8 weeks ownership

[fatbaldboy]

2 months in my 2009, 50,000 mile 35i auto which is much more of a weekend than a daily driven car.

My first BMW and my first auto.

I have several 2 seaters under my belt (s2000, Boxster, MX5s and a TTS).

I never drive the car anywhere near it's limits but occasionally enjoy a hard acceleration when I've a clear straight road in front of me. I wil test the launch mode one day.

I absolutely love the sound of the car. My first car that burbles and occasionally pops - but in a mature way

I love the auto - not really anything to compare it to buy I really fancied the change and I'm glad I got it.
I've rarely used the paddles but will try to use them more with some summer drives.

I don't love the weird placement of the 'left knee and key fob' heater. What's that all about? Proper s**t.

I don't love just how low the car is - although I guess that's more that I don't love how many speed bumps there are around here...but we need them because of the twat drivers...so I guess I love how low the car is...but hate the twat drivers.

I don't love not having heated seats.
Q: are the looms in place for the seats?

Useless things I've found out:
- hold the start/stop button when turning the engine off shuts the screen down
- you can put the key in 'upside down' and it still works

Jobs I've done:
- Replaced the worn roof buttons (about £30 from Ali Express)
- Switched to 326m wheels (about £750 after being refurbished OEM silver by 'alloy fix dartford')
- changed the hoops (new circa £80 with bolts etc) and purchased a 2nd hand windbreak (circa £100 )
- purchased a car cover

Jobs to do
- switch the aerial to a stubby so the cover fits on without removing the aerial
- fit the MMI(?) thing to allow android auto to be used
- wheel alignment
- salmon relays
- LCI indicators

 

[fatbaldboy]

 

[Ole gits rule]

Looking good sir - did the wheel refurb include tyres?

The height of the car can be a pain around town but it's not that bad, its more the speeding up and slowing down which annoys me.

 

[fatbaldboy]

Looking good sir - did the wheel refurb include tyres?

I had 2 nearly new tyres for the rears already (were going to go on the departed TTS) so just bought 2 2nd hand Pilot Sports for the fronts for around £180 the pair.

 

[fatbaldboy]

The refurb was £340.

 

[Ole gits rule]

Going to say about £75 to £80 a corner is the going rate for a refurb

 

[Pondrew]

Excellent!
Didn't know the key fob works upside down!
The 326 wheels may have their problems, but they are the best looking wheel on an E89 IMHO.

 

[Marcoose]

A 35i ? Oh, dear. If you believe the internets, you’ll be offloading it soon. It’s too expensive to maintain. It’ll ruin you. :fuelfire:

Is ‘auto’ the 7-speed DCT ? Or is there a proper auto box for the 35i ?

There’s a thread about installing heated seats.

 

[clarker63]

Q: are the looms in place for the seats?

No. I had to make a loom on my previous 2009/23i because they were non heated/manually adjusted - so no power to the seat. My notes are on here if you search for it. If you already have electric adjustment its a little easier, as its only the heat circuits you need to do.

and heres that thread.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1363305#p1363305

Nothing wrong with the DCT - I love it - with the exception of selecting reverse. takes a little too long for impatient me. Also I like the 326s on my 35is as you can see.

 

[fatbaldboy]

Didn't know the key fob works upside down!

The gift I have given, you're welcome

 

[fatbaldboy]

Is ‘auto’ the 7-speed DCT ?

Yea that's the one. I love it

There’s a thread about installing heated seats.

I've given it a quick read - not something I'll be doing anytime soon if it's not just plug and play

 

[fatbaldboy]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1363305#p1363305

Thanks. I do have electric memory seats so if I do some to do it it'll be a little easier.

Nothing wrong with the DCT - I love it

Ditto

Also I like the 326s on my 35is as you can see.

Beautiful aren't they They contrast perfectly with your car colour - very nice indeed. I think the OEM silver is a little lighter than a 'normal' silver?

 

[Busterboo]

Is ‘auto’ the 7-speed DCT ? Or is there a proper auto box for the 35i ?

:rofl:

 

[Mr Tidy]

That's a great colour combination and it sounds like you mostly love your Z4, so good luck with the rest of your plans.

 

[B21]

Is ‘auto’ the 7-speed DCT ? Or is there a proper auto box for the 35i ?

If he wants a proper auto box (ZF8HP) here’s a thread on how to do it.

https://www.spoolstreet.com/threads/oem-level-8hp-swaps-in-e-series-cars.8366/

:tumbleweed:

 

[Marcoose]

It seems OP was using ‘auto’ and ‘DCT’ interchangeably. All good. After all, the DCT does change gears automatically. Obviously the rest of us too smart for our own good would rather die than call the DCT a mere automatic gearbox. Hmpf.

 

[Busterboo]

Jobs I've done:
- Replaced the worn roof buttons (about £30 from Ali Express)

More details, please!

 

[fatbaldboy]

It seems OP was using ‘auto’ and ‘DCT’ interchangeably.

Interesting, would never have known that's a thing. I wondered why my original post prompted the earlier response.

From a random site:
"While some DCTs offer manual driving modes, most dual-clutch transmissions behave much like automatic transmissions–at least to the untrained hand. Under the hood, however, there's a lot more going on. However, a DCT isn't really an automatic. It's an Automated Manual Transmission."

I remain an untrained (but newly informed) hand

 

[fatbaldboy]

Jobs I've done:
- Replaced the worn roof buttons (about £30 from Ali Express)

More details, please!

A guy on this forum (AnubisZed) does great YouTube content for the Z4:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X-7-l_adTlk&t=29s&pp=ygUrQk1XIFo0IEU4OSwgcm9vZiBhbmQgUERDIHN3aXRjaCByZXBsYWNlbWVudA%3D%3D

He has links to the buttons in the video description although I actually bought these - a little more than the £30 I mentioned:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0hzc8G

 

[Busterboo]

Jobs I've done:
- Replaced the worn roof buttons (about £30 from Ali Express)

More details, please!

A guy on this forum (AnubisZed) does great YouTube content for the Z4:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X-7-l_adTlk&t=29s&pp=ygUrQk1XIFo0IEU4OSwgcm9vZiBhbmQgUERDIHN3aXRjaCByZXBsYWNlbWVudA%3D%3D

He has links to the buttons in the video description although I actually bought these - a little more than the £30 I mentioned:
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0hzc8G

Thank you very much!