So which model of E89 is the best one to buy?
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San Francisco, CA
derin100
Active member
Thus, on this basis, one is led to the inescapable conclusion that the ‘best’ E89 to buy is the 28i 8-speed auto…and, as Valencia Orange with its unique interior is aesthetically the best…then, I have just bought the best E89 to buy!
(P.s. once I have spent the extra to upgrade to 2015 spec!
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Scottish Borders
At a perceived risk level against a wide range of road conditions the ability to carry a certain speed..bends, bumps, straights ..combinations there off..
Yup a later N20 or an earlier one with cam chain issue addressed and hopefully with better than bmw specified oil changes in auto is a great car…Atacama Yellow MSport of course is the definitive version..Thus, on this basis, one is led to the inescapable conclusion that the ‘best’ E89 to buy is the 28i 8-speed auto…and, as Valencia Orange with its unique interior is aesthetically the best…then, I have just bought the best E89 to buy!
(P.s. once I have spent the extra to upgrade to 2015 spec!
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derin100
Active member
Mine is 28i MSport Auto and has had services (mainly BMW main-dealer) always well ahead of BMW scheduling. I’m not driving it atm, as I wish to have the timing-chain, water-pump and thermostat and HPFP replaced first.
It is, alas, ‘merely’ in Valencia Orange….which ‘sadly’ is the only colour which comes with this interior!
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Scotland 🏴
Was it not called 'pure traction' or something like that? Seem to think it came with a really good looking metallic weave on the metalwork pieces around the gearstick / HVAC control too.
I did think you could spec it, but never actually tried & that ship has long since sailed.
I did think you could spec it, but never actually tried & that ship has long since sailed.
wasn't that the one with the black roof? I'm sure one of the E89 encyclopaedias will be along shortly to confirm
Some 35i have adaptive dampers so I'm not sure the logic works that 35i DCT is always cheaper to maintain than 35is.
30i non-msport is possibly the worst handling car I have ever owned, the 35is was much, much better in corners. I'm curious why you've judged 35is handling to be so much worse than all other variants? Is that perhaps influenced by your personal disappointment when you bought yours? The engine is only a little heavier than the N52, and the adaptive dampers are much better for handling than SE. Personally I think you overstate the effect of engine weight in handling; 50kg (even if it's over the front wheels) in a 1,500kg car is not something many would notice. 35is has weight distribution of 49.3 front and 50.7 rear, so if anything it's more balanced than the smaller engine variants. Some people prefer more rear bias, but that's horses for courses and it isn't objectively "better". A Lotus Elise is heavily rear biased, a BMW M3 is around 50:50, and a modern Civic Type R is heavily front biased - they are all objectively "good" at handling (certainly more so than any non-modified E89).
I'm not sure it's accurate to say that a non-msport manual 35i is 40% more reliable than a 35is. I doubt issues with DCT are any more than a once in a car-lifetime event on average, and even if adaptive dampers are every 30k miles on average (being super pessimistic) then that's every 6 years for most Z4 owners - and that is more a maintenance issue than reliability. Where you've given a 35is 5/10 and a 23i 10/10, the reality is that in the grand scheme of things they are probably a 7.5/10 and a 8/10. Neither is a Honda, but neither is likely to break down.
Good idea, but I think the ratings you've given exaggerate the differences between each version and it would be better if ratings were created objectively. And you need a column for colour.... VO = 10/10.
30i non-msport is possibly the worst handling car I have ever owned, the 35is was much, much better in corners. I'm curious why you've judged 35is handling to be so much worse than all other variants? Is that perhaps influenced by your personal disappointment when you bought yours? The engine is only a little heavier than the N52, and the adaptive dampers are much better for handling than SE. Personally I think you overstate the effect of engine weight in handling; 50kg (even if it's over the front wheels) in a 1,500kg car is not something many would notice. 35is has weight distribution of 49.3 front and 50.7 rear, so if anything it's more balanced than the smaller engine variants. Some people prefer more rear bias, but that's horses for courses and it isn't objectively "better". A Lotus Elise is heavily rear biased, a BMW M3 is around 50:50, and a modern Civic Type R is heavily front biased - they are all objectively "good" at handling (certainly more so than any non-modified E89).
I'm not sure it's accurate to say that a non-msport manual 35i is 40% more reliable than a 35is. I doubt issues with DCT are any more than a once in a car-lifetime event on average, and even if adaptive dampers are every 30k miles on average (being super pessimistic) then that's every 6 years for most Z4 owners - and that is more a maintenance issue than reliability. Where you've given a 35is 5/10 and a 23i 10/10, the reality is that in the grand scheme of things they are probably a 7.5/10 and a 8/10. Neither is a Honda, but neither is likely to break down.
Good idea, but I think the ratings you've given exaggerate the differences between each version and it would be better if ratings were created objectively. And you need a column for colour.... VO = 10/10.
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On the basis these cars are now between 8 - 15 year's old if you factor in service history, price, options and availability I reckon the initial spreadsheet just serves as a good indication of the engine and body style options that were available.
Currently I'm enjoying a 2009 23i (my 7th E89) - these pre-MSport cars offer great value in the 2.5 variant. They sound great without a hint of a watered down ///M badge and are arguably the only cars that are true to the original design ethos ahead of the MSport option being introduced in 2010.
But whichever you choose, for me, the E89 is the best looking attainable hardtop convertible available
Currently I'm enjoying a 2009 23i (my 7th E89) - these pre-MSport cars offer great value in the 2.5 variant. They sound great without a hint of a watered down ///M badge and are arguably the only cars that are true to the original design ethos ahead of the MSport option being introduced in 2010.
But whichever you choose, for me, the E89 is the best looking attainable hardtop convertible available
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Next you’ll be telling me that oiling the external side valve push rods is character building..Agreed, though the normally aspirated engines do sound better/nicer especially at those peak rpm’s
So a bit at a time..
For the 35i adaptive dampers were an option…so I ignored them..
The ranking is a ranking..it’s not a weighting…I’m going to produce a version that has my personal weighting of these for folks to poke at.
All,I can say having driven 23i, 30i MSport, 35i, 35is , 20i that for sure that the 35is was the worse handling by a long long way..N20 was the best by a relatively subtle margin …the 23i/30i were much better than the 35is ..
Having spent now 100s of days in the company of many E89s, having ridden in quite a few and driven a few and owned two those are my conclusions..
For a ranking system you can’t say..I’m likely to dodge a bullet so don’t count it…
Of course if everything has been updated / upgraded maybe great ..the logic was a bog stock car with no upgrades / replacements ..what gives …I’d back a 23i against a 35i or 35is any day of the week..
But thnx for the views and comments ..
Yes..a gold plated turd is better than a bog stock turd..your point is?Speak for yourself, old bean.
I’ve installed a performance part that allows my 35is to out handle all other E89 models, and many 911s too.
It was a stock car comparison…not second guessing how much love someone could/should /maybe perform..
Ah…thank you for enlightening me…I think he was referring to his undeniable, in his mind that is, driving prowess.
derin100
Active member
Yes, ‘Design Pure Traction’. It’s listed on my car’s spec list. As you say, it has those metal weave pieces as you described. I believe it could be ordered with or without black roof.
I’ll have you know I’ve the second sharpest brain in America. The first is our Dear Leader’s.I think he was referring to his undeniable, in his mind that is, driving prowess.
You've just put a tune in my head all afternoon with this, 'Brain in the USA' (Bruce Springsteen)I’ll have you know I’ve the second sharpest brain in America. The first is our Dear Leader’s.
