to whatever the latest EV is in that time.

Great video, spot on, but a lot of people may not even be capable of getting it. E85 and E86 M are so overlooked, same overe here in US. Their uniqueness, character and level of engagement isn't lost on me - I own and regularly drive one of each. The essence of M has changed, that's the real issue. Just look at how many "M" badges adorn all manner of BMW these days.

Nice video 👍 This channel looks promising

I've owned 2 Z4M Coupes - one from new from 2007 to 2015, and another from 2018 to 2021, and I would still have it had it not been hit. I currently own an F87 M2 Comp. I have to agree - the "old school" S54 experience and the rest of the Z4M experience trumps any of the newer M cars, including my M2. The current M2 dilutes the experience even more in the name of "refinement". I need another Z4M Coupe eventually. Fantastic cars that few people even know exist.

Owning three icons of the M GmbH, Z4 M Coupe, M2 Competition F87 and M2 G87, all cars represent a different aera of performance cars.
Z4 M Coupe is pure, analog and raw. Like a spicy chili, which is not everyone’s taste.
But when you drive it, you instantly get a smile in your face and a adrenalin rush.
The M2 Comp. is the most fun to drive car. This car wants to drift around every corner, even more than the old M Coupe. The steering wheel has lost a little bit of feeling and seems to be more indirect. I have the feeling, that this car is the most likable car you can own. Everybody loves it and gives you thumps ups.
The latest M2 is a grown-up sports car. Main focus in the interior is the huge screen with the overloading infotainment.
For the real driving experience you basically need none of that and I wish you could shut down the screen to be more focused on driving.
It became more of a daily driver which also can be aggressive, when hitting the pedal.
As a BMW M fan I can remommend all three of them.

I’m lucky I own M4 F82 and Z4M Coupe with CSL intake and I agreed with you. Z4M Coupe make me smile every time I drive it and when you hit over 4000 rpm till redline it’s just symphony and that sound and emotion are extraordinary it is better like SEX =)). Yes modern car M4 F82 has more power is faster more aggressive and M Performance Titanium exhaust just sounds good but it not even close to theater of Z4M Coupe.

I should mention I also have a e89 z4 35is but I bought that for my wife a while ago.

I have no experience with driving any M car. But in general I’ve always had more fun in older cars. I have no problem acknowledging that newer cars are better in every way. Except for the fact that they are boring 😂 Nothing beats real feedback.

Beginning to agree with you. I've had my M2 for 6 months now and been disappointed with the feel i get from it. Yes it's  very fast and with all the modern technology a very good comfortable  GT car, but i want to feel excited to drive it and i just don't.  The z4m looks  a blast to drive, so much so I'm looking at buying one 😊

I have an Audi c7 RS6 from new, carbon brakes and everything. I need to sell it and get back to driving. Does the Z4M crash around on our terrible road surfaces as bad as I hear. I like passive set ups and definitely don’t want to lower it.

Is it just me, or are Chris Bangle designed cars just getting better, and BETTER and BBEETTTTTEERR???

I love the sound of your z4m, that is a stunning sound. It's interesting how muted it sounds on the outside compared to the inside, whereas the M2 sounds great on the outside and muted on the inside?

The aftermarket gods are calling out for a nice exhaust on that Z4M! 🤩

Hi I had a 17 plate M4 competition, incredible car way to fast and to wide for uk roads. I know our own a 56 plate Z4 3 litre SI manual. No comparison the old 3 L Sounds and drives lot better.