Is G29 a worthy upgrade from the E89?

Deepseaskateboard said:
Some upgrade options:

E85 Z4M Roadster
M4 competition convertible - wannabe drug dealers' car
440i Convertible - wannabe drug dealers' cars who can't afford to maintain or repair an M4
8 series convertible - golf club members/ retired drug dealers only!
6 series convertible - drug dealers only
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javis20 said:
Well, I need to get something out of my system. There is an Alfa 4C for sale about 20 minutes away. I might have a drive out and try it. I'm retired and only put less than 5k miles on my car. Will it be too loud and uncomfortable, we will see. Maybe keep the E89 and add the 4C. Or keep the E89 and get new BMW, but not the G29. I test drove the G29 and everything said is true, but I just don't like the styling.
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Alfa 4C is a beautiful and rare car. Good to drive too, apparently. As long as you take into account it's an Alfa, so will be a fickle mistress. But you only live once (or twice depending on your religious beliefs)! ;)
 
javis20 said:
My E89 is in perfect working order and people are constantly stopping me to comment on my car. While I know the G29 is a very good car, I don't see it as being a crowd pleaser. Asking because my wife as been suggesting upgrading.
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It is a very good GT, comfortable, big boot, plenty of space, looks good, if you want a front engined roadster it fits that well, if it's the looks you want the 2.0 will suit. the M40i is as fast as most want. After 6 yrs very few reliability issues have been seen which looks good for the future
 
The G29 buying S/H is an alternative to the Jaguar F Type but more practical than the roadster. Don't compare it to the E85 it's a big step forward, I had 2 they were great cars and if I wanted a fun car I would buy another, at 20 plus yrs old they need plenty of looking after.
 
javis20 said:
My E89 is in perfect working order and people are constantly stopping me to comment on my car. While I know the G29 is a very good car, I don't see it as being a crowd pleaser. Asking because my wife as been suggesting upgrading.
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Have you considered upgrading your wife and keeping the E89 :rofl:
 
I’ve waited a while before commenting on this post.

I’ve owned an e85, 3 e89, I’m on my 3rd g29.

I loved them all for different reasons, however the g29 is by far the best one for handling, comfort and tech.

Like with the e89, the g29 benefits from using different rubber to the bmw specific tyres.

I thought I would miss the hard top, but the soft top is great and makes the boot space actually usable.

I never miss my e89, but I did love the way it looked.
Ironically, the only car I would love to get is an older z4m. ;)
 
ori said:
I loved them all for different reasons, however the g29 is by far the best one for handling, comfort and tech.
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Do you love the 'tech' on the G29? I seem to remember yours is in the dealership while they scratch their heads as to why your heated rear window has gone MIA. 🤫

The latest iteration of BMWs (and all cars) with all their super electronic wizardry are great until something goes wrong. Then even the people who built them have no clue as to what the problem is. "Computer says it's fine, so it must be".

I have an ongoing 'issue' with the brakes on my super high-tech 2024 Audi. The dealer thinks it's me 'whinging' and Audi UK couldn't give a feck. But the problem exists, I'm not making it up.
 
I'm not sure sars is a big fan of the G29 tech based on this thread.

sars

Thread 'Another Update, BMW Pedestrian Protection System'

So unless you have been unlucky enough to actually hit someone you are probably not aware of this system lurking in the back ground of modern BMW's. The system is designed such that when it detects you've hit someone, two pyrotechnic actuators deploy, one either side of the bonnet near the windscreen, to lift the back of the bonnet to give them something cushioned to land on, a truly marvellous concept, like an airbag for pedestrians.

That is unless you are tootling along at 07:10 in the morning through a village, enjoying the open top vista when suddenly there is a very loud bang, your...
 
Mr Tidy said:
I'm not sure sars is a big fan of the G29 tech based on this thread.

sars

Thread 'Another Update, BMW Pedestrian Protection System'

So unless you have been unlucky enough to actually hit someone you are probably not aware of this system lurking in the back ground of modern BMW's. The system is designed such that when it detects you've hit someone, two pyrotechnic actuators deploy, one either side of the bonnet near the windscreen, to lift the back of the bonnet to give them something cushioned to land on, a truly marvellous concept, like an airbag for pedestrians.

That is unless you are tootling along at 07:10 in the morning through a village, enjoying the open top vista when suddenly there is a very loud bang, your...
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Nor me TBH. Since they monopolised servicing by it being i-drive based I am not interested.
OK, you can use independents but they need to have paid for the BMW licenced software, so it isn't much cheaper.

F and G series are a closed shop when it comes to service history, or else the value takes a hit. Sneaky car manufacturers.
 
Pondy said:
The latest iteration of BMWs (and all cars) with all their super electronic wizardry are great until something goes wrong. Then even the people who built them have no clue as to what the problem is. "Computer says it's fine, so it must be".

I have an ongoing 'issue' with the brakes on my super high-tech 2024 Audi. The dealer thinks it's me 'whinging' and Audi UK couldn't give a feck. But the problem exists, I'm not making it up.
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They'll just try to fob you off until the warranty expires!
 
Cross your fingers then as Audi seem less keen to provide parts for their obsolete models than BMW!
 
sars said:
Having owned and run all three generations of the Z4 and over a hundred thousand miles, I absolutely disagree with B21 comment, that the E85 and E89 are alike, absolute tosh. Being one of the early partakers of the e89 in 2010, the amount of negative comments on here around that time, how disappointing it was to drive, being a bit lardy, and designed by women was incredible. It didn't put me off at all and I enjoyed my two years of ownership. My first Z4, a 2.5Si was like a go kart, nippy, nimble, agile, fun but not overly comfortable and whatever you say the e89 isn't any of the first three, it was more grown up and comfortable.

My first M40i was 90% of how the 2.5Si drove and 125% of the e89, practicality and comfort, my second M40i, with a 6MT, is just better than anything that preceded it and I just feel for the rest of you because you'll never get to experience how great it is. It is just like my 2.5Si, just everything dialled up to 13.

As for looks, I like them all and each have their own merits
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Hi Sars,
Well said.....
Having only owned 2 e85s (for nearly 20 years now), I can't comment on ownership or day to day running of the e89 or g29,but having driven all 3 in a Spirited Manor,I would agree with you....the e89 when it came out was slated for being lardy/more of a gt cruiser than an e85,lots of criticism of its extra weight and rear end styling. As was their plenty of criticism of the e85 at launch for Bangles styling.
The e89 is nowhere near as nimble as an e85,in std form anyway.
The g29 m40i is a very easy car to drive very quickly,performance is great,and despite its weight,it feels way more nimble than an e89 imo,as you'd expect.
And I agree Sars,the M40i G29 does feel as close to an e85 as you can get for handling ability,with even more poke than a z4m,in a far more refined package.
I too like all 3,although when the e85 1st came put,I wasn't sure,then loved it ....ditto the e89. The m40i g29 I have always liked. Funny how its grill got slated for looking like a "shower curtain " then within a couple of years or so,several e89 owners put the same style grills on their e89s,lol
 
Pondy said:
Do you love the 'tech' on the G29? I seem to remember yours is in the dealership while they scratch their heads as to why your heated rear window has gone MIA. 🤫

The latest iteration of BMWs (and all cars) with all their super electronic wizardry are great until something goes wrong. Then even the people who built them have no clue as to what the problem is. "Computer says it's fine, so it must be".

I have an ongoing 'issue' with the brakes on my super high-tech 2024 Audi. The dealer thinks it's me 'whinging' and Audi UK couldn't give a feck. But the problem exists, I'm not making it up.
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Yes, I’m still happy with the tech.

I mean my e85 had its own issues and the e89 has plenty of its own issues too. Be it roof issues, water ingress issues.
Hell, one of my e89 had a water ingress issue they couldn’t fix and bmw replaced the car!
Number of roof issues on e89 is legendary.

The g29 is a pleasure to drive. I love adaptive cruise on the motorway. I love blind spot assist, I love the super cool high beam matrix system which is epic.

I love the power delivery of the g29 too. It’s effortless power and so smooth.

I will say that as the tech trickles down, more independent and specialists will be able to work on it.
 
I think the Michelin Supersports fitted to the M40i are a bit too ‘summer only’.

I’ve had the car out for a proper drive a few times over the last few days and the it’s felt completely different and confidence inspiring, must be the heat as the tires are transformed.

IMHO something like PS4S, or similar, would give much better behaviour in more typical UK weather - e.g not so ‘melty’
 
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True-Blue said:
I think the Michelin Supersports fitted to the M40i are a bit too ‘summer only’.

I’ve had the car out for a proper drive a few times over that least few days and the it’s felt completely different and confidence inspiring, must be the heat as the tires are transformed.

IMHO something like PS4S, or similar, would give much better behaviour in more typical UK weather - e.g not so ‘melty’
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100% this.
I switched to the conti 7 and my god is it a better tyre for uk roads. Don’t get the wheel spin everytime I pull away unless the tyres have serious heat in them.

Saying that I found the wear a bit quicker compared to the Michelin star marked tyres.
The conti 6 are available with bmw star rating, but seriously they aren’t as good as the 7’s.

Well that’s my experience anyway.
 
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