35 is ???
- Thread starter Bardo72
- Start date
35i and 35is very similar, so all the main causes of grief (injectors, turbos etc) shared between the 2.
Couple for sale here currently and John-e89 has one tucked away in the garage which he would part with for the right deal.
30i is far more reliable relatively, but you have to pay to play
35is is in a different league to the 30i, having owned both. The 30i was more satisfying to drive though.
Couple for sale here currently and John-e89 has one tucked away in the garage which he would part with for the right deal.
30i is far more reliable relatively, but you have to pay to play
35is is in a different league to the 30i, having owned both. The 30i was more satisfying to drive though.
At the summit of the picturesque fens
To expand on Tim's reply:
The 35i and 35is both use the N54 twin turbo engine. They are great engines when they work, but have a reputation for chewing up expensive parts. Turbos tend to go (in pairs), so do injectors, HPFPs, etc.
The 30i uses the normally aspirated 6 pot engine (N52??), so is way down on power but much much more reliable.
Then, of course, you have the N20 2 litre 4 pot twin scroll single turbo engine. Mapped they make extremely good power and torque and are (relatively) reliable. I know of a really good one for sale BTW.
The 35i and 35is both use the N54 twin turbo engine. They are great engines when they work, but have a reputation for chewing up expensive parts. Turbos tend to go (in pairs), so do injectors, HPFPs, etc.
The 30i uses the normally aspirated 6 pot engine (N52??), so is way down on power but much much more reliable.
Then, of course, you have the N20 2 litre 4 pot twin scroll single turbo engine. Mapped they make extremely good power and torque and are (relatively) reliable. I know of a really good one for sale BTW.
North West Surrey
Hi and welcome to the forum. 
I don't know too much about E89s, but from what I have read on here all 35is models had the DCT and Adaptive Suspension which seems to be expensive when it needs to be replaced. They were both optional on the 35i.
The 30i has the N52 engine that seems pretty bullet-proof (I'm currently on my 4th, albeit in a 3 Series). It won't have the performance of a 35i or 35is, but won't suffer from the issues mentioned for the turbo models so it probably depends how much performance you want!
I don't know too much about E89s, but from what I have read on here all 35is models had the DCT and Adaptive Suspension which seems to be expensive when it needs to be replaced. They were both optional on the 35i.
The 30i has the N52 engine that seems pretty bullet-proof (I'm currently on my 4th, albeit in a 3 Series). It won't have the performance of a 35i or 35is, but won't suffer from the issues mentioned for the turbo models so it probably depends how much performance you want!
MartinSanders
New member
Having owned two n52-powered BMWs, I gotta say these cars are a ton of fun! They're pretty reliable for older models and offer everything you want in a sports car, even if you're not fixated on headline figures. The N52 is known for its reliability, classic i6 naturally aspirated torquey nature, and has a good following in all models.
For me, I'm all about the reliability - these cars are aging, so it's more important to me than outright speed, especially when regular road use doesn't allow any performance-focused driving where 0-60 is all that usable.
The 35is is like the cream of the crop, super desirable and very much coveted. But the N54 engine can be a bit complicated and might run into some problems which other models avoid. No matter which option you select though, the Z4 is bound to be a ton of fun!
For me, I'm all about the reliability - these cars are aging, so it's more important to me than outright speed, especially when regular road use doesn't allow any performance-focused driving where 0-60 is all that usable.
The 35is is like the cream of the crop, super desirable and very much coveted. But the N54 engine can be a bit complicated and might run into some problems which other models avoid. No matter which option you select though, the Z4 is bound to be a ton of fun!
hey guys I want to thank all of you who replied to my post, very informative and basically reinforced my original plan to keep simple and look for
a 30i. I live in western Massachusetts where are very few z4 s drives around so I got a little excited when I saw the 35is. This a great site. Thanks again
a 30i. I live in western Massachusetts where are very few z4 s drives around so I got a little excited when I saw the 35is. This a great site. Thanks again