Z4 35i S

[Raesy]

Good evening all,

I am now the proud owner of a 2011 Z4 35i S having traded in my 2013 M135i. I have always been a member of car forums and recently joined this forum to seek inspiration and advice from fellow owners.

Here is a brief description of the Zed:

2011 Z4 S-Drive 35i S
Metallic deep sea blue
15k mikes
Extended black Kansas leather
19" V Spoke 296 wheels
Professional navigation
Professional sound system
Comfort package
Light package
Smokers package

+ all the obvious standard features such as electric seats, adaptive suspension etc..

Before I get the obligatory "This post is worthless without pics" I will post them once I have given her a good detail in the week.

I have already ordered the stumpy aerial and LUX H8 LED's and will be ordering the LCI side indicators next.

I'd be interested to know what other cosmetic modifications you'd suggest?

Am I mad for trading in the M135i?

What things can I look forward to with the Zed 35i S?

Speak to you all soon.

Cheers, Raesy!

[john-e89]

Hi there Reasy, a good choice of motor, it'll be interesting to hear your thoughts on it after an M135i. Just IMO you won't need any more power, the chassis struggles with it in stock form, but it's a lot of fun, and in sport it handles much better than comfort, DCT box is brilliant if you like auto or paddles, seamless shifts with great theatrical pops and bangs on throttle lift off. The roof is excellent and gives the best of both worlds. Yes the car feels fairly heavy and is more a GT car but it can certainly turn into a very capable rapid one at that. Niggles? Well not much tbh, some members report creaky interiors, the 296's are crack prone but less crack than not, the run flats are better suited to the E89 chassis as well and are acceptable, a switch to non run flats is recommended though. Fuel consumption is pretty high but you knew that anyway, other than that and the usual odd niggle that can crop up with any car they're pretty solid cars. No good if you want a niche Elise type car but if you did want that you would'nt have bought this right?

All in all they are all things to all men, top up or down comfy powerful cruiser or stiff bloody rapid semi sports car. What's not to like?

Post your thoughts once you've had it a week or so and I hope you enjoy it.

[Raesy]

Hi John-e89,

Thanks for your comments, I shall keep you posted on how I find the Zed compared to the Baby M in the coming week or so. I am hoping it won't be a decision I live to regret because the Baby M is an incredible motor, especially with the ZF 8 Speed Auto box.

Strongly and by pure coincidence I purchased my first ever Z4 and convertible exactly six years ago, a little 2.5 Sport in Maldives Blue, loved it and regretted selling it. Can't wait to get back into a two seater roadster.

I have only driven the new 20i and 28i, never driven the 35i or 35i S so I have no idea what to expect. Nor have I used a DCT gearbox before, just the ZF from my M135i. I can't see them being too dissimilar, apart from the paddles I hear aren't so clever on the pre facelift?

I have read a number of comments about the chassis struggling with the standard power, has anyone on here got any experience with a map or tuning box etc on a 35i S?

I have heard that the 35i S sounds incredible and can be quite loud with it's pops and bangs, is this really true? The M135i was subtle until I added the M-Performance exhaust when it finally came alive.

It's good to hear you haven't got any real niggles, I hope I find this too.

Raesy.

[john-e89]

You'll find the DCT fantastic, it's so quick and seamless, no hesitation at all when pulling the paddle, just sharp fast changes that bang in when you press on, I think you'll be surprised at how fast it changes.Tbh I hate the pre-facelift paddles with their push thumb downshift, but I believe it's fairly easy to change them to the later left downshift and right up shift paddles.

The exhaust is'nt too loud, it's fine, a nice deep burble when pottering and bangs on up shifts, then the highly entertaining cracks etc on downshifts, you don't have to be at high revs either, it pops on 2k revs, but make sure you try the gun shot crack at 4250k revs, it'll make you laugh I promise.

A few guys have altered their suspension on here with very good results, theres a good handling car in there it just needs finding. If you have a scroll back on this section you'll find the threads, some interesting changes to be done.

[Angie4m]

The 7 speed box is so smooth you don't feel it change at all. The exhaust on the 35is is 10db louder over the 35i and put it into sport mode and manual, use the paddles or the shifter and the noise is just amazing. It's amazing if you put he foot down in standard guise but if your out and about and want a good level of noise manual is the way to go.

Re the paddles, hmmmm the pre facelift did push to go down the gear and pull to go up on either side the facelift is left to go down and right to go up. Not sure what's better to be honest. But if your using the paddles pre facelift and not going too quick it means you can go up and down the gears one handed, whereas you will need both hands on the wheel for facelift paddles.

Not so sure that the M135i was/is a baby M, it wasn't and isn't a M, that's the 1M or the M2. The M at the start is just BMW marketing to make it more appealing and it's worked but the 35is has the same engine as the 1M (N54T) so you've got nearer to a M car than you've been in the M135i especially with the DTC which is the auto boxes also used by M cars.

[Twin Turbo]

Excellent choice.

[*]The 35is is much more quicker than 135M
[*]However the 135M is a very capable car through the twistiest - much better than 35is
[*]Dependent on how hard you drive the adaptive suspension may be adequate - if not there are a few options available. I went for the Kw'3 rote option as I track may car 3-4 times a year.
[*]Since the 35is is based on the N54 route - you could tune or go down the cobb or jb4 route

[Raesy]

Thanks for all of your replies. I expected some criticism for using "Baby M" it's always been a topic of conversation on other forums. Mt stance is it is a Baby M, whereas the 1M and M2, M3 etc are M Cars.

Talk to me about this "Crack" at 4250rpm? Is this on an upshift or down? What kind of "crack" is it?

I shall have to see how I get on with these paddles, they're clearly very different to the post facelift, which are identical to those on the M135i. I'm sure they'll be ok.

As for handling this will be interesting, you're right in saying that the M135i is very capable in the bends, but then I guess they are two completely different cars and i shouldn't be comparing them, although no doubt I will.

Anyone have the pro sound? Whats it like? Better or similar to the HK system?

Also, I have seen mine has the Combox on a vin decoder, which is good, however not having the enhanced bluetooth option will mine have bluetooth for calls stills and music streaming?

Raesy.

[Angie4m]

The 'crack' I would say is not really a 'crack' but slight poppy bang, the kind of noise you get as extra fuel is lit usually when changing down and you can make the car make that noise either by going from hugger revs to lower revs quickly by stepping on the brake or using the paddles to shift down.

Can't comment on the HK system as this isn't an option for the Z4 and wasn't an option in my previous BMs. I've got a HK system in my other car and it's amazingly loud but it has to be and the pro, upgraded package in the Z4 is great........I find that I don't use it all that often cause I'm too busy with the roof off and listening to the noise

If you've not got enhanced Bluetooth I don't think you can stream the music and will need to use a cable. Maybe it does have enhanced Bluetooth?

[techathy]

The M135i is a premium hot-hatch in sheep’s clothing. The Z4 is a straight up baby-GT car & makes no apologies for it. So yes above 7/10ths the M135i handles better, but between 5/10ths and 7/10ths the 35iS is better. What do I mean by this? Well in a corner the goes crest into cambered turn into dip into adverse camber into crest the Z4 will go faster through the corner before steering corrections are needed. However, the M135i can be coaxed round the bend faster than the Z4.

The 4250rpm cracks are in car in sports mode & the box in sports manual. In 2nd to 3rd & 3rd to 4th at fairy big throttle openings up-shift be prepared for gunshot cracks. Some cars, like mine, have a very large window while others report needing to be in the 4250-4500rpm range.

Pro sound is a step down from HK in the F2# range but it’s still good. Main problem is that it lacks power to drive the speakers so as you turn the volume up you end up with less power going into the lower frequencies.

If you have pro-nav and a combo box you’ve got enough to do music streaming but enhanced bluetooth needs to be coded in.

[robertd33]

i have a 2013 35is & i have to say it is a very well designed car. the engine has great power when the turbos open up. gas mileage is certainly NOT good, but that's not why i bought it the DCT is simply amazing (just wish it had on-demand neutral capability). it is a civil, streetable car that you can make sound/run mean when you want.

[Raesy]

The 35iS doesn't have bluetooth, DAB or bluetooth steaming. Seems the original owner neglected this option extra despite spending £54k on the car... It does have a DVD changer, which is useless to me.

Can anyone recommend a company or person who can retrofit this bluetooth and DAB? I want it as from factory so no after market kits like parrot etc...

There was a company recommended to me some time back, Maks BMW Retrofits in Essex but doesn't seem he is doing it anymore.

[Maniac]

Still waiting for photos

[TitanTim]

Not so sure that the M135i was/is a baby M, it wasn't and isn't a M, that's the 1M or the M2. The M at the start is just BMW marketing to make it more appealing and it's worked but the 35is has the same engine as the 1M (N54T) so you've got nearer to a M car than you've been in the M135i especially with the DTC which is the auto boxes also used by M cars.

The M135i is also known as the MLite as the engine/drivetrain is fettled by the M Division GmbH which makes it a halfway house, kinda why I like it as a good allrounder if you don't want the rawness of a full M car. Some info here http://www.m-power.com/_open/s/varlink1 ... 02&lang=en so it does kinda earn its ///M badge on the rear rather than just a marketing ploy.

Original power was 320bhp followed by 326 with the LCI although as many have found out at the dyno standard M135is can give 340/50bhp. The downside of the N55 engine was it was built to a budget in its design which will be addressed with the new B58 engine in the M140i which should see 346bhp and an improved closed deck design. However it will lack the kudos of the N55 in the M135/235i as it won't have received any M Division input.

Tim.

[Raesy]

Still waiting for photos

In good time, very busy with shift work and she needs a detail first

[stuartinzg]

The M135i I had in Germany was a real peach, and I could quite easily vmax on the autobahn. The 8 speed ZF was very nice and civilised. The DCT is much more clunky and would remind you of the SMG II if you've ever had the chance to drive it (except the DCT is much quicker to change gear). But, the DCT being a direct drive unit rather than a torque converter gives you a semi-manual sensation. You really feel a phantom clutch. It's also the same box they put in the M3/M6 and even Ferrari California (pre facelift, although Ferrari had it shifting too fast and it was going bang).

The engine is from the 1M (although we have different software) and there is alot of things you can do with MHD flasher software.

Best mods for me are the suspension (Eibach pro springs), cool carbon pads from the USA, BBS wheels to replace the horrible cracking BMW ones and soon M3 front struts and Eisenmann race exhaust

There are lots more things you can do with the car if you want to tinker, intakes, charge pipes, blow off valves - basically it feels like a big man version of lego and you can have a lot of fun. The only downside is 90% of the mods (except the exhaust and wheels) are imported from the USA where they have a huge N54 tuning industry.

If I didn't keep spending my money on the Z and saving for a Caterham then I would replace my Astra with the M135i - they both do great jobs, but different jobs.

Enjoy