Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Greetings! - some model advice please

First port of call for new members
Corrie747
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:07 pm

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Corrie747 » Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:17 pm

Hi all

In the process of looking for an E85 this spring and trying to narrow down my choices. Is there anywhere on the forum where I can see what the spec differences are - Sport, SE, SI etc?

I found the buying guide, and that's great, but just want to know which models are worth going for as ther seems to be plenty on the market. I'll probably go for a 6 cyl, because I like the idea of the smoother engine, and the car won't be used a lot so economy isn't really a factor.

Looking to spend £8k or less.

Thanks in advance,

User avatar
Smartbear
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 13685
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
Location: a barn in Somerset

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Smartbear » Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:24 pm

Corrie747 wrote: Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:17 pm Hi all

In the process of looking for an E85 this spring and trying to narrow down my choices. Is there anywhere on the forum where I can see what the spec differences are - Sport, SE, SI etc?

I found the buying guide, and that's great, but just want to know which models are worth going for as ther seems to be plenty on the market. I'll probably go for a 6 cyl, because I like the idea of the smoother engine, and the car won't be used a lot so economy isn't really a factor.

Looking to spend £8k or less.

Thanks in advance,
Hi, for your budget you will be looking at an si which is 06-08. They have the n52 engine which is more powerful (262hp) and more economical than the pre 06 cars. The sport & se have the same engines, it’s trim & suspension which differs :thumbsup:
Rob
Image

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

User avatar
Mr Tidy
Legend
Legend
Posts: 23608
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
Location: North West Surrey

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Mr Tidy » Thu Mar 22, 2018 12:05 am

Welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

Good idea to go for a 6 cylinder one - for me that is one of the special features of the Z4.

So I'll base this on the 6 cylinder models!

There was a facelift in 2006 - pre-facelift models had the M54 engine in 2.2i, 2.5i or 3.0i guises with 170, 192 or 231 bhp.

Facelift models had the N52 engine in 2.5i, 2.5Si or 3.0Si variants and they had 177, 218 or 265 bhp.

SE and Sport were trim levels - SE models had what BMW call "Sport" seats whereas Sport models had "M-Sport" seats and M-sport suspension, so they sit a bit lower and have a stiffer set-up. But the M-Sport seats in the Sport models are quite sought-after - a pair of used ones often fetch £750 or so! So if you really want them it's probably best to find a car that has them - but as they were an option on SE models some SEs do have them.

In terms of running costs all 6 of the 6 cylinder engines mentioned are in Band K for road tax, and will give similar mpg. So running costs are similar whichever size you look for.

For your budget I'd be looking for a facelift model so ideally a 3.0Si, but if you saw a good 2.5Si it would be worth considering if it had a good spec/was nearby/had a good history.

Good luck finding one you like. :thumbsup: This is what M-Sport seats look like:-
Attachments
Blue Z4 Interior3 060716.JPG
Blue Z4 Interior3 060716.JPG (121.96 KiB) Viewed 862 times
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

firebobby
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 9529
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
Location: South west Buckinghamshire

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by firebobby » Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:50 am

Welcome to the forum, you have come to the best place for information on these great cars. There are well sorted cars for sale on the forum which you should have a look at.
They do have a few issues, but all are pretty easy to sort and there is normally plenty of help on the forum.
You may see prices start to rise soon (Summer is coming) so don't hang around. :)
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

User avatar
Marlon
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10899
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
Location: Lancs.
Contact:

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Marlon » Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:06 am

Welcome to the forum. Mr Tidy has given you a very 'tidy' breakdown of the model differences :)
Image
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S

User avatar
srhutch
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 26959
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:22 pm
Location: East Sussex, UK
Contact:

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by srhutch » Thu Mar 22, 2018 2:45 pm

Sport over SE

M Sport Suspension
M Sport Steering Wheel
M Sport Seats
Different Wheels

Coupe

As Above
Anthracite Roof Lining.

Si= Engine Specification only, nothing to do with trim level (SE or Sport).

All Si (2.5si/3.0si) are available in both SE and Sport Trim.
Image

Corrie747
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:07 pm

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Corrie747 » Sat Mar 24, 2018 2:26 pm

Excellent! That's cleared that up for me then 👍

Yes, hoping to make a purchase in the next month, so will try and avoid the "pre-season" price hike!

Thanks for all the advice - great start to the club 🙂

User avatar
Crazy Harry
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1689
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2017 12:32 pm
Location: Breckland Norfolk

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Crazy Harry » Sat Mar 24, 2018 2:35 pm

Hi and welcome - if you're looking at the E85 try and get one with the Msport HEATED seats. These combined with the furnace like heater turn a top down 'summer' car into an all year round top down car. I always have the top down unless its raining to much or snowing!

3.0si roadster - very good choice in my book :thumbsup:

User avatar
Mr Tidy
Legend
Legend
Posts: 23608
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
Location: North West Surrey

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Mr Tidy » Sat Mar 24, 2018 10:07 pm

Crazy Harry wrote: Sat Mar 24, 2018 2:35 pm Hi and welcome - if you're looking at the E85 try and get one with the Msport HEATED seats. These combined with the furnace like heater turn a top down 'summer' car into an all year round top down car. I always have the top down unless its raining to much or snowing!
Good advice OP - I probably forgot the advice about heated seats because both my Z4's have been Coupes! :roll:

But M-Sport seats really are much better than the so-called "Sport" seats SE models come with as standard!
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

Corrie747
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:07 pm

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Corrie747 » Mon Apr 09, 2018 5:00 pm

Many thanks for all the advice.... now the proud owner of this....

Image

Image

Image

2006, 3.0Si Sport, 56k miles, FSH etc etc
Love it :thumbsup:

Has the condensation in headlight issue, but know how to fix that :wink:

User avatar
RustyZ4
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3622
Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:23 pm
Location: Maidstone, Kent

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by RustyZ4 » Mon Apr 09, 2018 5:19 pm

very nice :thumbsup:
Z4 Mineral Grey, 28i MSport Auto, lots of goodies
Z4 E85 3.0, gone but now with son :D
Growing Old is Mandatory But Growing Up is Optional

firebobby
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 9529
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
Location: South west Buckinghamshire

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by firebobby » Mon Apr 09, 2018 5:33 pm

Stunning looking Zed, now enjoy it :thumbsup:
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

User avatar
maxman
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2821
Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:34 pm
Location: Wrexham

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by maxman » Mon Apr 09, 2018 7:38 pm

Somebody stolen one of your pedals,i would take it back and ask for the three pedal version. :roll:

User avatar
Tinman6
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:11 pm

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Tinman6 » Mon Apr 09, 2018 8:01 pm

maxman wrote: Mon Apr 09, 2018 7:38 pm Somebody stolen one of your pedals,i would take it back and ask for the three pedal version. :roll:
Haha yeah, this !!

Seriously though, lovely looking car, have fun with it :)

Corrie747
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:07 pm

Greetings! - some model advice please

Post by Corrie747 » Mon Apr 09, 2018 8:14 pm

:thumbsup: :D

Post Reply