E89 35i M Sport Manual

[john-e89]

The biggest killer of my test drive of the 35is with DCT was that it decided to shift for me on roundabouts at the most inconvenient times leaving the car "dead" in third gear, even though I had manually selected 2nd on entry of the roundabout. It kept doing that as well in bends when slowing down that it would just go to fourth / fifth gear even though I wanted to keep it in third.

Others have said that they don't get that situation, but it drove me mad enough on a test drive that I never wanted the car.

They don’t stay in manual unless you’ve shifted the lever to the left Paul, you can briefly use it as a manual without shifting it but as you found it’ll quickly shift back itself back to auto if you don’t use the paddles or lever quickly enough.

As someone who’s owned both an E85 si and an E89 35is, which do you think is the better car (in a nutshell if possible) :wink:

Ah...you’ve noticed I ramble.... :lol:

Very different cars, very hard to compare. If you mean E85 auto then the 35is is a big step up in every department bar the looks, which is always subjective. So much more smooth power, DCT is awesome, adaptive suspension, much better interior, no sticky steering problems etc.

If you mean a manual E85, all the above except you have the pleasure of changing gear yourself.

The manual E85 Si remains one of my favourite Zeds, good power, good handling, a fun car and not costly to run.

If you don’t mind an automated manual and have the funds a 35is is an awesome small GT car, but it ain’t a sports car.

 

[mr wilks]

You can bat the manual V DCT ball back & forth as long as you like , they can never be all things to every owner & are by definition totally different driving & ownership experiences .
Its probably better if considering a step into a E89 to factor what style of miles you cover & what you really ask of the car .
For me i was switching directly from a full on , hands / brain required experience of a ZMR , all miles covered being pleasure ones so zero town / commute . I wanted the involvement , ive had enough DSGs , autos , manuals to work out whether i wanted to be the one moving gears up / down or allow a cars ECU to decide .
As for the Si to E89 or Si to twin turbo 89 , there is no YES NO answer , two totally different drives , cabins & cars , they might share the "Z4" badging but any other similarity or connection ends there

 

[Nick9one1]

The biggest killer of my test drive of the 35is with DCT was that it decided to shift for me on roundabouts at the most inconvenient times leaving the car "dead" in third gear, even though I had manually selected 2nd on entry of the roundabout. It kept doing that as well in bends when slowing down that it would just go to fourth / fifth gear even though I wanted to keep it in third.

Others have said that they don't get that situation, but it drove me mad enough on a test drive that I never wanted the car.

Yes this is exactly what I mean!

I've noticed the same on my DCT35i, but realised its actually by design.

If you're in 'D' and manually downshift, the car will drop back into auto once you start cruising again (or take too long to accelerate).
If you're in 'S' this isn't the case. The car will remain in the gear you manually selected until the redline.

 

[ronk]

DCT - love it and would not go back to a manual!

The Dct is a step change from a torque converter Auto and as for “engaging” - does that mean being in the wrong gear at times or missing a cog ? The Dct never does that.

 

[R60BBA]

DCT - love it and would not go back to a manual!

The Dct is a step change from a torque converter Auto and as for “engaging” - does that mean being in the wrong gear at times or missing a cog ? The Dct never does that.

Engaging can be explained by answering the below question.

Does a perfect shift feel better in a manual or a DSG?

 

[ronk]

Changing gear is a necessity - it just needs to be done but does it feel better I would say better with a DSG because while the man with his stick is fumbling about, the DSG has changed gear without a pause in acceleration - it does that every time and never misses or fluffs a change. . But I do understand what you mean

 

[Anonymous]

Changing gear is a necessity - it just needs to be done but does it feel better I would say better with a DSG because while the man with his stick is fumbling about, the DSG has changed gear without a pause in acceleration - it does that every time and never misses or fluffs a change. . But I do understand what you mean

I find on my remapped 2.0 that it goes through the gears so fast that I need both hands on the steering wheel on a twisty road to keep on top of the driving so very grateful the box does it’s thing...

I detested with a passion the old auto boxes that never seemed to be in the right gear ever..the ZF has its quirks but once you know them and how the engine interacts with it I would never go back to a manual..

The ZF to me gives you the best of both worlds...

However as they say maybe it’s an age thing..

 

[R60BBA]

An age thing? Mate I just turned 24

 

[R60BBA]

Changing gear is a necessity - it just needs to be done but does it feel better I would say better with a DSG because while the man with his stick is fumbling about, the DSG has changed gear without a pause in acceleration - it does that every time and never misses or fluffs a change. . But I do understand what you mean

I find on my remapped 2.0 that it goes through the gears so fast that I need both hands on the steering wheel on a twisty road to keep on top of the driving so very grateful the box does it’s thing...

I detested with a passion the old auto boxes that never seemed to be in the right gear ever..the ZF has its quirks but once you know them and how the engine interacts with it I would never go back to a manual..

The ZF to me gives you the best of both worlds...

However as they say maybe it’s an age thing..

Also no offence but 280bhp isn’t ‘crazy numbers’ and I believe it is relatively easy to manage that kind of power with a manual box.

However with a 6/700bhp M5, I think a DSG box would be mandatory in order to put the power down and handle the car at the limit.

 

[ronk]

There’ll be peace in the Middle East before there’s a conclusion to the manual v auto issue!!

 

[keving1]

If we were talking about a Honda S2000 or MX5 gearbox versus the DCT I could understand the stance of manual being better (changing gear in these cars is just for FUN ) but the Z4 manual gearbox is not that great, it's not bad but it is not great

 

[R60BBA]

Just found this one...

Good price considering the miles and spec.

Shame there aren’t any pictures...

https://www.promotors.co.uk/used-bmw-z4-bournemouth-dorset-1566303

 

[Busterboo]

Good thread.

 

[Anonymous]

An age thing? Mate I just turned 24

I was 54 before I saw the light...

If it doesn’t have leather, cruise, air con and auto it’s not a car...