Nikki is a Data Content Administrator at Edmunds.com.
I purchased my first car out of college in October 2008, 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe. I loved that car so much and I made a promise to myself that I would keep it forever (which, for me, is more accurately defined as "about a year or two"). I also made a promise that I would never drive an M Coupe for fear that upon driving one I would make the irrational decision to buy one on the spot. This was a healthy fear. Luckily for me, the M Coupe is a particularly rare car (they only produced 1,815 to be sold in North America over the three years they were built) so the opportunity to see one, let alone drive one, never came up over the years.
Fast forward two years to October 2010. I visited my local BMW dealer to test-drive the new Z4 hardtop convertible, mainly out of curiosity. I drove the sDrive30i and 35i. Without getting into too many details, neither car was for me. I just didn't feel connected to the cars and the road like I did with my Z4 Coupe.
Feeling reassured regarding my decision to continue enjoying my current Z4, I thanked the salesman for his time and made my way toward my car. I made a final visual scan of the sea of cars assembled on the dealer lot...and there it was. It could not be unseen. A shiny Black Sapphire M Coupe was sitting pretty, just calling out to me, just begging to be driven. My eyes widened. It was a twin to my car: same color, year, mileage. It was too perfect. I finally caved. I had to see what all the fuss was about. I turned back toward the showroom and asked the salesman if I could take it out.
That test-drive cannot be summarized with words. I remember giggling upon starting the car and hearing the 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 engine rev up. I also remember the first redline from first to second and the first apex around the winding desert road. My giggle quickly transformed into a maniacal laugh accompanied by a silly grin that never left my face (I later noticed that this permanent joker-style grin is actually listed on the Z4 forums as a 'common issue' with the words 'Solution: None' printed beside it). During the middle of my test-drive, the salesman asked me politely if I could pull over to the side of the road so he could have a turn driving it. His reaction was similar to the one I described above.
Several rev matches and sweeping corners later, I dutifully brought the car back to the dealer and let out a deep sigh as I got out. I knew what had to be done, but my practical, fiscally responsible side was eating away at me. I glanced hesitantly at the window sticker and winced in disappointment when I realized the dealer was asking at least $5k over Edmunds' TMV. It was already decided in my mind. Maybe this wasn't the one, but I'd have my M Coupe soon enough. I began scouring the internet for all M Coupes for sale in the U.S. I was willing to drive anywhere to find the perfect one.
And that's when I ended up in Moline, Illinois. A month after my enlightening test drive, my friend Lauren and I left sunny Los Angeles on a Friday afternoon via LAX on a quest to the sub-freezing Midwest. Our bounty: a 2007 Sepang Bronze M Coupe. I remember the first time I saw it in the dealer showroom. It was perfect. It was perfect and it was mine. The only thing left was the 1,863-mile drive back to Los Angeles, which by the way, had to be accomplished within two days in order to be back in time for work on Monday.
Challenge accepted.
If you've ever driven on I-70 through Colorado and Utah, you'll know exactly why I would consider the drive back from Moline in the M Coupe to be one of the best experiences of my life. For those who aren't familiar with the route – imagine driving down a wide open, freshly paved highway, with smooth banked corners cutting through mountain and desert backdrops that resemble the sets of old Western movies. It really was a conquering feeling. I thought about how the early pioneers had crossed this very same route in covered wagons led by oxen nearly 200 years ago and I felt a deep feeling of gratitude. It's pretty amazing really -- looking at how far we've come since then -- and it made me appreciate my current method of transportation that much more.
I've had my M Coupe for almost a year now and each day I grow even fonder of its impressive handling, eye-catching styling and sheer power. For me, it's the whole package. I recently found an M Coupe poster for sale online that contained a simple, yet effective statement:
BMW Z4 M Coupe: Wreaking serious havoc on the hierarchy of needs.
Ah, truer words couldn't be spoken. Of course, I purchased the poster and it's presently waiting to be framed and hung on my wall. Now only one question remains: the dining room or the living room?
ahightower says:
06:25 AM, 12/23/11
LOVE this car. I just think the style of the Z4 coupe is so cool. I'd love to have one in blue.
karz4life10 says:
07:02 AM, 12/23/11
Really wonderful car i shall say i am jelous and 330 horsepower with that small of a car will just make driving through traffic on the interstate so much fun.you are really lucky nikki.
karz4life10 says:
07:04 AM, 12/23/11
Really wonderful car i shall say i am jelous and 330 horsepower with that small of a car will just make driving through traffic on the interstate so much fun.you are really lucky nikki.
karz4life10 says:
07:06 AM, 12/23/11
srry i did not mean to post tht twice
stress83 says:
07:11 AM, 12/23/11
Such an impractical car; how perfect. Make mine white.
Thanks for sharing!
fredpzo says:
09:32 AM, 12/23/11
Congratulations on a real Spartanburg beaut Nikki. Schön, sehr schön! Engaging writing and stunning pics too. Looks to me like Edmunds may have to shortly make room for another staff writer and find a replacement for its soon-to-be promoted Data Content Administrator. Happy trails, Fred
blackadder5639 says:
10:37 AM, 12/23/11
Nikki, sweet ride! I wonder how you still have a valid driver's license.....my would be suspended if I owned this car, because I would always overspeed, LOL!
throwback says:
11:51 AM, 12/23/11
Nice ride and extremely rare. I can't recall the last time I a Coupe, much less a M coupe. An M Coupe in that color has to very rare, I've only seen them in Silver and Black.
noburgers says:
04:20 PM, 12/23/11
nice color--kind of a sleeper. Also a nice story, and great pics. I would love to take that drive some day--kind of reminds me of Forrest Gump running through the desert.
metro88 says:
01:24 AM, 12/24/11
Love the Z4 coupes of this generation! Nice car man!
It's so great seeing people on this blog who really appreciate their vehicles!
mce63 says:
05:32 AM, 12/26/11
This and the earlier generation are finalists on my midlife crisis rides.
bk1715 says:
08:29 AM, 12/26/11
nice, but I would swap wheels with the black Z in pic (your old Z?)
loved previous gen coupe also, rare and more practical.
any mechanical issues with either car?
how big of a jump in insurance $$ upgrading to M?
emajor says:
11:42 AM, 12/26/11
Nice pictures of the San Rafael Reef. It is a glorious drive, I could never live back in the congested East after experiencing all of the open public land out here to explore.
niklu says:
08:20 AM, 12/27/11
Thanks all for the compliments!
@bk1715: You're one step ahead of me on the wheel comment! I have some new photos to share of the car with a few mods, including a new set of BBS wheels. Stay tuned for that!
The car has been great mechanically. It just came off warranty and the only maintenance I'm looking at now around 55k miles is Inspection II, which I've received quotes of $1k-$2k. The huge cost there is the valve adjustment, but everything else included is pretty standard.
As for the insurance, I was surprised to see a very modest jump of ~$200/year from the 3.0si coupe.
sbmini says:
09:06 AM, 12/27/11
I am so glad I got to be the one to help you drive the M Coupe home. To say the car changes you is an understatement. That was the most amazing road trip I ever took and I can never forget driving 1-70 through Utah after passing the "next services 100 miles" sign (the name of my travel blog now) and coming to the happy realization that there would also be no cars, or cops for that distance as well.
The midnight Wal-Mart stop in Moline after watching "Due Date" (a great pre-roadtrip movie) is also noteworthy. While clad in a blue MOLINE-branded jacket, Nikki picked up a five-gallon jug of cheese puffs and said, "oh my God cheese puffs... we need these!" but as a fellow Z4 owner I had to point out that with our bags, there literally would not be any room for them in the car.
niklu says:
09:22 AM, 12/27/11
Ah yes, sadly the BMW engineers didn't anticipate the obvious need for a cargo area large enough to accommodate two large bags and a five-gallon jug of cheese puffs.
roadburner says:
09:04 PM, 12/29/11
Nice! I've about decided that either a Z4 M Coupe or a CPO 1er M Coupe will be my next track toy; I'm leaning towards the Z4.
thellurider says:
03:07 PM, 01/ 4/12
Interesting post. Thank you for putting this out there. As someone who was once seriously considering an M coupe I am surprised. The Z4MC I drove rode so poorly that I couldn't imagine driving it every day. I drove a Cayman S the same day and it floated where the Z4MC crashed. I've been told the 3.0si was in someways the better of the two due to the suspension tuning. I was turned off enough by it that I crossed the Z4MC from my list. Can you compare the two from a ride and handling standpoint?
niklu says:
12:18 PM, 01/ 5/12
@thellurider, no doubt the Z4 is a better daily driver for most, and even I was a little hesitant during that first commute in the M. I remember thinking to myself as I went bump...BUMP...bump....BANG..."F@!#"! down the streets of West Hollywood, "Oh boy, what did I get myself into!?!?"
Clearly the engineers in Germany didn't have this type of driving in mind while designing the M suspension, but then again, how many people buy an M Coupe to commute 15 miles for nearly two hours one-way on poorly paved LA roads?
However, one thing I noticed over time is that over potholes the 3.0si would bump and jerk side to side, forcing me to quickly counter steer to keep the car straight. The M, on the other hand, bumps a little louder, but continues completely straight and in control, no driver input needed.
Additionally, during normal driving situations, I find the M suspension to be 10X more satisfying than the 3.0si. The M suspension is rigid, yet precise and once you learn its characteristics, provides an extremely confident and rewarding experience. I have never driven another car that gives such a thrill and joy around corners. I don't know how else to explain it, but everything about it just feels "right" to me.
intothewest says:
04:46 PM, 01/ 9/12
Beautiful car...love the Z4 coupes more than the convertibles - and the colour looks very unique on it!
Great photos too...thanks for sharing!
g_k says:
06:27 PM, 02/13/12
Beautiful car, and a terrific story; I've driven that stretch of I-70 many times, and it really is spectacular. It's nice to read of someone actualizing their automotive fantasy - especially when it doesn't involve spending a fortune. I sold my '01 (Z3) M Roadster (same engine) a couple of years ago, and I still miss the metallic rasp (and the power).
I have a question - I don't know if you're a cyclist, but will a bike fit in the back (with a wheel removed)?
niklu says:
11:54 AM, 02/14/12
@ g_k says: Possibly with a wheel removed although I've never actually tried it.
Funny short story: Last year I almost broke my nose getting hit in the face with a softball. I called my roommate to ask if he could bring me to the hospital since I was bleeding everywhere and I was certain it was broken. He coincidentally was on his bike about a half a mile away so he said he would be right there. A minute later he shows up and then we go to get in my car and we realize, "Oh shoot, what are we going to do with the bike?" We couldn't see any possible way for it to fit (especially since the M variants of the Z4 have the battery in the trunk so there's a rather large bulge back there) so my roommate just tossed it into some bushes and luckily it was still there when we returned.
I do know that I can fit a set of women's golf clubs in there with the driver removed from the bag and fit diagonally. I haven't tried a men's set but I believe it would fit.