100% out...!!

[john-e89]

Bonjourno,

After a very brief drive in a 2.0i a few weeks ago, today I had the afternoon in a grey M40i to really get to know the car a bit more. I have to say I was glad to get back in the 35is..! Sure it’s a nice car with all the grunt you want but apart from the new tech the thing left me cold....stone cold. Just imo it’s nothing more than a vert cruiser. Chassis is obviously better than the E89, however that’s about it.

Main gripes :

Seats pinch my scapular to distraction, I spent the whole time wriggling trying to find a comfy position...and failed. Came away with the left one in some pain tbh.

Seat base doesn’t adjust for angle, seat base bolsters don’t adjust.

Steering wheel to big.

The whole car feels far too big.

HK system nothing special.

Lack of feel in the steering.

Too heavy.

Far far too quiet, the 35is with the exhaust flap mod is much better.

The general feeling i get is one of boredom, a distinct lack of any excitement about the thing as a sports car anyway, a good everyday car if you can cope with the seats.

Sounds a mardy review but @ 55k I think I’ve a right to be critical. Of course these gripes are just mine and others will love the car, and I’m glad they do, but it’s not for me, not even 2nd hand in 6 months time. I honestly was glad to be in the 35is going home, more comfortable, smaller, more fun..!

Good luck to the new owners, you will have a very different outlook, and if it works for you then that’s all that matters.

 

[NewZdriver]

Yup, couldn’t disagree with you more. Polar opposite to be honest but like you say, each to their own! Lol

 

[mr wilks]

Faculties finally returned John i had one (M40i) out last Saturday , £55k gave me a right giggle & i suspect the actual "buyers" as opposed to the ones leasing will see depreciation like no other Z4 has ever seen .
Perhaps early £40s with some kit added would be more palatable

 

[Bing]

I drove a 30i today and really quite liked it. I’m still processing my thoughts, but I am pretty sure I wouldn’t trade the M for it. Certainly not a new one. Have to say though, I found the seat adjustments great, but then maybe side bolster adjustment and lumbar support are options ? Oh, and I managed to adjust the base for angle with some fiddling :?

 

[Z4M-2006]

I applaud you for persevering.

Just happy your now off the meds..

 

[Marlon]

This new Z4 incarnation certainly divides opinion - and not just from armchair voyeurs like myself :?
On a different note John, if you had to say goodbye to one of your Zeds would you keep the 35is or the Z4MR?

 

[Ghostrider.1127]

buongiorno , otherwise sound like a french is trying to speak italian

 

[john-e89]

buongiorno , otherwise sound like a french is trying to speak italian

Nope, it’s a Sicilian dialect, where my friend is from Ghost..

 

[john-e89]

Faculties finally returned John i had one (M40i) out last Saturday , £55k gave me a right giggle & i suspect the actual "buyers" as opposed to the ones leasing will see depreciation like no other Z4 has ever seen .
Perhaps early £40s with some kit added would be more palatable

Perhaps early nothing with whatever you can throw at it Andy....wouldn’t matter....

 

[john-e89]

This new Z4 incarnation certainly divides opinion - and not just from armchair voyeurs like myself :?
On a different note John, if you had to say goodbye to one of your Zeds would you keep the 35is or the Z4MR?

If I go through with the Boxster order I’ll do all I can to keep the Z4M Colin, I don’t think I will be able to, but it’s such a contrast to modern machinery even though it’s not particularly old itself. I love the gearbox, power delivery and rawness. If we forget the Boxster and each car would be the only thing I could have for years then I’d have to let the M go, too raw for normal running. But it would be a very tough choice.

 

[john-e89]

I drove a 30i today and really quite liked it. I’m still processing my thoughts, but I am pretty sure I wouldn’t trade the M for it. Certainly not a new one. Have to say though, I found the seat adjustments great, but then maybe side bolster adjustment and lumbar support are options ? Oh, and I managed to adjust the base for angle with some fiddling :?

The seats will raise up and down with the pivot point at the front of the base so creating an arc Bing, rather than straight up and down. but even at its lowest setting the base itself isn’t high enough for me, although I’m being picky I’ll admit. The problem I have is a Boxster will offer 18 way seats as an option, adjustable everything, I think it’s very poor that the new Zed doesn’t offer this as an option. The seating is crucial imho to a car, the option to spec full adjustability would be nice. Even my old 1998 MR2 has more adjustability than the new Zed.

 

[buzyg]

This new Z4 incarnation certainly divides opinion - and not just from armchair voyeurs like myself :?
On a different note John, if you had to say goodbye to one of your Zeds would you keep the 35is or the Z4MR?

If I go through with the Boxster order I’ll do all I can to keep the Z4M Colin, I don’t think I will be able to, but it’s such a contrast to modern machinery even though it’s not particularly old itself. I love the gearbox, power delivery and rawness. If we forget the Boxster and each car would be the only thing I could have for years then I’d have to let the M go, too raw for normal running. But it would be a very tough choice.

Interesting to read your thoughts on the three generations of top teer Zed John.

 

[john-e89]

I applaud you for persevering.

Just happy your now off the meds..

:lol:

Seriously though even being generous I can’t for the life of me see where 55k is in a top spec M40i. The chassis is a step up from the E89, but the engine is no better, nor the tranny, so apart from a bit of flashy-ish screens there’s nothing to make the cost palatable. Smaller boggo 3 series really.

 

[Z4M-2006]

Exactly...

A £15k 35is is 95% of that car in all departments

 

[john-e89]

More comfortable too....

 

[CeEl]

In the US, the M40i is very close to my 35i (not s!) price-wise once the options are added.

 

[Jembo]

more comfortable to.

Strange, the E89’s a very cosy & pretty place to be, totally understand why it still rocks your boat.. & why I chose the rawness of the E86. Watching Goodwood on the telly yesterday, seemed everyone was more excited watching the original minis, the 1900 8 litre bath tubs & the 70’s touring cars than the modern wonders.

Despite the Mrs’ hatred of the M, it will be a cold day in hell before my MC goes

 

[john-e89]

more comfortable to.

Strange, the E89’s a very cosy & pretty place to be, totally understand why it still rocks your boat.. & why I chose the rawness of the E86. Watching Goodwood on the telly yesterday, seemed everyone was more excited watching the original minis, the 1900 8 litre bath tubs & the 70’s touring cars than the modern wonders.

Despite the Mrs’ hatred of the M, it will be a cold day in hell before my MC goes

Makes perfect sense Jembo, without knocking the new owners personally I was bored rigid after half an hour, there’s just nothing exciting or effort with the new car. I’ve slated, and I’ll still slate the E89 for its jelly chassis but at least it provides some entertainment, new it was too expensive, but now I think they provide affordable fun, I’m not sure the new car will after a few years.

I’ve got a Boxster on order with lock down not until June so time to play with, I’d like to have it but being able to or not my keep Z4M roady has a big influence on it, mad as a box of frogs cars but sooooooooo much character, something that is sorely missing in the G29.....imho of course.

 

[Player 1]

Having also tried the new car, I'm in agreement with John. I'll put up a comparison with my car when I've got some time but was I alone in finding the seating position way too high?
As low as it goes it felt more similar to a 1 series than any sports car, in traffic I was eye level with hatchbacks. Get back in the E89 and your arse is level with feet which to me is what any proper sports or gt car should be like.

 

[bmbardo]

Saw one in the flesh the other day, red, but initially and from a distance I thought it was an Abarth 124 Spider. Admittedly not driven the new Z4,but at the list price, I’d be buying the Abarth (with a nice E85/6 to go with it).

The Abarth is such a rare car and great fun, and quite possibly with a very limited run, if the reported tensions between Fiat and Mazda don’t resolve. At around £20k for a virtually new car it makes a lot of sense.