[DrivenByE30]

Without any hesitation, i would pick the Z3 !!!!

Dang the Z3 still looks so good !

Thanks for all these quality photos !! Thanks for making this thread

[Z4-VILLA]

You can slap 305's on the z3 all day long without rolling fenders, just saying

[Novator]

For the roadster models the Z3M is far more appealing with its brilliantly sculpted curves but for a hardtop the Z4M trumps.

[Nkc]

for the hardtop, the z3 M coupe wins for me.

[Arena Motor Dude]

Z3 all the way, the look of that thing just never gets old. It's like Z8's baby sister.

[i001947]

Both of these cars look great. Perhaps in another life me and the Z4 could have hooked up. So many great cars to choose from. But with so little money to work with there can only be one. Oh well, it was not meant to be.

[avsbmw]

makes me miss my 01 M roadster. Great shots!

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by Z4-VILLA

You can slap 305's on the z3 all day long without rolling fenders, just saying

I think I have even seen 315's lol.

I put 265's on before boost. Whoops.

Now I think 295's will be the way to go.

[SedateMe]

Z4M is one of the best looking cars BMW has ever made. Especially in coupe form but I'd take either. Very timeless design.

Thanks for sharing!

[Never Convicted]

That Z4 is beautiful, a work of art. Evolution is a good thing.

[Red Bread]

Maybe it's because I had a shoe, but I still love the Z3 and never warmed to the first Z4, the hood is just too flat and the style never worked for me either as a coupe or convertible. Clearly they're both polarizing cars, it seems like folks either like one or the other. I'm hoping BMW gets back to building a good, basic rwd roadster again, but I'm also not holding my breath.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Novator

For the roadster models the Z3M is far more appealing with its brilliantly sculpted curves but for a hardtop the Z4M trumps.

My thoughts exactly. I'm still thinking of picking up a Z4 M Coupe someday.

[Rolitto]

The Z4 M rocks...

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by speedyjoe

Sorry,both are looking outdated to me.

The regualr Z3 roadster and M roadster were never intended to look too modern. The design was meant to resemble classic roadsters without being too retro. Personally, I think the Z3 M roadster has aged well and may prove to be a timeless classic.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by newbmwuser

the z3 looks good to this day

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Maybe it's because I had a shoe, but I still love the Z3 and never warmed to the first Z4, the hood is just too flat and the style never worked for me either as a coupe or convertible. Clearly they're both polarizing cars, it seems like folks either like one or the other. I'm hoping BMW gets back to building a good, basic rwd roadster again, but I'm also not holding my breath.

I saw a new Z4 sticker at $74k, no manual in the top model, and very high weight thanks to the hard top. Killed the car for me.

Give me a 2900lb soft top with 330hp and call it a day.

[24601]

The Z3 M is going to be a collectors item. The one pictured has some poor body work.

Too bad you don't have the Z4 M Coupe, another collectors car, my favorite!

[b0bab0i]

Originally Posted by speedyjoe

Sorry,both are looking outdated to me.

I agree with this.

[jrainlay]

Great photos! I must say, the Z3 ///M holds its own quite well! Definitely a classic.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by MY13E92M3

The Z3 M is going to be a collectors item. The one pictured has some poor body work.

Curious what you're referring to? The mirrors and lower air intake appear to either be painted black or vinyl wrap, but all of the body work appears stock. The rear bumper has the license plate light on it, which is different than the US models, but it does appear 100% stock in terms of body work.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Curious what you're referring to? The mirrors and lower air intake appear to either be painted black or vinyl wrap, but all of the body work appears stock. The rear bumper has the license plate light on it, which is different than the US models, but it does appear 100% stock in terms of body work.

I think that's about it. It's 99.5% stock to me.

[Rafale]

The E85 Z4 is an ugly duck. Z3 looks much better...

[SD ///M4]

I never liked the Z3 which is why I bought a new S2000 in 2000, the first year it was made and kept it for almost 13 years. To me the Z3 tried to be so retro that it looked outdated the day it was introduced. I think the S2000 was a far better looking modern take on a classic roadster because instead of wood and dials in the cabin, it had a digital speedometer and an electronic interpretation of an analog tachometer. At the time every car mag that tested the new S2000 against the existing Z3 and the Porsche Boxster ranked the Honda #1, in looks, performance, handling, just about everything, except maybe creature comforts, although it came with Recaro seats. It didn't even have a clock, but the BMW came with heated seats. It had an award-winning engine that had more horsepower per liter (120hp/liter) than any normally aspirated car until Ferrari introduced the 458 Italia. It was as reliable as a Civic or an Accord, but outperformed the BMW and the Porsche roadsters at a significantly lower price. And the redline was 9000 RPM! It wasn't until BMW introduced the M Roadster and Porsche introduced the Boxster S could either one outperform the S2000, although I've personally smoked a Boxster S at a track day.

I hated the Z4 when I first saw it, thought it was another horrible example of the Chris Bangle "flame-sculpted" school of design (although it was actually designed by Anders Warming). However, after buying my wife's 335is Coupe in 2011 and joining the BMW CCA, we started hanging out with all of the other BMW owners in the local chapter and I saw a few Z4 M Roadsters and they kind of started to catch my eye over the last year. I got a chance to drive one last summer and fell in love with another car, so the S2000 had to go. I bought a 2006 Z4 M Roadster last July and it's only the second used car I've ever purchased, the last one in 1969. I have come to really appreciate the design and style of the Z4 and I really think that it was ahead of it's time. It's still eye catching and makes people's heads turn, even though the original design is 10 years old, partially because the bottom started falling out of the roadster market in the mid-2000s, they didn't sell very well, and people just really don't see them that often. They're a tremendous bargain for a true roadster sports car with one of the best engines that BMW has ever made, the S54.