Difference Between the z4 35i and 35is

[tiglon]

I'm not sure where you lot are finding these well-specced 35i's for so much less than a 35is, certainly not on Autotrader where a LCI 30k 35i without adaptive suspension costs £26k but a LCI 20k 35is costs £27k - a grand extra for much lower mileage and all the extras without having to modify anything.

I'm also curious where you find a louder exhaust for the 35i for "a small number of pounds".

 

[Pondy]

I'm also curious where you find a louder exhaust for the 35i for "a small number of pounds".

 

[Marcoose]

The ‘i’ is to the ‘is’ like the Boxster is to the 911. (Nah, it isn’t!) But you’ve all asked Boxster owners why they didn’t buy a 911, only to hear long laments explaining a Boxster is better than a 911. Lame.

I find the ‘i’ a superb motor. If I owned one I’d be putting laps on ‘is’. Full stop.

 

[Z4MAD]

Dear Comrades,

I thank you all for your most kind assistance which has been of huge benefit enabling me to utilise the inherent knowledge of the members of this forum for the extrapolative purpose to which their replies have been put.

I have now become far more cognizant of the difference betwixt the BMW Z4 35i and the BMW Z4 35is which in fact, appear to be quite modest.

From what I have been able to glean from your most helpful replies is:

The 35is has the nomenclature of 35is emblazoned upon the instrumentation, footwell carpets and upon the front wings albeit this is an delete option.

The 35is exhaust is 10 decibels greater.

The suspension on the 35is may be adjusted to a harder setting upon engaging Sport Mode.

On some colours the exterior mirrors on the 35is are painted silver.

The 35is is possessed of thirty six brake horse power more than the 35i.

I have one more query: I note that 'Hill Start' is usually stated in an advertisement as an Optional Extra. Whilst I am possessed of an minuscule degree of knowledge, it is nevertheless my understanding, that the Dual Clutch Transmission on the 35i and 35is will allow the motor car to roll backwards on a hill; I am presupposing the 'Hill Start Assist' option eliminates this,... is the case, please?

Once again I thank you all for your most kind and generous assistance.

With kind regards,

MAD

 

[The.Analyst]

So except for all the differences, they are the same?

For a brand new car in its day yes there were a few changes. today compared to a 35i the only thing that isn’t easily fixed to make the two technically identical is a 35is speedo…even that there are people who will do that face plate.

So that’s quite a price premium for a speedo and a few holes in an exhaust?

Just can’t change the VIN number otherwise you could easily turn a 35i onto a 35is for a small number of pounds..

Not that it matters anyway….most people reckon tired adaptive suspension is a bit anticlimactic.

Sour grapes, mate?

No not all..I could have afforded whatever I wanted..my choice was driven by colour and spec not price.

I’m pointing out that if you plan to modify a stock car a 35i can be a better starting point than a 35is.

I tried a 35is with adaptive suspension and certainly wouldn’t pay a price premium for it.

On the other hand if a 35is in the right colour had come up I wouldn’t have rejected for any ideological reasons..

The point being that a decent re-map and new suspension would have eliminated the ‘extra features’ that you are paying for.

But each to their own beliefs..

A 35is is a marketing man’s dream…a bit of zero cost fluff and sell it for a major mark up.

If they really wanted to do a M class car then they could have at least put a decent inter cooler on it, that would have removed the need for the silly overboost and some decent suspension plus a LSD.

 

[The.Analyst]

I'm not sure where you lot are finding these well-specced 35i's for so much less than a 35is, certainly not on Autotrader where a LCI 30k 35i without adaptive suspension costs £26k but a LCI 20k 35is costs £27k - a grand extra for much lower mileage and all the extras without having to modify anything.

I'm also curious where you find a louder exhaust for the 35i for "a small number of pounds".

On AT today the bottom 5 ish cars are 35i at £14k ish average ..the top 5 car ish cars are 35is at £23k ish..

As someone pointed out a bit of work on a reasonator box or baffle box with a 4.5 inch grinder and a welder would get you to the same point.

Given that there were precious few changes to 35i / 35is over its run, paying big money for a newer one doesn’t buy you a lot..

Condition is much more important than age or mileage

 

[The.Analyst]

Dear Comrades,

I thank you all for your most kind assistance which has been of huge benefit enabling me to utilise the inherent knowledge of the members of this forum for the extrapolative purpose to which their replies have been put.

I have now become far more cognizant of the difference betwixt the BMW Z4 35i and the BMW Z4 35is which in fact, appear to be quite modest.

From what I have been able to glean from your most helpful replies is:

The 35is has the nomenclature of 35is emblazoned upon the instrumentation, footwell carpets and upon the front wings albeit this is an delete option.

The 35is exhaust is 10 decibels greater.

The suspension on the 35is may be adjusted to a harder setting upon engaging Sport Mode.

On some colours the exterior mirrors on the 35is are painted silver.

The 35is is possessed of thirty six brake horse power more than the 35i.

I have one more query: I note that 'Hill Start' is usually stated in an advertisement as an Optional Extra. Whilst I am possessed of an minuscule degree of knowledge, it is nevertheless my understanding, that the Dual Clutch Transmission on the 35i and 35is will allow the motor car to roll backwards on a hill; I am presupposing the 'Hill Start Assist' option eliminates this,... is the case, please?

Once again I thank you all for your most kind and generous assistance.

With kind regards,

MAD

Hill start is a software function of the DSC/ABS system..it can be toggled on and off with a suitable app..

 

[Chippie]

I have one more query: I note that 'Hill Start' is usually stated in an advertisement as an Optional Extra. Whilst I am possessed of an minuscule degree of knowledge, it is nevertheless my understanding, that the Dual Clutch Transmission on the 35i and 35is will allow the motor car to roll backwards on a hill; I am presupposing the 'Hill Start Assist' option eliminates this,... is the case, please?

At idle the DCT box will allow the car to roll backwards on a hill, the hill start assist will hold it for a few seconds once the foot brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle without the car rolling backwards.

 

[Z4MAD]

Dear Comrade The.Analyst,

I thank you for your response. However, would it be possible, please, to provide greater detail as to the operation of the Hill Start device,... for example, does it actuate at the very instant it detects the motor car is about to roll backwards?

Thank you and kind regards,

MAD

 

[Z4MAD]

I have one more query: I note that 'Hill Start' is usually stated in an advertisement as an Optional Extra. Whilst I am possessed of an minuscule degree of knowledge, it is nevertheless my understanding, that the Dual Clutch Transmission on the 35i and 35is will allow the motor car to roll backwards on a hill; I am presupposing the 'Hill Start Assist' option eliminates this,... is the case, please?

At idle the DCT box will allow the car to roll backwards on a hill, the hill start assist will hold it for a few seconds once the foot brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle without the car rolling backwards.

I have one more query: I note that 'Hill Start' is usually stated in an advertisement as an Optional Extra. Whilst I am possessed of an minuscule degree of knowledge, it is nevertheless my understanding, that the Dual Clutch Transmission on the 35i and 35is will allow the motor car to roll backwards on a hill; I am presupposing the 'Hill Start Assist' option eliminates this,... is the case, please?

At idle the DCT box will allow the car to roll backwards on a hill, the hill start assist will hold it for a few seconds once the foot brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle without the car rolling backwards.

Dear Comrade Chippie,

Thank you, your post preceded my response to The.Analyst and crossed somewhere betwixt Jupiter and Mars

With kind regards,

MAD

 

[tiglon]

I'm not sure where you lot are finding these well-specced 35i's for so much less than a 35is, certainly not on Autotrader where a LCI 30k 35i without adaptive suspension costs £26k but a LCI 20k 35is costs £27k - a grand extra for much lower mileage and all the extras without having to modify anything.

I'm also curious where you find a louder exhaust for the 35i for "a small number of pounds".

On AT today the bottom 5 ish cars are 35i at £14k ish average ..the top 5 car ish cars are 35is at £23k ish..

As someone pointed out a bit of work on a reasonator box or baffle box with a 4.5 inch grinder and a welder would get you to the same point.

Given that there were precious few changes to 35i / 35is over its run, paying big money for a newer one doesn’t buy you a lot..

Condition is much more important than age or mileage

The cheaper 35i's are all older and pre-LCI - not really comparing like for like. The 2 LCI 35i's are just as expensive as the 35is. The £14k 35i's are £14k because they are 12 years old and higher mileage. Also they're not orange....

Who buys a £20k car and tales a grinder and welder to the exhaust?

Can't you enjoy your own car without snide remarks about people who bought a more expensive one? You bought a great car, so did I. We both win.

 

[Z4MAD]

May I make an request,... What is Pre-LCI, please?

Concerning the orange 35is on Autotrader which is now at £25,000,... it was only but a few weeks ago that it was priced at £27,500.

 

[Chippie]

Dear Comrade The.Analyst,

I thank you for your response. However, would it be possible, please, to provide greater detail as to the operation of the Hill Start device,... for example, does it actuate at the very instant it detects the motor car is about to roll backwards?

Thank you and kind regards,

MAD

When on an incline the hill hold maintains the brake pressure through the ABS pump for a few seconds when the brake pedal is released.

LCI refers to the face lift cars, starting from around 2013-2014 (I think) pre-LCI is the cars produced up to then

 

[Chippie]

Only difference as far as I am aware with LCI was side indicators and headlights

 

[Chippie]

And possibly netting in boot

 

[The.Analyst]

And possibly netting in boot

Netting in the boot came in the 2012 MY along with uni directional paddle shifts

LCI as Chippie said had revised LED DRLs, side repeaters and some changes to colours and trims. Not much of a LCI

 

[Z4MAD]

Does 'Unidirectional Paddle shifts' indicate that the gear selection paddles move in unison with the steering wheel? If so, that would appear to be an excellent benefit.

Another question, is the adjustable steering column an standard fitment?

 

[Mr Tidy]

Another question, is the adjustable steering column an standard fitment?

I've no idea about E89s but if so it would surely be "a standard fitment"!

Height and reach adjustment for the steering column were both standard on all my E86s, E46s, E87, E91 and current E90.

I'd be surprised if even BMW were so parsimonious they decided to make it an option on the E89.

 

[Marcoose]

For a brand new car in its day yes there were a few changes. today compared to a 35i the only thing that isn’t easily fixed to make the two technically identical is a 35is speedo…even that there are people who will do that face plate.

So that’s quite a price premium for a speedo and a few holes in an exhaust?

Just can’t change the VIN number otherwise you could easily turn a 35i onto a 35is for a small number of pounds..

Not that it matters anyway….most people reckon tired adaptive suspension is a bit anticlimactic.

Sour grapes, mate?

No not all..I could have afforded whatever I wanted..my choice was driven by colour and spec not price.

I’m pointing out that if you plan to modify a stock car a 35i can be a better starting point than a 35is.

I tried a 35is with adaptive suspension and certainly wouldn’t pay a price premium for it.

On the other hand if a 35is in the right colour had come up I wouldn’t have rejected for any ideological reasons..

The point being that a decent re-map and new suspension would have eliminated the ‘extra features’ that you are paying for.

But each to their own beliefs..

A 35is is a marketing man’s dream…a bit of zero cost fluff and sell it for a major mark up.

If they really wanted to do a M class car then they could have at least put a decent inter cooler on it, that would have removed the need for the silly overboost and some decent suspension plus a LSD.

Yep, buyer’s remorse.

 

[The.Analyst]

Does 'Unidirectional Paddle shifts' indicate that the gear selection paddles move in unison with the steering wheel? If so, that would appear to be an excellent benefit.

Another question, is the adjustable steering column an standard fitment?

Unidirectional paddles refers to the fact that left paddle shifts the box down and right paddle (on the steering wheel) shifts up only.

Earlier versions had the ability for each paddle to do both up and down shifts…some people found that counter intuitive and / or confusing

As stated rake is adjustable on all models..no reach option was ever offered..