Potential new E89 owner

M

Ming

Member
Hi all. Due to ongoing health related issues I'm looking to hang up my crash helmets and give up motorcycling.
My wife and I have toured extensively on them for years and agreed that when the time came we'd get another convertible as a replacement as we'd had a late Z3 2.2 a few years ago and loved it. It's the next best thing to being on 2 wheels and we have a Yeti for everyday stuff, dog etc, so this would be a second car for rain free days.

Late model 2010 on, must be auto, anything but white interior, not too fussed on exterior colour. Under 80k preferred, the 2ltr 28i seems perfect compromise but they seem pretty thin on the ground compared to the 23i and 30i. The lower powered 2.0ltr is a possibility if it can be safely upped in power.

I was torn between the Beemer and an Audi TT but they seem a tad more expensive and seem to have more niggles over leaks and electrical issues. Any common probs on the Z4 I need to worry about apart from cracked 19" wheels and run flats?

Cheers all
 
Hi, bit of info on the n20 2litre engines here :thumbsup:
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=121232&p=1734136&hilit=N20+guide#p1734136
Rob
 
Thanks for the link. I'll have to sell the KTM first as I don't think many dealers will take the bike in part exchange but other than that I'm ready to buy when one comes up.

Can't think why there are loads more 2.0Si models than the 2.8Si unless there was a massive difference in price when new. Seems the fuel consumption is similar but way more power and torque.
 
Ming said:
Thanks for the link. I'll have to sell the KTM first as I don't think many dealers will take the bike in part exchange but other than that I'm ready to buy when one comes up.

Can't think why there are loads more 2.0Si models than the 2.8Si unless there was a massive difference in price when new. Seems the fuel consumption is similar but way more power and torque.
Click to expand...

Yes all to do with the initial price, same reason why they sold way more 23i compared to 30i. The 20i can be safely upped in power to around 280BHP, no doubt someone with N20 experience will be along shortly.
 
I agree with you that the 6 cylinder may sound better - that's the main reason I got the 2.2 straight six in my Z3. But the running costs were pretty steep although offset by the better performance in relation to the 1.9 4cyl model.
Not sure there's much difference in performance between the 2.8Si and the 2.3Si but less fuel economy in the 6cyl one.

TBH if I can get a 6 for less than a 4cyl one I'd be tempted. Does the 6 cyl come with the ZF 8 speed auto option?
 
The 6 cylinder 23i or 30i comes with the older 6 ZF 6 Speed, I have the 30i and in town I get around 23 mpg but on a long run of 1500 miles I have seen 44mpg and regularly see around late 30s to 40 mpg when doing shorter motorway runs, which really isn't bad for such a big engine. I doubt in the real world you will get that much more from the N20 4 pots. The 35i and 35is come with the DCT transmission are way more powerful of course but are slightly worse for fuel compared to the N52 NA 6 pots.

EDIT: forgot to say the 28i is more closely matched to the 30i rather than the 23i. If you look you can get 30i or 23i for sensible money, I think I recently saw on auto trader a 2010 30i auto with 25k miles for around 11k GBP.
 
I average 35mpg in my van (I'm a courier) so anything above 30mpg combined is okay with me. I won't be doing massive mileages but if it gets used as much as the bike does then it'll be over 8k a year, although in reality it will probably be less than that as the trips will be less frequent and shorter. I'd regularly do 200 mile round trips for fish and chips in the evening!

I'd need to try the 6 speed auto. I really wanted a DSG box as I've tried one and it's so smooth up and down. I was hoping the 8 spd auto was similar. YouTube vids I've seen seem to portray a seamless change. Is the 6spd one as creamy smooth?
 
I had the ZF8 speed on my F20 and it is a brilliant gearbox no doubt but going back from that to my ZF6 speed in the 30i is no hardship. It is still pretty creamy smooth and does the job well. With both of these gearboxes the ZF8 and 6 you can tune them via XHP Flashtool which from my investigation sharpen both gearboxes considerably. I am going to do that on mine at some point down the line. Best thing for you to do is to go and test drive the different variants that interest you and see which you like best, once obviously you are allowed out again of course.
 
Cheers. Do you know if heated seats are separate or can ordinary ones be "enabled"? Can't understand for the life of me why you wouldn't spec them on a soft top - I loved the Z3 even in November on a dry day but heated seats were a must have
 
Ming said:
Thanks for the link. I'll have to sell the KTM first as I don't think many dealers will take the bike in part exchange but other than that I'm ready to buy when one comes up.

Can't think why there are loads more 2.0Si models than the 2.8Si unless there was a massive difference in price when new. Seems the fuel consumption is similar but way more power and torque.
Click to expand...

Hi, there’s actually no decimal point with the 18/20 & 28i cars as that’s not the capacity (they’re all 2litres)
It’s just bmw’s bonkers badging system :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Yeah, sorry. I did know they're in different states of tune but couldn't see why you'd choose the 20i over the 28i unless there was a massive difference in price
 
Ming said:
Cheers. Do you know if heated seats are separate or can ordinary ones be "enabled"? Can't understand for the life of me why you wouldn't spec them on a soft top - I loved the Z3 even in November on a dry day but heated seats were a must have
Click to expand...

As with all German cars everything was an option when new. So best to look for a car with heated seats.
 
Well - here she is:
https://z4-forum.com/forum
https://z4-forum.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=82277/download/file.php?mode=view&id=82276


This just appeared on Autotrader and was the right spec and a fabulous, rare colour scheme which we really liked. Pleasant guys to deal with, gave me a decent part ex price for my bike which was a relief as I thought I'd struggle to sell it. Been out for a bimble today and 'Im pleasantly surprised that the ride on 19" wheels and RFT's isn't that bad - not as bumpy as our old Mini Cooper was.

Exhaust sound is a bit muted and it could do with some more poke so will defo be getting it remapped and I'll ask him if there's anything he can do to give it a bit more "attitude"... :driving:
 

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Very nice, you can make the exhaust valve permanently open for a little more exhaust note if you think it’s too muted :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Thanks guys. TBH if it was a solid colour I probably wouldn't have gone for it - it was the gloss black roof that sealed it. That and the lovely leather and alcantara seats - I've memories of getting my arse burned when I left the roof down in the summer in my Z3 and its' full leather seats!

Smartbear - is the exhaust valve mod an easy DIY job?
 
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