End of the Z4. E89 production finishing in August.

I'm unsure I would want to keep an E89 as a long termer unless you have deep pockets for potential repairs, just too many things to go wrong as they age and it always felt in parts a fragile car compared to my Z3 which is relatively nice and simple with its manual hood etc. Always felt there was a little too much cost cutting in the E89s build :(

I always think BMW should go back to its roots and produce a smaller Z1 replacement, keeping the ragtop with the latest B58 6cyl engine so it competes more with the MX5 rather than the TT and SLK which always to me come across as high street wine bar cruisers than country lane fun.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/if-youve-never-seen-a-door-open-on-a-bmw-z1-prepare-to-have-your-mind-blown/

Would be great if they brought a drop door version again :)

Tim.
 
Nictrix said:
Also there is a decline in all cars meaning that it isnt just the Z4 thats "failing"
Click to expand...

Okay I'm trying not to post negatively, which I'm failing miserably at the moment.....but

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/94714/record-first-six-months-for-uk-car-sales

Top 5 best selling cars in the UK so far this year are Fiesta, Corsa, Focus, Golf and Qashqai
 
TitanTim said:
I'm unsure I would want to keep an E89 as a long termer unless you have deep pockets for potential repairs, just too many things to go wrong as they age and it always felt in parts a fragile car compared to my Z3 which is relatively nice and simple with its manual hood etc. Always felt there was a little too much cost cutting in the E89s build :(

I always think BMW should go back to its roots and produce a smaller Z1 replacement, keeping the ragtop with the latest B58 6cyl engine so it competes more with the MX5 rather than the TT and SLK which always to me come across as high street wine bar cruisers than country lane fun.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/if-youve-never-seen-a-door-open-on-a-bmw-z1-prepare-to-have-your-mind-blown/

Would be great if they brought a drop door version again :)

Tim.
Click to expand...

But where are these problems Tim, it's a complicated roof yes but AFAIK there isn't anywhere that people are saying they fail, in fact they seem a reliable system, they don't come across as particularly troublesome from what I've read elsewhere. What else then, turbo's for those equipped with them, it's not a huge job to change a blower and if the oil is kept clean they should have a long life, no different to any other car. Gearboxes and electrics seem ok, consumables no different to anything else, I can't see anywhere on mine that leads me complain about cheap fittings, it's altogether a good car to me. They're too expensive new yes, but a lot of that Imo is they don't handle or steer well enough for the new price, not anything to do with quality or reliability. All cars have problems and there always seem to be a few 'Friday afternoon cars' but I don't see them being problematic enough not too make them a long termer. Does your rough engine experience influence you on them do you think?
 
The sooner they stop making the E89 the better for me ... might actually make something modern... and interesting! Though BMW's record of late is very hit and miss.
 
jimmybell said:
The sooner they stop making the E89 the better for me ... might actually make something modern... and interesting! Though BMW's record of late is very hit and miss.
Click to expand...

The 2 and 4 series are nice looking though.

With the E89, they started off so well at the front, then they completely missed the back and put an old 6 series rear on it, which visually completely spoiled it for me.

That and only being available as automatics for the top model made it a non starter for me. If they had brought out an M in 2011/2012 or so, I would have gotten one.
 
The thing is the 35iS doesn't feel like a top of the range model. It feels like it's one down from the range topper. I think BMW didn't think they could sell enough E89 Z4Ms to justify the development costs.
 
But that was the same with all Z M cars they were both side projects that were made before getting the go ahead. Maybe the engineers didn't feel the need to make it a project as its a heavier more compromised design.
 
The thing is with the E85/E86 the 3.0si felt like a good range topper and the Z4M was a bonus. With the E89 the 35iS feels like it should have an M version above it.
 
An M version, maybe with aV8, lsd & , non run flats, it would've cost a lot of money over a 35is but wouldn't have been that much quicker.
The 35is with non run flats, lsd and 370 bhp would have been the obvious way to create an M on the cheap.
 
It would not have been quicker, but that is not necessarily what it is about. It would be nicer to drive with a manual gearbox. Bit like that Top Gear 911 R review. Not the fastest - but the most fun.
 
tomscott said:
pvr said:
Not the fastest - but the most fun.
Click to expand...

and more expensive than a GT3 I know which one I would rather have.
Click to expand...

Which one? From an "investment" point they both probably go similar ways, from a drivers point - I would have the 911 R, from a looks point of view I would have the R again as I don't like the GT3 looks very much.
 
tomscott said:
But that was the same with all Z M cars they were both side projects that were made before getting the go ahead. Maybe the engineers didn't feel the need to make it a project as its a heavier more compromised design.
Click to expand...

If you remember Bmws primary brief for the e89.. Delivered by than van der wot sit bloke. They responded to customer complaints that the e85 wasn't enough of an everyday car, uncomfortable and too sports focussed. BMW built the e89 to address this requirement leading to a compromise as you say, a more comfortable usable every day roadster. It was never meant to be a 'proper' sports car, that wasn't the design brief. Therefore comparisons are somewhat mute. I'm happy with that, I sold my e85 because it was uncomfortable on a long run. I wanted style comfort and power to enjoy on a twisty road, not a hill climb. That is what BMW delivered. Whether the demise of the model was due to this or other factors is again mute. It is what it is and that is exactly why I bought it.
 
sammyz said:
An M version, maybe with aV8, lsd & , non run flats, it would've cost a lot of money over a 35is but wouldn't have been that much quicker.
The 35is with non run flats, lsd and 370 bhp would have been the obvious way to create an M on the cheap.
Click to expand...
Er... the 35iS already pushes out around 370bhp from the factory. I'm on 405-410bhp and stock suspension but wider non-RFT tyres and the chassis is dealing with it nicely as long as you don't try to drive it in point n' squirt style. Yes an LSD would be nice but first I want to get the suspension & ride hight sorted.
 
370hp oem? Maybe on an over ambitious dyno. Not what is quoted and I've seen on other dynos. I had mine on a dyno a few years back alongside a 35is another bloke had. Mine came out at 302 and his 335. Both a smidgen under quoted values (not taking account of any change due to the iS torque over boost).
 
pvr said:
With the E89, they started off so well at the front, then they completely missed the back and put an old 6 series rear on it, which visually completely spoiled it for me.

Although I don't dislike it as much as you do I have to agree with that PVR, there's too much metal between the rear arch and the top of the wing 'shoulder', it does spoil the looks a bit, makes it arse heavy, 19's go some way to blinding it, the first two thirds of the E89 up to the door handle with an E85 rear would look fabulous I think.

Anyway back on topic.
Click to expand...
 
john-e89 said:
TitanTim said:
I'm unsure I would want to keep an E89 as a long termer unless you have deep pockets for potential repairs, just too many things to go wrong as they age and it always felt in parts a fragile car compared to my Z3 which is relatively nice and simple with its manual hood etc. Always felt there was a little too much cost cutting in the E89s build :(

I always think BMW should go back to its roots and produce a smaller Z1 replacement, keeping the ragtop with the latest B58 6cyl engine so it competes more with the MX5 rather than the TT and SLK which always to me come across as high street wine bar cruisers than country lane fun.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/if-youve-never-seen-a-door-open-on-a-bmw-z1-prepare-to-have-your-mind-blown/

Would be great if they brought a drop door version again :)

Tim.
Click to expand...

But where are these problems Tim, it's a complicated roof yes but AFAIK there isn't anywhere that people are saying they fail, in fact they seem a reliable system, they don't come across as particularly troublesome from what I've read elsewhere. What else then, turbo's for those equipped with them, it's not a huge job to change a blower and if the oil is kept clean they should have a long life, no different to any other car. Gearboxes and electrics seem ok, consumables no different to anything else, I can't see anywhere on mine that leads me complain about cheap fittings, it's altogether a good car to me. They're too expensive new yes, but a lot of that Imo is they don't handle or steer well enough for the new price, not anything to do with quality or reliability. All cars have problems and there always seem to be a few 'Friday afternoon cars' but I don't see them being problematic enough not too make them a long termer. Does your rough engine experience influence you on them do you think?
Click to expand...

The swap over from the 6cyl to the 4 was a definite no no in my book as the N20 engine IMHO is pretty poor in its refinement although unfair to crticise the E89 solely on the engine as its also used in other BMW models. Granted theres not been too many problems upto now although the roof would always be a slight worry to me. Re cheap fittings that seemed at odds with the rest of the car, one is the windcreen scuttle panel which is made out of the thinnest plastic they could get away with, mine bowed away from the base of the windscreen. I never liked the external weather strips that run along the tops of the door which are made of an awful grainy plastic which went smooth in parts on mine, maybe down to overzealous cleaning :roll: Also noticed smattering of polysterene around the engine bay instead of plastic which smacked of cost cutting. OK its only nitpicking but I've not noticed anything similar of my M135i except the rear bumper diffuser feels flimsy.

Tim.
 
As the E89 is now 7 years old, its no surprise that its fallen behind the competition. However, there has been plenty of E89 bashing by those who are now starting to move to an E89 as the prices for earlier cars are now within reach. Of course those who bought the base model then found it wanting.

The 35is is a really fast car, easily matching cars twice the price in terms of performance. Its a nice place to sit snd spend time, covering vast distances in fast comfort.The interior is still streets ahead of a 1, 2, 3 or even 4 series. They all really do feel very cheap inside. The 1 series dash and console are an unforgivable joke i'm afraid.

The E85 was a bit more small and raw, but it really did suffer poor ride, and although distinctive, a very poor interior for a bmw.

In 2009 the E89 was something quite special, though never a great sportscar as it was too difficult to place in corners. But in terms on quality and overall joy if ownership, again look how many 911, Boxers and Caymans of that era ate their engines.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom