23i vs 3.0i

H

highstream

Member
 Gothenburg
Is it worth the extra money for the 3.0i, to me it dosent seem to be that many 3.0i around? I think its a severe diffrence but cant decide if its worth the money...
Maybe when I sell its better to have the more "unusual" model?
 
I had the same thoughts, test drove the 2.3i and felt it needed more power, the 3.0i is more money however the calculated depreciation was less and was thus not that much more to lease. By the time I had added on the extras that I got with the 3.0i, it was actually more expensive to lease the 2.3i than the 3.0i. Optional extras have a much lower calculated resale value (for leasing purposes) than the car, about 10% of purchase price after 3 years.

If you look at BMW used cars the 3.0i remains £4 to £5k higher than the 2.3i

I love my 3.0i Zed, it is fast enough for me, gives good fuel economy, same as the 2.3i and you don't see many of them, not sure how many 3.0i E89's are on here, but certainly not that many. Is Petach the only other?
 
I love my 3.0l you have the extra power to use when you want to drive fast or can cruise on the motorway in 6th gear and still get 30+ mpg in a sports car at 70. :D
 
If you check the figures, both from BMW and the Reviews you will see that the 23 gets the same mileage as the 3.0, and has the same CO2 output, 50 more horses and cuts almost a full second off the 0-60mph times, which is why I went the 30 route vs the 35. I seemed to be worth the extra money
 
Well i was going to get the 3.0. But got to thinking is .5 sec difference really worth the extra money..
After all there are a lot of delivery mille high spec 2.3's about...
I decided it wasn't worth the extra cash.. And have got to say I'm happy with the acceleration. Even after my last car being a lotus Elise...
I managed to get a 2.3 Msport package,with pure White design for Msport,19" sport wheels, Bluetooth audio, sports seats etc... With 13 miles for less than £29k

Just my thoughts...
 
If buying used car, then 30i is better than 23i. The price difference will be less than buying brand new.

But because I bought my car brand new, so I spent the money on options, rather than the extra power.
 
On paper, comparing the 2.5 and 3.0 engines, the figures are pretty astonishing. The 3.0 is just as fuel efficient and has the same co2 emissions as the 2.5. For me the extra performance just wasn't worth the money. The 2.5 engine is a cracking "little" engine. :D
 
Hi all

I've been browsing this forum for several weeks now as I'm looking to change my E85 2.2 for the E89 in the new year,and I've decided to go down the 3.0 ltr route purely for the extra torque available, as I find my 2.2 fast enough on outright performance (7.5 seconds 0-60 ) I do on many occasions wish for more oomph when I put my foot down in a high gear at lowish revs.
 
highstream - This is a very personal decision. While the 30 is faster, it will cost more up front, and the insurance will be a bit more, but you will have more power. So you need to decide if the extra 50 horses [which only come into play at full throttle] and the quicker 0-60 times [not useful anywhere near a city or traffic] are worth some of the other options you will need to forgo in order to stay under budget. I have driven all 3 models and while the torque is much better in the 35, the difference between the 23 and the 30 is not near as great, they both run well and sound great. I got the 30 as it was a demo model, but would have been happy with the 23 if I was buying new as it would have allowed me to upgrade the sound system for the same price. Bottom line is: There is ALWAYS something faster [and slower] as well as more expensive/cheaper. I don't think the 30 qualifies as something exclusive, and the higher resale value is part of the higher initial cost. the most important thing is to join the ranks of the "Z4 Blessed", whether in a 25 or a 30 - you will be part of the elite. [and cruising with the top down on a nice country road, engine size will be far from your thoughts].
 
sars said:
I had the same thoughts, test drove the 2.3i and felt it needed more power, the 3.0i is more money however the calculated depreciation was less and was thus not that much more to lease. By the time I had added on the extras that I got with the 3.0i, it was actually more expensive to lease the 2.3i than the 3.0i. Optional extras have a much lower calculated resale value (for leasing purposes) than the car, about 10% of purchase price after 3 years.

If you look at BMW used cars the 3.0i remains £4 to £5k higher than the 2.3i

I love my 3.0i Zed, it is fast enough for me, gives good fuel economy, same as the 2.3i and you don't see many of them, not sure how many 3.0i E89's are on here, but certainly not that many. Is Petach the only other?
Click to expand...

I test drove the 23i and agree with sars, i felt disappointed with the performance.
On both my previous 3 series convertibles i chose interiors and spec over performance, budget restrictions dictated choices had to be made, and because i do a reasonable mileage approx 25k a year, i wanted to feel at home in the car whilst driving.
However on both cars i always felt i wanted more get up and go.
I looked at the 23i, felt i would be disappointed again with performance and so specced the 3.0i. By the time i had worked out what extras i wanted and looked at what came as standard with the 35i i ended upgrading to the 35i, yes i'm the perfect mark for bmw :)

Budget will dictate what you will do but remember you need to decide what is more important to you and what you are prepared to compromise on. It's great to look at depreciation etc and take account of it but your heart needs to be happy. In my line of work i see too many people make calculated choices based on what makes sense only to find 12 months later they harbour regret.

You have to get into that car every time and think 'Yesss!!!' Will the spec and finish give you that buzz? Will power at the back wheels give you it?

Good luck; it's always great fun and exciting to be choosing a car, i love mine and am happy i chose the 35i, i hope in time we get to hear how much you love your new addition :)
 
ChuckB said:
and the insurance will be a bit more
Click to expand...


Don't worry too much about the insurance. I went from an E89 23i to a 35iS and the insurance increase was £9 :D


ChuckB said:
[and cruising with the top down on a nice country road, engine size will be far from your thoughts].
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: And if you like the twisties a 23i Msport with adaptive suspension, sport seats and manual gearbox will make you very happy. If you crave torque then only the 35i will suffice.
 
I have been driving into the city every morning this week to work, as there is no congestion charge this week, and zooming along the embankment, thru a few tunnels - the 35i sounds amazing - especially when changing gears yourself - sounds like a modded exhaust. The power delivery is effortless, and even though the back end kicks out, and the rear wheels skid about all over the place, it's a real hoot.

The white Z is as dirty as it comes, but will be shined up and ready for New years eve tonight...

Whatever car you go for, am sure you'll be pleased with it...
 
Nickm said:
I have been driving into the city every morning this week to work, as there is no congestion charge this week,
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're trying to be a big shot in the city, instead of an employee that works in a sandwich shop down Portswood Rd Southampton. :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
well saving £8 a day makes a big difference, and if you don't have to pay it, then driving in isn't such a big deal - even if it is from Southampton!
 
Hello,

New to the board, and a new owner of a Sdrive 23i. Have had it for 2 weeks now and thoroughly enjoying it, but there are definitely quite a few instances where I wish there were more power. I'm going to go look at a few second hand 35i's this coming week.

I must be sick in the head :P
 
Now then.

I try to get a 1 to 1.5 year old one and with the last old shape (yes old shape) it was 3K on top for a 3.0 than a 2.5 si sport. I could not quite get myself to put up the extra cash just for 0.8s to 0 to 62. Trade in i would get more but would actually cost me 1.5K over the 2 years I own them. Then the extra in insurance and tyres and pertol.

Ok the new model has a slight slant on things at the moment whih has changed things.

2 months a go I had a chice.
1) 2.3 sport 10 plate
2) 2.3 i drive 11 plate
3) 3.0 i drive 10 plate

All similar price. Now as stated previously the higher plants always trade in higher so Ive gone with the 3.0. And I have NO REGRETS. Wow its a different beast.

Petrol is a bit more my last 2.5 did 32 mpg, this one im finding 28mpg and with a bit of care and ron 97 30 mpg so in the big picture is not a lot of difference. Insuraces I have been quoted lower than my old 2.5 but had 9 months left with the current insurance and they simply changed over (lower cost was lost on admin so they say).

They are harder to find like the 3.5 they are there and good value 2nd hand unsure why may be people think massive petrol costs so the 2.3 the better bet.

I dont regret loosing heated seats, bluetooth, paking sensors, thats with the msport, the power and engine noise is simply amaizing and the 50 to 80 is no comparrison.

now lets look at the 3.5,mmmmmmmmmmm. no the pertrol would keep me awake i need to do 300 to the tank, 200 would up my petrol bill by £50 per week, for what, another 0.4 seconds that £50 soon adds up as well does the extra loss in trade in, so just pushes the beast out of my pocket, still i have yet to really push my 3.0 in sports + is manic so the 3.5 would possibly put me in a ditch
 
pltan75 said:
Hello,

New to the board, and a new owner of a Sdrive 23i. Have had it for 2 weeks now and thoroughly enjoying it, but there are definitely quite a few instances where I wish there were more power. I'm going to go look at a few second hand 35i's this coming week.

I must be sick in the head :P
Click to expand...

Very sadly my 35i is FOR SALE if you're interested in buying privately?

2009 sDrive35i, Deep Sea Blue, Pure White Design, iDrive SatNav etc etc etc - £23250 (29500 miles, warranty to May 09, Tax to end of June) :
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=32436
Based near LEEDS if you want to come and take a look?

2m.jpg


David
 
davidmbell said:
pltan75 said:
Hello,

New to the board, and a new owner of a Sdrive 23i. Have had it for 2 weeks now and thoroughly enjoying it, but there are definitely quite a few instances where I wish there were more power. I'm going to go look at a few second hand 35i's this coming week.

I must be sick in the head :P
Click to expand...

Very sadly my 35i is FOR SALE if you're interested in buying privately?

2009 sDrive35i, Deep Sea Blue, Pure White Design, iDrive SatNav etc etc etc - £23250 (29500 miles, warranty to May 09, Tax to end of June) :
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=32436
Based near LEEDS if you want to come and take a look?

2m.jpg




David
Click to expand...


Would love to take you up on that offer but alas I am in Malaysia. The 2009 35i goes for 70k GBP here :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom