E89 35i M Sport Manual

[R60BBA]

Went car shopping with the Mrs yesterday (for her) and I ended up sitting in an E89 3l M Sport.

I’d never sat in one before and was very impressed with the interior, (more modern than my current car) and the hard top retractable roof is quite a cool feature.

After a quick Google search I realised if I was to sell my current car for the newer shape I’d have to get the 35i M Sport in a manual (not a fan of DSG boxes). 300bhp from factory which can be mapped to near 400bhp and 500nm is quite attractive.

However after a car search, I’ve only managed to find this one:

https://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/8426322-1036743-bmw-z4-35i-s-drive-m-sport-2dr/

I’ve seen loads of 35is for sale, so was wondering whether the 35i in a manual is rare, and is around £20,000 a fair price?

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

There's a couple on AUTOTRADER

 

[Gaffa22]

Why are you not fan of the DCT box ?

I have always had manuals up to now, but bought the E89 35i as a tourer and find the DCT box is superb, it has the best of everthing

 

[R60BBA]

There's a couple on AUTOTRADER

Thanks for that.

Still though there aren’t that many manual 35i’s in an M Sport trim :? , or are people just waiting til summer to sell their beloveds

 

[R60BBA]

Why are you not fan of the DCT box ?

I have always had manuals up to now, but bought the E89 35i as a tourer and find the DCT box is superb, it has the best of everthing

It’s all down to personal preference but I just don’t find them as engaging.

I also noticed that sometimes whilst in manual mode they change gear before you actually want it to change, so you can’t rev out the car to the limit at all times (not saying I do this regularly but don’t like the idea of a car shifting for me despite being in manual mode).

Whereas in a manual you never get bored. Only frustrated at times whilst stuck in traffic.

Having said that if I can’t find a manual 35i in the right colour/spec etc I might consider the 35is...

 

[pvr]

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.

 

[Smartbear]

Went car shopping with the Mrs yesterday (for her) and I ended up sitting in an E89 3l M Sport.

I’d never sat in one before and was very impressed with the interior, (more modern than my current car) and the hard top retractable roof is quite a cool feature.

After a quick Google search I realised if I was to sell my current car for the newer shape I’d have to get the 35i M Sport in a manual (not a fan of DSG boxes). 300bhp from factory which can be mapped to near 400bhp and 500nm is quite attractive.

However after a car search, I’ve only managed to find this one:

https://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/8426322-1036743-bmw-z4-35i-s-drive-m-sport-2dr/

I’ve seen loads of 35is for sale, so was wondering whether the 35i in a manual is rare, and is around £20,000 a fair price?

Hi, have you considered the e89 30i? It’s got the same engine as your e86 and would cost less than the 35i.
Just a thought
Rob

 

[R60BBA]

Went car shopping with the Mrs yesterday (for her) and I ended up sitting in an E89 3l M Sport.

I’d never sat in one before and was very impressed with the interior, (more modern than my current car) and the hard top retractable roof is quite a cool feature.

After a quick Google search I realised if I was to sell my current car for the newer shape I’d have to get the 35i M Sport in a manual (not a fan of DSG boxes). 300bhp from factory which can be mapped to near 400bhp and 500nm is quite attractive.

However after a car search, I’ve only managed to find this one:

https://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/8426322-1036743-bmw-z4-35i-s-drive-m-sport-2dr/

I’ve seen loads of 35is for sale, so was wondering whether the 35i in a manual is rare, and is around £20,000 a fair price?

Hi, have you considered the e89 30i? It’s got the same engine as your e86 and would cost less than the 35i.
Just a thought
Rob

I don’t want to come across as offensive but I don’t see the point in upgrading to a heavier car with the same engine.

If and when I upgrade it’ll be the 35i I think. More or less the same engine as the 1M I believe.

 

[R60BBA]

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!

 

[R.E92]

Why are you not fan of the DCT box ?

I have always had manuals up to now, but bought the E89 35i as a tourer and find the DCT box is superb, it has the best of everthing

It’s all down to personal preference but I just don’t find them as engaging.

I also noticed that sometimes whilst in manual mode they change gear before you actually want it to change, so you can’t rev out the car to the limit at all times (not saying I do this regularly but don’t like the idea of a car shifting for me despite being in manual mode).

Whereas in a manual you never get bored. Only frustrated at times whilst stuck in traffic.

Having said that if I can’t find a manual 35i in the right colour/spec etc I might consider the 35is...

It won't change gear in manual mode unless you the revs drop too low and it's going to stall.

 

[pvr]

I know that others have said that as well, and I only had a test drive of about 30 minutes but that was not my experience of the gearbox, it would not do what I wanted it to do.

 

[Smartbear]

Went car shopping with the Mrs yesterday (for her) and I ended up sitting in an E89 3l M Sport.

I’d never sat in one before and was very impressed with the interior, (more modern than my current car) and the hard top retractable roof is quite a cool feature.

After a quick Google search I realised if I was to sell my current car for the newer shape I’d have to get the 35i M Sport in a manual (not a fan of DSG boxes). 300bhp from factory which can be mapped to near 400bhp and 500nm is quite attractive.

However after a car search, I’ve only managed to find this one:

https://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/8426322-1036743-bmw-z4-35i-s-drive-m-sport-2dr/

I’ve seen loads of 35is for sale, so was wondering whether the 35i in a manual is rare, and is around £20,000 a fair price?

Hi, have you considered the e89 30i? It’s got the same engine as your e86 and would cost less than the 35i.
Just a thought
Rob

I don’t want to come across as offensive but I don’t see the point in upgrading to a heavier car with the same engine.

If and when I upgrade it’ll be the 35i I think. More or less the same engine as the 1M I believe.

That’s fine, I’m not offended 8) I was just thinking if you had been pleased with your present car it might have been an option.
Rob

 

[R60BBA]

I am pleased with my current car, puts a smile on my face every time I get in it.

But 400bhp is just so tempting!

 

[keving1]

Why are you not fan of the DCT box ?

I have always had manuals up to now, but bought the E89 35i as a tourer and find the DCT box is superb, it has the best of everthing

I also noticed that sometimes whilst in manual mode they change gear before you actually want it to change, so you can’t rev out the car to the limit at all times (not saying I do this regularly but don’t like the idea of a car shifting for me despite being in manual mode).


Having said that if I can’t find a manual 35i in the right colour/spec etc I might consider the 35is...

There are 2 modes of manual on the DCT, the first is when in 'D - Drive' using the paddles on the steering wheel, this will take the DCT into manual mode but the gearbox will go back into auto mode after 5 or 6 seconds if you don't touch the paddles again.

The 2nd manual mode is when the gear lever is shifted to the left for 'Sports mode' then the DCT stays in the gear that is selected until the rev limit or until YOU select another gear. It will only change the gear in this mode if you hit the rev limit and you don't change gear, then it will to protect the engine.

I have had manuals all my life but this DCT has the best of both worlds

BTW the 35is only comes with a DCT

 

[SteveSmith]

There’s 3 ‘modes’ with my 8 speed ZF Box, I’d think the DCT is the same but then they each behave differently depending on Comfort / Sport / Sport + modes.

I’ll happily explain each of the differences but basically, shifter pushed left, manual mode engaged by pulling a paddle or pushing / pulling the shifter forwards / backwards and in Sport + mode the car will not change up for you. It will sit on the rev limiter. It will change down to second if you’re below 15mph ish and first when you stop.

In manual and Sports mode it will only change up at max revs.

There’s 3 adjustable parts to the way the car changes gear.

1) Gear lever
2) Comfort / Sport / Sport + button
3) Use of paddles

This is my first auto, I’m completely converted. Engaging when wanted, cruise when not. Perfect.
Cliche but it’s definitely like having 2 cars.

Once you know what mode to use you will love it.

 

[R60BBA]

There’s 3 ‘modes’ with my 8 speed ZF Box, I’d think the DCT is the same but then they each behave differently depending on Comfort / Sport / Sport + modes.

I’ll happily explain each of the differences but basically, shifter pushed left, manual mode engaged by pulling a paddle or pushing / pulling the shifter forwards / backwards and in Sport + mode the car will not change up for you. It will sit on the rev limiter. It will change down to second if you’re below 15mph ish and first when you stop.

In manual and Sports mode it will only change up at max revs.

There’s 3 adjustable parts to the way the car changes gear.

1) Gear lever
2) Comfort / Sport / Sport + button
3) Use of paddles

This is my first auto, I’m completely converted. Engaging when wanted, cruise when not. Perfect.
Cliche but it’s definitely like having 2 cars.

Once you know what mode to use you will love it.

Cheers for the in-depth explanation.

I like to be open-minded and so I will give one a try. But my current preference for a sports car is still manual.

 

[SteveSmith]

There’s 3 ‘modes’ with my 8 speed ZF Box, I’d think the DCT is the same but then they each behave differently depending on Comfort / Sport / Sport + modes.

I’ll happily explain each of the differences but basically, shifter pushed left, manual mode engaged by pulling a paddle or pushing / pulling the shifter forwards / backwards and in Sport + mode the car will not change up for you. It will sit on the rev limiter. It will change down to second if you’re below 15mph ish and first when you stop.

In manual and Sports mode it will only change up at max revs.

There’s 3 adjustable parts to the way the car changes gear.

1) Gear lever
2) Comfort / Sport / Sport + button
3) Use of paddles

This is my first auto, I’m completely converted. Engaging when wanted, cruise when not. Perfect.
Cliche but it’s definitely like having 2 cars.

Once you know what mode to use you will love it.

Cheers for the in-depth explanation.

I like to be open-minded and so I will give one a try. But my current preference for a sports car is still manual.

I wouldn’t of thought in my wildest dreams I’d own a 28i auto it started off on a whim, local dealer, great spec, I just went for a look. Turned out it was a little cracker! Engine is fantastic and the ‘box suits the car so well.

Now it’s mapped it’s great fun.

I’m not sure how the chassis deals with 400bhp, down a country road mine feel skittish!

Good luck!

 

[tomscott]

Have to say when I test drove a 35i it was a DCT and thought it was a fabulous gear box.

In comfort mode it will do exactly that keep the revs low and be a little less ferocious. In sport plus it almost read my mind and sport plus is full manual control really enjoyed it. Infact I think its almost as good as the Porsche PDK. On the other hand after 2500 miles round Europe in the 911 I would have taken the manual all day long so much more fun regardless of how good it is. But for everyday the PDK is the best of both worlds.

I can understand the want for a manual but the gearbox in the E89 isnt the best on earth wasn't overly impressed compared to the DCT it just seems to fit the character of the E89. Its heavy and not the most engaging car to drive on earth. Saying that the manual is better than in the Z4M, although again that gearbox suits the car but it takes so long to warm up it can be a real pig for the first few miles. Once it warms up its very nice indeed but much prefer the manual in the Porche its like a well oiled rifle very satisfying.

 

[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.

 

[R60BBA]

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: