[michal12]

Coming from M340i with xDrive, I find my new M40i to be a lot slower than expected in real world.
Not that it lacks power but the 2WD simply cannot put the power down in 90% of situations. I literally have to hold back and not do certain things/maneuvers (such as quick overtakes) I would have done in my M340i because I know the RWD will not cope.
I am the only one who feels this? I am not talking about wet roads, this is the case even on dry roads.

[SpeedyATL]

I don't find this at all.

Can it break the rear tires loose, absolutely. Does the power possibly overwhelming the 2 contact patches concern me, absolutely not. There is plenty of traction in all my typical forms of driving.

With traction control on, you should have no concerns about the forward thrust. Maybe go to a large open parking lot and turn traction on and floor it from 30 mph so you can get used to what it lets the car do. Then you'll know and there'll be no surprises.

[Horseman]

Originally Posted by michal12

Coming from M340i with xDrive, I find my new M40i to be a lot slower than expected in real world.
Not that it lacks power but the 2WD simply cannot put the power down in 90% of situations. I literally have to hold back and not do certain things/maneuvers (such as quick overtakes) I would have done in my M340i because I know the RWD will not cope.
I am the only one who feels this? I am not talking about wet roads, this is the case even on dry roads.

I don't have experience with an M340i, but I can't say that I've had much issues with good amounts of acceleration. I do feel some shifting, slipping and sliding when i really punch it, but it's manageable. Overtaking, quick accelerations while already traveling is very smooth and easy. It's going from nothing to 60 where I feel the slipping. I know i live in a dusty area with construction and other things, so it could be that too?

[BEAR-AvHistory-2]

My M4C is an X AWD car. Love it. My Z4 M40i is RWD. Love it.

Now that that is done my take on the Z4 is the power to traction is pretty close to a perfect balance. A little softer tires & it would be perfect but eat up the tires to fast.

All ready make that trade off on the RWD Cobra 9,000-10,000 miles on a set of NITTO NT01. Z4 gets 19,000-20,000 on the PSS stock tires.

Now a Z4 M40iX would be perfect if the power was increased as there is no real overhead in available traction. Put more power in and get less pedal push before traction loss. A Z4-X car with the base S58 engine would be a real Dragon Slayer.

[RigaTony1982]

M340i with xDrive was my previous car. I too feel like it was a little quicker than the Z4 for the exact reason mentioned with the grip.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by michal12

Coming from M340i with xDrive, I find my new M40i to be a lot slower than expected in real world.
Not that it lacks power but the 2WD simply cannot put the power down in 90% of situations. I literally have to hold back and not do certain things/maneuvers (such as quick overtakes) I would have done in my M340i because I know the RWD will not cope.
I am the only one who feels this? I am not talking about wet roads, this is the case even on dry roads.

There has been quite a bit of previous discussion in this forum about the M40i's limits due to 2WD.

I decided to go with the s30i because (quite subjectively and controversially) I am happy with the s30i's performance and didn't feel like the $10K price bump for the M40i was worth it to me. If that bump included xDrive, I may have reconsidered.

[FrostyWinters]

Originally Posted by michal12

Coming from M340i with xDrive, I find my new M40i to be a lot slower than expected in real world.
Not that it lacks power but the 2WD simply cannot put the power down in 90% of situations. I literally have to hold back and not do certain things/maneuvers (such as quick overtakes) I would have done in my M340i because I know the RWD will not cope.
I am the only one who feels this? I am not talking about wet roads, this is the case even on dry roads.

Higher limits do not automatically equate to more fun. Faster lap times, yes, but not necessarily more fun. I've also found that driving a RWD car in various situations will make you a better driver in the long run.

[Balr14]

A Z4 with the S58 CS engine and AWD would be awesome, but would probably cost as much as a 911 Turbo. I have a big problem with wishes and reality. I always wish for more horsepower, no matter what. In reality, I can't use the horsepower I have. I can't accelerate for more than 4 seconds anywhere without rear-ending an SUV.

[IcewaterPete]

Interesting concept, but for me way off point.

A roadster isn’t supposed to be x drive, faster than everything else and under total nanny control for traction. For me a roadster should put a smile on your face before during and after it starts to slide, lose grip and then the driver through their own skills brings the beast back under control.

I get it that some want or need a car to be everything for them if they can’t have specialized scalpels for the intended mission. I say enjoy it for what it is and don’t waste time worrying about what it isn’t.

[Top Gon]

You can get a merceds SL in a couple years probably for similar price to the z4. That has awd

[Mr. Bill]

I’m in the OP’s camp. I have the M240i x-drive and mine is juiced with a Dinan stage 1 tune and cold air intake. I came very close to getting the Z4, but I wanted to tune that car as well and was afraid that the extra power was going to be a detriment off the line and around low speed corners. I have this one T intersection on my way to work where I have to pull into rush hour traffic going both ways from a stand still. Plus my wife and I are ham fisted drivers on our best days. I had considered the Audi R8 and Acura NSX, but I couldn’t stomach paying that much money for a play car and the NSX doesn’t come in convertible. First world problems though. I still lurk on this forum b/c I like the way people on this forum treat one another and share ideas and not insults.

[BEAR-AvHistory-2]

Don't want to offend anyone about what a roadster should be but the roadster version of my Carrera 4S was AWD, The 4 being the AWD ID.

StingRay is now available with AWD. This was not shock to anyone who looked at the chassis when the C8 was introduced a few years ago.

The chassis had covers over the ports that the front wheel drive system would pass through. Also had a central tunnel to hold the batteries for the electrics.

Most of the high power roadsters from Europe have AWD versions. Quick look Audi TT, Jaguar F‑TYPE-444BHP, Jaguar F‑TYPE 75R-575BHP, MB AMG S-Class, Lamborghini Huracan EVO-Spyder. Jeep Wrangler 2 door Sport.

Nannies can be shut down but not totally eliminated in most cases. BMW performance cars can totally shutdown the AWD & go to RWD. They can also select the level of interferences on a sliding scale from 10 to 1.

Bottom line is most BMW's cannot completely shut down the nanny.

On a personal note I am most likely one of if not the only person on the forum who daily drives a very high performance car with no nanny, no power brakes, no power steering & a MT5 trans. I have to be much more careful with any inputs when driving it than I do with my Z4 or M4.

Sliding across the white line tail first is not a very good plan.

[Balr14]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory-2

Don't want to offend anyone about what a roadster should be but the roadster version of my Carrera 4S was AWD, The 4 being the AWD ID.

StingRay is now available with AWD. This was not shock to anyone who looked at the chassis when the C8 was introduced a few years ago.

The chassis had covers over the ports that the front wheel drive system would pass through. Also had a central tunnel to hold the batteries for the electrics.

Most of the high power roadsters from Europe have AWD versions. Quick look Audi TT, Jaguar F‑TYPE-444BHP, Jaguar F‑TYPE 75R-575BHP, MB AMG S-Class, Lamborghini Huracan EVO-Spyder. Jeep Wrangler 2 door Sport.

Nannies can be shut down but not totally eliminated in most cases. BMW performance cars can totally shutdown the AWD & go to RWD. They can also select the level of interferences on a sliding scale from 10 to 1.

Bottom line is most BMW's cannot completely shut down the nanny.

On a personal note I am most likely one of if not the only person on the forum who daily drives a very high performance car with no nanny, no power brakes, no power steering & a MT5 trans. I have to be much more careful with any inputs when driving it than i do with my Z4 or M4.

Sliding across the white line tail first is not a very good plan.

I had some insane daily drivers in my younger days, mostly because it was my only car. They were awful in the winter. I can't say I miss the excitement.

[BEAR-AvHistory-2]

Originally Posted by Balr14

A Z4 with the S58 CS engine and AWD would be awesome, but would probably cost as much as a 911 Turbo. I have a big problem with wishes and reality. I always wish for more horsepower, no matter what. In reality, I can't use the horsepower I have. I can't accelerate for more than 4 seconds anywhere without rear-ending an SUV.

Think it would be equal to less then the $97,000 Boxster GTS 4.0. Thats a $20,000+ premium over the the the current Z4 M40i price at the outside.
My M4C AWD was $93,000 in 22. Current duplicate is $100,000. Don't think based on the pricing spreads the Z4 M40i-S58 would cost more since it was over $20,000 less than the M4C.

The base M4 RWD coupe with the S58 473BHP engine costs about $84,000. Also the Spread between a M4C RWD S58 503BHP & an M4CXi AWD S58 503BHP is $5,000.

Fortunately between no front license plates & high speed interstates we have a lot of former? moonshine roads to turn & burn as well as plenty of room to use launch control or an experienced foot to accelerate.

That said our cars do not need much room to make 60 mph.

[Bimmerfun82]

Maybe you need new tires?

AWD would ruin this car.

[michal12]

I think this is exactly what I might do one day. I love the R232 although everyone else seems to be hating it.

Originally Posted by Top Gon

You can get a merceds SL in a couple years probably for similar price to the z4. That has awd

[michal12]

Thanks everybody for your thoughtful replies. To me, a Z4 M xDrive with S58 would be the dream but anyways, this will remain a dream. (even though I am surprised Toyota will actually be putting the S58 in the Supra).
I guess I will try driving around with DSC in the middle setup so that it doesn't cut power as much.

[izjamest]

I don't have the issues you have, but would love AWD just so I can drive it in the winter with powder/snow =D

[MisanoblueZ4]

Originally Posted by michal12

Thanks everybody for your thoughtful replies. To me, a Z4 M xDrive with S58 would be the dream but anyways, this will remain a dream. (even though I am surprised Toyota will actually be putting the S58 in the Supra).
I guess I will try driving around with DSC in the middle setup so that it doesn't cut power as much.

The Supra is not getting the S58, unsubstantiated rumors.

[BobHen]

I have a 2022 BMW M240i Xdrive. BMW's AWD is rear biased and is excellent. There is zero slip when accelerating hard from a standstill. And pulling hard out of half-way through a corner under acceleration is thrilling and very surefooted. When pushed hard, the M240i Xdrive is a torque and grip monster.

I do understand that the Z4 is a roadster with all the fun of top-down driving, power and has that sports car road feel. Nothing wrong with that.

I've actually been considering Z4s. They are very seductive machines. It might be worth the trade; top-down, roadster fun versus Xdrive. But, to be honest, I do think I would miss the AWD dynamics of Xdrive with my M240i.

A Z4 with Xdrive would be a much stronger consideration, at least for me.

Bob

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by BobHen

I have a 2022 BMW M240i Xdrive. BMW's AWD is rear biased and is excellent. There is zero slip when accelerating hard from a standstill. And pulling hard out of half-way through a corner under acceleration is thrilling and very surefooted. When pushed hard, the M240i Xdrive is a torque and grip monster.

I do understand that the Z4 is a roadster with all the fun of top-down driving, power and has that sports car road feel. Nothing wrong with that.

I've actually been considering Z4s. They are very seductive machines. It might be worth the trade; top-down, roadster fun versus Xdrive. But, to be honest, I do think I would miss the AWD dynamics of Xdrive with my M240i.

A Z4 with Xdrive would be a much stronger consideration, at least for me.

Bob

The beauty of the Z4 is the lower weight. X drive would add about 200 lbs and make it less fun. The only advantage to x drive is in rain and snow, but who drives a roadster in the those conditions?

Are there any AWD roadsters in the market? I’m aware of AWD convertibles like the Audi S5 or 911, but the F type is EOL and so is the R8 and TT.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

The beauty of the Z4 is the lower weight. X drive would add about 200 lbs and make it less fun. The only advantage to x drive is in rain and snow, but who drives a roadster in the those conditions?

Are there any AWD roadsters in the market? I’m aware of AWD convertibles like the Audi S5 or 911, but the F type is EOL and so is the R8 and TT.

If it isn’t broke don’t fix it. The major issue with the G29 was the lack of a MT which has now been corrected.