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Am toying with the idea of selling the RS in the next few months. The mrs needs a new car and I would like something that would be a bit more fun on track but also usable as my everyday car. So I am considering an e61 5 series for the mrs (not important) and the above for myself (important!). I am drawn to this for the following reasons;

Have had two e36 M3's and two e46 M'3s, and have always loved the screaming straight six M engines.
Although only two seats, still has room for the dog (cocker spaniel) and a weekends worth of luggage in the boot.
Still very fast, comparable on paper to the RS (in the dry only though i suspect!)
Im thinking would be more fun as a track car, smaller, sportier, lighter, rear wheel drive. Thoughts please?!
Considerably cheaper to run than the RS, better MPG, cheaper consumables etc...
Can get one with 80k for around £12,000

I have also considered the Z3M Coupe as I have wanted one since they came out, but am wondering if they are a bit old and long in the tooth now and also not much cheaper than the Z4 which is 7 years newer give or take. Having said that I think they are becoming a true classic which I don't think the Z4 will.

Your thoughts would very interesting, especially if you have owned either.

Also check out the below vid, saw this years ago but recently remembered how bonkers it is;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTzvIfPz8iU

Iv always had a soft spot for the z4 m coupe with csl wheels on
And was going to do same as you and sell rs4 and get one now I work away so it was cheaper in garage then thought na <beep> that I'm not losing cylinders lol

Dynamically the z3 was a shambles - a real disappointment from BMW.
I found the z4 much better to drive and IMO to look at.

Thats funny you say that Ads, because I seem to remember a Tiff Needell video in which he rates the z3m roadster as a superb drivers car?! So you think the Z4 is a good car, how about on track compared to the RS? Remember Im talking straight out the box in both cases, no mods.

One thing I will say the z4 I used to have was prob the best car iv ever had for throwing about and iv had a few and it was only a 2.5 m sport not a m.

Spaceman, thats interesting, so presumably an M version should push all the right buttons....

I'd def say so it really was a fun car just the one I had was down on power I recon the e46lump in one would be amazing (I had a e46 m3 at one point also. The dtc that the z4 runs is great for track wil let you spin the wheels up but will only allow so much sideways before towing the line a stead throttle tho and nice power slides are easy and still have a wee safety net. <beep> am talking myself into one

For me the z3m had too much power for the chassis. If you are as good as tiff then maybe you can exploit it but for us mere mortals it makes for a nervous unpredictable car. In many ways it is like the aerial atom in this regard.

The z4 is better - more refined and more adaptable for most.

On track I would take rwd every time unless it's raining.
It may not be as fast but it's really really good fun and the right car at the right track will teach you lots.

Just remember that like all front engined rear wheel drive its a bit of a handful under threshold braking and you need to be careful if you are looking to mix trail braking with heel n toe as you have to get it right otherwise you can unsettle the rear with a fluffed down change.

However neither the rs4 or z4 are really suited to regular track work out of the box.
Personally if go for something with cheaper consumables if you are going a lot.

Love the looks of the Z3M Coupe, even now they still look a bit special. However, like adsgreen said, the handling was lacking a bit of finesse. They have been holding their value over the last couple of years though and can surely only go up in price in the future.

I have always liked the idea of an E46 M3 CS with a manual box, never seen a bad review of one but quite hard to find one that does not have SMG.

Boxster/Cayman S's might be worth a look too?

Ok, having done more research and listened to you guys I'm thinking the z3 is out, got to be a z4. Boxsters also out, can't get behind the looks. E46 cs would be nice, but had 2 e46 already, want something smaller, sportier etc. I think the z4m ticks all the boxes, but will have to seriously consider the change, I love my RS so it will be a VERY sad moment if it were to disappear from the drive. Decisions decisions.....

I have owned both, first I had a S54 engined Z3 M Coupe. It was a great little car, but was a real handful with pretty old skool suspenion derived from as far back as the E30 at the back. Quite softly sprung and would definitely need uprated suspension for any track work. Great fun on the road though and had bundles of character, it always attracted positive attention everywhere and was quite practical with a decent boot. Five speed box was tiresome on long journeys and the steering wheel (same as E36 M3) is HUGE!

I then bought a Z4 M Coupe, which was better in almost every way than the Z3. It was faster, better equipped, more stable, handled better and more economical with the 6th gear. However it lacked the character and blends in with other Z4 coupe models, it also has a rubbish boot so isn't as practical. It is also a little bit of an unloved M car, personally I think they are a bargain and will eventually begin to creep up in price. I found mine very close in enjoyment to my old E46 CSL.

Head says Z4MC, heart says Z3MC. Here are some pics of my old cars.

Another ex Z3MC and Z4MC owner here.

I'd echo exactly what Wallachie says... I kept the Z3MC for 5 years because it had so much character, whereas the Z4M only for 3 (and was probably ready to switch earlier than that if I has found the right RS4 sooner). But ultimately the Z4MC was the more rounded car, by a long way... the Z3MC was fun and a bit scary, the Z4M was more sensible. Z4M Boot was much less useable but still not horrendous.

I put a GruppeM induction kit on the Z4M which transformed the character ... highly recommend this or another cheaper induction kit. I also had the CSLs which I think set it apart a bit from lesser Z4s.

One thing I found was the ride on my Z4M (possibly due in part to those 19 inch CSLs) was extremely hard and a little crashy, which was odd because it still didn't have the ultimate grip you might have put with firm suspension.

Worth a punt probably!

Some pics of mine (the silver Z3MC belongs to a friend):

Thanks guys, great to hear from people who have actually owned and lived with these cars. Have just got home from a rainy drive in the RS, even after over a year of ownership I still love it, I've got a lot of thinking to do!

Wallachie, love the z3m in black, batmobile...

Those bm's might drive ok but they remind me of my mums neighbours car and she's an air hostess, maybe slightly Audi tt hairdresser stylie