Potential new owner

Thanks B21 and Mr Tidy - I certainly prefer the look of the coupes, but it has to be a soft top (so I keep telling myself!)
I think the E85 is the best option at the moment, as compared to a Westfield, any creature comforts are a bonus.

Like others, I will hold out for an si for now but its early days.
Dave
 
davep10000 said:
Thanks B21 and Mr Tidy - I certainly prefer the look of the coupes, but it has to be a soft top (so I keep telling myself!)
I think the E85 is the best option at the moment, as compared to a Westfield, any creature comforts are a bonus.

Like others, I will hold out for an si for now but its early days.
Dave
Click to expand...

Go for it…any Zed is a good Zed :thumbsup:
 
davep10000 said:
Thanks B21 and Mr Tidy - I certainly prefer the look of the coupes, but it has to be a soft top (so I keep telling myself!)
I think the E85 is the best option at the moment, as compared to a Westfield, any creature comforts are a bonus.

Like others, I will hold out for an si for now but its early days.
Dave
Click to expand...

If you are in no rush I am sure you will find what you are looking for. There are never as many cars on the market this time of year particularly where two seater roadsters are concerned. Come April May there should be a good choice!
 
I’ve owned an 3.0l E85 and an E89 in 3.0l Auto form they are indeed very different cars and especially so with the Auto box. The E89 could best be described as a more”mature” development of the car. It’s got a wee bit fatter but you won’t be ashamed by its pace!

Opinion on here is quite polarised so post a wanted along with any feature that are 100% No and you might be surprised at what pops up. Try not to leave it until the spring or you’ll pay a premium.

You will also find that a lot of cars on here are enthusiast owned and maintained and ask questions on the forum. There are many who know these cars inside out.

Enjoy the search and the eventual ride :thumbsup:
 
I would echo ronk's view, however both mine were manuals and I had the 2.5Si e85 not the 3.0Si and was certainly a fun car to drive, just not a car to do long journeys in and that's where that e89 was superior, though the compromise was a car that did not handle as precisely, but enjoyable none the less. One thing though, which ever one you get, ditch the run flats

Happy hunting
 
It will only be a weekend car, so long journeys are not really an issue fortunately. Nothing can be worse than a 300 mile journey in either the Westfield or the landrover!!
Runflats are the work of the devil....
 
I certainly think the 2.5si is worth considering. Maybe I have imagine it but I feel the gear box is slightly smoother on the 2.5 compared to the 3.0l. The main thing I would personally miss from the 3.0l is the electric seats
 
I always found the gearchange in my Manual 3.0l E85 was very heavy. It was greatly improved by the weighted gear knob. Sometimes getting it off the line there was a wind up kangaroo take off if you got it a bit wrong!

The gearchange was not a hot hatch slick Job . The service manager drove mine and said it was very normal.
Don’t get me wrong- it wasn’t bad, just I think it could have been better!
 
BMW manual gearboxes seem to be a bit hit or miss.

I've currently got numbers 7 and 8 and my 330i is probably the worst so far, whereas my MC has one of the best!

A weighted gearknob is a definite improvement and if the lever movement is sloppy there is a nylon bush at the bottom of the lever that can be replaced.

The "kangaroo take off" sounds like an issue with the Clutch Delay Valve that is best removed if you are used to manual gearboxes!
 
Re the kangaroo,
My car was indeed in very standard mechanical trim.
When talking off in a hurry it had to be done properly - if you got if wrong it was a lotus elan rubber doughnut wind up feel. It never felt like it was clutch induced.

Do you know of the prop has a doughnut? I always suspected that that’s where the problem came from.
It wasn’t a show stopper so I didn’t bother investing any further.

I know many removed the cdv but it’s there to protect and I didn’t feel comfortable removing it - I was always happy in the day with a manual box- my full race old school cooper S had no syncro on first and as it was very cammy, 1st gear was often needed on the fly, double de clutch properly or it didn’t go in!

Just flip a paddle these days.
 
Heated seats is a must. The cabin in an E85 heats up quickly in the winter. I have had my 2007 model 2.5si for nearly 7 years now and I find it gives me the power when I need it and also the fuel economy - 40+ mpg on a good run. I would think the insurance is probably significantly cheaper than a 3L car as well
 
ronk said:
Do you know of the prop has a doughnut? I always suspected that that’s where the problem came from.
It wasn’t a show stopper so I didn’t bother investing any further.

I know many removed the cdv but it’s there to protect and I didn’t feel comfortable removing it - I was always happy in the day with a manual box- my full race old school cooper S had no syncro on first and as it was very cammy, 1st gear was often needed on the fly, double de clutch properly or it didn’t go in!

Just flip a paddle these days.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure there is a guibo somewhere in the drivetrain, so that may well have been the issue.

Although I've found my manual BMs much better without the CDV.

I hope I never get to the point of paddle-flipping! :o
 
I’ve got the paddles bit normally don’t bother. I bought an auto because that’s what I wanted - if I’d wanted to change gear I would have bought a manual . :thumbsup:
 
Just to close off this thread, I have bought an 06 2.5Si Sport with 60k miles and fsh, in immaculate condition for £5500.
Will look forward to testing it out on the deserted roads and passes round here, that I know so well with the Westfield.
Need to sort out the appalling headlights though!
 
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