BMW Sales strong but E89 -16%

In many ways I think BMW must be frustrated with the Z4 as when the built the Z4M it was out sold by the X5M/X6M which seems crazy when you think about it, then they take a slightly different approach with the E89 & yet still its not set the world alight for some reason yet I genuinely have always liked the E89 it has a lovely interior & great looks to my eyes too.

I can see them ditching the sports car full stop eventually & just end up focusing on the volume sales they get from other models :cry:
 
I doubt the X5M and X6M were european sales tho. It makes no sense as fuel is so expensive.

I bet 90% went to Saudi/US as fuel prices allow running them.
 
As this month's BMW Car magazine states, BMW made the Z4M to be a more hardcore driver's car, so expected the low sales numbers.

Personally I'd go for an Boxster, SLK or TT over the E89, doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. That said, the Z4MC was and still is my dream car (within reach anyway). The E89 and E85/86 are completely different marques imo and shouldn't share the Z4 badge, the E89 would be better labelled as the Z6.
 
i personally prefer the looks of the z over all of the above and for that reason will always opt for the e89 over the others if i ever was in the market for one after i give mine back. next time round, i will just opt for the 35i or 35is.

having had the older z4's, i wouldnt consider those either as i found the manual box a pain when pulling off, the auto box was better, the coupe and roadster i ad both tramlined and had a bone shaking ride.

i've heard loads of horror stories about porsche boxster engines, the slk is too girly and the tt just lacks the masculine appeal to me.... but the tt rs is the closest one to replacing the z4 if it ever came to that as its performance is awesome
 
tomscott said:
I doubt the X5M and X6M were european sales tho. It makes no sense as fuel is so expensive.

I bet 90% went to Saudi/US as fuel prices allow running them.
Click to expand...
That is true Tom but I still found it depressing!
 
StevenH72 said:
Personally I'd go for an Boxster, SLK or TT over the E89, doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. .
Click to expand...
That is pretty much what people have done, as I have said earlier I really like the E89 I think its gorgeous from the front & I personally prefer the interior on the E89 because it was the interior that was the biggest disappointment for me about my Z4M (nothing wrong with it but just not my cup of tea), I haven't driven the E89 so I don't know whether its good to drive or not though.
 
Finisterre said:
it looks great. The SLK isn't as pretty.


What is the problem with it?
Click to expand...

The three cars I looked at were the SLK I was dead set on one, the new boxter as again very good looking car outside and the Z4 wasn't even on the list to be fair.

SLK I would of loved however it's already starting to date and I'd be kicking myself. The boxter unfortunately has a hideous dash in my opinion and wasn't for me. Just seems very boring. When I did look at the Z4 and the 35is I knew that was the car I wanted and I'm very glad that's what I went for.

The E89 is a car that people would like to own but don't want to pay the money they want for it. However it is priced competitively against the competition.
 
Such a shame they didn't make an M version of the E89, and quite baffled as to why they didn't. Would surely have been a winning combination. :?
 
original guvnor said:
TitanTim said:
I can see why people go onto a Porsche thinking their a better car but I refrain from having the wool pulled over my eyes :P :) I would still plump for a 35is everytime.

Tim.
Click to expand...

Have you driven the Boxster S Tim? Which bit about it do you think is pulling the wool over people's eyes? Did you arrive at the conclusion having driven it for any extended period of time?
Click to expand...

Only for half an hour :D and it belonged to a work colleague, some 18 months ago, he bought it secondhand albeit it was only a few months old. I didn't get to drive it with any gusto as respected it wasn't my car. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice motor, sounded and felt good good but its not a car I would lust after. For me I probably go for looks and and a nice interior over outright driveability so a Boxster wouldn't float my boat in those respects. I think the E89s interior is such a nicer place to sit than a Boxster for style etc and I wouldn't give a boxster a second look unlike the Zed when parked up. I find the shape slightly boring to be truthfull :oops:

I agree with zztop, E89s and Boxsters are different cars for different markets and feel BMW never had the Boxster in its sights so shouldn't be compared. For me the Zed is a comfortable cruiser that I wouldn't wish to drive on its limits, I didn't buy it with that in mind, but for the looks, nice interior, perfect roadster/coupe combination without the security worry and maintenance of a ragtop roof which I find a PITA.

I love it when I'm sitting the Z4 and I see another and think what a great looking car, then realise I'm sitting in one :)

Tim.
 
lol - seems everyone who has an e89 really wanted a boxter.

Why did they not just go buy a boxter then?

Well - I'm happy with the e89 (& I had an e85 before it).

Plenty of people have a few quid in their pocket & could choose pretty much whatever vehicle they wanted - so I look at all sorts of things before I settled on the z4, including a 911 (a real Porsche), S class merc, aston martin (various) etc.

For me the Z4 has the balance of looks, performance in the real world (maybe not a racetrack, but who cares - I don't drive on racetracks), not too much idiot attraction (so you can park it without damage).... to be honest there is nothing else at the moment that I would consider swapping for.

Go figure.... seems some of us e89 owners are happy with their choice :)

Matt
 
TitanTim said:
original guvnor said:
TitanTim said:
I can see why people go onto a Porsche thinking their a better car but I refrain from having the wool pulled over my eyes :P :) I would still plump for a 35is everytime.

Tim.
Click to expand...

Have you driven the Boxster S Tim? Which bit about it do you think is pulling the wool over people's eyes? Did you arrive at the conclusion having driven it for any extended period of time?
Click to expand...

Only for half an hour :D
Tim.
Click to expand...

Blimey, that's longer than the entire time you've driven your Zed. :poke: :P
 
Zed_Steve said:
Such a shame they didn't make an M version of the E89, and quite baffled as to why they didn't. Would surely have been a winning combination. :?
Click to expand...
I agree I think it would have been a winning combo especially mated to the M3`s V8 that would have been nice ...but for me because the E85 M only sold in small numbers I think BMW just couldn't see the point which is a shame, I really love the 35iS & to be honest that's on the money performance wise anyway.
 
Changed from 2.3i in December to a 250cdi AMG sport SLK and the SLK is not as pretty from outside bu the cabin is a great place to be.
The interior is cracking. The ride is better. The feeling of acceleration is better although both roughly same specs for 0-62.
The 500nm of torque at 1500 revs really throws you back and also makes it a bit tail happy coming off roundabouts in a low gear.
I miss the straight 6 howl at high revs but I think the diesel sounds better than the 4pot diesel tbh it almost has a throaty V8 sound under harsh acceleration.
Only my tuppence having had the E89 for 4 years from new and the slk for 4 months from new. :poke:
:driving:
 
The reason that Slk sales haven't been hit as hard is that for the last couple of years they have been punted out to the lease market for £200-250 PCM. Very tempting and good for people with more flexible company car schemes. Perhaps if you take this out you start seeing a trend of reducing numbers in this sector. As was mentioned with the 4x4s - they are fast becoming the weekend toy... The perception is that you can't drive sportily any more so you need to do something else for kicks that involves stuffing kit and getting to Somewhere remotish....
 
zztop said:
shambolic said:
Ps forgot the high 30s mpg.
Approx 36mpg from brand new, 2500 miles done :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That's funny, I'm getting that in the 28i :) haven't even run it in yet either :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
The 2.3 was nearer 27mpg over its 4 years. :poke:
In the SlK I have a heavy right foot as it just keeps going and going. Wife gets over 40mpg on her commute I get low 20s at weekend :rofl:
 
StevenH72 said:
From a selfish point of view I'm very unlikely to ever want an E89 or any future 2 seater that BMW are likely to make (due to green credentials etc). If they were to stop 2 seater production altogether, it would be fantastic news for our residuals.
Click to expand...

I think all manufacturers are be taking the green route. Porsche, Mercedes, Audi etc are all bringing out low emiting petrol, diesel, or hybrid versions of their sports models.

We are being forced more and more to plump for a version that satisfies the eco mentalists. And just look at F1 now, urgh! :roll:
 
Is there had been an E89 M version, I would have seriously considered that. For me, the E89 did not offer anything I wanted (it drives like my X5, the interior is like my X5, it has the same horse power as my X5). Basically, it is not different enough in driving experience and does not have enough involvement when driving it being a cruiser - for which I use my X5 already.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom