Type R vs z4 M40i - Thoughts

[rob495]

I've always been a roadster enthusiast. I’ve owned a Honda Del Slo, an NB Miata, and 5 different s2000's at different points in my life. Two weeks ago, I purchased a used 2020 Z4 M40i in frozen grey. Some thoughts after driving my FL5 and my Z4 back to back on the same day, chopping up some roads.

1) The width and low profile of the Z4, combined with the color (frozen grey) is just stunning. Very mature and stately looking. The silver rims with its angular spokes really highlight the curves and design of the car. Whereas the FL5 looks like an AC/DC rock concert where everyone in the arena is high on coke, hands in the air, and headbanging! Just looks like a riot.

2) Seats in the Z4 are extremely comfortable, you sit low to the ground and you have tons of adjustability. However, the seats in the FL5 are the best combination of support, grip, comfort, and shape for the road and the track i have ever experienced. I’ve driven over 2500 miles in 4 days in the Type R and did not have any back pain! I’ve done track days and never thought I needed to replace my seat with a racing one.

3) The z4 interior is a nice mix of old and new. Great combo of screens and physical buttons. I can’t stand the new screens in the BMW ecosystem. Terrible that you have to use the screen to adjust EVERYTHING. Give me physical buttons. Make it easy! The Type R also has an excellent combination of screens and buttons. I like the Honda’s a bit better. More intuitive and the dash is easier to read.

4) Visibility for the Civic is unbeatable. The Z4 is adequate with the top up but incredible with the top down.

5) Steering on both vehicles is pretty numb but the civic has more feel. The Type R reacts noticeably faster to inputs.

6) The Type R brakes are extremely strong, jury is out on the BMW. Need more time.

7) Sooooo the Type R crushes the Z4 in the corners. The suspension in the Z4 is floaty and there appears to be a bit of secondary motion. Tough to describe. But the suspension needs to be addressed. It’s pretty bad to be honest. Sucks all of my confidence.

8) The acceleration in the Z4 crushes the Type R. Especially at low speed. The difference is significant. The exhaust is very very good.

9) Both transmissions are excellent! Just depends on your mood.

10) In terms of fun, the Z4 is superior on a warm sunny day. . If you are attacking corners, I’ll take the Type R every day, any day.

On a side note, I had a friend drive my FL5 tonight. He was impressed with the handling, the seats, the transmission, and the exterior styling. He fell in love with the car and wanted to buy it from me. He said it reminded him of a Porsche! The Type R is a special vehicle and should be

In conclusion, the Type R is a special car. There are much faster vehicles out there but not many can deliver the automotive experience like the Type R does.

 

[Nothing]

Interesting commentary on the looks. If you compared it to an FK8 I would agree, but the FL5 is relatively calm except for the wing. The Z4 comparatively has more creases, vents, and sharp edges.

I wonder if your experience with suspension has more to do with suspension or body rigidity, Z4 being an open top it's usually much harder to maintain torsional rigidity even with chassis bracing and suspension.

Thanks for the comparison report! They're both nice cars and I'm sure the Z4 is a blast to drive. I am also amazed at the points awarded to the FL5s seats( and shifter). I know it's really good but still seeing others comment against so many other cars is incredible.

 

[Clark_Kent]

I appreciate the review, but have a bit of a different take. I drove the Z4 M40i at the BMW Performance Center recently and honestly came away pretty disappointed from a performance standpoint. As a cruiser, it’s probably fine, and the power and acceleration were solid. But for a roadster, it felt small proportionally, but oddly heavy, and at higher speeds or when changing direction quickly, the car just felt sloppy and not very well sorted. It really felt like a suspension and/or chassis tuning issue.

The brakes were the biggest letdown. The soft pedal, no real bite, and they faded way more than I expected after only a couple of laps on a short track. That was especially surprising given the setting. I wasn’t impressed, and with an MSRP pushing $70K in poverty spec form, it feels like a pretty poor value if you’re seeking value.

To be fair, I was jumping between proper M cars and this, so the juxtaposition was probably more noticeable than it would’ve been in isolation.

 

[rob495]

Once I address the suspension I’ll give an update to this thread. A lot of reviewers found similar issues to my experience regarding the suspension. The Handschalter edition seem to address most of the secondary motions with a revised suspension and helper springs.

In regards to styling, I think the black accents on the front lip, grill, hood vent, mirrors, rims, side skirts, diffuser, and wing combined with the wide wheel arches gives it great pizzaz….add the boost blue and the red interior and badging you got a show.

Another factor I don’t mention is reliability. The B58 and the ZF transmission are very reliable, but the cooling system has to be addressed. Thermostat, oil filter housing, and hoses have to be swapped out at around 80k miles. I suspect the FL5 will be bulletproof if taken care of properly.

Equally important is depreciation, the z4 had a sticker of $73,000. I purchased it for 55% of that price. The Type R’s depreciation curve should be lower (if you don’t factor mark up).

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the motoring experience of the Z4. Basically a stately, torquey, grand tourer. But it just highlights how special the Type R really is. Makes me appreciate everything the FL5 can do.

 

[rob495]

I appreciate the review, but have a bit of a different take. I drove the Z4 M40i at the BMW Performance Center recently and honestly came away pretty disappointed from a performance standpoint. As a cruiser, it’s probably fine, and the power and acceleration were solid. But for a roadster, it felt small proportionally, but oddly heavy, and at higher speeds or when changing direction quickly, the car just felt sloppy and not very well sorted. It really felt like a suspension and/or chassis tuning issue.

The brakes were the biggest letdown. The soft pedal, no real bite, and they faded way more than I expected after only a couple of laps on a short track. That was especially surprising given the setting. I wasn’t impressed, and with an MSRP pushing $70K in poverty spec form, it feels like a pretty poor value if you’re seeking value.

To be fair, I was jumping between proper M cars and this, so the juxtaposition was probably more noticeable than it would’ve been in isolation.

Thanks for sharing that! It seems like we are saying the same things. The Type R is an extremely unique vehicle that is extremely capable. The Z4 is an excellent grand tourer.

 

[zymmer4]

I've always been a roadster enthusiast. I’ve owned a Honda Del Slo, an NB Miata, and 5 different s2000's at different points in my life. Two weeks ago, I purchased a used 2020 Z4 M40i in frozen grey. Some thoughts after driving my FL5 and my Z4 back to back on the same day, chopping up some roads.

1) The width and low profile of the Z4, combined with the color (frozen grey) is just stunning. Very mature and stately looking. The silver rims with its angular spokes really highlight the curves and design of the car. Whereas the FL5 looks like an AC/DC rock concert where everyone in the arena is high on coke, hands in the air, and headbanging! Just looks like a riot.

2) Seats in the Z4 are extremely comfortable, you sit low to the ground and you have tons of adjustability. However, the seats in the FL5 are the best combination of support, grip, comfort, and shape for the road and the track i have ever experienced. I’ve driven over 2500 miles in 4 days in the Type R and did not have any back pain! I’ve done track days and never thought I needed to replace my seat with a racing one.

3) The z4 interior is a nice mix of old and new. Great combo of screens and physical buttons. I can’t stand the new screens in the BMW ecosystem. Terrible that you have to use the screen to adjust EVERYTHING. Give me physical buttons. Make it easy! The Type R also has an excellent combination of screens and buttons. I like the Honda’s a bit better. More intuitive and the dash is easier to read.

4) Visibility for the Civic is unbeatable. The Z4 is adequate with the top up but incredible with the top down.

5) Steering on both vehicles is pretty numb but the civic has more feel. The Type R reacts noticeably faster to inputs.

6) The Type R brakes are extremely strong, jury is out on the BMW. Need more time.

7) Sooooo the Type R crushes the Z4 in the corners. The suspension in the Z4 is floaty and there appears to be a bit of secondary motion. Tough to describe. But the suspension needs to be addressed. It’s pretty bad to be honest. Sucks all of my confidence.

8) The acceleration in the Z4 crushes the Type R. Especially at low speed. The difference is significant. The exhaust is very very good.

9) Both transmissions are excellent! Just depends on your mood.

10) In terms of fun, the Z4 is superior on a warm sunny day. . If you are attacking corners, I’ll take the Type R every day, any day.

On a side note, I had a friend drive my FL5 tonight. He was impressed with the handling, the seats, the transmission, and the exterior styling. He fell in love with the car and wanted to buy it from me. He said it reminded him of a Porsche! The Type R is a special vehicle and should be

In conclusion, the Type R is a special car. There are much faster vehicles out there but not many can deliver the automotive experience like the Type R does.

I have owned several BMW cars..All of them did the same thing , in this order..1) elctrics started going whacky..2) twin Vanos started leaking..3) Head gasket popped between cylinders 5 and 6..Of course , the plastic coolant system failed in various components from about 35000 miles onward..I replaced the components with metal ones as they failed..My take on BMW is that it is a light duty, overpriced car..built for people who don't drive super hard and don't keep them for over 100000 miles...just my take on the three that I have owned over the past 20 years..
I don't have any way to judge the FL5 yet..but of the many Honda cars that I have owned since 1970..I have NEVER had one fail..I don't beat on my cars..I drive them.

 

[rob495]

Actually, modded supras are ripping it up on the track. My brother is a track rat and has one with suspension mods, a tune, and a transmission reflash. It’s faster than his 991.2 GT3 RS on track. Engine is rock solid and no issues.

But yes, to your point, I’ve already planned to address the coolant system with metal components and did a lot of research way before I bought the car. The electronics on my wife’s older 328xi and my past M2 and m3 and never had issues, the idrive systems were not fault free but decent. My use case for the Z4 is road tripping, cruising on warm summer days. But I’m starting to go down the suspension hole. Initially springs but now I’m thinking Camber plates, sway bars, and coilovers.

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