Is there Z life after a ///M ?

[mr wilks]

Many see the ///M as the pinnacle but i can say most definitely YES is the answer After this weekends Normandy roadtrip a E89 will do it but needs to be the right one .
I have had a 23i & not wanting to upset any current owners but it isn't enough to fill the S54 shoes & not even up to the feel & capabilities of the 3.0Si imo ( as a weekender not a everyday commuter )
E89 > 30i , 20i or 28i i can't comment on because i haven't tried them but after 3 days pummeling the Normandy tarmac with 6 x Z4///Ms + 1 Alpina i can safely say a twin turbo 6spd on H + Rs with PS2s is easily a match in all departments plus you get a better cabin experience , lighter clutch / gearbox & a step up in ride comfort .
They are a heavier bulk to throw around & attention needs paying to where you pitch into bends & where you leave but they are more than capable of matching the M car's performance that previously i would not have thought was ?
Not just a owners blinkered opinion , the other forum guys who have spent time this weekend in front or behind the "lardy" 89 were more than a little surprised :wink: that said i had a drive in "Lynchy's" Imola red roady this afternoon & it certainly sparked off some good memories for me , , , , i can see another S54 in my garage at some point but for the forseeable future really can't see me parting with the 35i anytime soon

 

[mcbeee]

In my previous life,my e89 had stage II Dinan software . The 385 HP put in the same category as my Carrera for raw power, the torque was massive and tires wore out rapidly. Handling was not as clean as an M or Carrera S but when hooning with the Z club in Arizona the only cars I had trouble with were tricked out Z3 M’s, but just in the twisty bits.
It wasn’t an autocross car but it was a good long course car and an exceptional highway cruiser. :lol: :lol:

 

[buzyg]

Not seen my Zed for a few days. Great to see photos of the 10 Amigos swash buckling there way around Normandy.

 

[Stuartt]

Glad you like it and it held its own against the others Andy

Just don't get too attached to it though will you :wink:

Stuart

 

[Anonymous]

They are a heavier bulk to throw around & attention needs paying to where you pitch into bends & where you leave but they are more than capable of matching the M car's performance that previously i would not have thought was ?

Hallelujah :dance2:

 

[Rally]

Glad your over the m means you won't want it back

One thing though you must miss the s54 and bcs exhaust right? The sound is intoxicating

 

[mr wilks]

Glad your over the m means you won't want it back

One thing though you must miss the s54 and bcs exhaust right? The sound is intoxicating

Not over it but any concerns that the 89 would struggle against the Ms through the bends when cracking on were put to bed early on :roll: the looks of the car i'm happy with , the noise both front + back is never going to match but i will be having a play at freeing up noise at the rear :wink: the cracks & pops are there & a lovely burble on tickover but i stood under a bridge yesterday whilst the S54s came through at full chat :evil: what a noise :evil: & for anyone looking to change their stock noise there is only 2 choices for me , , , , go GruppeM for the front or BCS at the rear

 

[mr wilks]

Glad you like it and it held its own against the others Andy

Just don't get too attached to it though will you :wink:

Stuart

Ed took a real shine to it yesterday he said he needed to testdrive it on your behalf :? had to wrestle the key back off him

 

[Stuartt]

Glad you like it and it held its own against the others Andy

Just don't get too attached to it though will you :wink:

Stuart

Ed took a real shine to it yesterday he said he needed to testdrive it on your behalf :? had to wrestle the key back off him

That’s that ruined then

Stuart

 

[tomscott]

Glad your enjoying it!

Looked like a great trip

Enjoyed following along on Insta

 

[Obs-Com]

Nice to see the E89 is pushing your buttons Andy and enjoyed reading your views about the change. Just imagine how big your smile would have been if you’d managed to get your hands on an 35is!!

 

[mr wilks]

Just imagine how big your smile would have been if you’d managed to get your hands on an 35is!!

nice try Ian but after the last 8 days in France with the 35i i know i bought the right car perhaps if i was wanting to nip into town at weekends to Sainsbury's or commute up the M4 daily then the 35is would have been more practical but for my needs , , , the 6 speed twin turbo does the trick

 

[2dogs]

Glad your over the m means you won't want it back

One thing though you must miss the s54 and bcs exhaust right? The sound is intoxicating

Not over it but any concerns that the 89 would struggle against the Ms through the bends when cracking on were put to bed early on :roll: the looks of the car i'm happy with , the noise both front + back is never going to match but i will be having a play at freeing up noise at the rear :wink: the cracks & pops are there & a lovely burble on tickover but i stood under a bridge yesterday whilst the S54s came through at full chat :evil: what a noise :evil: & for anyone looking to change their stock noise there is only 2 choices for me , , , , go GruppeM for the front or BCS at the rear

I took Andy’s advice on the BCS rears, so I second the above :roll: they make a great noise.

 

[Obs-Com]

Just imagine how big your smile would have been if you’d managed to get your hands on an 35is!!

nice try Ian but after the last 8 days in France with the 35i i know i bought the right car perhaps if i was wanting to nip into town at weekends to Sainsbury's or commute up the M4 daily then the 35is would have been more practical but for my needs , , , the 6 speed twin turbo does the trick

Stock response from 35i owners until the live with an 35is for a few weeks. :roll: :roll:
You know that deep down you want one! :wink:

Car looks great though Andy and photos got me yearning for the French roads n countryside. Enjoy!!

 

[MACK]

Looks great, the "Lardy E89" point of view is an interesting one. Depending where you look there seems to be about about 80-90Kgs between an 35i manual and an E85M. However there's about 120kg's between an E85M and a E85 3.0i but no one calls the M lardy!

I don't think the gulf in handling between the E89 and the M is that great either. BMW seem to miss the mark from the factory on both for different reasons and a quick search on here shows you how much better they both can be with some choice aftermarket suspension and decent tyres (E89).

Its a real shame the M Division didn't get let loose on the E89. The 35i manual as a base would have been great. Right engine and box, well it was good enough for the BMW 1M and we all know how well thought of that car is. If they coupled that to a LSD, Remap, Nice Exhaust, Non Runflats and some well thought out springs/shocks it could have been right up there. Certainly would have enhanced the models perception.

 

[Zoomer]

An interesting post started by Andy and quite interesting for myself as I get an itch to move up from my 3.0. The M is fantastic looking and an M, but the sensible option would be a 3.5i. I am drawn to thinking what the total cost of ownership against potential resale would be over say 1 to 2 years as it seems the newer e89 has less ownership costs than the M but the M would have a better resale. So on an M the good points are
Looks
Power
Resale
Grin factor
Bad points are
Tax
Service and spares costs
Age
Insurance

For the e89 3.5i
Good
Looks ( if you subtly mod it it)
Power ( can be mapped easily)
Creature comforts( sat nav that's half decent)
Long distance user Userability
Bad
Unknown residuals
Complexity
It's not an M

That's my conundrum. My heads says 3.5 my heart says M.

Open to others thoughts

 

[Steely]

I had a 3.0si coupe, it was nice, I enjoyed it, but I had experienced the Z3 M coupe and I preferred it’s raw edginess, I sold the 3.0 Z4 and vowed only to return to a Z4M coupe (that I am now looking for), having driven both 3.0 and M recently, I am definitely stuck on the M, but I hadn’t considered the E89! Until now... thanks! :lol:

 

[mr wilks]

Zoomer / Steely , its a real tough dilemma & the answer will not be the same for all depending on how they buy / use & sell their cars
The Ms have a unique character & heritage all their own that can't be matched by any E89 but they aren't without failings so there are trade offs
The old cliche probably works here , try your alternatives out & see which makes the heart twitch :wink:

 

[Zoomer]

And the question back Andy is which one makes your heart twitch? :roll:

 

[mr wilks]

And the question back Andy is which one makes your heart twitch? :roll:

Let's just say this time last year i did the Normandy trip in 3.0Si roady after previous year in a MR , , within 10 days of returning id sold the Si & bought the Imola MR can't see it happening this year though :wink: