Trade in M3 for a ZL1?

[jared355]

Zl1 is a great car, I modded mine and I'm making 663 to the wheels my only complaint is that I'm now suffering from retinal detachment, my doctor says it's probably from the g force I experience when pressing down on the accelerator. It's tough for me to see cars including the BMW m3 in my rear view now. Doctor said my condition would approve with the purchase of a Prius or similar vehicle

[big dave]

My only real complaints are the terrible tires, unavailability of some options and creature comforts, and poor gas mileage. If you're looking for fuel economy, this is not the car for you...but at 4200# and 580 hp, you really can't expect it to sip gas. The tires get very slippery below 60 degrees so it can make for a wild ride when the temperature drops. Other than these minor flaws, it truly is a rock solid car.

[pumpkinrancho]

I have had mine 13 months. I have put just under 11k miles on it. It is not my daily driver.
Complaints.
Tires SUCK!
Traction when cold is almost dangerous.
ECM went bad
Tires throw every rock on the road at the quarters.
Praises
I love this car.
Traded in a 2011 Grand Sport may have been better in the autocross but every where else the zl1 rules
I have had this car in 7 different states racing it, driving it both ways mind you and I average 18.5 mpg Seriously
It draws a crowd at every gas station.
I may by a z28, however I will be keeping this one.
I have never had a car that when it has traction pulls this hard. Like a freight train on steroids.
I too like bmws, however short of a z8 I don't think I will be going back.
I still have lots of cars to choose from and if its warm enough to be safe this is the car I choose hands down.

[kaamacat]

Originally Posted by ZL1Darkone

Help!

I am thinking about trading in my 2011 M3 and getting Zl1.

However, I got to know if there are any major problems you guys are having with your cars before I drop 50K plus on this car.

I bought a 2011 M3 about a year ago without knowing that these cars have too tight a clearance in their bearings and connecting rods which is causing some engine failures. On top of that I found out that BMW( nor anyone else) publishes a service manual. So no torque specs, assembly, disassembly instructions - nothing. What else? How about parts that cost 2 to 3 x that of an American car and performance parts that cost 3 x as much and barely increase HP. Not happy....especially since I come from the Corvette world, I had a Ls3 that I modified to 700 Hp....

So help me out guys....tell me what you HATE and love about your cars so I can know what I am getting into this time..

On the BMW service manual side, I'm surprised that Bentley does not have something out there... I have one for the E36 series and its pretty good.

As for the M3 vs ZL1, and I've not had mine for 4wks now (2014 6sp).... Honestly the handling is probably right there with the M3 or darn close, but on a track the ZL1 would just have the advantage due to sheer HP/TQ. Or better put... I just came from a 2011 GT3RS I had from new, and for 3yrs, one of the finest cars on the planet without exception, and I have been extremely happy (and surprised) at that the ZL1 offers not only for the price, but pretty pleased with the handling aspects of the car. Granted I only have 4wks and 1300miles on the car (so I've not even pushed it past those break-in levels 4000rpms..etc) and it is an outstanding car.

Now sure the body panels will not be the same as BMW (alignment...etc), and the interior materials not as nice BUT, they are not bad at all either.

Net-Net.... I think from the M3 to Zl1 will be like placing M6 capacity in the M3 and you will love it. (I'm lovin mine!)

[G Money]

If you like to mod your vehicle you are going to love the ZL1 with all the aftermarket items out there the possibilities are endless..... Stock the ZL1 is still a beast but a heavy one so I opted to do some mods myself and at 738 RWHP she is beyond a beast she is nothing but NASTY ! To get that type of hp in the M3 the cost would be at least double.... Can't go wrong with the ZL1 stock or modded its a great car to learn how to drive.....

[BlackinBlack]

M3 vs ZL1

ZL1 faster in a straight line.
Cornering ZL1 1G and M3 0.98G
Braking the ZL1 will be more fade resistant but I believe the M3 will stop 60-0 in a shorter distance.

Overall they are not even close when run on the track.

I DD my car and here is my experiences after 14 months and 10K miles:


1) Supercharger isolator rattles but only can hear while standing beside the front of the car or with the radio off and strain to hear it.
2) My brake reservoir cap leaked initially but stopped. My guess was it was a little overfilled.
3) Mylink system AC display sometimes does weird stuff and songs don't always display on the HUD. Hope for a software update to fix.
4) Brake dust is insane. The bright polish wheels look great but literally can see dust just driving 2 miles up the road.
5) I am getting 14.2 MPG average. So the car drinks fuel.
6) Tires are wearing quickly but still have tread. For me traction has not been too much of an issue but in FL it never really gets cold. I personaly never had issues in the wet.

Were I drive there are tons of M3s. Rarely see another ZL1.

[ZL1 TIBS]

I had a transmission failure which was covered under warranty, no questions asked, but I don't believe it is a systemic issue. I was having problems getting into 3rd using No Lift Shift and I think that was the early indication that my 3rd gear sychros were bad. The coolant leak at the block/Oil cooler fitting seems fairly common but again GM stepped up to fix mine when it happenned. I have heard of several bad brake master cylinder caps that have been replaced under warranty. The final thing I have heard of which I also had taken care of was the noisy clutches in the rear. I would have let that go but since I had it in the shop anyway I had taken care of. Overall if I had to buy the ZL-1 over again, I wouldn't hesitate. Oh, as others stated, the tires suck in the cold. Consider another brand if you will drive inthe cold.

[mkorgan]

Had an M3 and sold it prior to buying my ZL1. Note: I did not sell it to buy my ZL1, I sold it several months prior. That being said, I will NOT be selling my ZL1 but it is not because it is a better car, it is because it is a DIFFERENT car.

The M3 was refined and quick. The ZL1 is raw and fast.
The M3 was date night with the wife (I am in my late 40's), the ZL1 is Friday night with the fella's.
The M3 was wine and cheese. The ZL1 is beer and pretzels.

I NEVER got a comment about my M3 when getting gas or stopping at a light. It looked pedestrian and was treated as such. I cannot go anywhere without someone saying something about my ZL1 because it is different and aggressive.

Finally, the M3 had it limits. At some point when modding the M3 I came to the point where I asked myself, "Do I really want to do that to this finely tuned piece of German engineering?" With my ZL1, hell...I plan to push it till it exceeds my ability to control it and I will not look back doing it.

Two different cars. Two different experiences. It boils down to YOU. What experience do YOU want?

[hognutz]

Originally Posted by ZL1Darkone

Help!

I am thinking about trading in my 2011 M3 and getting Zl1.

However, I got to know if there are any major problems you guys are having with your cars before I drop 50K plus on this car.

I bought a 2011 M3 about a year ago without knowing that these cars have too tight a clearance in their bearings and connecting rods which is causing some engine failures. On top of that I found out that BMW( nor anyone else) publishes a service manual. So no torque specs, assembly, disassembly instructions - nothing. What else? How about parts that cost 2 to 3 x that of an American car and performance parts that cost 3 x as much and barely increase HP. Not happy....especially since I come from the Corvette world, I had a Ls3 that I modified to 700 Hp....

So help me out guys....tell me what you HATE and love about your cars so I can know what I am getting into this time..

from my perspective here are some issues or cons

1. stock tires have horrible grip in cold weather if I had to do over again I woul have dissmounted them and sold them as new immediatly. I bought the car in the summer they work great then oct nov and colder temps come around and grip is just no existant.

2. power is good stock but not earth shattering so dependin on your waranty perspective this car is 100 times funner to drive with a couple mods.

3. long door, short roof hieght, small trunk, etc I was coming from a corvette so these things did not both me at all but make sure you test dirve an SS at least to make sure the creature comforts are good.

4. Blower Isolator noise(it is by design) some have it bad some don't mine is very livable at this point if It gets worse I will throw a solid coupler on.

pro's
1. Handling from my perspective is great. tones of grip pretty composed.
2. cheap and easy to mod
3. best all around driving car I have had to date.
4. 8k on the clock 0 issues for me so far.


I think the drivetrain is pretty robust and normal poeple will not have much issue but like anything mass produced there have been some that have had some.

I would rather have my ZL1 that an M3 even though I do like the M3 alot. The one thing the german crowd can not enginer is a car that is affordable to maintain or modify. they just destroy you in maintence and mod cost. so as cool as some of them are I will not own one.

[kaamacat]

Originally Posted by BlackinBlack

M3 vs ZL1

ZL1 faster in a straight line.
Cornering ZL1 1G and M3 0.98G
Braking the ZL1 will be more fade resistant but I believe the M3 will stop 60-0 in a shorter distance.

Overall they are not even close when run on the track.

I DD my car and here is my experiences after 14 months and 10K miles:


1) Supercharger isolator rattles but only can hear while standing beside the front of the car or with the radio off and strain to hear it.
2) My brake reservoir cap leaked initially but stopped. My guess was it was a little overfilled.
3) Mylink system AC display sometimes does weird stuff and songs don't always display on the HUD. Hope for a software update to fix.
4) Brake dust is insane. The bright polish wheels look great but literally can see dust just driving 2 miles up the road.
5) I am getting 14.2 MPG average. So the car drinks fuel.
6) Tires are wearing quickly but still have tread. For me traction has not been too much of an issue but in FL it never really gets cold. I personaly never had issues in the wet.

Were I drive there are tons of M3s. Rarely see another ZL1.

Speaking of brake dust.... The GT3RS I had, you could just look at the red wheels and dust would appear. Then on a drive a guy with a Vette... his wheels were just about spotless. He uses (and I use now) that Armoral Wheel Protectant. Truth-be-told its not "snake oil" and does work. The key is clean the wheels real good, put a slow and constant spray mist on the wheels and DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THE CAR/WHEELS for 24hrs. (I had since, with the RS, gone on two pretty spirited drives, 400 miles in total....about ZERO dust). In fact the dust, if any, would hide in a corner where it could not escape. Air would blow it off. (So I've used on the black ZL1 wheels). The excess will flow to the bottom and on your tire at 6pm...just wipe it off. The overspray will also semi-protect the wheel barrel...the rotors and calipers are fine as-well.

[BlackinBlack]

Originally Posted by kaamacat

Speaking of brake dust.... The GT3RS I had, you could just look at the red wheels and dust would appear. Then on a drive a guy with a Vette... his wheels were just about spotless. He uses (and I use now) that Armoral Wheel Protectant. Truth-be-told its not "snake oil" and does work. The key is clean the wheels real good, put a slow and constant spray mist on the wheels and DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THE CAR/WHEELS for 24hrs. (I had since, with the RS, gone on two pretty spirited drives, 400 miles in total....about ZERO dust). In fact the dust, if any, would hide in a corner where it could not escape. Air would blow it off. (So I've used on the black ZL1 wheels). The excess will flow to the bottom and on your tire at 6pm...just wipe it off. The overspray will also semi-protect the wheel barrel...the rotors and calipers are fine as-well.

Very good info. I will have to try it. Love the bite of these pads and don't want to lose any performance but the dust is so bad.

Thanks for the tip.

[2012-1822]

Biggest complaint is fuel costs. Now really I expected this kind of mileage. But I also didn't expect it to be a daily driver. But after driving it, I can't stand to drive my truck anymore, so I'm ZL1 all the time, unless I just have to haul some stuff.

[ZL1Darkone]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feed back and it sounds like the ZL1's engine is pretty bullet proof....
One thing for sure being on these forums I can tell already that everyone is more laid back and performances car focused - just like when I owned a Corvette and on their forums. The BMW unfortunately has those who are performance car focused and those who are just rich jerks looking to show off. As an example: On the BMW M3 forum they actually have a thread that is focused on the kind of watches they buy, most are in the 10k range ....WTF a watch for 10K? ..lol....that's allot of mods for the price of a watch...

Thanks everyone

[omegaman]

Originally Posted by kaamacat

...He uses (and I use now) that Armoral Wheel Protectant. Truth-be-told its not "snake oil" and does work.

Great tip! I'll give it a try.