So following the sale of my Z3 and to celebrate the removal of the SORN I thought I’d get the new to me 2.2 out for a quick run this morning – what can I say I just couldn’t wait having purchased it a couple of weeks ago via the forum.
Just under 50 miles later I thought I would share my 1st impressions – appreciate they aren’t based on much usage but I do think 1st impressions count when it comes to new cars and I speak from experience having been through 6 Zed’s in the previous 2 years.
Straight out the gate I’m going say that to me the E85 doesn’t look as good as the Z3 widebody – don’t get me wrong I love the angular lines and think the Sterling Grey is well suited to showing them off but for me it will never be a photogenic as the Boston Green Z3.
OK so with that out of the way the E85 just feels a much nicer place to be in than the Z3 – granted I only had the standard seats without heating in the Z3 and the E85 has the MSport heated seats but that aside I much prefer the lower down seating position. The fact that Jim the previous owner had the steering wheel, ZHP gear knob and handbrake leaver recovered by Royals and fitted new velour mats supplied by BMW just adds to the internal environment.
Now the E85 isn’t as plush internally as the E89 I had which had the leather & heated sports seats but I always thought that was one of the E89 failings rather than benefits – I was never after a refined cruiser so for me the E85 fulfils the role of a fun occasional car much better. More surprisingly on the 18 inch 224’s and Bilstein B4’s that were only fitted 500 miles ago it has the ability to soften out some of the road imperfections that in the E89 on the 19 inch 296’s sent shock waves up your spine – the E89 was the sDrive 25i so non-MSport suspension and it had done 77k.
The 2 previous two E85’s I owned before the E89 were the 3.0i & 2.5i and both had more miles on than this one – probably not relevant to compare to the 3.0i on the basis that was an automatic but against the 2.5i the 2.2 feels comparable. Appreciate this one has only done 58k and had the DISA valve replaced less than 4k miles ago & the VANOS upgraded less than 3k ago so no doubt that is a contributing factor.
So finally to compare it to the Z4MC – chalk and cheese I know but all I can say is relevant the 2.2 is just much more relevant to the way I want to use the car. The 1st and 2nd gears are actually useable rather than transitionary and I can get up to the top of the rev band without feeling the need to change my pants.
So all in all I am well happy with the 2.2 and while I’d like to say this one’s a keeper, based on my track record with these cars, I will abstain for now and hopefully time will tell that story.
Just under 50 miles later I thought I would share my 1st impressions – appreciate they aren’t based on much usage but I do think 1st impressions count when it comes to new cars and I speak from experience having been through 6 Zed’s in the previous 2 years.
Straight out the gate I’m going say that to me the E85 doesn’t look as good as the Z3 widebody – don’t get me wrong I love the angular lines and think the Sterling Grey is well suited to showing them off but for me it will never be a photogenic as the Boston Green Z3.
OK so with that out of the way the E85 just feels a much nicer place to be in than the Z3 – granted I only had the standard seats without heating in the Z3 and the E85 has the MSport heated seats but that aside I much prefer the lower down seating position. The fact that Jim the previous owner had the steering wheel, ZHP gear knob and handbrake leaver recovered by Royals and fitted new velour mats supplied by BMW just adds to the internal environment.
Now the E85 isn’t as plush internally as the E89 I had which had the leather & heated sports seats but I always thought that was one of the E89 failings rather than benefits – I was never after a refined cruiser so for me the E85 fulfils the role of a fun occasional car much better. More surprisingly on the 18 inch 224’s and Bilstein B4’s that were only fitted 500 miles ago it has the ability to soften out some of the road imperfections that in the E89 on the 19 inch 296’s sent shock waves up your spine – the E89 was the sDrive 25i so non-MSport suspension and it had done 77k.
The 2 previous two E85’s I owned before the E89 were the 3.0i & 2.5i and both had more miles on than this one – probably not relevant to compare to the 3.0i on the basis that was an automatic but against the 2.5i the 2.2 feels comparable. Appreciate this one has only done 58k and had the DISA valve replaced less than 4k miles ago & the VANOS upgraded less than 3k ago so no doubt that is a contributing factor.
So finally to compare it to the Z4MC – chalk and cheese I know but all I can say is relevant the 2.2 is just much more relevant to the way I want to use the car. The 1st and 2nd gears are actually useable rather than transitionary and I can get up to the top of the rev band without feeling the need to change my pants.
So all in all I am well happy with the 2.2 and while I’d like to say this one’s a keeper, based on my track record with these cars, I will abstain for now and hopefully time will tell that story.
Attleborough, Norfolk
North West Surrey
