Best E89 model to buy..part deux

[CliveN]

I will buy a copy!

 

[tiglon]

Hi there ..of course you’re not being a dock…reasonable questions ..

So..

Of course what I’ve posted is subjective but the key question is how can it be anything else but subjective.? There are no data sets that can give us anything approaching a statistical or scientific assessment of these different issues.

What I have done is to integrate a huge body of empirical data accumulated over 10 years of looking at six or seven Internet forums and countless Facebook pages to draw some conclusions and in addition over 4000 hours of driving time spent with a multitude of Z fours in a variety of conditions I think I’m entitled to offer subjective opinions on the matter that are probably better validated and better reason than most others.

Take a simple example of post about roofs and engine problems with N 52’s. How many post occur across the Internet and forums about problems with rules probably five every day how many posts are there on M5 two engine problems apart from some van issues hardly ever therefore it’s not unreasonable to say that E 89‘s suffer from roof problems quite extensively and the N 52 engine is relatively trouble free

I’d be very pleased if somebody actually produced a well structured book on buying an owning a Z4 but all I see is short soundbites from people with limited experience offering I highly personalised opinion therefore I’ve decided to produce her a book covering all these matters and we’ll see what the market decides in terms of what people think about it .
.

For maintenance I would think you could do something to estimate the differences, by creating a list of things that are likely to go wrong in each car with estimated costs and how often they are likely to go wrong, along with estimated costs for consumables. That would allow you to at least begin to quantify how much more expensive a 35is is likely to be to own than a 23i etc. I think that could be really useful for prospective buyers.

Lots of estimates, but ball park figures would still be worthwhile.

I respect the idea and the effort in doing this.

 

[tiglon]

This is absolutely and the reality of things when one is making a decision to buy.
It actually bought my Havana Brown 35i based mainly on the fact that I loved the colour combination. The fact that it was a manual 35i scarcely enter into my head. Yes, I wouldn’t have bought it if it was one of the much lower performance cars but considerations like ‘weight distribution’ didn’t enter into. I never track my cars and to be honest, I doubt, given that I am just a ‘normal’ driver, that any supposed subtle nuance of weight distribution would actually make any difference to my laptimes.

Having sold that about 6 weeks ago, the same essentially principles applied to me now buying my Valencia Orange 28i Automatic. It was first and foremost the ‘look’ of the that sold it to me. Would I have bought it any more or less readily if it were a 35is? No. Did the fact that it’s pre-2015 put me off? No, not really. I will get the known pre-emptive measures done and absorb the cost.

We perhaps don’t like to admit it but one of the highest ranking, if not the highest, criterion in our decision-making to buy a car (any car) is entirely subjective. It is aesthetics. Whether we like what it looks like. That is impossible to quantify.

I do think the spreadsheet does have some utility though. Particularly, for someone who has no knowledge or experience of these cars. It affords some framework for someone to visually compare things. They may, for example, note that a particular model appears or is suggested to have higher maintenance or running costs and they my then wish to explore that further and understand why this is suggested, perhaps?

Aesthetics are a huge part of it for me, otherwise it's quite likely I would have ended up in a V8 SLK - but I just didn't like how the interior or exterior look compared to the E89.

 

[B21]

For maintenance I would think you could do something to estimate the differences, by creating a list of things that are likely to go wrong in each car with estimated costs and how often they are likely to go wrong, along with estimated costs for consumables. That would allow you to at least begin to quantify how much more expensive a 35is is likely to be to own than a 23i etc. I think that could be really useful for prospective buyers.

Lots of estimates, but ball park figures would still be worthwhile.

I respect the idea and the effort in doing this.

The big issue is probabilities…some folks have run up last £15k on 35i/35is repairs ..with BMW or Indy’s..others smaller failures fixed at home…

The ‘clever’ / ‘dedicated’ people can substantially reduce even bad cases compared to folks who just take it to an Indy that uses mostly bmw oe parts..

That’s why the second version of the ‘simple’ spreadsheet now has ranges for all the variables..

 

[jonzo]

But I have steadfastly refused to drive a newish 6 cylinder Boxster/Cayman because I know I would be devastated as to how “uncompelling” my BMWs would be in comparison. And I have a ZM as well as the E89. It’s just as well there is a huge financial delta between them (so I can’t afford the change) and that frankly Boxsters are essentially chavvy (my view only). And as a continental cruiser the E89 is not bad at all. All I would change is slightly less road roar (but then Boxsters have this too). Long live the E89!

That's pretty much where I'm at.

Is it the best handling car I've ever driven? Errr.... No. But it's pretty decent, and for the money they really are a lot of car. You definitely have a point about now being the time to buy them, too.

But also, they are indeed a great cruiser. So you can drive it in comfort to the Grossglockner and fit enough luggage for two in the boot. Try that in an Elise!

I did look at a G29 on a glorious summer day but it was the 30i, and the guy at the dealership wanted me to make an appointment to drive it in a week's time. The weather was rubbish a week later so I didn't bother...

I thought about trying an M40i but knew I'd want it if I did and I didn't really want to put £30K into a car that would spend a lot of its time sat on the drive.

 

[James35i]

Great write-up @B21! I think this will be very helpful for potential buyers.

Luckily, I'm still young and blissfully clueless enough to completely ignore things like handling, reliability, and maintenance, instantly making my car search way easier!