E89 advise please

[B21]

28i will be markedly quicker in any real world situation than a 23i..as said pre April 2015 N20 engines are a question of luck / budget for the chain update around £1k ish…FWIW if driven similarly very little difference in real world fuel consumption between N20 and N52 engines..

Choices ..tough one..

 

[RMB]

I rest my case…

 

[2k35is]

Ive ownea 35i Z4 very expensive expensive for rocker cover gaskets, oill leaks(rocker cover and oil cooler housing, HPFP + many others. Fortunately all covered by warranty. After selling had test drive in a 230i converti ble -very impressive turbo 4 pot about 250bhp. with comfortable ride(even in its runflats) superb 8speed ZF box
However forconvertible. me BMW always been 6pots(e46 330ci car before z4). Decided to drive 1 series convertible 125i. Detuned 3litre non turbo 6pot.in an oldr car(2010). Sunny roof down car-the engine(215bhp) is an absolute peach revs with decent torque right thro to 7k revs from 1750.. The oldish 6 speed auto is program to take advantage of this rev range of more than 5000 revs. Not sure of exact gearing ratios but if doing 40mph at 2000revs pulls all the way to 140mph at 7000revs. with engine encouragement and no nanny interruption from gearbox(on a track only is possible.) Just adds to the feel that the car is something special . It even rides (M sport)on 18 inch as well as what the 2 series did with minimal shuttle shake. Sod the extra petrol cost just make you want to get in at and drive it. AND no roof problem
Z4's has to be a 6 pot without a turbo

 

[dyonisis]

Inline 6, 3 litre, N52, 260BHP, sounds fantastic stock, convertable, no turbo worries. Glorious!

To add, I also have a 2004 MK1 TT wich I love and have spent a lot of money on, I understand it is old now, but I am always having turbo issues. So many vacuum pipes. Having an NA 3.0 litre eager engine in my 2009 Z4 is a dream, and its a proper engine! Its hard to explain why I say a proper engine, unless you have had both. But the N52 is sooo much better!! My TT is lighter, and about 260BHP, but the 3.0 N52 just feels better in all cases.

 

[Pondy]

Inline 6, 3 litre, N52, 260BHP, sounds fantastic stock, convertable, no turbo worries. Glorious!

To add, I also have a 2004 MK1 TT wich I love and have spent a lot of money on, I understand it is old now, but I am always having turbo issues. So many vacuum pipes. Having an NA 3.0 litre eager engine in my 2009 Z4 is a dream, and its a proper engine! Its hard to explain why I say a proper engine, unless you have had both. But the N52 is sooo much better!! My TT is lighter, and about 260BHP, but the 3.0 N52 just feels better in all cases.

Mmmmm......shiny!

 

[dyonisis]

Mmmmm......shiny!

Looks like s**t 15mins just after cleaning. black cars just suck at keeping shiny, The engine bay still look ok though

Pic: Basically coated in sand rain and pollen, been standing a week since it was shiny.

 

[Viper4]

One sidenote regarding the N52:

Due to differences in the piston rings, the 2.5 (23i) tend to higher oil consumption up to 1l/1000Km on higher mileages.

I have a 'high' milage N52 and do not have ANY oil consumption concerns. I have no Idea where you are getting you info from, but from first hand experience I can confirm that on a well serviced N52 engine..there are no problems. In fact this engine is generally considered the best natural aspirated in line 6 cylinder engine ever made by BMW.

 

[RobbiZ4]

I have a 'high' milage N52 ...

How much has your 23i?
My 30i has >>500k Km (>330k mls) on it's clock.

...where you are getting your info from, ...

That's the reason I've written "tend". Not each 2.5 (23i) is affected, but there is a technical difference between 23i and 30i N52.

... the 2.5 (23i) tend to higher oil consumption

A page on the German ZRoadster, where oil consumptions are collected.

Current update (oil cons. per 100 Km or per 1.000 Km, BMW names 1l/1.000Km as acceptable):

Ölverbrauch N52B25: E89 23i und E85 2.5(s)i

01. 23i, germinator (Jürgen), Produktion 01.2011, 92tkm, Öl 0,0L/8tkm, 0,00L/1tkm 02. 23i, z4rotwild (xxx), Produktion ??.2009, 320tkm, Öl 1,0L/7tkm, 0,14L/1tkm 03. 2,5i, 130kw, RST, Produktion 22.02.2007, 224500km, Öl 1,0L/4-5tkm, 0,20-0,25L/1tkm 04. 30i, RobbiZ4 (Robbi), Produktion 03.2006...

www.zroadster.com

 

[Viper4]

How much has your 23i?
My 30i has >>500k on it's clock.


That's the reason I've written "tend". Not each 2.5 (23i) is affected, but there is a technical difference between 23i and 30i N52.


A page on the German ZRoadster, where oil consumptions are collected.

Current update (oil cons. per 100 Km or per 1.000 Km, BMW names 1l/1.000Km as acceptable):

Ölverbrauch N52B25: E89 23i und E85 2.5(s)i

01. 23i, germinator (Jürgen), Produktion 01.2011, 92tkm, Öl 0,0L/8tkm, 0,00L/1tkm 02. 23i, z4rotwild (xxx), Produktion ??.2009, 320tkm, Öl 1,0L/7tkm, 0,14L/1tkm 03. 2,5i, 130kw, RST, Produktion 22.02.2007, 224500km, Öl 1,0L/4-5tkm, 0,20-0,25L/1tkm 04. 30i, RobbiZ4 (Robbi), Produktion 03.2006...

www.zroadster.com

My baby has only done some 128,000 miles, without any work But 500K is mighty impressive on any engine

 

[RobbiZ4]

But 500K is mighty impressive on any engine

I've updated it to 500k Km / 330k mls.

 

[Viper4]

I've updated it to 500k Km / 330k mls.

I kinda assummed that you meant Km

The best I have ever got out of an engine was 250,000+ miles, before the big ends gave way. This was a Montego 2.0i

EDIT , so I did do a oil and filter change once a month, back then it was cheap, ~£10 for the filter and Oil, and I did the servicing .