E89 chassis
- Thread starter Smartbear
- Start date
Gothenburg
There’s a BMW Technical Training document over at bimmerpost that’s covers BMW’s chassis over the years. Including the E85 and E89.
I found it interesting. But I enjoy reading technical details about our cars.
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1235094
I found it interesting. But I enjoy reading technical details about our cars.
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1235094
25% stiffer than the E85...?? 
:? You’d not think it on any level driving one. So what went wrong, pick up points, geometry, bushings, damper and spring rates, all of them...? I guess the guy did what he was told to do, develop a soft car to take on anything other than a Porsche, which I guess he did but in so doing made a pretty horrific handling car. It’s not weight as the new G29 is 50kg heavier I think yet handles properly. The E89 sounds a mismatch of parts from the parts bin thrown onto a long chassis that simply didn’t work.
:? You’d not think it on any level driving one. So what went wrong, pick up points, geometry, bushings, damper and spring rates, all of them...? I guess the guy did what he was told to do, develop a soft car to take on anything other than a Porsche, which I guess he did but in so doing made a pretty horrific handling car. It’s not weight as the new G29 is 50kg heavier I think yet handles properly. The E89 sounds a mismatch of parts from the parts bin thrown onto a long chassis that simply didn’t work.john-e89 said:25% stiffer than the E85...??
They’ve got the same wheelbase as an e85 John.
Rob
Smartbear said:john-e89 said:25% stiffer than the E85...??
They’ve got the same wheelbase as an e85 John.
Rob
E85 : Length 4091 width 1781
E89 : Length 4239 width 1790
That’s according to car info Rob, making the E89 approx 5 3/4 inches longer than the E85. That could be incorrect of course and I’ll stand corrected mate.
john-e89 said:Smartbear said:john-e89 said:25% stiffer than the E85...??
They’ve got the same wheelbase as an e85 John.
Rob
E85 : Length 4091 width 1781
E89 : Length 4239 width 1790
That’s according to car info Rob, making the E89 approx 5 3/4 inches longer than the E85. That could be incorrect of course and I’ll stand corrected mate.
Too much vino Rob, wheelbase is 1mm difference as you say. :roll:john-e89 said:Smartbear said:john-e89 said:25% stiffer than the E85...??
They’ve got the same wheelbase as an e85 John.
Rob
E85 : Length 4091 width 1781
E89 : Length 4239 width 1790
That’s according to car info Rob, making the E89 approx 5 3/4 inches longer than the E85. That could be incorrect of course and I’ll stand corrected mate.
That’s not wheelbase John, both models are 2495mm
E85 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E85)
E89 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E89)
I appreciate that you don’t seem to rate the E89 & that’s no problem as you’re entitled to your opinion, but most owners on here seem to think they’re decent cars.
I’ve owned both models and haven’t encountered any handling issues, maybe the lighter engine helps or maybe it doesn’t but 3 years down the road I’ve no regrets
Rob
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Anonymous
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Both cars have the same wheelbase 2496mm. ..it’s the overhangs that’s vary..26mm more on the front, 120mm on the rear...according to bmw technical publication E89 tech briefing revised 08/09...
So appears SmartBear assertion that the wheelbase is the same is correct..
It appears you answered correctly a different assertion...
So appears SmartBear assertion that the wheelbase is the same is correct..
It appears you answered correctly a different assertion...
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hmm..is it Wiki or BMW tech brief that’s out by 1mm? 
Smartbear said:john-e89 said:Smartbear said:
E85 : Length 4091 width 1781
E89 : Length 4239 width 1790
That’s according to car info Rob, making the E89 approx 5 3/4 inches longer than the E85. That could be incorrect of course and I’ll stand corrected mate.
That’s not wheelbase John, both models are 2495mm
E85 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E85)
E89 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E89)
I appreciate that you don’t seem to rate the E89 & that’s no problem as you’re entitled to your opinion, but most owners on here seem to think they’re decent cars.
I’ve owned both models and haven’t encountered any handling issues, maybe the lighter engine helps or maybe it doesn’t but 3 years down the road I’ve no regrets
Rob
Yeah I realised the mistake as posted above.
I once tried a 28i which I found even worse than the 35is, possibly due to the 100kg or so engine weight difference making the rear even more unbalanced due to the weight of the roof. The 35i and S evens it out a little. I still like the cars, on my 3rd 35is after all, but I find them, quite frankly, a little scary at times pitching into tight corners with understeer then suddenly the backend catches up and throws the thing into snap oversteer as though it has a tank of water in the boot sloshing around, both on run flats and MPSS’s non flats. They are what they are but the new car just shows how behind the times the E89 chassis is, in my opinion of course.
As long as folk enjoy them it doesn’t matter, quite happy with mine but I still think it’s a bit crap.... :lol:
I wouldn't say the E89 handles horrifically, sure it isn't as sharp as a Porsche Boxster but it isn't that bad and you have to take it for what is. It certainly handles better than a Toyota Corolla / Auris or whatever they made of the same year
buzyg said:john-e89 said:As long as folk enjoy them it doesn’t matter, quite happy with mine but I still think it’s a bit crap.... :lol:
Honesty personified there John.
Say as I find Buzy, I do seem to be the only owner of an E89 that gives them a bit of stick which is slightly puzzling. For this kind of money I can’t think of anything else I’d rather have with 2 seats, as an all rounder 2 seater roadster they’re pretty much top of the tree for the coin, brilliant comfy cruiser, chomps the motorway miles up with ease, you CAN fling them around a bit but the difference is stark when compared to say, my M. Take the same corner, same speed in each and you’ll get round it in both but whereas in the M you carry on to the next twisty bit without delay, in the E89 you have to stop to undo your bike clips to let the s**t run out of your trouser leg.
I guess I’m about as popular as a rattlesnake in a lucky dip for being hard on them but just because I have one doesn’t mean I can’t criticise it.
As a new owner with very little experience with the E89, I am a little worried that it is described as so poor handling. Must say that my previous E86 Z4C even with Bilstein B12 upgrade and Z4M 18” wheels and tyres was not particularly great and always felt quite nervous.
Mine has the adaptive M suspension and 19” wheels, and curious if alignment changes different to the factory spec can make it handle better?
Mine has the adaptive M suspension and 19” wheels, and curious if alignment changes different to the factory spec can make it handle better?
I wouldn’t get hung up on it Rassi, as with most things it’s subjective, you’ll have to make your own mind up. There have been a few owners on here that have gone beyond a spring and damper change, Player-1 and Stuartinzing to name two have changed out quite a bit of their standard components, I can’t say what they’re like now as I haven’t driven them but both owners reported significant improvements.
Anyhoo enjoy your new car, I’m sure you will and get some pics up ASAP...it’s the law... :lol:
Anyhoo enjoy your new car, I’m sure you will and get some pics up ASAP...it’s the law... :lol:
Hey John, I’m pretty sure the answer will be yes but have you had the geometry checked and adjusted? What you are describing sounds like a badly aligned car. Either that or mid-matched tyres and/or tyre pressures too high.
Mine can feel a item vague but that’s mostly down to the Uniroyal Rainsport tyres I have on the front. They are better than the Bridgestone runflats but are a bit soft on a sports car. I have since fitted GY F1 on the rear and that’s improved it. Now I just need the same on the front. It’s never twitched though and I’ve never felt more than a touch of “safe” understeer on turn-in.
Mine can feel a item vague but that’s mostly down to the Uniroyal Rainsport tyres I have on the front. They are better than the Bridgestone runflats but are a bit soft on a sports car. I have since fitted GY F1 on the rear and that’s improved it. Now I just need the same on the front. It’s never twitched though and I’ve never felt more than a touch of “safe” understeer on turn-in.