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Beauty & the beast

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
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Kingfisher
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Beauty & the beast

Post by Kingfisher » Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:55 pm

Even in period the one I drove (65 car in early 70s) handled like a pig on roller skates! ... :|
Dec 2014 ... E89 35is sDrive M DCT ... Red ... :driving:

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firebobby
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Beauty & the beast

Post by firebobby » Sun Apr 09, 2017 6:34 pm

I managed a drive today, just a shake down after the winter layup and came across a big Healey parked in a village called Skirmett. Didn't have my camera though :roll:
BMW Z4 30i 2003 auto 107's Whippy Toledo Blue
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981

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ronk
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Beauty & the beast

Post by ronk » Sun Apr 09, 2017 11:42 pm

I did take the plunge when I had my 3.0l E89. I called into the Morgan dealership and had a test drive - the car looked every inch the 30's classic - it drove like one as well!

Was I ever so glad to get back into my modern reincarnation of a Healey!
Last edited by ronk on Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with. :thumbsup:

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wspohn
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Beauty & the beast

Post by wspohn » Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:27 pm

The Healey is certainly a striking looking car, although for me the AH 100 is the one to own with fold down windscreen and postwar truck engine (basically the D series 6 cylinder engine used in the Jensen 541 with two cylinders lopped off..

But they aren't up to the looks as far as technical spec goes. All but the last ones had a frame that went under the axle like a Triumph, resulting in sudden losses of traction when the rear end hits the frame in a corner, and the engine is large, heavy and underpowered. And I say this with all due sympathy as I am an MGC owner with essentially the same engine.

The MGs from the MGA on handled far better and in the case of the MGA, at least, also looked about as good, albeit having lower power (admission - I race an MGA Twin Cam).
Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor

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Beauty & the beast

Post by Z4Rick » Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:37 pm

A neighbor of mine has a son in his first year at Virginia Tech studying Engineering. Robby took to my 35i the minute he saw it. I took him for a ride last summer and then let him drive it home. He was delighted to drive it and for an 18 year old he had a really good understanding of the hi-tech aspects of the E89. He, his dad and I had dinner that night and talked roadsters while killing a bottle of Tanqueray. and at some point I likened the Zed to a '68 Healey 3000 I first owned in 1971. Robby took a class in "Evolution of Engineering" this semester and sent me this comparison he was using in his term paper for that class. I wrote him back suggesting he had missed one salient point: they BOTH have incredibly appealing lines!
I thought you guys might enjoy the numerical comparison:

1968 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive35i (E89)
TYPE 2 DOOR CONVERTIBLE 2 DOOR RETRACTABLE ROOF
DRIVETRAIN RWD RWD
ENGINE TYPE INLINE SIX CYLINDERS INLINE SIX CYLINDERS
GEAR BOX 5 SPEED MANUAL 7 SPEED, DUAL CLUTCH AUTO
DISPLACEMENT 2912 CUBIC CENTIMETERS 2979 CUBIC CENTIMETERS
HORSEPOWER 150 302
TORQUE ` 173 FOOT POUNDS 295 FOOT POUNDS
FUEL DISTRIBUTION DUAL DOWNDRAFT SU CARBS DIRECT INJECTION
ASPIRATION NATURAL ASPIRATION DUAL TURBOS
BORE 3.28" 3.31"
STROKE 3.5" 3.53"
COMPRESSION RATIO 9:01 10.2:1
WEIGHT 2549 3427
FUEL CAPACITY 14.5 GALLONS (US) 14.5 GALLONS (US)
WHEELBASE 92" 98.3"
OVERALL LENGTH 157.5" 166.9"
WIDTH 60.6" 70.5"
FRONT TRACK 48.7" 59.5"
REAR TRACK 50" 60.5"
GROUND CLEARANCE 4.3 " 4.0"
TRUNK CAPACITY 5 CUBIC FEET 6.4 CUBIC FEET
TOP SPEED 119 MPH 155 MPH
0-60 8.4 SECONDS 5 SECONDS
1/4 MILE 16.3 SECONDS 13.6 SECONDS
FUEL CONSUMPTION 17.4 MPG (US) 23.7 MPG (US)

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ronk
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Beauty & the beast

Post by ronk » Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:10 pm

SU's are Side Draught carbs. :thumbsup:
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with. :thumbsup:

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Smartbear
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Beauty & the beast

Post by Smartbear » Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:20 pm

ronk wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:10 pm SU's are Side Draught carbs. :thumbsup:
You could also twiddle the jet underneath to richen or weaken the mixture strength :P
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

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wspohn
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Beauty & the beast

Post by wspohn » Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:40 pm

A tricarb set up I created for my MGC.

Image
Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor

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ronk
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Beauty & the beast

Post by ronk » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:53 pm

wspohn wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:40 pm A tricarb set up I created for my MGC.
I bet that's fun to get balanced!!!
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with. :thumbsup:

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wspohn
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Beauty & the beast

Post by wspohn » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:57 pm

ronk wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:53 pm
I bet that's fun to get balanced!!!
Not bad, really. SUs have a bad rep for being fiddly. I set those carbs up in an hour and didn't touch them after that for 20 years!

If you want initial set ups that are demanding, you'd love on of my other cars - but again, once set it is good indefinitely.

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Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor

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Smartbear
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Beauty & the beast

Post by Smartbear » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:59 pm

ronk wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:53 pm
wspohn wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:40 pm A tricarb set up I created for my MGC.
I bet that's fun to get balanced!!!
vacuum gauges are our best friend Ronk, used to sync 4 carbed bikes all the time back when I was a mechanic-one is fixed (datem) & the others adjust to it :thumbsup:
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

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wspohn
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Beauty & the beast

Post by wspohn » Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:03 pm

Yup - Image

or fancier style.

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Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor

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ronk
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Beauty & the beast

Post by ronk » Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:03 pm

I used to use a pipe and listen to the hiss!
More difficult when ticking over on a lump race cam set up.
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with. :thumbsup:

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wspohn
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Beauty & the beast

Post by wspohn » Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:31 pm

ronk wrote: Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:03 pm I used to use a pipe and listen to the hiss!
I did too - whenever I'd misplaced my carb manometer! Which was fairly often as you only need it every few years unless you are racing (and when I was doing that, it lived in my track tool kit).

Nice thing about the SUs is that you have some adjustment latitude for mixture without having to go inside the carbs to change jetting. I've been changing jets on my race car which used Webers, in between race heats, working on a hot engine, and had a jet drop and go 'clink' as it lodged somewhere below.....
Vancouver BC, Canada
2007 Z4MC
2009 Solstice GXP coupe
1962 MGA Coupe
1956 MGA (rebody+re-engined)
1958 MGA Twin Cam race car
1972 Jensen Interceptor

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Carol M
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Beauty & the beast

Post by Carol M » Wed Apr 12, 2017 7:21 pm

That Healy reminds me of my Dad. It's a beaut :wub:

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