What are your best to worst E89 models?

eBrooker · Post by **eBrooker** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 5:21 am

Curious whether there's a general consensus... or not

B21 · Post by **B21** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:48 am

Since there is no real change in the chassis across all models the only real differences are engines / gearboxes / and suspension

IMHO each version has its own nuances ..personally I like them all in their own ways..

Long term ownership issues would be another input..

By now with various upgrades and mods the other comparison is stock vs modded..

Dynamically the N20 versions are better than the 6 cylinder versions.

Marcoose · Post by **Marcoose** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:16 am

Off the bat, stubbies are far superior than whippies.

Bombur · Post by **Bombur** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 10:39 am

Marcoose wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:16 am Off the bat, stubbies are far superior than whippies.

+1

Avityesboy · Post by **Avityesboy** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 10:34 pm

I think it depends how much power you want…personally I love lots of power and am a purest, so only option for me was 3.0 turbo Manual…
But I get to others that’s not so important so go for what you need or want…

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 10:56 pm

I've never had an E89 so feel free to ignore me!

But I think the straight 6 is one of the Z4s unique features and I'm not a fan of turbo engines, so would choose a 30i ahead of an N20 model.

Although with the N20s it doesn't matter which one you pick as they are all mapable to the same outputs.

My ideal E89 would be a manual 35i, but the N54 engines seem to suffer from some expensive issues - much like my E86M!

RMB · Post by **RMB** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:32 pm

Straight six all the way. Classic smooth power and that sound. 30, 35 or 35iS best depending on budget and performance requirements. But as said N54 can have expensive issues although a great unit.
I always think how lost the little 4 pots look under the long engine bay on the Zeds.
At least bmw didn’t give us a diesel.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:40 pm

RMB wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:32 pm At least bmw didn’t give us a diesel.

Thankfully they left that to Mercedes with the SLK!

Avityesboy · Post by **Avityesboy** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:20 pm

35i Manual is the only one for me…when I started looking and watching reviews etc and reading into things when I decided most probably I’d get an e89 Z4, it quickly became obvious that what I was looking for was a tidy 35i manual that I could slowly enjoy and do up….
Once I realised that it could even be an investment car and my budget was suffice I got one…
Then realising it was a proper sleeper really having 306bhp standard and an easily achievable 400bhp that was it…

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:28 pm

I would agree with the straight six argument, running an E85 2.2 as a daily, but since I got my E89 N20 mapped, plus the fact the exhaust valve has never closed, it has a unique rasp to it that is quite addictive.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Tue Jun 24, 2025 3:00 pm

enuff_zed wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:28 pm but since I got my E89 N20 mapped, it has a unique rasp to it that is quite addictive.

That'll be the camchain rattling around.

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Tue Jun 24, 2025 3:07 pm

Pondrew wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2025 3:00 pm
enuff_zed wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:28 pm but since I got my E89 N20 mapped, it has a unique rasp to it that is quite addictive.
That'll be the camchain rattling around.

Quite possibly, though it has now reached the back box so it's stretched a lot!

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