35i or 35is

T

th30d0r3

Member
 Uxbridge
Guys

It's time to get a new Zed, I've decided against the 911 and I've settled on a 35i or 35is. Trouble is I want the 35is but the 35i is more affordable and comes in manual.

Please help me decide, will I miss the 40bhp, louder exhaust and better brakes?
Can anyone with an 35is tell me what it's like to live with the DCT coming from a manual.

:headbang: driving me crazy.
 
for me it was a no brainer. the discounts offered by dealers makes the 35is the better option. i prefer an auto to a manual anyway and most people who have gone to dct prefer this over manual

if you are unsure, the best thing is to test drive them both and see if that helps you decide
 
I got the 35i simple because I didn't like the auto ,think you've got too test drive one before making your mind up :thumbsup:
 
I wasnt keen on auto's (had driven a few never owned one) dealer lent me 35is for a day still not totally convinced but I wanted 340 bhp so no choice really , after I had it for month it suddenly clicked , now well im on my second one
 
I drove the 35i with the DCT and I rather liked it, just didn't get to drive it for long enough to decide whether I could live with it though.
35is also has better suspension I'm led to believe.
 
metal licker said:
I got the 35i simple because I didn't like the auto ,think you've got too test drive one before making your mind up :thumbsup:
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Agree with this...the 35is is my favourite Z4 but it is let down by the DCT its an awesome gearbox and I have driven a M3 DCT also but if you prefer a manual you are stumped and for me the super quick gear changes and quicker 0 to 60 don't make up for the pleasure of swapping cogs the tried and trusted way. :thumbsup:
 
Depending on where you buy the price difference is only £1k between the two (31k / 32k) which makes it a no brainer imho?
 
I have the 35i with DCT - in my opinion it's an awesome box. Having owned cars with both manual and auto boxes (not the same car, obviously!), I think I prefer manual boxes but the DCT really impressed me.

Put your foot down and the power delivery is seamless, with no break for gear changes. Around town the car seems quite happy to just bumble about, although if I were to criticise the box at all then sometimes it holds on to a gear for a fraction too long when bumbling uphill.

Normally this wouldn't be an issue but combined with a lovely exhaust note it can sometimes sound like you're racing about when you're not. But, a quick flick of a flappy paddle and all is well again so there isn't a lot to dislike really.

Just my 2p, obviously :)
 
If you ignore the fact I have bought a 35iS and it has broken down (Grrr) I have driven both the 35i and bought 35iS. IMO the 35iS is far better. I tred a newer 35i and hated it, mainly due to the suspension. It was £32K, newer than the 35iS and a third of the miles but was not for me. It just didn't 'grab' me like the 35iS did ! Why was that ? Well ...

The suspension was seriously hard on the 35i and not 'adjustable' whereas the 35iS with the variable suspension was much more compliant. Normal is great. Sport is superb for pushing on and altering the steering / gear change speed as well.

Steering - just seems better weighted in the 35iS as opposed to the 35i.

Exhaust - I did not really notice the 35i exhaust whereas the 35iS was great - not massively louder but far more noticeable (you would have to try to see what I mean). I love the 35iS exhaust at +10db. I was worried by a review that said it was boomy at 2500-3000rpm. What utter rubbish. It is an absolute ideal mix of sporty but not aftermarket boom. There is not boom at all - just a quality that is missing with the 35i.

Gear change - I am an auto person. I have driven BMW autos as a policeman in 530d's for years and am very used to autos now. I recently tried a manual in a Fiesta ST after my 330d and though is was actually superb I missed 2 pedals ! The DCT is great. Ultra smooth changing up and seamless. The only complain compared to a 'normal' torque converter auto is the downchange can take a while whilst kicking down (due to it being a twin clutch box). This does just give you a chance to hold onto the steering wheel a little firmer for the surge when it comes :D

Acceleration - not massively different but one feels really fast as opposed to just 'fast'. 35bhp does notice more to the top of the rev range I would suggest.

Try both and buy a 35iS :wink:

Just buy one better than mine which after a week and 500 miles developed a misfire (something I think all of the 35i engines are potentially prone to!).
 
SO8 said:
If you ignore the fact I have bought a 35iS and it has broken down (Grrr) I have driven both the 35i and bought 35iS. IMO the 35iS is far better. I tred a newer 35i and hated it, mainly due to the suspension. It was £32K, newer than the 35iS and a third of the miles but was not for me. It just didn't 'grab' me like the 35iS did ! Why was that ? Well ...

The suspension was seriously hard on the 35i and not 'adjustable' whereas the 35iS with the variable suspension was much more compliant. Normal is great. Sport is superb for pushing on and altering the steering / gear change speed as well.

Steering - just seems better weighted in the 35iS as opposed to the 35i.

Exhaust - I did not really notice the 35i exhaust whereas the 35iS was great - not massively louder but far more noticeable (you would have to try to see what I mean). I love the 35iS exhaust at +10db. I was worried by a review that said it was boomy at 2500-3000rpm. What utter rubbish. It is an absolute ideal mix of sporty but not aftermarket boom. There is not boom at all - just a quality that is missing with the 35i.

Gear change - I am an auto person. I have driven BMW autos as a policeman in 530d's for years and am very used to autos now. I recently tried a manual in a Fiesta ST after my 330d and though is was actually superb I missed 2 pedals ! The DCT is great. Ultra smooth changing up and seamless. The only complain compared to a 'normal' torque converter auto is the downchange can take a while whilst kicking down (due to it being a twin clutch box). This does just give you a chance to hold onto the steering wheel a little firmer for the surge when it comes :D

Acceleration - not massively different but one feels really fast as opposed to just 'fast'. 35bhp does notice more to the top of the rev range I would suggest.

Try both and buy a 35iS :wink:

Just buy one better than mine which after a week and 500 miles developed a misfire (something I think all of the 35i engines are potentially prone to!).
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Very good write up :thumbsup:

It just shows how we all like different things regards gearboxes as we currently have one car with a Twin Clutch and one with a slushbox auto and I don't like either and I crave for a manual gearbox again...the 35is is still my fave Z4 though as I love its performance and rarity :D
 
SO8 said:
If you ignore the fact I have bought a 35iS and it has broken down (Grrr) I have driven both the 35i and bought 35iS. IMO the 35iS is far better. I tred a newer 35i and hated it, mainly due to the suspension. It was £32K, newer than the 35iS and a third of the miles but was not for me. It just didn't 'grab' me like the 35iS did ! Why was that ? Well ...

The suspension was seriously hard on the 35i and not 'adjustable' whereas the 35iS with the variable suspension was much more compliant. Normal is great. Sport is superb for pushing on and altering the steering / gear change speed as well.

Steering - just seems better weighted in the 35iS as opposed to the 35i.

Exhaust - I did not really notice the 35i exhaust whereas the 35iS was great - not massively louder but far more noticeable (you would have to try to see what I mean). I love the 35iS exhaust at +10db. I was worried by a review that said it was boomy at 2500-3000rpm. What utter rubbish. It is an absolute ideal mix of sporty but not aftermarket boom. There is not boom at all - just a quality that is missing with the 35i.

Gear change - I am an auto person. I have driven BMW autos as a policeman in 530d's for years and am very used to autos now. I recently tried a manual in a Fiesta ST after my 330d and though is was actually superb I missed 2 pedals ! The DCT is great. Ultra smooth changing up and seamless. The only complain compared to a 'normal' torque converter auto is the downchange can take a while whilst kicking down (due to it being a twin clutch box). This does just give you a chance to hold onto the steering wheel a little firmer for the surge when it comes :D

Acceleration - not massively different but one feels really fast as opposed to just 'fast'. 35bhp does notice more to the top of the rev range I would suggest.

Try both and buy a 35iS :wink:

Just buy one better than mine which after a week and 500 miles developed a misfire (something I think all of the 35i engines are potentially prone to!).
Click to expand...

Such a helpful response; they ALL were. I think I'll go try a 35is and decide from there, but I think the 35is is the desired choice.

Sadly there are none around to buy. If you see a white one with none black interior let me know :)
 
We have bought a new 35is in Valencia Orange with the individual black roof.
Taking delivery of it on Sunday (20-7). Piccies will go up once it's in our possession.
Managed to get 24% discount from Halliwell Jones in Chester
All specked out it came to a mighty £54K but with the discount it came down to nearly new prices of similar spec'ed cars.
No brainer for us really.
Roll on Sunday.
 
congrats. when i bought my melbourne red a couple of weeks ago, i had the choice of this one or red.... i opted for the red obviously :)

good to know the orange one has been snapped up too
 
according to my son works at bm 35is every time much better car gearbox is sound as a pound just had a price just short of 50k when specc up discount 15 k mine for £34,850 just don't on if I can get rid of my m
 
Hi envy,
Not sure it would of been this one you had the choice of though.
Been custom built for us. Had to wait 13 weeks from ordering to ownership.
Friends have the melbourne red and it does look good.


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