Like the RS4 on my shortlist, the M Coupe is the last of a breed. As I’ve mentioned before, I owned the gonzo skunkwerken bred(van!) Z3 M Coupe (1999) and still hanker after it. I hankered so much that I actually picked up a 2007 Z4 M Coupe in January of this year on a crazy lease deal. But I let it go. Because I have press cars almost weekly, in the twelve weeks it was in my possession I drove it about ten days. It was hard to justify keeping and easy to get rid of thanks to Leasetrader. It was a black one, since that was the only color left of the ’07 leftovers and the color was actually the dealbreaker. Black paint drives me completely apeshit, so I actually didn’t argue too hard with the wife on letting it go. But I want another.
So my keeper would be the Z4 M Coupe, but in either white or the imola blue here over red full leather with aluminum dash trim, and no navigation. The Coupe version of the Z4 unlike its hairdresser driven convertible, is in my opinion the most successful variant of Bangle’s “Flame Surface” designs. I believe that we’ll look back on Bangle’s Banglisms and admit him right, and this car will be declared the pinnacle of his rightness. The Z4M’s long hood and short back echo ‘60s classics like the Jag E Type and Ferrari 275s. During a run through the mountains the view over that hood from the snug buckets in the fit-like-a-glove cockpit recalls the opening scene of the Italian Job from the driver’s seat of that Lamborghini Miura.
With near perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the M Coupe is the best handling, most tactile anything BMW ever has and ever will make — nannying electronics and product liability mean no future Bimmer will match its instant though controllable transition from grip, grip, grip to oversteer. Its inimate relationship to the road is not far off that of a Lotus Elise. And then there’s that motor — the last of the great straight sixes. With electric power delivery, a flat torque curve, and more than enough power (330hp) at a screaming 8200rpm redline all fed by individual throttle bodies there are few better. They simply can’t and won’t make them like that any more!
The M Coupe is a car I’d just as well relish hand washing on a Saturday (a big test of whether I really dig a car), work up a sweat in flogging through Little Tujunga Canyon on a Sunday (it grips so hard I got vertigo last time I ran one through there…), slogging through traffic on a Monday or taking off for a week long drive tour with the wife. And do all of that in thirty years time! Like the very mass produced early ‘70s Porsche 911s, the Z4M’s German (via South Carolina!) build engineering and quality, a parts list from a big parts bin, and relative simplicity for our time (no turbos, electronic center diffs, or double clutches!) mean it should last over years and miles without any exorbitant expenses. The relatively low numbers sold today also guarantee future classic status. So for me a Z4 M Coupe is definitely the keeper — if I could actually bring myself to keep a car. But I’m thinking I may actually have to go get me another one if they start dealing on end of line ‘08s!
Posted By: Steve Levy | 10 Comments »
Tags: 2008 2008 BMW Z4 M Coupe BMW Keeper M Coupe QFTW Z4 Z4M
I’ve always been gonzo about the first gen, but I’m just recently started to realize the beauty of these cars. Not to diss the M3’s V8, but I’d prefer the oddity and torquey smoothness that only a straight six can provide.
Get red and white so it will truely look like a Tylenol Capsule! But Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I’ll wait for Susanna Hoffs of “The Bangles” to design a good looking BMW
Hmm… I think the new four-liter V8 would make the M Coupe even better… that, or a little more helmet room. I’d agree, though, that this car is a much better effort, stylistically, than the Z3MC.
Excellnt car. I always hoped they would improve it and put in the v8 from the M3 while keeping it’s ragged character. The idea of this beautiful shape with a high revving v8 engine is a dream car for me. Sadly, the next z4 is going to be a SL clone, complete with a folding hardtop roof
The new M3 V8 actually has a very similar character to this six–very linear and smooth though it pulls a LOT harder in the upper rev ranges. Not sure on the weight differences, though I seem to remember it may actually be a tick lighter than the six. While i never found the Z4 M’s 330hp to be lacking–the power to handling is an excellent match, 400hp would probably be absolute perfection, if slightly hairy. Toss in the double clutch with paddles and you’d have to stop me from living in it!
Hey Jack, “much better effort.”
Wrong.
The Z4 is probably the best example of his design. I got an appreciation for what he was doing with the flame surfacing when I finally saw a coupe in person, where I noticed how the lines circling and flowing around the profile of the car worked in a way that I wasn’t expecting. And of course the Z4 has probably the best looking bangle-butt of all his butts, and it’s not an eyesore to say the least.
Unfortunately, the car in convertible mode (I prefer converts.), wasn’t as fun to drive as the perfect 50/50 S2000 I ended up buying. But I still love the Z4 styling whenever I see one.
Amen. I have an ‘07 M Coupe.
BMWFS is offering a $529/month 36 month lease with $2500 down on the 2008 M Coupe, if you can find one.
Jonny, you’re blind, pal. The Z4MC is far better-looking than the Z3MC. They don’t call that old car the “clown shoe” because it’s hilariously well-styled.
The public definitely likes this car! I get stares at like no other car I’ve owned….(a lot of them), and constantly am asked about it wherever I go.
The Z3 roadster I also drive doesn’t get half the attention…. although, it’s green and the M-coupe is RED.