A 30i might suit you, plenty fast for any kind of road use but definitely not too frantic and a beautiful straight six sound when you drive it hard. However, if you've got the money why not go for a 35i/is - they'll likely hold value better and although you don't often get the opportunity to use all the performance, it's fun to know it's there.
E89 Advice needed
- Thread starter CraigP
- Start date
Argyll Andy said:Ole gits rule said:Argyll Andy said:What’s crap? What are you not agreeing with?
Anything the Welsh Assembly say to start with and we won't mention football
Should be that crap (now fixed)
more checking less haste
Mr Tidy said:That sounds like a bit of a dilemna Craig!
After 5+ years of E86 3.0Si ownership I bought an MC 18 months ago because I could, and an M was an itch that had to be scratched. :lol:
But it's all to easy/tempting to get to silly speeds, and running costs don't come cheap!
I'm still loving it though.
Based on what you have said a 35i is more likely to get you back into the Supra zone, especially if mapped!
Its a funny one, buying the Supra I felt was bonkers fast, paying 45k plus you really wanted to exploit its acceleration etc but as soon as you did it all too quickly took you over the limit. Where as the Z4 coupe took longer to reach the limits and you could exploit its potential further within the speed limits. Last time i Had a car any where near the Supra was a VX220 Turbo nearly 20 years ago.
Sometimes it almost seems a better idea to get a lower power car where you can use more of its performance day to day, for example the MX5 0-60 in mid 6's, probably floor it a lot of the time and still be within the limits. However what i like about the E89 offers a lot more car for the same money, although older and I like sticking with the Z4, hence the 3.0, 35i or 35is and having paid less than the Supra feel less need to exploit it to its full day to day
How can you tell the bumper and steeering wheel spec ? Whats the giveaway clues to an SE spec ?Ole gits rule said:CraigP said:Thanks but not really after a modded 2.0 but thanks for mentioning. A 35i, a 3.0 at a minimum - is my ideal choice in grey just the right amount of power without being blindingly fast like my Supra was, which was 0-60 on 4.3. May have to be patient and make do with my st3 as my day car which is no hard ship. Though I'm sure someone may be considering selling in the meantime its fun looking
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106073566257?aggregatedTrim=35i&sort=relevance&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&radius=1500&postcode=hd95aa&advertising-location=at_cars&include-delivery-option=on&make=BMW&model=Z4&page=1
Good spec, however, has M-Sport front bumper / seats (seats could have been specced) but an SE steering wheel and I think rear bumper?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334051967041?hash=item4dc70c8041:g:hU4AAOSwqZ9g0Ha0
CraigP said:How can you tell the bumper and steeering wheel spec ? Whats the giveaway clues to an SE spec ?Ole gits rule said:CraigP said:Thanks but not really after a modded 2.0 but thanks for mentioning. A 35i, a 3.0 at a minimum - is my ideal choice in grey just the right amount of power without being blindingly fast like my Supra was, which was 0-60 on 4.3. May have to be patient and make do with my st3 as my day car which is no hard ship. Though I'm sure someone may be considering selling in the meantime its fun looking
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106073566257?aggregatedTrim=35i&sort=relevance&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&radius=1500&postcode=hd95aa&advertising-location=at_cars&include-delivery-option=on&make=BMW&model=Z4&page=1
Good spec, however, has M-Sport front bumper / seats (seats could have been specced) but an SE steering wheel and I think rear bumper?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334051967041?hash=item4dc70c8041:g:hU4AAOSwqZ9g0Ha0
The m bumpers & steering wheel look different to se spec items, it’s quite distinctive.
Rob
CraigP said:How can you tell the bumper and steeering wheel spec ? Whats the giveaway clues to an SE spec ?Ole gits rule said:CraigP said:Thanks but not really after a modded 2.0 but thanks for mentioning. A 35i, a 3.0 at a minimum - is my ideal choice in grey just the right amount of power without being blindingly fast like my Supra was, which was 0-60 on 4.3. May have to be patient and make do with my st3 as my day car which is no hard ship. Though I'm sure someone may be considering selling in the meantime its fun looking
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106073566257?aggregatedTrim=35i&sort=relevance&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&radius=1500&postcode=hd95aa&advertising-location=at_cars&include-delivery-option=on&make=BMW&model=Z4&page=1
Good spec, however, has M-Sport front bumper / seats (seats could have been specced) but an SE steering wheel and I think rear bumper?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334051967041?hash=item4dc70c8041:g:hU4AAOSwqZ9g0Ha0
Silver on the steering wheel is SE, whereas the MSport is all black and has an Msport badge on it - very easy to see if you look
The bumper, there is a large grey / black piece on the Msport but not on the SE.
I think that car is an SE but someone has swapped the front bumper over for some reason :|
Thanks for that advice, maybe a knock on the front and hence new bumper, will probably never know! I also looked at the reviews for Junction 17 dealer some of the reviews are truly appalling, including someone that bought a TT RS and later fo und out it was a Cat D, do will probably leave that one too! The search continues 
CraigP said:Thanks for that advice, maybe a knock on the front and hence new bumper, will probably never know! I also looked at the reviews for Junction 17 dealer some of the reviews are truly appalling, including someone that bought a TT RS and later fo und out it was a Cat D, do will probably leave that one too! The search continues
Easily avoided if you invest in a HPI check. Some of the reviews complaining look a bit silly and an average of around 4/5 seems pretty good considering most people would only bother to post a review of a car dealer if they're angry about something. Lots of complaints from people who couldn't be bothered to actually look at the car before paying for it.
"The car I looked at had no service history, which isn't good when you have 2 kids" 1/5
"I drove the car 2500 miles and then returned it because the sat nav was broken, but they wouldn't give me a full refund" 1/5
As long as you:
a) do a HPI check.
b) actually view the car before handing over thousands of pounds.
c) have a realistic expectation of the levels of honesty from used car salespeople.
Then you should be fine
tiglon said:CraigP said:Thanks for that advice, maybe a knock on the front and hence new bumper, will probably never know! I also looked at the reviews for Junction 17 dealer some of the reviews are truly appalling, including someone that bought a TT RS and later fo und out it was a Cat D, do will probably leave that one too! The search continues
Easily avoided if you invest in a HPI check. Some of the reviews complaining look a bit silly and an average of around 4/5 seems pretty good considering most people would only bother to post a review of a car dealer if they're angry about something. Lots of complaints from people who couldn't be bothered to actually look at the car before paying for it.
"The car I looked at had no service history, which isn't good when you have 2 kids" 1/5
"I drove the car 2500 miles and then returned it because the sat nav was broken, but they wouldn't give me a full refund" 1/5
As long as you:
a) do a HPI check.
b) actually view the car before handing over thousands of pounds.
c) have a realistic expectation of the levels of honesty from used car salespeople.
Then you should be fine
Thanks though a reputable dealer should HPI the cars before they purchase and put them on for sale., certainly not sell at CAT D car without telling the buyer. I looked at the reviews too and while some are trivial some are pretty horrendous, in the past month there are 10 - 1 or 2 star reviews in the past month which equals 50% of the reviews so not good. I also emailed them last night asking them to call me with further details and rather than call me they emailed me back asking me if i wanted to to put a deposit down!
Plenty more fish on the sea, will wait for the right one to turn up ... maybe even one from a forum member!
San Francisco, CA
Hey, Craig. I’m newish to the E89s, after 17 years on a very trusted E85. Now in my mid-50s, and with heaps of track days and racing in the belt, top speed no longer turns me on. I want fun below 55 mph. (I live in America.) And I want comfort. A supercar wouldn’t give me what I want either. I’m with you.
The 35is met most of what I was looking for. I’m very happy. (Wifey is happy! And that’s all there is.) But I was disappointed with a number of items; suspension, steering, DCT shifting, ergonomics, etc. You can read my threads on impressions and mods.
The car in the OP looks pre-facelift, and so far the only visible mod is the radio. Meh. IMHO, either it’s a bone stock car with ridiculous low miles and a lava hot deal, or it has tasteful performance mods to offset price/mileage. It took forever to find the model and trim I wanted, and the one in the OP wouldn’t be it. That’s just me. To each its own.
Good luck with your search and purchase.
Marc
The 35is met most of what I was looking for. I’m very happy. (Wifey is happy! And that’s all there is.) But I was disappointed with a number of items; suspension, steering, DCT shifting, ergonomics, etc. You can read my threads on impressions and mods.
The car in the OP looks pre-facelift, and so far the only visible mod is the radio. Meh. IMHO, either it’s a bone stock car with ridiculous low miles and a lava hot deal, or it has tasteful performance mods to offset price/mileage. It took forever to find the model and trim I wanted, and the one in the OP wouldn’t be it. That’s just me. To each its own.
Good luck with your search and purchase.
Marc
CraigP said:tiglon said:CraigP said:Thanks for that advice, maybe a knock on the front and hence new bumper, will probably never know! I also looked at the reviews for Junction 17 dealer some of the reviews are truly appalling, including someone that bought a TT RS and later fo und out it was a Cat D, do will probably leave that one too! The search continues
Easily avoided if you invest in a HPI check. Some of the reviews complaining look a bit silly and an average of around 4/5 seems pretty good considering most people would only bother to post a review of a car dealer if they're angry about something. Lots of complaints from people who couldn't be bothered to actually look at the car before paying for it.
"The car I looked at had no service history, which isn't good when you have 2 kids" 1/5
"I drove the car 2500 miles and then returned it because the sat nav was broken, but they wouldn't give me a full refund" 1/5
As long as you:
a) do a HPI check.
b) actually view the car before handing over thousands of pounds.
c) have a realistic expectation of the levels of honesty from used car salespeople.
Then you should be fine
Thanks though a reputable dealer should HPI the cars before they purchase and put them on for sale., certainly not sell at CAT D car without telling the buyer. I looked at the reviews too and while some are trivial some are pretty horrendous, in the past month there are 10 - 1 or 2 star reviews in the past month which equals 50% of the reviews so not good. I also emailed them last night asking them to call me with further details and rather than call me they emailed me back asking me if i wanted to to put a deposit down!
Plenty more fish on the sea, will wait for the right one to turn up ... maybe even one from a forum member!
If you're not comfortable with them then it's best to walk away, so I think you're doing the right thing.
Like you say, plenty more out there and it does look like prices may be on their way down rather than up over the next few months so there's no harm in waiting for one that feels right. I would wholeheartedly recommend buying from a forum member.