Daily driving an E85?

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bigfootisblurry

Member
 Darlington
As some of you will have seen, I'm going to be on the look out for an E85 (six cylinder of some sort, ideally 3.0si) in the coming months. Whilst the initial thoughts were to have it as a third, weekend car, I'm leaning towards daily driving it as my parking arrangements aren't ideal.

I do around 10-12k a year, mix of 30m a day commute (which can be b roads or motorways, depending on the mood) and occasional longer drives. I guess my question is what are they like to live with daily?

I rarely need back seats (and would have an alternative if needed), mpg doesn't worry me and I'm used to daily driving older cars, so it all seems feasible to me but interested in how other people use the Z4.
 
I used my Z4 from October 25 to February 26 and did 10k miles. My usual daily failed the Mot and I took my time to find a replacement.

I had no problems using it as a daily. It's a good reliable car. If I did it again over winter I'd fit winter tyres as I do a lot of country driving.
 
An easy daily driver. Comfortable and modern enough to have most of the mod cons. Reliability should be good with a six cylinder.
I would say get one with cruise control (or retrofit) and most should have auto lights and wipers, parking sensors on the rear, heated seats etc.
 
The sixth gear on the 3.0/3.0si really makes a difference for motorway driving compared to the 5 speed in the 2.5i (& 2.5si? Not sure).

Otherwise they're modern enough to just be a car with car and use related issues. I've done 10k in the 3.0si over the last year without any issues, and that includes trips away where its driven in a spirited manner which asks a bit more of it than the daily commute.
 
Mine had a ridiculous exhaust, which made daily use a bit painful, fortunately it dies after a few months anyway.

That aside, it's really the same as any other 2 seat cloth-top. It's a bit noisier than a tin-top IMO, and the suspension isn't the softest. Obviously practicality is what it is. I've often found old cloth-tops to feel extra cold and damp in the depths of winter, but perhaps that's down to condition of roof and seals.

It's all personal preference really, some people would love to drive it every day, others would hate it.
 
All sounds very encouraging folks, thank you.

Last time I daily drove a 2 seater was an MG TF which, despite being an 05, was realistically a early 90s car in terms of spec and reliability. Before that it was a 1991 MX5.

The Z4's I've driven felt a world apart from both of those cars, but short test drives don't give the whole picture.
 
I'm handing my lease car back in September and I plan on dailying the Z4 until I feel it necessary to get something else at which point the Z4 will return to weekend duty.

I'm not worried about dailying it at all.
 
My '03 E85 3.0 is my only car and 'daily' driver, I estimate I do about 20k km per year. Generally it is an easy car to live with, and modern enough, as daily driver. Things to consider i.m.o., most has already been said:
  • All 6-cylinders are close together in fuel consumption, so just pick the largest engine. Also as I find these have more torque, you can drive them more relaxed, less need to rev them out. Which is nice in daily driving.
  • Pick a 6-speed, better for motorway cruising.
  • In an off tangent option, if you can get an automatic at a nice discount, consider a ZF 8HP auto swap. Drove one and it was amazing! Both very sporty and a relaxed cruiser.
  • I find the soft-top well isolated enough in noise and temperature that I don't miss driving a 'normal' car. I do recommend getting seat heating as leather is cold in winter, and allows you more open top driving.
  • Consider options that make the car easier to live with as a daily. Such as cruise control, automatic climate control, PDC, auto dimming mirrors, auto lights and wiper, OEM bluetooth phone, OEM wind blocker. For me a game changer was getting one with the navigation unit, and adding the Carphonics Carplay module. That really transforms it into a modern car in terms of infotainment.
  • It is kind a 3-series disguised as a sports car. So easy parts and decent reliability. But disadvantages in limited interior and boot space, and low to the ground so be aware of ramps, speed humps etc, uneven roads.
  • As any 20 year old car (especially an old BMW) thing will break, be worn out. But with preventative maintenance it should be a reliable car.
All in all, great car to make your daily driving more fun! And being pretty simple and common mechanics underneath, so without breaking the bank.
 
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I've had mine for five years ago and use it daily for the six miles each day to work and back..... To be honest on longer trips I don't find it especially comfortable. I cant find a position for the seat that stops my legs feeling numb after an hour or so.
 
I've had mine for nearly 5 years and although it's not used for driving to work every day, it gets used every day for fun runs, so does about 7000 mls a year. It's an old car and the ride is a bit rough but more comfortable than the MGs I used to daily as a 20 year old. The soft top is way better than the old tops of the 60s and 70s, they were thin vinyl. It has the M sport seats and these didn't seem great at first but now they are okay, perhaps my back has got used to them, a week after I'd bought the car I had enough of the ride and was going to sell the car, luckily my wife put me off the idea. It's a great fun car and every trip is an adventure. :driving: :thumbsup:
 
My '07 3.0 SI is my daily driver, unless 1) its raining enough to flood the roads, or 2) I have to ferry more than one other person. It works for grocery store trips (large trunk for a two-seater), quick local trips, and longer drives of multiple hours on the highway. I have a boring but reliable SUV as a backup. Why drive the boring vehicle most days? Live it up while you can. Drive the fun car.

Watch out for potholes. I hit one while changing lanes in between two north bound lanes (middle of the highway!) and blew out both left side tires. I limped in on the runflats and had to leave the car for 2 days while the tire store ordered my tires.

If road noise is too much for you, leave some wireless airpods, etc. in your car for phone calls.
 
Company car went back in July, been back in the Z , 70 mile commute 4 days a week since then, I love it , roof off at 5 in the morning. Get a good one and therecan be no regrets. New car due in September so it will go back into semi retirement
 
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