Give this 550-hp V10 Hartge BMW Z4 a home
Click above for image gallery of Hartge's V10-powered BMW Z4
Here at Autoblog, we cherish the simple things in life. Like a cold beer on a hot afternoon, spending the holidays with family or stuffing an oversized engine into a little sportscar. It's a time-honored tradition, and this example is no less worthy than any that has come before.
Evidently unsatisfied with the S54B32 inline-six powering the top-of-the-line Z4 M, one European enthusiast dropped in the 5.0-liter V10 from the M5 and M6 into his little Z4. But even the stock 507 horses from the high-revving ten wasn't enough for this Bimmerphile, so he went with Hartge's 550-hp version, complemented by the tuner's own 20-inch rims, but, worryingly, no sign of upgraded brakes to go with the 200+ extra horsepower. The converted roadster cost €170k new, but is now on the market for under €98k (tax in), or about $138,000 in American greenbacks. A hefty sum for sure, but can you really put a price on 0-60 in under 4?
Gallery: Hartge V10 BMW Z4
[Source: Autogespot via CarScoop]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Auari 12:42PM (12/30/2008)
I think a 370z with a GT-R engine would be cooler.
Reply
Sandeep 12:52PM (12/30/2008)
That'd be awesome, right up until we see the Z's transmission fall out and tires explode. That'd be YouTube gold material.
Mobius_1 12:43PM (12/30/2008)
What the Z4M would have been had BMW been American :)
Reply
John Johnson 12:58PM (12/30/2008)
Those wheels made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Reply
Stumpy 2:26PM (12/30/2008)
I'll hold your hair back if you hold mine. Those wheels are horrible.
Jp 12:59PM (12/30/2008)
Can you really put a price on reliability? Uh...yes!
Reply
Jonathan 1:03PM (12/30/2008)
This BMW definitely lives up to the "Ultimate Driving Machine" moniker. Its a shame that the BMW sportscar is a dying breed.
BMW SUV'S: X1, X3, X5, X6
BMW Sports Cars: Z4 *silence*
Reply
Eddie 1:43PM (12/30/2008)
What about the M3, M6, 135, 335i coupe? Those are all sports cars.
Bryant 1:53PM (12/30/2008)
Perhaps he meant roadsters?
Jonathan 2:12PM (12/30/2008)
Fair point. All of those cars are definitely sporting cars, but I don't consider them sports cars in the traditional sense. To me a sports car seats 2, and they are all about driving. BMW Z4 vs BMW 3, Z4 is more sporting. Audi TT vs A5, TT is more sporting. Thats not to say a 335 can't tear up the track, though.
Eddie 2:13PM (12/30/2008)
So under that logic, the Porsche 911 Turbo and Nissan GT-R aren't sports cars either?
Jonathan 2:33PM (12/30/2008)
Actually Eddie, you've just mentioned a different breed of sports car, the 2+2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_plus_2
On paper 2+2's seat four (obviously), but many 2+2's have rear seats only big enough for young children. Anyhow, yes, the GT-R is a sports car. M3/A5 vehicles are grand tourers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_tourer
BoxerFanatic 4:52PM (12/30/2008)
Jonathan,
I am absolutely right there with you. Sports car = two seats, and fairly singular driving focus And there is no dishonor in NOT being called a sports car. It is a matter of classification. There are sport coupes, sport sedans, Grand Touring cars, and muscle cars (sport coupes with big engines, and less emphasis on handling) all can be faster than sports cars, on street or track.
But a sports car has a singular design purpose, from it's drawing board inception, and the way it is designed, to be rewarding to the driver without excess.
The M3 is a sport coupe, as is Mustang, Camaro, and many other 2+2 coupes with a sporting intent. A slight practical compromise separate it from a true sports car.
GT-R is heavy, and big, albeit fast, and is also a sport coupe, as is G37. 370Z is a sports car, shorter, lighter. Unfortunately uglier, although GT-R isn't a looker either.
The 911 always comes up, as the fence-sitter. Carreras and Turbos tend toward grand touring sport coupes, and GT3 and GT2, in an ironic name twist, are sports cars, with less weight, more focus, and only two seats. 986/987 is a sports car.
matt byrne 11:34AM (1/01/2009)
Would rather have used the last M5's V8 as the M6 V10 sounded rubbish from inside and V10s I've heard from the outside (Audi S6, Lambo Gallardo) just don't sound special enough; loud, yes, but not gruff like and 8 or sonorous like a 12.
Reply
Adam 1:33PM (12/30/2008)
Those wheels look so cheap. A set of HREs would go perfectly with that car.
Reply
Alvin 2:21PM (12/30/2008)
Yeah, Hartge doesn't exactly have the best wheel designs ever. I say some clean BBS or as you said, HREs would look great on that.
sjd 1:28PM (12/30/2008)
BMW does build too many SUVs.
Reply
TigerMil 2:37PM (12/30/2008)
One Word: Dinan
I'd rather have a Dinan S3 modified Z4. Almost 500 hp with much less effort and weight. Better brakes, suspension, and wheels/tires.
Reply
TBlueMax 2:54PM (12/30/2008)
I was surprised, no... shocked, at how clean the engine installation looks. If you ignore the wheels, this car looks like it just rolled off the factory floor.
Reply
Kaveh 3:02PM (12/30/2008)
That would make a fun sleeper, I would buy it, then have a half rollcage put in the cabin.
Reply