Advice please... 35iS or 30i Sport Highline

[keving1]

My maths skills need some work. The cheaper car is 14,500 so difference is 8k.
However I look at it, I can't make the more expensive car work, and I still really enjoyed driving the 30i.
So on Saturday I will be picking up a z4 sLine30i Sport!

Thanks everybody for your opinions... will pop a photo up on Saturday

Why not buy a 35i DCT, all the thrills of the 35is for less money

[Mr Tidy]

So on Saturday I will be picking up a z4 sLine30i Sport!

Great news - I hope the week doesn't drag too much!

[boyarms]

I hope the week doesn't drag too much!

How is it only Tuesday still ???!!

[A-minor]

I haven't driven a 35i or 35is, but I made a desktop decision to look for a 30i manual based on the following reasons:

1. Whilst the 30i can have it's own issues I think there is relatively less things likely to go wrong. When researching I read about things like high pressure fuel pump, injectors, turbos, direct injection carbon build-up, adaptive suspension. In the real world these problems may not crop up that frequently on the 35is, or once sorted may not re-occur and I'm prepared to acknowledge that, but at the time I was researching I perceived the 30i to be lower risk for long term ownership costs.

2. Having had a V8 in the past I realised that a decent engine/exhaust sound can give as much driving pleasure as outright speed. For this reason I knew I wanted a 6 cylinder in some form, but what went against the 35i and 35is for me was reading some anecdotal comments from others that the higher powered cars get up to silly speeds so easily that you don't really get to enjoy the straight 6 sound working it's way up through the higher rev range.

For me the 30i has plenty of power for the driving I do but this is subjective. I've had turbo powered cars before and don't hanker after outright speed anymore, but if you do then the other posters are right and you will want the quicker car regardless of cost!

[Mr Tidy]

Nicely put - it's not like a 30i is exactly slow!

[ronk]

The 3.0l is easily fast enough to get you into trouble!
It likes to be revved to get a good noise out of the pipes but has the advantage it can be driven quietly if needs be .

[MattZCars]

My maths skills need some work. The cheaper car is 14,500 so difference is 8k.
However I look at it, I can't make the more expensive car work, and I still really enjoyed driving the 30i.
So on Saturday I will be picking up a z4 sLine30i Sport!

Thanks everybody for your opinions... will pop a photo up on Saturday

Hey, another noob here. FWIW I think you've made the right decision. Of course it depends on priorities/budget but given what you've said, the 3.0 is a good call. Before buying my 2006 Roadster 2.5i (E85) I test drove 3 E89's, a 2010 M Sport Sdrive 23i and two 2009 Sdrive 30i's. If I haven't quite got the model numbers right, go easy on me, I'm a noob! Budget was c 10-11K.

M Sport 23i looked beautiful but the ride was too harsh for me and it didn't feel exciting to drive. The 3 litre's were a much better balance for me. However, I wasn't totally happy with the service history of either and idly decided to try a much cheaper option that caught my eye. 2006 2.5i Roadster 78K FSH at around £4K (got it for a bit less! ). It was actually more fun to drive than the E89's and ticked enough boxes for it to be an easy decision so I bought it. Very very happy so far

Now I'm not saying for 1 minute a £4K E85 is better than a £10K E89. But the E89 was top of my budget. As for most on this forum I like a bit of a tinker so was already thinking of mods, upgrades etc....and would have ended up emptying the piggy bank or very frustrated!! With the E85 I can change it as much as I want, still miles within budget and if after a year I really want an E89 I can buy one and it will probably be a couple of grand cheaper! Result I'll also know a lot more about Z's by then so the chances of knowing exactly what I want and finding a good 'un should have increased dramatically!

[boyarms]

sounds like you got a good result there

in my case, I'm a total newb and no skills or experience with modding/etc, just fancied trying something different
so budget had to include buying BMW approved used for warranty and some assurance of quality (fingers crossed)
anyway, it's still only Tuesday.... roll on Saturday (shame about the weather)

[MattZCars]

sounds like you got a good result there

in my case, I'm a total newb and no skills or experience with modding/etc, just fancied trying something different
so budget had to include buying BMW approved used for warranty and some assurance of quality (fingers crossed)
anyway, it's still only Tuesday.... roll on Saturday (shame about the weather)

You'll still want to spend on it......even if it's only Carnauba Wax at £1K a tin! Anyway no need to worry about the weather, you've got a metal roof!

Enjoy the ride!!

[boyarms]

After a l-o-o-o-ng week last week, I got a call on Friday night to say the Saturday pick up would have to postpone as there were still a couple of bodywork touch ups to do. Car was finally delivered today as I couldn't get down to dealer, and am very pleased to have this on my drive

[Smartbear]

After a l-o-o-o-ng week last week, I got a call on Friday night to say the Saturday pick up would have to postpone as there were still a couple of bodywork touch ups to do. Car was finally delivered today as I couldn't get down to dealer, and am very pleased to have this on my drive

Very tidy, we just need the sun to make an appearance now
Rob

[sunnydays]

My maths skills need some work. The cheaper car is 14,500 so difference is 8k.
However I look at it, I can't make the more expensive car work, and I still really enjoyed driving the 30i.
So on Saturday I will be picking up a z4 sLine30i Sport!

Thanks everybody for your opinions... will pop a photo up on Saturday

There is a lovely looking 2010 35is with circa 35k on the clock for £15,500 on autotrader atm. That not take your fancy?