z33

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum.

I'm thinking of getting either a Z4 or an SLK. I'm undecided, I like the Z4 more but my better half prefers the SLK.

Also, I'm thinking if I head down the SLK route, I'm undecided between a used 280 and a used 350. Obviously, the 350 is a lot more powerful but cars are very expensive here in Singapore, 3-4x the price of the US, so I like to keep within budget. (for eg, the used 280 I'm looking at now cost USD 115k)
How different are the 2 cars? I'm into modding but I won't track the car.

Finally, I'm concerned if I get a used SLK now, its resale value will be whacked hard as the new facelift is due out sometime this year. I don't plan to buy a brand new SLK.

Would appreciate all your thoughts and feedback.

Cheers,
Z33

Zut

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Welcome to this nice forum!

I am no expert on the Z4 (although I came close to buying one). I don't know about your part of the world but where I live (Montréal) Z4s are extremely common and SLKs are quite rare. You will find some interesting comments in this thread:

http://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-gen...slk-vs-z4.html

z33

Hi Zut,

Thanks for the link! Very helpful. Basically the 280 holds its own against the Z4 3L, performance wise.

Hope to get more feedback.

Cheers,
Z

Zut

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I am sure you will soon. Sometimes, the forum is a little less active during the weekend for most members are out enjoying their SLK!

diclehana

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Well I have never driven a Z4. BMW guys, all Fİfth Gear presenters and many people I know say that BMW makes fantastic cars. We had 2 or 3 BMW cars before. I can not say much about for BMW performance because our cars were not top of their class but I can honestly tell you that if you buy a BMW; 1 series, 3 series, 5 series, X5, Z4, M3, M6... whatever you buy you will be shocked by quality. In fact you can not talk about qulity when you mention the name BMW. I am not talking as a Merc fan. Prices between BMW and Mercedes are very close but when you buy BMW you will always regret it.

A second hand 2007 Z4 coupe's price is close to my 2005 SLK 200 Komp. So I went to a dealer to check BMW out. The interior is made of the cheapest plastic you can think about. X5 is the same too. Seats are terrible, leather is terrible, everything inside the car is distracting and my girlfriend who knows very little about cars felt like me too. She said "what will you do with 276 hp we have the nicest car in the city!I can not let you sell your car and buy this sh.t!" We liked Mini Cooper S more than anything we saw that day. Even Mini seemed better than Z4. I don't know how the new Z4 will be like, just saw 4 or 5 photos but I am sure it won't be better than other BMW's. For daily use only Porsche is better than MB. MB does not make the best handling cars but I think everyone here will agree that MB produces best overall cars.

bonn

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I would buy the slk just for it's retractable hardtop in a blink of an eye. The boxster is however another car that i would think about.

alroumi

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I'd get a Mb, its a much easier car to use interms of audio,electronics and navigation system where as the bmw is slightly more complicated.

i was going to get a z4 but I am glad I went for the Slk, even with similar sizing the interior of the slk feels more spacious and welcoming.

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MarkR171

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I can give you a very good comparison as I own an SLK, and my brother has a Z4 M Coupe (and I've driven a Z4 3.0si).

Ride Comfort:
The Z4 suspension is too stiff in my opinion. The SLK is much more comfortable, even after upgrading to 18" wheels and lowering it on eibach springs. Of course, as long as the roads are good, you won't notice this. As far as seats go, my brother and I both get annoyed by the seatbelts in the Z4, they're always rubbing against our necks and they aren't adjustable. Other than that though, both the Z4 and SLK have great seats and a well laid out interior. You just can't beat the SLK's hard top roof when it's raining or when you don't feel like having the top down though.

Powertrain:
The BMWs obviously are much easier to find with manual transmissions, so if you want a manual, that will probably be a big factor. As for the autos though, the BMW with sport package will feel more sporty as it stays in lower gears longer than the SLK's 7spd, but I think it's only good to use the Z4's sport mode when on a track as it stays in 1st gear TOO long for the city, and on a track, the SLK's 7speed does a fine job once it gets used to your driving. As for performance, the SLK280 will be a little quicker than the Z4 2.5s, and probably the same as the 3.0i's, but slower than the 3.0si. The 350 will be quicker than all 3.

That being said, I almost bought a white Z4 3.0si coupe before I test drove my SLK. No regrets with my decision so far. My brother and I have owned our cars for about 6 months, I've done 11,000 miles in the SLK, my brother has done 4,000 miles in the Z4. That should say something about how much I like my SLK compared to how he likes his Z4

alroumi

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Thats a great comparison mark, thank you!

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Ikarus

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Get the SLK and make sure you get one with the airscarf! This option increases the open-roof time substantially and makes the convertible roof feature that much more valuable.

I have a 280 and it has more than enough power for regular road traffic. To me, the power increase shaving half a second off the 0-60 time wasn't worth the price difference to the 350, but that's just me.

Baron7700

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youll spend tens of thousands of dollars just trying to get equal to the performance of the 350, if you get the 280. And you still wont have the same.

So if its in the budget, the 350 is the way to go, no regrets.

Ikarus

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I agree. If you think you might ever miss those 40hp, you should definitely get the 350. However, if you're like me and don't think you will, the 280 will do just fine for a few thousand less that you can use towards mods and other toys.

ellimb

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Hi Z33
It boils down to whether you are comfortable to use a convertible in S'pore where the temp. is so humid. So if you don;t use top down driving forget the slk. It may be ok to drive top down at night in S'pore.
Cheers.

z33

Guys,

What can I say? Many thanks to all of you. Really an excellent forum with such constructive and useful feedback. I'll try to respond with the format above

Interior

I have to admit that having sat in both the SLK and the Z4, the SLK's interior wins handsdown. There's a sense of quality in the SLK which is clearly lacking in the Z4. In fact, the Z4 interior is downright dull but to be fair, I was told all beemers are like that.

Handling & feel
I didn't get a chance to test drive the SLK yet. The Z4 is well-known for his handling but I didn't drive it for too long to ascertain how much better (if at all) compared to the SLK. Can someone tell me if the steering of the SLK is too 'light'? I really hate that. Someone who has driven the new Audi TT will know what I mean...a real shame and letdown for such a beautiful car.

Power
Yup, agreed the 280 is more powerful than the 2.5L and is comparable to the 3.0L. I would love to get the 350 but I just missed a round of used models that came on to the mkt and although the car pricing differential is not much, the running cost of the 350 will be clearly higher. Unfortunately, car maintenance in Singapore is also ridiculously high, making me a little nervous to commit to a 350. I have to admit though if I could convince myself to stretch my budget, I would get the 350. (I used to drive a fairlady 350z...)

I guess Ikarus point is true, I just have to tell myself 0.5 secs isn't that much haha

Elimb, you know our weather! I would only take the top down in the evenings when we get the sea breeze or at night. I'm comfortable with a cabriolet and the metal folding top of the SLK never ceases to amaze me.

In a nutshell, I'm really warming up to the SLK. My better half is convinced the SLK is a much better car and prefers it. She finds the Z4 very odd in shape.

Sigh! Tricky decision...will keep you guys posted once I finalised my decision. If anyone else have comments, kindly post em!

Cheers,
Z33

N4PWJ

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honestly... my good friend has a 2 lire Z4 and i have an slk 280.
it is night and day over which car is better. the slk wins hands down in my eyes and his in certain respects.
albeit the engines are not a fair comparison..3litre V6 vs 2litre ... but on everything else the slk is a step beyond.
interior space much better, with visibility being much better with the small rear windows. front window demister much better, heated seats better, leather better, seats hold you better, more storage space, better looking cabin, better lit cabin, clearer instruments.
exterior more modern, hard top safer, less slk's on the road, better halogen lights.
modding potential is excellent on the slk.
only thing Z4 has is handling is slightly better due to 50/50 weight distribution and steering has more feel.
my recommendation is definately the SLK without a shadow of a doubt. (also MB is a much more prestige name than BMW i think)

MarkR171

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As for SLK steering being light, I don't think it is. My car handles great simply lowered with eibach springs and toyo t1-r tires 225 front, 245 rear. My brother and I went on a drive with about 30 other cars yesterday (mb, bmw, porsche) and a Cayman S followed by his Z4M Coupe couldn't shake me in a very twisty mountain road (3rd gear all the way through). I actually had a few second late start because of an oncoming car on the street we had to cross. I'll be honest though, the Cayman S had a female behind the wheel

About the Z4's styling, one guy at yesterdays meet said it best. "It's one of those things that you either love or hate. It's just so ugly but you can't explain why you can't stop staring at it. The designer definitely did his job right."

alroumi

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The SLK can be light weight with some changes , I roughly lost about 40 kg with the removal of the resonator, oem primary cats, spare tyre in place of 200 cell cats and x pipe.

__________________
06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG
06 Porsche Cayenne S
07 Jaguar XKR Coupe'

I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!