The 35IS seems like a great buy on paper near enough 1m engine which is the best sounding turbo BMW IMO with the DCT from the E92 (although not quite as aggressive) great recipe, then you realise its like 1550kg and the eyebrows raise.
Depends what you want it for. I used to have an M coupe when I in my early 20s and every night after work would drive it up and round Lake Ulswater and over Kirkston Pass or bomb up Hartside pass and for that it was a fantastic car. Which was what I bought it for to have some fun and these roads were 2-3 miles from my home. I also had a Mini cooper S that would do the more laborious runs which i also loved for different reasons.
Family Cars, Mini Cooper S, BMW Z4M, Porsche 911 Cs by Tom Scott, on Flickr
BMW Z4M Coupe, Ulswater Boat house, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on FlickrDuke of Portland Boathouse on Ullswater.
Was a bit of a nutter really used to do it all times of the year, heres the struggle over Kirkston. The road was closed and was about -5
BMW Z4Mc Kirkston Pass by Tom Scott, on Flickryou can see the ice in this one
BMW Z4Mc Kirkston Pass by Tom Scott, on FlickrNot much further on, Honister Pass
IMG_4751-Edit by Tom Scott, on FlickrTBH if I still lived there I would definitely buying another one.
Now im a bit older and have moved to Manchester these type of roads are a bit too far away to have a bit of a fun hoon after work, except maybe the Yorkshire moors. I also now have SWIMBO to think of and do a lot of motorway miles and do the odd road trip and usually a eurotrip every 2 years. I want her to get into the scene with me and I dont think the getrag M gearbox is a particularly good starting point and enough to put a lot of people off. Have to think of my own health too... I think my heart would be pounding every time she change gear
I have to be honest I was in the strongly dislike camp of the e89 when I had the M, apart from its looks. To me it seemed like a 3 series with two seats, similar weight, similar engine choices, pretty numb for the driver, no room with the roof down making it a poor tourer etc etc and thought why would you buy these over a 3?
Well as times change opinions change, the E89 is a far nicer place to be. So so much more refined than the E85/6 one of my main complaints about the previous car is the poor construction and materials of the interior, creaking and rattling all the time and wasn't really overly luxurious which made the car tiring to drive over long distances.
I also have to be honest with myself in my head a gt4 would be perfect but in reality 95% of my driving time is spent on normal roads, motorways, in the city, A roads and probably 5% where a sports car belongs. So a hardcore road car just isnt practical and a smooth quick GT is a great compromise. It will do the job of the 5% ok maybe not as well but it is at least 50% better at a road car than the M is although I really do love them. Mine was super crashy, you can feel everything through the steering wheel and you bum which is exactly what you want 5% of the time but get boring super quick the rest of the time.
The gear box opinion is an interesting one. From driving both the DCT just seems perfect for these turbo cars. The manual is perfectly fine too but it doesn't feel to me like a particularly great instrument its not really that engaging or enjoyable its just a manual it does the job but isnt something I would call a fantastic must have gearbox, on the other hand you can feel in complete control all the time. The DCT on the other hand is probably one of the best BMW has ever made and although a manual would be my preferred the DCT is just too good to miss on these cars I think.
Everyone has their different wants and needs and as time and situations change opinions and needs change. Just a shame the E89 was stuck in this particular pigeon hole. If they made an M we would be having a completely different conversation.
Man the e89 with the V8 DCT would have been a very unique and appealing car indeed. On the other hand the N54 has a much better power curve and would be toe to toe with an E92.
Probably why they didnt make it.
- those thoughts are exactly what I would be hoping for.
