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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
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diceyDC
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by diceyDC » Tue May 30, 2023 4:59 pm

Hi all - I'm about to get my first Z4, very likely to be a 30i, and was wondering about the perennial service history question??!
I've nosed about a bit, including here, but can't find anything definitive.

My short list has a couple of cars with up to 19k between services - is this likely to cause major issues if the car otherwise seems to be driving great? These are 2010-2011 reg examples.

I suppose a 'perfect' history would be one where they get fiddled with every year, but I haven't come across any with that yet - is that because they are the proverbial unicorns, or am I just not looking hard enough??

Any advice greatly appreciated. I used to have an old (997) 911 and I know the value of these forums for collective wisdom!
e89 30i Grey (like me)

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Mr Tidy
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by Mr Tidy » Tue May 30, 2023 5:26 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum.

2010-2011 30i Z4s will have the N52 engine that has condition based servicing, so when it is due depends on mileage but should always be done no more than 2 years apart. (35i and 35is models have a twin-turbo N54 engine).

The N52 engines seem to be pretty robust and potentially can go as long as 19,000 miles before the OBD say a service is due. My previous Z4 with that engine had services 2 years apart with just 7,000 miles between them but the OBD was still showing it had another 10,000 before a service was needed based on use rather than time. I'd be more worried if services were more than 2 years apart than about mileage between them.

They can suffer from oil leaks around the cam-cover and oil filter housing gaskets, and the electric water pumps eventually die - can be after as few as 60K miles or longer than 100K so evidence of a new pump having been fitted is a bonus as they cost the best part of £300. These engines can suffer from "ticking" sounds at the top if not used often but if the noise clears once properly warmed up it doesn't seem to cause any problems.

Anyway good luck finding the right one. :thumbsup:
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
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diceyDC
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by diceyDC » Tue May 30, 2023 5:30 pm

Thanking you sir, very much appreciated - hadn't heard about the water pumps so will ask that question. I've steered cleared of the 35's as they seem to have bigger things to go wrong; after my last car developed the dreaded bore scoring, I think my wife would divorce if I purchased another liability...thanks again
e89 30i Grey (like me)

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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by Pondrew » Tue May 30, 2023 9:17 pm

diceyDC wrote: Tue May 30, 2023 5:30 pm Thanking you sir, very much appreciated - hadn't heard about the water pumps so will ask that question. I've steered cleared of the 35's as they seem to have bigger things to go wrong; after my last car developed the dreaded bore scoring, I think my wife would divorce if I purchased another liability...thanks again
The engines in the E89, whether 6 pot, or 4 pot, (N54 possibly excluded as they can be an expensive mistress) are a much safer bet than a Porsche flat 6 IMO.
As Mr T says above! :)

As well as the engine, pay attention to things like roofs working properly and check boots for water ingress (or historical signs of as there are a lot of electricals in that compartment).

Otherwise, good luck finding what you want. They are pretty reliable cars TBH!
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.

F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
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diceyDC
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by diceyDC » Tue May 30, 2023 11:06 pm

Great stuff, thanks again - all good to hear. No one has warned me off them yet, whilst a lot people did tell me that the 911 was a terrible (but brave) idea!
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by Silverstar » Tue May 30, 2023 11:43 pm

I would say you will find it hard to find an example which has been serviced (oil change) every year or every 5000 miles since as already pointed out officially BMWs of of this era are condition based service meaning they can go up to 2 years before being serviced and most people follow this as set by BMW. You would have to find an enthusiast owned car to find one that has been serviced more frequently. But has already pointed out the 30i is pretty bullet proof and nothing major to worry about. I have had mine 4 years now and it’s not cost me anything other than regular servicing and consumables. Regarding the ticking noise I thought this only applied to the 25i rather than the 30i, but I am not sure!
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red

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diceyDC
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by diceyDC » Wed May 31, 2023 3:58 pm

Thanks Silverstar, this forum does give me a warm, fuzzy Z4 feeling so hopefully I just dont pick a bad one...
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by Pondrew » Wed May 31, 2023 5:13 pm

diceyDC wrote: Wed May 31, 2023 3:58 pm this forum does give me a warm, fuzzy Z4 feeling
They do special underwear to help with that now! :poke: :lol:
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.

F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!

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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by matsmith749 » Wed May 31, 2023 5:15 pm

Mine has been oil changed every 12 months - sometimes with as little as a few hundred miles between changes.

All at the BMW main dealer.

So they are out there if you look!
From Jan 2023 2016 e89 Z4 35is / mineral white / coral red interior / all the extras
SOLD 2010 e89 Z4 35is / space grey / coral red interior / all the extras
SOLD 2007 e85 Z4 3.0 si sport / midnight blue / champagne interior

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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by Smartbear » Wed May 31, 2023 6:51 pm

Silverstar wrote: Tue May 30, 2023 11:43 pm I would say you will find it hard to find an example which has been serviced (oil change) every year or every 5000 miles since as already pointed out officially BMWs of of this era are condition based service meaning they can go up to 2 years before being serviced and most people follow this as set by BMW. You would have to find an enthusiast owned car to find one that has been serviced more frequently. But has already pointed out the 30i is pretty bullet proof and nothing major to worry about. I have had mine 4 years now and it’s not cost me anything other than regular servicing and consumables. Regarding the ticking noise I thought this only applied to the 25i rather than the 30i, but I am not sure!
As far as i know the hydraulic lifter noise affected the e85 si cars & not the e89 models, the cylinder head was redesigned to stop oil draining from the tappets & causing the annoying sound.
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e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by ronk » Wed May 31, 2023 10:13 pm

Well serviced / cosseted cars do exist !
My car for instance, has 16,700 on the clock and although only serviced every second year by the main dealer, the mileage in between has been well below specified BMW advice.

Probably as important, look at the use of the car, if my car isn’t going to get used up to full Temperature, it doesn’t get started.
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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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by TOMGREEN413 » Wed May 31, 2023 11:47 pm

E89's are brilliant cars, 3 years of ownership and she's been as sweet as a nut. But I personally think it's a good idea to try and find one that been regularly garaged and indeed garage your e89 if you can. My reasoning is two fold, 1. It saves the roof rubbers n seals from getting UV damaged and 2. Water ingress from driving or persistent rain......but that being said, I live in Wales.
Good luck with the purchase :thumbsup:
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diceyDC
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by diceyDC » Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:26 pm

Thanks again all, great to hear - I think I've found one, 30i, great service record and looks in really good nick, albeit more miles than I wanted but I think a properly looked after one is more important. Will obviously update when trigger is pulled...(I believe pics are at that point obligatory)
e89 30i Grey (like me)

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Mr Tidy
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About to dive into Z4 ownership and after advice

Post by Mr Tidy » Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:35 pm

I hope it works out. Mileage doesn't seem to affect N52 engines - my 330i has done 120K and runs like new!

And you're right about photos. :lol:
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

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