Z4 Coupe vs E30; Which to keep

[Gentlejackjones]

Nando with the logic. I absolutely loved my Z3 M Coupe, but when you compare it to newer cars, and newer BMWs it just isn't in the same league. This is really hard for me to say, for as much as I wished I had never sold my M Coupe, and I miss it dearly, the Z4 is a better car. It's too bad it's not as sexy as the Z3.

No one car is perfect, in my mind the stable should complement each other. Where one shines, another may not. Utility, fun, performance, efficiency etc all comes into play, and really it's what you want. We are just sitting here, offering our own 2 cents.

What else resides in the stable?

I'd sell the E30, but I'm just not a fan of most convertibles. Replacing it with an E30 coupe, sedan, or touring would round out the fun car area well. The Z4 for me would remain until I decide if they fill the role, or like you said if your wife really enjoys it. I'd really like to get a touring myself and I've told myself I'm not getting another E30 unless it's a touring. I'm a wagon fiend though.

Then I'd consider what the E30 and/or Z4 lacks. Do you want a sedan? E39 M5 upkeep is nothing to joke about, but it is one of my favorite sedans of all time. Two others would be diesels E90 335d (on my short list) or maybe a 535d?

edit: This thread is two years old...

So OP what did you do?

OP told us he retired and has kept both cars, the wife taking the Z4 more often than not because he let her figure out the traction control button. I agree with keeping the E30 over the Z4 because that is a really nice version of a convertible E30, but not the best (non-M) version of a coupe Z4. So rarity favors the 'vert. And such.

[DEV0 E30]

Looks aside, the Z4 is a much better car than the Z3 in basically every possible way, especially with the N52. You'd be going back 2.5 generations basically in a Z3.

since the E30 is a convertible.. I'd keep the Z4.

Nando with the logic. I absolutely loved my Z3 M Coupe, but when you compare it to newer cars, and newer BMWs it just isn't in the same league. This is really hard for me to say, for as much as I wished I had never sold my M Coupe, and I miss it dearly, the Z4 is a better car. It's too bad it's not as sexy as the Z3.

No one car is perfect, in my mind the stable should complement each other. Where one shines, another may not. Utility, fun, performance, efficiency etc all comes into play, and really it's what you want. We are just sitting here, offering our own 2 cents.

What else resides in the stable?

I'd sell the E30, but I'm just not a fan of most convertibles. Replacing it with an E30 coupe, sedan, or touring would round out the fun car area well. The Z4 for me would remain until I decide if they fill the role, or like you said if your wife really enjoys it. I'd really like to get a touring myself and I've told myself I'm not getting another E30 unless it's a touring. I'm a wagon fiend though.

Then I'd consider what the E30 and/or Z4 lacks. Do you want a sedan? E39 M5 upkeep is nothing to joke about, but it is one of my favorite sedans of all time. Two others would be diesels E90 335d (on my short list) or maybe a 535d?

edit: This thread is two years old...

So OP what did you do?

[Andrew325is]

Sell both and get an E30 coupe. Or a Touring.

[325isman]

Keep them both.

[lukeADE335i]

I wonder what the OP ended up doing?

The Z4M front bar cleans up the front pretty well, and looks much better than the stock bar so I'd just throw one of those on there and stick with the Z4.

I know, not very R3v :) Should be saying do a full restoration on the vert burning $40k in the process and sell the modern!

[varg]

BAN. :hitler:

Hey it's not my fault convertibles suck

[nando]

Wouldn't even think twice about selling the Z4.

Looks aside, the Z4 is a much better car than the Z3 in basically every possible way, especially with the N52. You'd be going back 2.5 generations basically in a Z3.

since the E30 is a convertible.. I'd keep the Z4.

[AndrewBird]

keep Z4

Sell them both and get a good clean Z3 M Coupe.

I'd have a Z4 coupe over an E30 convertible any day, especially as a DD. It's really ugly from any angle other than the back, but it's faster, more comfortable, and probably handles way better. I'm biased though, because even though I really like E30s, I dislike the convertibles. I think the E30 looks wrong with a soft top, and the convertibles are painfully slow and lack the road manners of the coupes and sedans.

Ditch both, get a minty E39 M5.

this. A z3 coupe drove by me yesterday, and I started drooling...

Or ditch the E30- the Z4's much prettier.

t

Ditch the e30 and cash in on the appreciation. They is always an e30 if you ever want back in.

BAN. :hitler:

[325e '87]

Wouldn't even think twice about selling the Z4.

Yeah. Unless you can tack on a Z3 front bumper/valence, quarter panels, hood, etc.....

[e30austin]

Wouldn't even think twice about selling the Z4.

[Dagamus(NM)]

Haha, I saw this thread and forgot that I had commented two years ago. First thought upon reading was why not sell both and pick up a z3 M Coupe.

I unfortunately require a back seat for at least another five years. After that I will likely pick up another Z3M. Until then my e92 m3 and e30s will scratch that itch.

[e30RS]

In the same boat. I will be keeping the '88 325is and selling the 2003 z4. But will probably wind up getting a 535d a couple years old.

[gr8skyr]

cowl shake turned me from the 'verts

I originally thought I wanted an e30 because I wanted a small convertible. But after driving a couple and had a meh feeling I wasn't sold. Then drove a coupe with 210,000 miles and saw the light. Even tired and not well sorted, it was a way different feeling that was better behind the wheel.
So I found a coupe with a sunroof that seemed like a good compromise.

The cost and complexity of newer cars is one of the reasons I like my e30. But the challenge of finding parts as the decades roll by is a concern too. I'm really lucky that this is such a great forum and resource for the e30 community.

[Mike36]

So far, I like the Z a lot. Way less shaky, smelly, noisy, and weird than my E30.

I immediately thought "must be a convertible" before scrolling down and seeing the pictures.

[Zambuzan]

Sell both, buy a hardtop 24v-swapped e30, ???, pRoFiT!1