Educate me on various BMW's: Z4's, E46, 1 series, and E90

Specifically, the following:
128 and 135
All Z4 coupes, including M
ZHP and M3 variations of the E46
325, 328, 330 variations of the E90. Or I guess I mean E91/E92/E93, don't really want a Sedan.

I don't know much about any of these, for any particular model. What do I need to know? What breaks? What would you get? Why? What if you didn't need space, what would you get? What MPG do they get? Particular years to avoid? All available WITHOUT iDrive? Anything else?

Thanks in advance

EDIT: RWD versions of all.

I don't recall the Z4 having anything resembling iDrive, but I only drove the rag top versions of the car (not the coupe, and not the new hard-top convertible model). Both were 3.0s, but one was the 3.0i and the other was the 3.0si. The si was a noticeably superior car (it would chirp the tires in second gear--and both were autos). I liked the electric steering a lot and I thought they were just phenominal cars. I never drove an M Z4 though. The coupe must be just like the roadster, but maybe coupier?

I drove a 135 recently when I was looking at a "reasonable" car possibility just in case the Viper turned out to be a bad idea. I liked the manual transmission a lot and I don't recall that car having iDrive either. (By the way, if you've never lived with iDrive for more than one drive or just in shotgun a few times, give it an honest try... you get a lot with it.) Just to show me the difference between the 135i and the 135si (or whatever the suped-up version is now), the dealer took me out in the 335si. They changed the engines recently, so the 135i and 335i no longer have twin turbos (just singles)--this is just for the si versions with an "overboost" function that bumps up the torque by some huge number. The 335 that we drove had the flappy-paddle dual clutch thing, but MAN did that thing take off! I think they claim 4.6 seconds for 0-60 for that 335si, I think the 1 is 0.1 seconds faster. Holy moly! Either version of the 135 is probably more than suitable.

I only drove the 3 series E46s as non-Ms (323i and 330i). I have a lot of time behind the wheel of both (parents' cars over the years). They are quite literally the benchmark of what that category of car is supposed to be. I drove the M Roadster (Z3 variant) with that S54 engine and golly, is that engine scary! Transplanted into the M3 (along with an additional 18 horsepower) it must be magnificent.

As with any car, follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance, and they'll run for a few hundred thousand miles I think. My dad's Z4s never had problems in the collectively six years of ownership, neither did either of the 3 series cars (except the 3 series cars both had leaky windshield-washer reservoirs). My own Z3 provided years of reliable service except for when I ignored a bearing whine that turned out to be an ailing water pump... MY FAULT there though. I had plenty of time (weeks) to replace it. Your biggest issue if you are buying used will be to find a car that WAS maintained so you don't inherit an ailing water pump or an engine that never saw an oil change.

None of them got very good gas mileage. Maybe mid-20s? I bet the M cars are good at sucking fuel down! My favorite BMW to date is the M Roadster (Z3), so maybe I'd suggest the Z4? But you want a coupe, so I don't see the point of that particular car. I never really liked the Z coupes very much. I think I resented them for not being roadsters.

Um... Go with the M3. I've got no experience with it, but they're gorgeous. And those engines are just perfect. Every manufacturer on Earth seemed to be gunning for them in one way or another and I don't recall a review where the outcome was anything other than "While Lexus (or Mercedes, or Nissan) came close in a couple categories..." You know the rest. Plus.... M!!!!!

I've got a 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe and a 2008 328xi sedan in the garage-- the Z4 on the near side of 90,000 miles and the 328xi on the far side.

The N52 inline 6 engine in both cars is pretty sweet under load, with the torque you get coming in pretty early, especially in the 255 horse version in the Z4. And you can get that power in the 328xi with an intake manifold change and a reflash, I believe Turner, and likely others have a complete kit to do so. The donwsides to the engine are that it likes a new belt tensioner (fairly easy job, reasonable parts price) about every 60,000 miles and it can tick (valve train noise) pretty good at idle until you get it out for a good "Italian tune-up."

The 328xi rides pretty nice, although comparing it to the Z4 sets the bar pretty low. My wife's biggest complaint is that the seat headrests and her pony tail just don't get along. Maybe German cars only tolerate male pony tails!

I get the Z4 out on the track for HPDEs 4-5 weekends a year, and though it's not the fastest car on the track by any means, it's an absolute hoot. Sitting back as close to the rear axle as you do means that when the car starts rotating a little at turn entry, the feeling is exaggerated and it just feels fun.

Compared to the M version of the coupe, I think the 3.0si hits a real sweet spot for the cost of consumables-- rotors are less than $300 shipped for all four corners, a set of good street pads are less than $100 (DTC-60s are not!), and I'm running 17", non-sport package wheels, which saves me about $80 a corner versus 18s. And you get over 30 mpg on the highway going to and from the events.

Tracking the car has accelerated wear on some of the suspension components though-- I've replaced the FCABs and brackets (with the ones for E46s from Tree House Racing) and I found the driver's side front strut bearing ruptured about 30% of the way around one weekend at Putnam Park, so the OEM units got replaced with Ground Control camber plates. After 80,000 miles, the rear lower control arm bushings were pretty tired, so those got replaced with limiters installed at the same time. I've also got a Dinan strut, shock and spring package installed. Front ball joints started making some noise last fall, so new Meyle control arms went in over the winter as well.

I do have to say that the Z4 both before and after the suspension changes is that it's not a pleasant car to drive over bad roads-- the ride gets pretty tedious. The short wheel base coupled with the frost heaves we get around here is really quite unpleasant.

It's also quite small inside. I have a relatively long torso, and with a helmet on, the correct seating position is the one where I fit!

In contrast to the interior, access under the hood is very open. Changing plugs is really easy compared to the 328xi, where access to the back of the engine requires removing ventilation plenums and wiring trays.

What is the Z4 Coupe's trunk like? How many golf bags? Hockey bag? Russian Mobsters? Same for the 1 series.

Also, GPS, you in here? I'd expect you to be touting something out of these options

I'll try to remember to post later when I have a few minutes, I've owned a Z4M coupe for 2.5 years. Short answer is that I love it, it is the last of the M cars to stick to the original M values, incredible motor and brakes, performance is too much to use daily, some interior plastic is cheap, maintenance can be expensive, trunk is big but oddly shaped in the M, but the negatives are made up for by the positives. 21 mpg city, 27 highway.

mtn wrote: What is the Z4 Coupe's trunk like? How many golf bags? Hockey bag? Russian Mobsters? Same for the 1 series. Also, GPS, you in here? I'd expect you to be touting something out of these options

More room in the back of 3.0si Coupe than the M due to the second muffler in the M displacing the battery and placing it in the load compartment.

I'm not a golfer, but I've heard that you can get a bag or two back there if you take the longer clubs (drivers?) out and put them crosswise.

I'd say there's easily enough room for a couple for a weekend. At the track, it gets referred to as a "two seat tool box." I can get a large tote full of track equipment/tools, an air tank, and a duffle bag in the back quite easily. Adding a helmet can get kind of dicey, with the air tank in the trunk-- sometimes it needs to go up front.

Hockey bag, not sure you'd want to just because the enclosed volume is small enough you might not be able to stand the smell

Paging Pseudosport... he has a 2010 135i, and it is awesome.

I wish I had enough beer to show how many cases would fit in the back-- for a real meaningful measurement.

In rough terms, the main portion of the luggage compartment is 15" deep, 32" wide and about 26 inches long.

Here's a terrible picture.

I have a Z4 3.0SI roadster and love the car. It is not my daily driver nor have I tracked the car yet. I do occasionally take it on driving business trips that tend to average 1500 miles or so over 4 or 5 days. The ride can be a bit rough after driving a few hundred miles but I didn't expect nor want it to have a luxury car ride. Setting the cruise control at about 75 mph it will get 29-30 mpg again that was not a consideration when buying the car.

My wife tends to pack for trips using the "Avalible Truck Space" rule however we often use the car for weekend trips. There is nothing like going out on a nice evening and driving with the top down. If the car sits for a wkile like someone else mentioned it will devlope the valve train click but quicking goes away with a bit of exercise. The only think I don't like about the car is the run flat tires which tend to be noisy and lumpy until you drive for 10-15 miles. I will replace those with a good high speed tire and a can of "Fix a Flat". As far as the styling people tend to love it or hate it. I find the view of the rear qurter and really long hood attractive.

What will your car be used for? Daily driver? Dual purpose daily and auto-x/track day car? Track star? Weekend cruiser? I like to say that you should at least do a regular test drive of all of them to know which one you like the best.

In a way, I'm very lucky since I own an E36 328i have autocrossed in at least 8 other cars, and the interior looks very similar to an E46 M3. I think that the materials were about the same quality but all I did was auto-x the M3 once. It is fast and it handles really good. It wasn't nearly as balanced as my almost stock 328i but it was probably because of his lowering springs and tire setup. I have also auto-x'ed an E90 335d. The car has a lot of power and torque, but it is so big and wide for autocrossing, it was the hardest car I have competed in. The owner had the M-Sport package, but the difficult part was that the seats had adjustable side bolstering so it would feel smaller than it is, and the weight transfer was very sudden, unnerving, and top heavy. Also, the automatic was your typical slow and cumbersome slushbox, that naturally made the car worse, which is a little surprising for a 2011 sports sedan. His diesel gets around 34-36 mpg. I don't think the diesel car weighs much more than the gas 335i for a comparison. I think the E60 and some of the newer 5-series had IDrive. My 328i gets around 27 mpg combined. I talked to one guy and his E36 328ci got 32 mpg so mine needs new cats and new O2 sensors.

From what I understand, the ZHP has slightly more power and has stiffer springs and shocks than the sport package. It's also lowered, has maybe M3 wheels, and more negative camber. I also hear that they're rare so you may need to get a 330 and do aftermarket upgrades if you can't find a good ZHP.

I have not driven the 1 series or the Z4 so I don't have any firsthand experience.

I would get a

I would get an OBD 1 E36 so I don't have to worry about emissions testing in my state. From your list (and maybe a real pick), I would get an M3. It is probably the best all around performer in your group.

It would be used for a year round DD, and for at least the next 6 months, that means 400 interstate miles a week. Likely that will mean for the next 1-3 years. I will also hit between 2 and 20 autocrosses a year. However, I am looking for "autocrossable", and possibly locally competitive. National prospects not that important right now.

However, before you start saying "well you need to get a Crown Vic or a Prius", keep in mind I'm coming out of a Miata with Flyin' Miata suspension. I'd like 30+ highway MPG. It needs to be more comfortable. However, more comfortable than my Miata is not a high benchmark at all.

Also, I'm ruling out the E36. It is just too old for a commute of that distance for me.

I don't think any of these will get 30 mpg highway regularly. Most will get mid to high 20s.

Sonic wrote: I don't think any of these will get 30 mpg highway regularly. Most will get mid to high 20s.

I'm aware. Most of them, according to fueleconomy.gov, get about 28-29.

In reply to mtn: With the new info you gave us, I would suggest to not get the M3 because you would probably not want to put that many miles on that car (plus maintenance). I also read in a BMW magazine that the ZHP wears out tires really fast so you won't want to get that one for heavy commuting either.

You still need to test drive all of them to know which one is best for you. You can even make a compromise that you get a car now and then trade it for the one you like the best after you don't have a heavy commute.

The E36 was just a benchmark comparison, not a new candidate.

If you want to be able to install a harness, you can put a clip in system in any of the candidate vehicles with a back seat.

There aren't really any harness bar solutions for the Z4 short of a half cage.

Karacticus wrote: If you want to be able to install a harness, you can put a clip in system in any of the candidate vehicles with a back seat. There aren't really any harness bar solutions for the Z4 short of a half cage.

Not tracking it; not a concern.

E90 is a nice car with decent performance and will get at or close to 30 mpg.

There are a lot of cars on that list, each with a different character and usage target.

My dad has a Z4 M Coupe. Bought as CPO with ~30k, now has ~70k. I think its a 2007.

The car is spectacular in many ways, but has been in the dealer for various fixes far too often. And those fixes would have been very expensive out of warranty. The valve timing system (vanos?) crapped out. The Nav system no longer works. I feel like the brakes are over-boosted at low speeds (though great at high speed), and the clutch release is difficult to adjust to. We track the Miata instead of the M due to cost of consumables and potential damage, it would be pretty expensive for brakes and tires alone.

It makes glorious noises, and it looks unique. But I'm trying to talk him into selling it now that it is out of warranty, leasing a new Z4 335, and sticking to the Miata for a track fix. Personally I think all the modern performance BMWs have gotten too complicated to own out of warranty.