1969 Audi 100 Coupe
Country:
United States
Region:
Alaska
City:
1969 Audi 100 Coupe At the time, the car received a warmish review, but given that the wild proportions of the old Clown Shoe had been replaced by something more Munich corporate, it wasn’t a car that instantly resonated with fans of the Bavarian marque.
The basic formula was shot through with promise. Put the best engine that BMW had into the stiffest chassis, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed Getrag manual and a limited-slip diff. Hydraulic steering, a basic switchable stability control system and a proper handbrake mean the E86 Z4 M Coupe sits in that zone that many drivers today go a bit gooey-eyed over. It has the elements you need to have fun without overegging the pudding.
The brakes (from the E46 M3 CSL) are a little undercooked by today’s standards and the ride is distinctly firm, with spring and damper rates beefed up compared to its open-topped sibling. No twin-clutch transmission option was ever offered, largely because of physical packaging issues within the real estate available to the gearbox casing.
Neglected for some time by enthusiasts, values of the Z4 M Coupe have been marching steadily skywards of late, with the best cars nearing near six figures. The early drive-by-wire throttle system can, somewhat strangely fall out of tune. Resetting it can improve throttle response and it’s straightforward to do. Just CTRL-ALT-DEL: turn the ignition on and wait for 10 seconds, then turn it off for 10 seconds, then turn it on again for 10, and start the engine. Reboot complete. There are other odd anomalies. Whereas every other Z4 uses an E46-style front strut, the Z4M uses the older E36 style units. Why? Because the inherent design is a good deal stiffer.
The basic formula was shot through with promise. Put the best engine that BMW had into the stiffest chassis, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed Getrag manual and a limited-slip diff. Hydraulic steering, a basic switchable stability control system and a proper handbrake mean the E86 Z4 M Coupe sits in that zone that many drivers today go a bit gooey-eyed over. It has the elements you need to have fun without overegging the pudding.
The brakes (from the E46 M3 CSL) are a little undercooked by today’s standards and the ride is distinctly firm, with spring and damper rates beefed up compared to its open-topped sibling. No twin-clutch transmission option was ever offered, largely because of physical packaging issues within the real estate available to the gearbox casing.
Neglected for some time by enthusiasts, values of the Z4 M Coupe have been marching steadily skywards of late, with the best cars nearing near six figures. The early drive-by-wire throttle system can, somewhat strangely fall out of tune. Resetting it can improve throttle response and it’s straightforward to do. Just CTRL-ALT-DEL: turn the ignition on and wait for 10 seconds, then turn it off for 10 seconds, then turn it on again for 10, and start the engine. Reboot complete. There are other odd anomalies. Whereas every other Z4 uses an E46-style front strut, the Z4M uses the older E36 style units. Why? Because the inherent design is a good deal stiffer.