Re-visiting your choices
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If I was looking for another E89 in say a different colour then I would still go for the 35i 
I love my remapped 20i e89 but if the money was back in the bank I’d buy a Z4m roadster instead, definitely the best looking of all the Z4 convertibles IMHO.
I had 19k to spend about 8 years ago so it was a choice between an early Cayman S, E89 Z4 35i, Audi TTS or an E86 MCoupe.
The M Coupe would be worth exactly what I paid for it, the 35i is probably worth about 7k less now. So financially it wasn't the best choice but that's still pretty good depreciation. Much better than if I'd have spent that 19k on a diesel 3 series.
The only thing I'd change is the colour. I really wanted a blue one but that was the last priority and at the time there wasn't much choice.
The M Coupe would be worth exactly what I paid for it, the 35i is probably worth about 7k less now. So financially it wasn't the best choice but that's still pretty good depreciation. Much better than if I'd have spent that 19k on a diesel 3 series.
The only thing I'd change is the colour. I really wanted a blue one but that was the last priority and at the time there wasn't much choice.
Same choices..? Yes, I would. No regrets and I'm so loathe to get rid of any of mine, they all have their flaws but yet they all tick so many boxes. Pinning any one down is crazy hard but quite honestly the one I'd miss most is the E89, jelly chassis and heavy but you CAN do something about that to some extent, as you know, and they just have something that fits just that little bit more than the others, in 35 guise that is, can't really speak for others as I've only driven a 28i i in 4pot guise on a test run.
They're all going to have to go to make way for a GTS 4.0 though before they quit making them. But if it works out there'll be an E89 of some age and miles in there as a winter\project car. If not then the M roady stays with an E89, just love them for some reason.
They're all going to have to go to make way for a GTS 4.0 though before they quit making them. But if it works out there'll be an E89 of some age and miles in there as a winter\project car. If not then the M roady stays with an E89, just love them for some reason.
I have a very long list of things I shouldn't have done in my life to date, buying my coupe isn’t on it.
I'd happily choose the same E89 again. Didn't want loads of gadgets, no use for satnav or parking sensors, and intend to keep it so not worried about the resale value. Would definitely have VO again as well.
However, I do wish I'd bought in to the E85 earlier. Only had M54s so far to base my opinion on, but I'd love to have had a 3.0i from new.
However, I do wish I'd bought in to the E85 earlier. Only had M54s so far to base my opinion on, but I'd love to have had a 3.0i from new.
I would have liked the 3.0 litre engine in my e89 but as my colour combo was pretty much fixed I was willing to compromise on the engine size as long as it had 6 cylinders
i bought the right model for me too. the earliest, cheapest E85 3 litre i could find, so i could use it for trackdays. if i was to do it again, i might consider an E85 3.0si or an E86, but the greatly increased price for basically the same car would soon have me back at the cheapest 3.0i again.
if i got into cross continental cruising i might consider an E89, but then, if that was my thing then economy would be a factor, and i'd probably sway towards a 3 series convertible instead, with a diesel engine.
if i got into cross continental cruising i might consider an E89, but then, if that was my thing then economy would be a factor, and i'd probably sway towards a 3 series convertible instead, with a diesel engine.
I think I would have bought a lower mileage newer Z4M tbh.
Mines been used as intended by its previous owners and if feels like it. I’m about 6k into it without any aesthetics and I’ve still not done the bigger jobs like bearings, mounts, Vanos.
Paid 14k it had 63, now nearly 3 years later has 73 and I’ve spent 10k on it in total including insurance tax servicing etc with at least I would think another 5 to go. Mainly the lack of use is because it’s needed a lot to get it to my standard.
They aren’t cheap to run once they get to a decent age and need constant attention.
The other thing I’ve learned is buying a 15 year old car and expecting it to drive like the previous one I had (which was 7 years old when I sold it) is a big mistake. The suspensions mostly needs replacing to make it feel like it did. It’s so soft and the shocks are doing very little.
What’s annoying my driveway has a step and stock I caught the front fang so I can’t lower it either. My old one had H&Rs which is about as low as you’d want to go.
I will preserver and get it sorted tho! If only to ensure a good example stays on the road. There aren’t many from when I was looking.
Mines been used as intended by its previous owners and if feels like it. I’m about 6k into it without any aesthetics and I’ve still not done the bigger jobs like bearings, mounts, Vanos.
Paid 14k it had 63, now nearly 3 years later has 73 and I’ve spent 10k on it in total including insurance tax servicing etc with at least I would think another 5 to go. Mainly the lack of use is because it’s needed a lot to get it to my standard.
They aren’t cheap to run once they get to a decent age and need constant attention.
The other thing I’ve learned is buying a 15 year old car and expecting it to drive like the previous one I had (which was 7 years old when I sold it) is a big mistake. The suspensions mostly needs replacing to make it feel like it did. It’s so soft and the shocks are doing very little.
What’s annoying my driveway has a step and stock I caught the front fang so I can’t lower it either. My old one had H&Rs which is about as low as you’d want to go.
I will preserver and get it sorted tho! If only to ensure a good example stays on the road. There aren’t many from when I was looking.
At the time, 18 months ago, I could have bought a 35is for not much more than a 3.0.
Didn't, purely because I wanted a manual and I didn't want any more "potential" issues with the dct/shocks/turbo. Plenty of issues, it turns out, with any E89
. Couldn't be happier though, heated seats are a bonus too, only found out after I bought it
Didn't, purely because I wanted a manual and I didn't want any more "potential" issues with the dct/shocks/turbo. Plenty of issues, it turns out, with any E89
. Couldn't be happier though, heated seats are a bonus too, only found out after I bought it Bristolcot90
Member
Sometimes I think maybe I should have gone for a 6 cylinder but I haven’t test driven one so I can’t miss what I never had :tumbleweed:
Very happy with my 35is and would by another one if they were available new today but as todays equivalent is the M40i, that's what I would order today!
One thing I’ve learned is, buy the best you can sensibly afford of you will invariably be left thinking, if only I’d spent just a little bit more.
One thing I’ve learned is, buy the best you can sensibly afford of you will invariably be left thinking, if only I’d spent just a little bit more.