Hi All,
Just thought I'd post about how I've been finding things in the first 6 months I've owned my 2013 35iS.
Some of you may recognise (or remember) the car as previously belonging to this forum's very own SO8. He's a lovely chap and I actually felt a teenie weenie bit sad for him when I drove away in the Z4, but thankfully that lasted about 2 miles
In the 6(ish) months I've owned the car I've done 7700 miles (doubling the mileage) as it's my daily driver, getting me to and from work in style and, surprisingly, comfort. Stick the car in comfort mode and I'm pleasantly surprised with how it copes on some of Yorkshire's most potholey roads. Don't get me wrong - it's no barge. You're made very aware of how stiff the suspension still is, but I expected the rigidity of sport mode to be the norm.
The acceleration is brutal; unlike any normal car I've driven before. The way the car gains speed just seems worryingly effortless and before you really catch up with yourself you're flirting with the speed limits. With the roof up it's actually quite quiet, too, but who really wants the roof up?!
If it's not raining hard or idiotically windy then the roof needs to be off. Heated seats take any chill away and the exhaust note is something that makes you want to keep on driving, forever. It's getting very vocal now, the pops, bangs and burbles are much more pronounced than when I first picked it up, and this is a great thing :evil:
Hoons through the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District have been awesome, and equally cross country mile munching to Bath and Edinburgh for weekends away were completed with ease. I even topped 30mpg on the way down south! Averaging 24mpg since purchase boggles some people's minds, but this car wasn't bought for the economy. DCT box is sublime, rapid changes when you want and unobtrusive when stuck in city traffic. Although it wasn't a factor in my purchasing decision, I can't say I'm offended by the constant petrol head and joe public reception it gets - lots of head turning.
£430 a year for insurance at 24 years old is not to be sniffed at either!
Small downsides... Squeaks. The trim feels well put together for the most part, but there are a couple of irritating noises coming through. I understand this is actually quite normal. Sigh.
Car passed its first MOT with no issues in July, when it also had its first service. Got a 435i as a loaner, not a bad car either. Has been in to the dealers two other times... Once to diagnose why the glovebox failed and once to replace the piston that opens the glovebox door.
TL;DR - Car is awesome. Glad I waited so long. Glad I decided to be young and foolish when I am young and foolish. Can't see me getting bored any time soon.
If you got this far down, sorry for the long post
Just thought I'd post about how I've been finding things in the first 6 months I've owned my 2013 35iS.
Some of you may recognise (or remember) the car as previously belonging to this forum's very own SO8. He's a lovely chap and I actually felt a teenie weenie bit sad for him when I drove away in the Z4, but thankfully that lasted about 2 miles
In the 6(ish) months I've owned the car I've done 7700 miles (doubling the mileage) as it's my daily driver, getting me to and from work in style and, surprisingly, comfort. Stick the car in comfort mode and I'm pleasantly surprised with how it copes on some of Yorkshire's most potholey roads. Don't get me wrong - it's no barge. You're made very aware of how stiff the suspension still is, but I expected the rigidity of sport mode to be the norm.
The acceleration is brutal; unlike any normal car I've driven before. The way the car gains speed just seems worryingly effortless and before you really catch up with yourself you're flirting with the speed limits. With the roof up it's actually quite quiet, too, but who really wants the roof up?!
If it's not raining hard or idiotically windy then the roof needs to be off. Heated seats take any chill away and the exhaust note is something that makes you want to keep on driving, forever. It's getting very vocal now, the pops, bangs and burbles are much more pronounced than when I first picked it up, and this is a great thing :evil:
Hoons through the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District have been awesome, and equally cross country mile munching to Bath and Edinburgh for weekends away were completed with ease. I even topped 30mpg on the way down south! Averaging 24mpg since purchase boggles some people's minds, but this car wasn't bought for the economy. DCT box is sublime, rapid changes when you want and unobtrusive when stuck in city traffic. Although it wasn't a factor in my purchasing decision, I can't say I'm offended by the constant petrol head and joe public reception it gets - lots of head turning.
£430 a year for insurance at 24 years old is not to be sniffed at either!
Small downsides... Squeaks. The trim feels well put together for the most part, but there are a couple of irritating noises coming through. I understand this is actually quite normal. Sigh.
Car passed its first MOT with no issues in July, when it also had its first service. Got a 435i as a loaner, not a bad car either. Has been in to the dealers two other times... Once to diagnose why the glovebox failed and once to replace the piston that opens the glovebox door.
TL;DR - Car is awesome. Glad I waited so long. Glad I decided to be young and foolish when I am young and foolish. Can't see me getting bored any time soon.
If you got this far down, sorry for the long post
not a bad car for a 24 year old. Lucky you. 
North West Surrey
Progress I suppose!
Usa
