A couple of questions

E

eff1guy

Member
 West Mids
I'm after a bit of advice from all of you knowledgeable E85/E86 owners out there :oops: Currently have an E89 (my first Z) and don't know a great deal about the previous gen cars. Took a ride over to local Sytner stealers yesterday to check out a 2008 E86 3.0si Sport they have on 62k miles. Nice clean car as you'd expect for an AUC but out on the test drive the gearbox (manual) seemed a bit clunky to me, difficult to get some gears cleanly and 2nd & 4th gears were difficult to engage coming down the box! Is this normal or just maybe a selector issue? Salesman said he would put it through the workshop if I went ahead with it :rofl: No service book on site but he has emailed me the history this afternoon, 1st oil change at 12,973 then an Insp 1 at 33,517 just under 2 years later, then the next oil service at 46,858 some 4yrs and 1 month after the 1st oil change!! Does the oil get done on an Insp 1 or has it literally done 34k between the oil changes? :o I ask because the oil service box is ticked NO but the Inspection 1 is ticked YES, so do they tick it NO because it's done on the Insp 1 anyway?

3rd question coming up, sorry. I'm guessing it's possible to retro-fit cruise control on these or am I guessing wrong? :?

Thanks in advance for any help offered :thumbsup:
 
1. 2nd is a difficult shift (either way and especially with the CDV - clutch delay valve - still fitted) but it’s too subjective an area to say whether there’s a problem without a frame of reference. If 4th is obstructed, grinds or doesn’t engage smoothly then that is more serious and I’d consider walking away based on that alone.

2. Oil gets done on Inspection 1, yep. If “Inspection 1” is checked then the oil was replaced.

3. Yes, see here.
 
Thanks MrPT, since seeing the history it's put me off a bit anyway, 21k between oils worries me a bit but better than the 34k. I'd want the gearbox looking at anyway before I bit the bullet but I guess he'll just say it's got 12 months warranty if anythings not right. Maybe I'd be best looking for an auto. Great news on the cruise though, widens the choice somewhat if it can be added later, not many I've seen on AT since yesterday come with cruise fitted. :thumbsup:
 
I"be never noticed any clunkyness in the gear box. Worth trying out a few more. :wink: Then come back and compare to he one you fancy if time permits.
 
In regards to the gearbox, on all the cars I have seen it is never a delicate shift. It always feels quite heavy, I am not sure if the one you saw was particularly bad or just normal. Since buying my car I have gotten used to it now and it just feels normal to me.
 
My n52 engined e89 ruined its gearbox with 19k miles on the clock, started jumping out of 2nd followed shortly afterwards by terrible grinding sounds, bmw wouldn’t sell any separate parts for a repair but offered a replacement box for £5k :o
That was the end of that cars time with me :thumbsdown:
Rob
 
buzyg said:
Worth trying out a few more. :wink: Then come back and compare to he one you fancy if time permits.
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Yeah think I'll look for a local roadster & see how they compare. Love the Coupe shape but think I might miss getting the top down. 8) Not a fantastic deal anyhow but that's what you get when you're trading in!

ERX said:
It always feels quite heavy, I am not sure if the one you saw was particularly bad or just normal.
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Not at all what I was expecting from a BMW especially when everyone seems to rave how much better it is to drive a manual over a DCT :cry:

Smartbear said:
My n52 engined e89 ruined its gearbox with 19k miles on the clock
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Yeah I remember Rob, I think that was not long after I first joined the forum and you literally had the car a few days/weeks?? If I remember right, you didn't get it from BMW did you?
 
eff1guy said:
buzyg said:
Worth trying out a few more. :wink: Then come back and compare to he one you fancy if time permits.
Click to expand...

Yeah think I'll look for a local roadster & see how they compare. Love the Coupe shape but think I might miss getting the top down. 8) Not a fantastic deal anyhow but that's what you get when you're trading in!

ERX said:
It always feels quite heavy, I am not sure if the one you saw was particularly bad or just normal.
Click to expand...

Not at all what I was expecting from a BMW especially when everyone seems to rave how much better it is to drive a manual over a DCT :cry:

Smartbear said:
My n52 engined e89 ruined its gearbox with 19k miles on the clock
Click to expand...

Yeah I remember Rob, I think that was not long after I first joined the forum and you literally had the car a few days/weeks?? If I remember right, you didn't get it from BMW did you?
Click to expand...

No I didn’t, i purchased from an independent trader but was lucky enough to get my money back :oops:
Rob
 
I test drove three E85s before buying mine. All of them felt like the gearboxes were knackered, including mine :rofl: I've accepted it as a quirk...a bit like these dreadful BMW handbrakes :roll:
 
I find that they are very "mechanical" you have to be very precise and that it helps to hold the gear stick with a full hand to get the best changes. Tbh I have realised that with all my BMWs over the years.
But I know have it down to a fine art.
No grinding thoughjust precise firm changes needed.
D
 
Thanks to all for your replies.
There wasn't any grinding of gears or anything, the lever just needed a bit of a wiggle as you were trying to get the gear to get it to engage properly. Have found a 3.0si roadster for sale at a garage in Coventry which is only about 30 miles away, so I'll try to get over there next weekend and give that one a try before I start my search in earnest. Suppose I'd better think about putting mine up for sale rather than ending up with a crap trade in price :cry:
 
A fluid change helps the shifting a little but they are clunky. Having just changed my engine mounts that has made the biggest difference, it goes into first while moving but it's still a box you can feel.
 
Scooba_Steve said:
A fluid change helps the shifting a little but they are clunky. Having just changed my engine mounts that has made the biggest difference, it goes into first while moving but it's still a box you can feel.
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I'll see what the salesman has to say when I ring him back later, he's already rung me this morning & left a voicemail asking me for my thoughts :lol:

Nictrix said:
Why do you want to swap your 35is for an E86?
Is it just to free up a bit of cash?
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Yeah, it gets very little use as I don't need a daily. The first 8 months I did just over 4k miles but since 07/08/17 (upon return from a Euro road trip) to yesterday I've done 1,313 miles in it, just seems a bit of a waste really. Makes more sense to get something more reasonably priced for the limited use and put a bit back in the bank. Or so the wife tells me :?
 
Cruise can be easily sorted so no worries there :)

The box is notchy without a doubt. I removed the clutch delay valve and it did help a little. The gearbox is a burden that I got used to and now really enjoy. There’s the odd moment I go to shift into first at the lights and it doesn’t want to play ball, a quick shift into second before re trying first always works and it almost certainly isn’t a problem with the car you drove.

I’d say swapping a 35 for an e86 is probably a better investment too :thumbsup:
 
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