Advice please... 35iS or 30i Sport Highline

B

boyarms

Member
Hi all

Been looking to pick up a Z4 over past few weeks and narrowed it down to a couple of options, thought I would ask the opinions here before I make a final call in next 24-48hrs.

13 plate Z4 sDrive35iS - 48k miles
11 plate Z4 sDrive30i Sport - 59k miles

both have same exterior (DSB)/interior (Canberra Beige) colour options, both have nav/heated seats (ie. good spec). Both full BMWSH, both on AUC so come with 12m warranty etc.

Have driven both albeit only briefly, the 13 plate pulled a little quicker and felt a touch more responsive and is a slightly nicer interior (electric seats / MSport steering wheel) and if the prices were closer would be my choice... BUT... the 11 plate is £7k cheaper. This isn't going to be a daily driver, mainly for weekend use.

Any views / thoughts welcome, excited to join the z4 club!

BA
 
For the weekend, easy one. The one that makes you smile the most. So the 35is. :D

Have to ask have you taken an ///MR out for a run. Even more of a weekend car. :driving: :thumbsup:
 
If money was no object, no discussion... but can't ignore the price difference.
Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know what an ///MR is?
Safe to say I haven't driven one... this will be my first adventure away from more 'traditional' BMWs (had 5s and 3s tourings) now work from home, kids are grown up, and so rarely need more than 2 seats!
 
boyarms said:
If money was no object, no discussion... but can't ignore the price difference.
Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know what an ///MR is?
Safe to say I haven't driven one... this will be my first adventure away from more 'traditional' BMWs (had 5s and 3s tourings) now work from home, kids are grown up, and so rarely need more than 2 seats!
Click to expand...
E85 ///M Roadster. 338 bhp of pure fun, in a sexy little E85 body.
What price bracket are you looking at?
 
The ///MR is an M Roadster - A very capable car but more hard core.

From my experience I would say bite the bullet and go for the 35is - I don't say this just because I've got that model but because I've also had a 3.0l E89 previously.
I ordered and bought my 35is without a test drive - the salesman said they were chalk and cheese. I was sceptical but he was correct.

Don't get me wrong, if you do go down the 3.0l route you'll be very happy - just don't try a 35is after you've bought it!
 
Welcome to the forum by the way. :thumbsup:

Just to clarify, up to late 2008 BMW made the E85 (roadster) and E86 (Coupe) with various engines, with the "M" version topping the range.

Then in 2009 they launched just one replacement model, the E89 which had a folding metal roof like the 2 cars you have highlighted. The 35is was the top of the range E89 - and being a turbo engine remapping is an option if you feel the need for more. (The 30i has no turbo so can't be remapped for more power).

It probably depends on exactly what you are looking for, but good luck finding it. :thumbsup:
 
Mr Tidy said:
Welcome to the forum by the way. :thumbsup:

Just to clarify, up to late 2008 BMW made the E85 (roadster) and E86 (Coupe) with various engines, with the "M" version topping the range.

Then in 2009 they launched just one replacement model, the E89 which had a folding metal roof like the 2 cars you have highlighted. The 35is was the top of the range E89 - and being a turbo engine remapping is an option if you feel the need for more. (The 30i has no turbo so can't be remapped for more power).

It probably depends on exactly what you are looking for, but good luck finding it. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Mr tidy is half right, the 3.0i with the n52 engine doesn’t have a turbo but it can be mapped for more power-it just doesn’t gain a huge amount from it :?
Rob
 
Morning, I've driven both cars and now own a 35iS, buy it you will not be disappointed, I have a permanent grin on my face :D
 
It all comes down to your budget and what you want to spend for a weekend car.
The 35is obviously has more power but it comes with a few more problems that you might want to read about and prepare yourself for.
 
Thanks for all the replies, and I can totally see why those with a 35iS love them.

But...

The 30i is bang on budget, the 35iS completely blows the budget. I shouldn't even have driven it....!
 
Coming from a Z4M I test drove a 30i, 35i and 35is, ended up with a manual 2010 30i M Sport. All comes down to budget really.

All in my opinion of course, but the 35is just didn't live up to my expectations or the hype and certainly wasn't worth the £23k they were asking for it. I knew it was never going to be a Z4M rival for rawness, but quickly realised that DCT wasn't for, if it was a daily then perhaps.

Next up was a stunning 35i manual, sadly missed out on that as we couldn't come to an agreement on price and it sold. On reflection this was a good thing as a local 30i with 33k miles came along at price which was only just into 5 figures with a full BMW service history. At this price point it was an absolute no brainier. Whilst it's obviously not got the grunt of the turbo engines, it really is a sweet engine and never leaves me wanting more, also been very reliable.

So in summary if money is no object then it would be a manual 35i, but it wasn't worth another 80% and the 35is certainly wasn't worth 220% over what I have now.

Happy shopping.
 
boyarms said:
...., the 35iS completely blows the budget. I shouldn't even have dritten it....!
Click to expand...

I did warn you!!!
My suggestion is - blow the budget and a bit more - as you will in a few months time, be bemoaning the fact you didn’t buy the 35is.
 
To add some perspective re the price difference i assume this is the 35is at £22500 ? Making the 11 plate 59k 30i £15500 :(
https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201905157968059?location=Westwood%20Rd,%20Burnley%20BB12%200HR,%20UK&quoteref=528af44d-7145-4db4-b784-3b4578735dd5
 
My maths skills need some work. The cheaper car is 14,500 so difference is 8k.
However I look at it, I can't make the more expensive car work, and I still really enjoyed driving the 30i.
So on Saturday I will be picking up a z4 sLine30i Sport!

Thanks everybody for your opinions... will pop a photo up on Saturday :D
 
boyarms said:
My maths skills need some work. The cheaper car is 14,500 so difference is 8k.
However I look at it, I can't make the more expensive car work, and I still really enjoyed driving the 30i.
So on Saturday I will be picking up a z4 sLine30i Sport!

Thanks everybody for your opinions... will pop a photo up on Saturday :D
Click to expand...
Why not buy a 35i DCT, all the thrills of the 35is for less money :)
 
I haven't driven a 35i or 35is, but I made a desktop decision to look for a 30i manual based on the following reasons:

1. Whilst the 30i can have it's own issues I think there is relatively less things likely to go wrong. When researching I read about things like high pressure fuel pump, injectors, turbos, direct injection carbon build-up, adaptive suspension. In the real world these problems may not crop up that frequently on the 35is, or once sorted may not re-occur and I'm prepared to acknowledge that, but at the time I was researching I perceived the 30i to be lower risk for long term ownership costs.

2. Having had a V8 in the past I realised that a decent engine/exhaust sound can give as much driving pleasure as outright speed. For this reason I knew I wanted a 6 cylinder in some form, but what went against the 35i and 35is for me was reading some anecdotal comments from others that the higher powered cars get up to silly speeds so easily that you don't really get to enjoy the straight 6 sound working it's way up through the higher rev range.

For me the 30i has plenty of power for the driving I do but this is subjective. I've had turbo powered cars before and don't hanker after outright speed anymore, but if you do then the other posters are right and you will want the quicker car regardless of cost!
 
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