My new E89!

W

WayOfTheGinja

Member
 Oxford
Swapped my much loved Montego blue E86 auto for a very well looked after black on black E89 23i manual a couple of weeks ago. That delightful storm ruined all photo opportunities but this afternoon has been spent making it shiny enough to say hello!

IMG_2528.JPG

Initial thoughts on the swap:
- As many say - E89 more refined, much nicer to cruise on the motorway, but still feels fairly engaging on a B road
- Decrease in power from 3.0 to 2.5 not particularly apparent
- N52 engine sounds great (again), exhaust on the E89 seems a bit louder and sportier though :D
- I will never buy an automatic sports car again - loving the manual
- It comes with the 11 speaker "HiFi Loudspeaker" system (the one up from basic) - vast improvement
- Dropping the roof is addictive, even when it's only 4 degrees outside!
- Black cars show dirt... very quickly (but I knew that already)

Future plans:
- Maybe some LCI indicators and a debadge of the sides
 
Looks good! I'm probably (definitely) in the minority here, but I actually prefer the pre-LCI side indicators. I would consider changing mine if it wasn't for the hole that would be left behind.
 
Enjoy your car..we have some people who keep those N52B25 spinning and keeping up with more powerful Zeds..its not what you've got, its how you use it :thumbsup: :driving:
 
Congratulations on your new Z4. :thumbsup:

It may be smaller but at least you still have an N52 engine that loves to rev. :driving:
 
Nicey Nice! :D
Welcome to the 23i family.

What year is it?

The first thing i did when i got mine was to have it ceramic coated. There wasn't anything to be done in correcting the paintwork (swirls etc) so it was a relatively quick job to ceramic coat, including the wheels (with a ceramic for wheels).

Now all i have to do is power wash it, even the manual power washes at gas stations etc. are fine.
Then a light brush down with a waffle towel.

Every so often i use Soft99 Raindrop Bazooka as well.
https://youtu.be/NeCJeCozltA

Second major change was the wheels, from Turbine 292's to ATS Evolution Dark Grey and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric's.

Third thing was debadging (removed the 23i Sdrive badges from the side and the Z4 from the back) and also switched to LCI indicators.

Latest is a swap of the gear shift to an LED style.

It all costs... :x :x

Still only 59,000 miles for a 2010.

Good luck and well wear.
 
Thanks everyone!

It’s a 2010, remarkably good condition for a 12 year old car. Even the driver’s bolster looks good.

Thank you for the cleaning tips, I’ll have to look into ceramic coating. I used a Poorboys black wax today on the advice of the guy who sold it to me. I’ve never waxed a car before but was surprised how easy it was as a novice (and how good it looked).

I’m in two minds about the LCI indicators too! There’s something to be said for the fact that it is totally original.

Re. the smaller engine - it sounds so good that having to push it a little harder is kind of a bonus!

Oh and that whippy aerial is definitely staying too :)
 
WayOfTheGinja said:
Thanks everyone!

It’s a 2010, remarkably good condition for a 12 year old car. Even the driver’s bolster looks good.

Thank you for the cleaning tips, I’ll have to look into ceramic coating. I used a Poorboys black wax today on the advice of the guy who sold it to me. I’ve never waxed a car before but was surprised how easy it was as a novice (and how good it looked).

I’m in two minds about the LCI indicators too! There’s something to be said for the fact that it is totally original.

Re. the smaller engine - it sounds so good that having to push it a little harder is kind of a bonus!

Oh and that whippy aerial is definitely staying too :)
Click to expand...

What state is the paintwork in?

I would suggest two options:

1) Get someone to ceramic coat it for you - quick, easy but costs a bit.

2) If the paint isn't in a bad way and you fancy doing something yourself, then this:
- Wash
- Detar using something like Bilt Hamber
- Wash again
- Clay bar - the paintwork as well as the windows as well as the wheels. Be careful with this. Need to fold it regularly and throw away often and use detailing fluid in excess.
- Wash again and dry
- Apply Ceramic Coatings to Paintwork & Wheels ONLY (use a wheel specific ceramic coating)
- Apply window coating
- allow 2 weeks before 1st wash

Requires a garage / roof / covering to do this properly, so if you don't have that then wait until some better weather.

After that, every few weeks just power wash it, softly wipe down with a waffle towel and let the shinyness shine!
No need for waxes for a few years. After a few years, reapply the ceramic.

In the interim, apply something like the Raindrop Bazooka i mentioned above as an additional layer.
 
By the way, i think that you made a mistake in your username when typing.
The "i" should be changed to an "a".

WayOfTheGanja sounds much better
 
Lovely car. On the ceramic coating, unless you have some experience and all the kit I'd suggest that you just use a pro detailing firm in your area. Most decent firms will also do a maintenance package or show you how to Safe-wash properly. I had a look online in your neck of the woods and this guy might be worth contacting, there are others but make sure that your selecting an insured trades person with a portfolio of machine polishing behind them.
 
B21 said:
Enjoy your car..we have some people who keep those N52B25 spinning and keeping up with more powerful Zeds..its not what you've got, its how you use it :thumbsup: :driving:
Click to expand...
More importantly, where did you get that 187mph sticker on the back of your Zed??
 
As I’m at most a detailing beginner I think I’d look at getting it done professionally, but nice to have the method should I come back to it later.

Wanderer - did you find the Eagle F1 tyres made much of a difference to the ride? I put them on my E86 and they were glorious! Currently got the standard Bridgestone Potenza run flats and they’re a bit firm…

After much BMW forum reading I’ve also ordered myself an INVERY Airdual-300B (https://invery.com/products/bluetooth-a2dp-adapter-for-bmw-and-mini-cooper) which will hopefully allow some fairly seamless Bluetooth streaming.
 
WayOfTheGinja said:
Wanderer - did you find the Eagle F1 tyres made much of a difference to the ride? I put them on my E86 and they were glorious! Currently got the standard Bridgestone Potenza run flats and they’re a bit firm…
Click to expand...

I changed the wheels & tires almost as soon as i got the car.
There were 3 different tyre types on it. So i can't compare with confidence to before.

However, with the Goodyear F1 Assy's, non run-flat, they are spot on.
According to the wife "they stick like crazy & don't make a passenger feel uncomfortable".
When my wife feels uncomfortable, that's a major warning, especially considering how she drives!
Have you ever been in the passenger seat with your partner driving??? It's almost always a scary situation.

I cannot complain either. I have a 2006 E90 with 65K miles and recent Pirelli Zero's as well and they do the job.

I've flung the E89 with the the Goodyears on around bends on Irish country roads and have had no problems whatsoever.
Obviously, i don't drive it in icy or snowy conditions (being RWD).

Lovely car, i drive it in Sports Mode most of the time. Working on remapping it at the moment so that i get more torque & delivery on the lower end, i.e. the bits that you may feel missing in comfort mode on the lower end.
 
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