First Ride, First Impressions, Comparisons, Etc

[Marcoose]

Having figured out how to lock the car and other bear necessities, it was time to start to making her work for a living.

For background, this early GenX is a proud owner of past BMWs, and with loads of motorbike track days and racing, and some driving school days under the ever elongating belt. Driving a fun car in the open roads is so much fun! Anyhoo ... wifey and I drove to the 'Foothills' of the Sierra Nevada, a hilly region with endless smooth tarmac and thousands of permutations of radii and camber. Also decorated with thousands of MAGA signs, so anything flashier than a F-250 gets a funny look. Translation: don't attract even more attention. Weather, viz and road conditions were perfect. This 20016 35is is totally stock. The sport button remains untouched. All comparisons are with a 2003 E85 with a handful of performance upgrades and mods. Finally, as the years pile on, performance is subjective. If I wanted and could drive very hard, the E89 would not be my choice. IMHO, the E89 is more a stately Grand Turismo class. The kind that when I pull up to a wine tasting party in Sonoma County, all eyes are on the car and long-legged redheaded stepping out. And nobody will ever remember me.

So let's go! Zero buyer's remorse whatsoever. This car is the bee's knees. She checks all boxes. It was totally worth waiting for the right trim, mileage, condition, price, etc. The run flats understeer, as expected. The E85 ran grip-grip-grip Continentals. Something similar will replace these run flats in time. She's heavy, but not a pig. Less agile, but goes where you point her. The DCT rev-matching is cool, but slower than expected. The 'neutral runway' feeling is weird. Even wifey felt it. I had far better control with toe-heel on the E85. Also unexpected is the throttle lag from feather braking to light throttle at the apex. No immediate power. Weird. Things to either get used to, or give it more seat time, or learn new techniques. Or perhaps it gets better with the sport button. (Does it?) Second seemed the all-around gear in those hilly bends. With the occasional 3rd between longer 'straights'. The similar choice in the E85 was 3rd, with the occasional 4th. I really want to learn (and master) left-foot braking. I foresee karting in my future as soon Covid is behind us. It certainly gives better transitions, even better than toe-heel. With that, is there an adapter that expands the brake pedal farther left?

In summary, it's a great car as every E89 owner knows. I'm happy to have finally joined the club.

 

[Mr Tidy]

That's a very informative comparison, and your conclusion that the E89 is more of a GT car and less of a sports car matches up with what others who have experience of both have said.

So I'll just have to keep enjoying my E86!

 

[Chris_D]

Your experience totally resonates with mine although I got to compare a mate's 3.0i manual E89 and while there's more power and torque and it's undoubtedly a nicer cabin I felt it just detracted from the E85 feel completely. It's way softer, less visceral, feels heavier, bigger and less sporty.

With CDV delete and sport button engaged heel and toeing in a 3.0i E85 is waaaaaay more rewarding and full of 'feel' if/when you nail it correctly. So much so that the blast around Nurburg last summer with my nephew in the passenger seat inspired him to want to learn how to do it. He's just about perfected his technique now. The E85 is definitely a sportscar/roadster whereas the E89 is the GT and faster in a straight line.

 

[Chippie]

OP. “PRESS THE SPORT BUTTON”
If you just have it in drive you will find it feels quite lazy, put it in sport or sport+ and everything tightens up, gear changes are quicker and there’s more throttle response, also knock the gear leaver over and use the paddle shift, it’s like driving a totally different car

 

[ori]

I always drove my 35is in sport mode. The gear changes and throttle response was much much better.
The pops also increase.

 

[Marcoose]

OP. “PRESS THE SPORT BUTTON”
If you just have it in drive you will find it feels quite lazy, put it in sport or sport+ and everything tightens up, gear changes are quicker and there’s more throttle response, also knock the gear leaver over and use the paddle shift, it’s like driving a totally different car

I was in manual. In time I will try the sport button. I’m a big proponent of baby steps. Besides, it was the first proper drive, and wifey was in the car. I’m equally a big proponent of not killing the whole family and of not having people screaming in my ears.

 

[Chippie]

OP. “PRESS THE SPORT BUTTON”
If you just have it in drive you will find it feels quite lazy, put it in sport or sport+ and everything tightens up, gear changes are quicker and there’s more throttle response, also knock the gear leaver over and use the paddle shift, it’s like driving a totally different car

I was in manual. In time I will try the sport button. I’m a big proponent of baby steps. Besides, it was the first proper drive, and wifey was in the car. I’m equally a big proponent of not killing the whole family and of not having people screaming in my ears.

The sport button also gives a little more weight to the steering and if you have the adaptive suspension it stiffens that up as well.
There’s nothing wrong with talking it steady, even in sport it will only go as fast as you want it to, it just makes it a more “involved”drive

 

[Marcoose]

There’s nothing wrong with talking it steady, even in sport it will only go as fast as you want it to, it just makes it a more “involved”drive

Yeah, I’ll talk to her. Is whisper better? Or shout?

 

[ori]

It’s a 35is. Adaptive suspension is standard.
Forgot that it stiffens that too in sport mode.

 

[Argyll Andy]

not having people screaming in my ears.

When you press the sports button also turn the stereo up, that’ll deal with both issues

 

[Flyingfifer]

OP. “PRESS THE SPORT BUTTON”
If you just have it in drive you will find it feels quite lazy, put it in sport or sport+ and everything tightens up, gear changes are quicker and there’s more throttle response, also knock the gear leaver over and use the paddle shift, it’s like driving a totally different car

This.

While I understand and even appreciate the concept of "baby steps" its hardly like a low boost/hi boost button that changes the car by 50-100bhp :roll:
If its anything like the Coupe, you will get a more responsive throttle, heavier steering and as mentioned above maybe a slightly stiffer ride, its not going to light the tyres on fire and have your wife's head fall off.

 

[Silverstar]

With regards to the throttle lag, you would do well to fit something like the Sprintbooster or Racechip XLR throttle pedal box, this eliminates the lag no matter what driving mode you are in. I don't know about the DCT gearbox but in my 30i Auto putting the car in sport mode does sharpen up the throttle but it also hangs on to the gears way to long and artificially weightens up the steering which again isn't always good so for my liking for normal driving having the Racechip XLR is fantastic since even in Normal mode with normal gear changes it sharpens up the throttle response.

 

[Chippie]

OP. “PRESS THE SPORT BUTTON”
If you just have it in drive you will find it feels quite lazy, put it in sport or sport+ and everything tightens up, gear changes are quicker and there’s more throttle response, also knock the gear leaver over and use the paddle shift, it’s like driving a totally different car

This.

While I understand and even appreciate the concept of "baby steps" its hardly like a low boost/hi boost button that changes the car by 50-100bhp :roll:
If its anything like the Coupe, you will get a more responsive throttle, heavier steering and as mentioned above maybe a slightly stiffer ride, its not going to light the tyres on fire and have your wife's head fall off.

You are right, the sport button doesn’t give it extra boost or inject nitrous oxide into the inlet manifold, I was simply stating that it will alter the feel of the car, I find that in drive the car feels a “little lazy” under light to medium throttle and the gear changes “relaxed”, obviously if you floor the throttle then it will “dig its arse in” and pull well, for me when in sport the throttle response and gear changes are so much sharper and increase the driving experience.

 

[Flyingfifer]

I find that in drive the car feels a “little lazy” under light to medium throttle and the gear changes “relaxed”, obviously if you floor the throttle then it will “dig its arse in” and pull well, for me when in sport the throttle response and gear changes are so much sharper and increase the driving experience.

100% its actually surprising sometimes just how lax the cars are off sport, I thought mine was ill the other day it was so hesitant... sport button was off

 

[Chippie]

With regards to the throttle lag, you would do well to fit something like the Sprintbooster or Racechip XLR throttle pedal box, this eliminates the lag no matter what driving mode you are in. I don't know about the DCT gearbox but in my 30i Auto putting the car in sport mode does sharpen up the throttle but it also hangs on to the gears way to long and artificially weightens up the steering which again isn't always good so for my liking for normal driving having the Racechip XLR is fantastic since even in Normal mode with normal gear changes it sharpens up the throttle response.

The DCT box is an absolute peach, in sport the gear changes are instant

 

[Silverstar]

With regards to the throttle lag, you would do well to fit something like the Sprintbooster or Racechip XLR throttle pedal box, this eliminates the lag no matter what driving mode you are in. I don't know about the DCT gearbox but in my 30i Auto putting the car in sport mode does sharpen up the throttle but it also hangs on to the gears way to long and artificially weightens up the steering which again isn't always good so for my liking for normal driving having the Racechip XLR is fantastic since even in Normal mode with normal gear changes it sharpens up the throttle response.

The DCT box is an absolute peach, in sport the gear changes are instant

I am sure the speed of the gear change is instant in the DCT but that isn't what I was referring too. I don't how the DCT equipped cars behave but in my 30i with the 6 speed normal auto box when you stick it in sport mode the car hold the revs until quite high up the rev range before changing up to the next gear e.g. which is uncomfortably long in some driving conditions. I am sure even with the DCT in normal mode you will have throttle lag which is nothing to do with the speed of gear change which is from all reports I have heard brilliant on the DCTs. Sprintbooster or Racechip XLR will help with the lag on the throttle in any driving mode.

 

[step_change]

I have a 35is. My driving style is "Driving Miss Daisy" and I rarely take it over 4000rpm

 

[buzyg]

Good to here the new Zed is fitting the bill. Enjoy learning it at your own pace. Then when you find something you enjoy keep enjoying it

NB (Never pressed the sport button in my ///MR after 10 years. Not every likely to either. )

 

[R.E92]

With regards to the throttle lag, you would do well to fit something like the Sprintbooster or Racechip XLR throttle pedal box, this eliminates the lag no matter what driving mode you are in. I don't know about the DCT gearbox but in my 30i Auto putting the car in sport mode does sharpen up the throttle but it also hangs on to the gears way to long and artificially weightens up the steering which again isn't always good so for my liking for normal driving having the Racechip XLR is fantastic since even in Normal mode with normal gear changes it sharpens up the throttle response.

The DCT box is an absolute peach, in sport the gear changes are instant

I am sure the speed of the gear change is instant in the DCT but that isn't what I was referring too. I don't how the DCT equipped cars behave but in my 30i with the 6 speed normal auto box when you stick it in sport mode the car hold the revs until quite high up the rev range before changing up to the next gear e.g. which is uncomfortably long in some driving conditions. I am sure even with the DCT in normal mode you will have throttle lag which is nothing to do with the speed of gear change which is from all reports I have heard brilliant on the DCTs. Sprintbooster or Racechip XLR will help with the lag on the throttle in any driving mode.

Those pedal booster things will do nothing to change throttle response. There's no inherent delay in the electronics from the throttle pedal to the DME, the delay is purposely implemented inside the DME.

All a pedal booster does is make the car think you want more acceleration that what you're asking for. You can get exactly the same effect from pushing the pedal further.

You can reduce the delay between pedal movement and the resultant throttle plate movement with a DME remap. In all electronic throttle implementations there will be a filter applied to the pedal input to reduce jitter and make the car less jumpy. The amount of damping applied the signal from the throttle pedal can be reduced all the way to 0 but there's downsides.

 

[Marcoose]

The DCT box is an absolute peach, in sport the gear changes are instant

Good to know. Thanks. I’ll have a second go in 2-3 weeks. I don’t drive much anymore, thankfully, and much less with Covid.

The local mechanic is ordering sway bars. And Pedal Haus is working on a LFB pedal extender or something.