2.5 vs. 3.0

C

cosmo63

New member
Looking to get my first Z4. Ive had my heart set on a used '03-'05 3.0 non-sport pkg, but I have found a 2.5 with premium and sport pkg in the exact color and trim pkg. I have been looking for. Do I pull the trigger? I am thinking that since the 2.5 is a sport pkg. it will feel a little more responsive than the non-sport 3.0, (minus the top end power, of course.)
By the way, the price I negotiated is $17,800 for a 2003 Z4 2.5 fully loaded, (except for navigation) with 40k miles. The overall condition of the car is excellent.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
cosmo63, Welcome!!! You've come to the right place. I am trading in my 2003 2.5i sport, premium, convenience, heated seats, xenon tomorrow. The sport button is awesome! The difference in power between the 2.5i and the 3.0si is 185hp vice 255hp, however having driven both it doesn't feel much different 0-60. Where it DOES make a difference is above 90mph and who drives that fast very often anyway? That's a fair price for that car. I'm getting $15k for my trade in and it has 56k on it.

Now if your talking a 3.0i (not SI) then you'll only get 215hp out of it and the difference there I can imagine is way less. I think you'll be much happier with the 2.5i sport. I know I have been.

The reason's I'm upgrading now are numerous, but the HP is not one of them. Well, maybe it is a little. But not a big factor.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide and be sure to post pics when you buy your new baby!!! :thumbsup:
 
cosmo63 said:
Looking to get my first Z4. Ive had my heart set on a used '03-'05 3.0 non-sport pkg, but I have found a 2.5 with premium and sport pkg in the exact color and trim pkg. I have been looking for. Do I pull the trigger? I am thinking that since the 2.5 is a sport pkg. it will feel a little more responsive than the non-sport 3.0, (minus the top end power, of course.)
By the way, the price I negotiated is $17,800 for a 2003 Z4 2.5 fully loaded, (except for navigation) with 40k miles. The overall condition of the car is excellent.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

Get the sport packaged 2.5 if you must..but a 3.0 sport would be ideal..
 
WOW! That's dirt cheap for a Z4! Is it still under warranty? I bought my 2003 2.5i, fully-loaded, last year for much more than that! But it was from BMW with a warranty thru 2009 so that might me the difference. You'll pay a ton more for a later year...particularly if it's under warranty. So I'd say if it's the exact color and trim you want go for it. Other wise you may be waiting and paying $5k-$10k more just to get the trim you like.
 
I have the 3.0i non-sport package, and I love it. I'm not really sure what the palpable difference is between the sport and non-sport package other than a slightly lower ride and stiffer suspension. My zed is my daily driver, and honestly, I wouldn't want my suspension to be any stiffer than it already is. I guess if you tracked it or only drove it occasionally for fun, the sport package would make a real difference.
 
Sounds like the price you have negotiated on the 2.5 is a good one. When is enough really enough?

Unless you plan to race yours, I'm confident that in reality the 2.5 is capable of getting you into as much trouble as you need it to. If you can find one in your budget with the 3.0 and the 6-speed.....then it will just get you into trouble a little more rapidly.
 
takedown8 said:
I have the 3.0i non-sport package, and I love it. I'm not really sure what the palpable difference is between the sport and non-sport package other than a slightly lower ride and stiffer suspension. My zed is my daily driver, and honestly, I wouldn't want my suspension to be any stiffer than it already is. I guess if you tracked it or only drove it occasionally for fun, the sport package would make a real difference.
Click to expand...

You'd know if you driven one.. :)
Even the sound is deeper when I push the button..
 
Ski said:
You'd know if you driven one.. :)
Even the sound is deeper when I push the button..
Click to expand...
+1

0425z41.jpg

:bow:
 
I really should quite jumping into these "Mystical Powers of the Sport Button" threads, but I just can't help myself. On manual transmission Z4s the Sport Button remaps the accelerator pedal response and reduces the power steering boost. Period. It feels like it accelerates quicker because less pedal deflection is required for a given level of throttle response. It doesn't change power nor, if you drive it right, does it appreciably alter 0-60 time. And yes, I've driven Z4s with and w/o the Sport Button. Sure it's fun sometimes to have a twitchy throttle, but I know how much (or little) difference it makes.
 
vachss said:
I really should quite jumping into these "Mystical Powers of the Sport
Button" threads, but I just can't help myself. On manual transmission
Z4s the Sport Button remaps the accelerator pedal response and reduces
the power steering boost. Period. It feels like it accelerates quicker
because less pedal deflection is required for a given level of throttle
response. It doesn't change power nor, if you drive it right, does it
appreciably alter 0-60 time. And yes, I've driven Z4s with and w/o the
Sport Button. Sure it's fun sometimes to have a twitchy throttle, but I
know how much (or little) difference it makes.
Click to expand...

What about the accounts from other members that the sound made from the engine is deeper or louder? What could the explanation for that be?

If someone could Please Let me know whAt meChanism would EnaBle that feature, it would be Of great interest!
 
Stop getting so mad takedown8. No wories mate. People believe all sorts of things - healing powers of certain things over other things even though it may be the same thing from a different place.

So what if you don't have a sport button. No need to hate :fuelfire: - I have a sport button but never use it. :tumbleweed:
 
takedown8 said:
What makes you think I'm mad? :scratchhead:

I was actually trying to be funny. :oops:
Click to expand...

That's the problem with you Cardiac Surgeons. Terrible sense of humor - no wonder you like your patients to be knocked out.... Otherwise you will just bore them to death. :rofl:
 
takedown8 said:
What about the accounts from other members that the sound made from the engine is deeper or louder? What could the explanation for that be?
Click to expand...

Being a lab kind of guy I love to come up with potential mechanisms. How about: Remapped gas pedal means you tend to apply more throttle for a given amount of effort. More throttle gives louder/deeper engine note.

But hey, that's no fun. I like the extra cylinder and performance exhaust system that magically appear at the push of a button much better...
 
vachss said:
takedown8 said:
What about the accounts from other members that the sound made from the engine is deeper or louder? What could the explanation for that be?
Click to expand...

Being a lab kind of guy I love to come up with potential mechanisms. How about: Remapped gas pedal means you tend to apply more throttle for a given amount of effort. More throttle gives louder/deeper engine note.

But hey, that's no fun. I like the extra cylinder and performance exhaust system that magically appear at the push of a button much better...
Click to expand...

word..
 
vachss said:
Being a lab kind of guy
I love to come up with potential mechanisms. How about: Remapped gas
pedal means you tend to apply more throttle for a given amount of
effort. More throttle gives louder/deeper engine note.

But
hey, that's no fun. I like the extra cylinder and performance exhaust
system that magically appear at the push of a button much better...
Click to expand...

:rofl: :rofl: Awesome! Love it.
 
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