Alpina Roadster S Vs BMW Z4M Roadster
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- Опубликовано: 29 июл 2024
- Well, here we go AT LAST! We think a RUclips EXCLUSIVE SHOOT-OUT.
The Rare and gloriously different Alpina Roadster S in comparison to the uber exciting Z4M Roadster.
In this video we take a look at the differences between them, and see how they compare on the road.
For the more technically minded, here are the stats etc of each car:
At the date this video went live, you could buy either one of these cars for £15-20K (for one with great history and relatively low miles.
Alpina Roadster S
The Roadster S was based on the Z4 3.0i and was available in two trims, standard and Lux. The Lux model had Bluetooth phone connectivity, DVD satellite navigation and Xenon headlamps. The optional Sport pack added a thicker anti-rollbar and increased the front negative camber by 1 degree.
The engine is a handbuilt 3.4-litre E5/2 inline-6 unit, also shared with the B3 S (E46). The engine is an enlarged version of the S52B32 engine first installed in the North American M3 (E36).The engine generated a maximum power output of 300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp) at 6,300 rpm and 360 N⋅m (266 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm. The engine has a red-line of 7,300 rpm.[4] Modifications to the engine include an Alpina specific cylinder head, crankshaft and high strength MAHLE pistons. The exhaust system is a stainless steel unit from Eisenmann with dual polished exhaust tips.
he Roadster S has a close ratio 6-speed ZF manual transmission.
The interior was available in three colour combinations, those being black leather with blue and green stitching on the dashboard and steering wheel (or alternatively red stitching), red leather with red stitching on the dashboard and steering wheel and beige with maroon piping and maroon stitching on the dashboard and steering wheel. Noticeable changes to the interior include an Alpina blue instrument cluster, Alpina logos and badges, Alpina door sills, an overhead plaque signifying the production number of the car and heated sports seats. The creature comforts offered by BMW as an option were included as standard on the interior. The company made over 2,000 modifications to the redesigned interior in total.
The exterior changes include a front chin spoiler with Alpina lettering, a three piece rear lip spoiler, 18-inch Alpina Dynamic alloy wheels (4 set of spokes in a 5 spoke design; 19-inch wheels in the Luxury trim) wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tyres measuring 235/35 R19 on the front and 265/30 R19 on the rear and "Roadster S" badging at the rear and "3.4 S" badging on the front quarter-panels. The car was available in Alpina Blue (available at a premium), Sterling Grey, Japan Red (the launch colour of the car), Black Sapphire, Titanium Silver, Royal Red and Maldives Blue exterior colours. The Roadster S was also available with an optional hard top.
The suspension system consisted of Alpina specific dampers and Eibach springs with no other major changes.
BMW Z4M Roadster:
Launched in late 2006.
Weighing 1,450 kg (3,197 lb) the M Roadster has a 0-60 mph of 4.7 seconds. Top speed is limited 155 mph). The external dimensions of the Z4 M Roadster were the same as the standard Z4.
Engine
The M Coupe and M Roadster are powered by the BMW S54 straight-six engine from the E46 M3. The engine had fly-by-wire throttle and dual VANOS (variable valve timing). In most countries, the engine produces 252 kW (338 bhp) at 7,900 rpm and 365 N⋅m (269 lb⋅ft) at 4,900 rpm- the same outputs as in the M3. The engine has a redline of 8,000 rpm. Cars sold in North America have 250 kW (330 bhp) at 7,900 rpm and 355 N⋅m (262 lb⋅ft) at 4,900 rpm.
Drivetrain
The engine was mated to a new 6-speed "Type H" ZF manual transmission since the M3's original 6-speed transmission did not fit the Z4's chassis.
It uses the same limited slip diff as the E46 M3.
Chassis
The suspension system consisted of a strut design at the front and a multi-link design at the rear. The springs have higher spring rates and the dampers have a more aggressive setting as compared to the Z4 M roadster.
The Z4 M uses hydraulic power steering, unlike the electric power steering used by the rest of the Z4 range and has thick rimmed steering wheel. Other changes include a wider front track, revised front suspension and steering geometry.
Many components were shared with the E46 M3, including the rear subframe, front suspension control arms and the Continental ContiSport Contact tyres.
Brakes
The braking system shares many parts in common with the E46 M3. The brake calipers are from the M3 Competition model and the brake discs (consisting of aluminum hubs, stainless steel pins, cross drilled iron floating rotors) are from the E46 M3 CSL.
Production
Production began on 4 April 2006 and ended in 2008 when the E85/E86 Z4 was replaced by the E89 Z4. A total of 4,275 M Coupes were produced, and 5,070 M Roadsters. This included 1,815 M Coupes for North America and 3,042 M Roadsters for North America. 
Авто/Мото
You think Z4M doesn't pull that well, but you're using only 70% of the rev range. That car gives it most after 6k RPM.
I was going to say, you need to rev it, that's where the fun is!
Fantastic video chaps. Interesting to compare these two directly. After driving both of these stunning examples, I couldn’t settle with just one. Z4M for driving in anger; and the Alpina for more or less everything else. Space for both in my garage...
Cheers Joel... and hope you didn't mind your cameo appearance as the 'Z4 fanatic'..🤓👍
"Driving in anger?? Are you Mad max or what"
The Alpina's nice...but an 'M' is an 'M' and that's that...
Both great cars! I have for years a E85 Z4 3.0 from 2003 now 95000km, completely original and 18 inch style 107. Its such a joy to drive and that design!! so beautiful.
I own BOTH and have done for the nearly 7 years.
And, I’m sorry to say, that in my humble opinion (and with 7 years ownership and driving experience of the two), I don’t agree with your driving conclusions:
1) Contrary to other Alpinas that I have owned, or have a experience of, the Roadster S does not ride over normal public roads better than the Z4M.
This is undoubtedly due to the 19” wheels that Alpina put these cars on. That extra loss of tyre wall compliance can make the car feel skittish at times, on normal UK roads, especially if one isn’t used to the car and confident enough to ignore this to a degree.
In this respect, the Z4M despite its different suspension, is much more compliant and actually the more comfortable but also the more confidence inspiring to drive fast.
2) Although side-by-side comparisons in on road performance by two skilled drivers couldn’t really separate them, the Z4M (IMHO) instantly ‘feels’ the faster car…..and it’s not just that the extra 40 bhp is at higher revs. That modified S52 engine in the Alpina also has to be asked to do quite a bit of work to deliver its 300 bhp and it just doesn’t have that intoxicating delivery and sound of the S54.
The differences between the two cars are, of course, not huge at all.
However, far too many people who aren’t necessarily personally familiar with the models, make assumptions or have preconceived ideas, particularly about the way the ‘expect’ the Alpina to be compared with an M-Car and which is this case I don’t think are necessarily true.
To my eye, the Alpina is possibly the better looking car…..the Z4M is possibly the better driving car. But, then ask me on another day…..🤣
Great video! 👍🏽👍🏽🙂
Awesome and nice to see the 2 Zeds together..great video lads
I’m a mk1 z4 owner , even though my car is a 3.0 l and the same colour as the alpina i just can’t help stopping myself falling in love with that car .
Don't blame you. It truly is a stunning thing. Have you ever seen one on the road?
The Dream Car Show never but a guy 10 miles away in Norfolk owns an alpine z8 an absolute beauty even though it’s my dream car I would still prefer the z4 spline 👍
@@chewbaka6394 oooh z8.. glorious!
The Dream Car Show never
I test drove both and bought the Alpina because it drives much better, the gearbox is miles better, particularly in first and second and the interior and thin rimmed steering wheel are gorgeous!
I have a 06 regular BMW Z4. A guy at a service station asked me if it has a turbo. My answer was it didn't need one! Lol
1st
Now I watched the video, I got to agree with Steve opinion about the cars. I think because the S54 needs to be revved out right to the 8000+ RPM redline to get it seriously moving. The S54 as is in my Z4M, is let down badly by it's pretty low torque output of around the 240's mark. The grunt of the Alpina is really noticeable . When Mark took me out in his Alpina after the filming had finished, you can tell the Alpina really is setup with real world driving in mine, where my Z4M is much more focused towards a track usage.
The Z4M to me, feels heavily dominated by the S54 and it's steering. When you put the Z4M's sport mode on, the sharpened throttle response, really makes the car change it's personality. With it in normal mode, I find my Z4M is a really good motorway cruiser. It was about a 210 mile round journey for me that day and I was stuck in really heavy traffic for most of the way back, yet I wasn't punishing at all. The clutch is actually pretty light and the gearing allowed me to hit over 30-MPG and I didn't have any loud droning from the back boxes.
As the days filming was moving along, I mentioned to Mark and Steve, that the strengths with one car, usually was a weakness with the other. Both the guys will tell you, that all day long I was just admiring the Alpina so much. I have previously owned an E30 Alpina and typically I would choose Alpina over M. The big reasons I went for the Z4M was the hydraulic steering, an LSD and the S54. If I was able to, I would actually own both cars, as they really do compliment each other so well.
Very well said Dan. Personally, I think my perfect garage would be the Alpina Roadster S and an E46 M3 coupe for the practicality! 🤓👍
@@FreeCarHunter I think I would have a Alpina Roadster and then the Z4M Coupe, which was what I wanted to get, but there were no Coupe's within my £16,000 budget last November. I love the C pillar and sloping rear end on the Coupe. I think the Alpina's styling suits the Roadster shape really well.
But after seeing and then feeling how your Alpina wheels were, I really want to get a set for my Z4MR now.
why are you not revving the M out? missing the point.
Great clip. The Z4M for adrenaline rush, and the Alpina for smooth seamless performance and ride. Exactly how I compare my Z4 M Coupe and my 996.2 911 C2 manual. I'm lucky to have both in my garage, alongside my 20V ur quattro and JDM DC2 Type R.
An awesome garage you have there! I've recently added an E46 M3 to mine!
@@FreeCarHunter I had an E46 M3 on my dream list, but then discovered the Z4M Coupe. The rarity, the styling (and I was NEVER a fan of Bangle's styling - weird I know!), and the same engine plus CSL brakes and steering rack, and edgy nature swung me to it. E46 M3 is a much more civilised beast, but the raw hard character of the Z4M has a unique appeal - despite its obvious flaws. But then many great cars have been flawed....
I suspect you haven’t actually driven the Alpjna then? But, perhaps gone with what your intuition has told you.
I own BOTH the Z4M Roadster and the Alpina Roadster S…..and have done for nearly 7 years!
The Alpina does NOT ride better than the Z4M. The Alpina’s ride is compromised, on normal road surfaces, by virtue of its 19” wheels and hence lower aspect ratio tyres. The Z4M, in my experience, rides better and is actually more confidence inspiring to drive fast on normal roads because it feels LESS skittish and nervous.
In objective, side-by-side comparisons, skilled drivers found it very difficult to separate them racing against each other. However, in my mind there is no doubt which car immediately ‘feels’ the faster……and that’s the Z4M. And, again contrary to what instinct may lead us to assume that extra power does NOT feel like it’s all at the upper rev range. That extra 40 bhp feels like it’s there all the time.
You have to ‘work’ the Alpina to get the performance out of it.
Mmm yeah you did not rev the Z4M so you never felt the power of it.
But sure he said that :) Come to Germany and try it on unrestricted roads.. it is not funny, and not safe :D The Z4 M exhaust sounds nothing like the E46 M3 however, no idea why "the Shteve" says something like that. I know because.. I have both.
@@wolfguy2008 Depends if you drive safe on autobahn or not! Been on Autobahn a lot, sure it’s not as stable as my Fiat Coupe in 260km/h, but a front spoiler on the Z4M Coupe made a huge difference in front end stability over 240. Seems it has a lot of front lift as std.
@@pereldh5741 What is driving safe on the autobahn? You put your foot to the metal and DRIVE :D I recognise the lift factor you are referring to however, it feels like the car is "in the air" to be honest.. scary. The M3 doesn't do that
@@wolfguy2008 No I think it’s the large bonnet of the E85/86, adds lift. But as I wrote you can actually fix that with a front spoiler. I’m super happy doing 270 now!
@@pereldh5741 Front spoiler, like ACS spilitters?
I still LOVE my Z4!!!!!! I’ve never driven an Alpina, so I can’t say much about it but it’s equally as beautiful! 🥰😍🤷🏽♀️👍🏽
2 very nice cars....
The Alpina engine doesn't look derived from the E36 M3. No ITB's, no dual vanos, both trademarks. Not trying to belittle the engine, that is great and prolly more robust, but please keep to the facts. That's more likely derived from the M52 engine found in the non M cars.
It's derived from the US market E36 M3 engine.
Either lovely jubilee
One very important thing. If you look at the specs for these cars the Z4M weighs in a a very porky 1485kgs, whereas the Alpina is a very nimble 1320kgs, that is a difference of 165kgs or 2 of me! If Porsche stripped out this much weight and installed an enlarged and hand built engine in a Boxtster the world would be raving about it and the they would be selling at least double list price.
That is a most excellent observation. Many thanks for pointing it out... and so true about Porsche!!
The 1485KG stat for the Z4M includes a driver of 75KG. Not sure about the Alpina - probably doesn't
Let me drive the z4mcoupe for u then u speak