sDrive30i vs 35i/35is?

M

makeshiftuk

Member
 Surrey
Hi folks. What are the main differences going from an sDrive30i (ZF auto) to an sDrive35i or 35is?

We've had our sDrive30i for just over a year and Mrs.Makeshift loves it to bits - however, whilst the N52B30 does make a nice noise it's not loud enough (even with the roof down) and she's quite taken by the symmetry of the rear bumper/the twin tailpipes of the 35i/35is... plus the opportunity to slip into something closer to her preferred spec (deep sea blue + cream seats + wood trim). The other option of course is to upgrade our current stock exhaust, I guess.

I imagine running costs are higher on account of the twin-turbo N54B30 - and I anticipate the DCT won't be quite as slick in auto? I appreciate it'll be a more rapid experience on the road although speed isn't the main driving force in this equation :D Thanks in advance.
 
So apart from engine N54, gearbox DCT or manual, bigger front and rear brakes, revised dampers and springs, maybe adaptive, s/w revisions to steering not a lot..

Be prepared for the potential for dramatic increases in unforeseen maintenance costs…

Having only driven a 30i once can’t comment on ZF vs DCT but would imagine broadly on par..both can now be software revised..

Be a lot cheaper to get a twin exhaust system..

However sounds like you want a change..
 
matsmith749 said:
35is has a sports tuned exhaust 10dB louder than the 35i too.

35is is top of the range.
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Good reason to get a 35i then.. :poke: :rofl:

He can buy a 35i and I’ll sell him my 10db noisier exhaust.. :thumbsup:

Not sure what a ‘sports tuned’ is :tumbleweed:
 
I swapped from a 3.0 e89 auto to the 35is DCT
It would be a long winded exercise to list the Tech specs but suffice to say the sales fella said the cars were chalk n cheese.

He was correct
 
I've driven the 3L NA engine car & also a few versions of the 35is - there is a big difference.

For me the 3L cars all felt like nice looking, but 'normal'. Very quiet, performed like a hot hatch. But didn't excite.

The 35is is more of an occasion - more speed - more noise - the ones I have driven are better specced too. It doesn't feel like a standard car that your neighbours might drive. Hard tp pin down - but iit s not ordinary / run of the mill.

Between the 35i & the 35is, the power difference / noise / standard fit DCT, standard fit adaptive suspension, and the likelihood of finding huge spec used models is the differentiator in favour of the is model. Plus it is top of the z4 range, which matters to many (expecially buyers).

You can find similar spec 35i cars, and essentially you have the same car but in a lower power / less noise format. Manual gearbox is an option if you like that (not available in the is model).

You can remap the 35i engine to have the same (or more) output of the 35is - but outside of forum land, a tiny percentage of people bother remapping cars. And I would suggest an even tiner percentage of people would want to purchase a remapped car - they want stock with no fcking around.
 
Christopher72 said:
ronk said:
It would be a long winded exercise to list the Tech specs but suffice to say the sales fella said the cars were chalk n cheese.
Click to expand...

Which one is the chalk? :fuelfire:
Click to expand...

He wasn’t suggesting the 3.0l wasn’t a good car - but that i would notice a big change going to the then untried 35is ( it was still on the boat from Germany when I signed the papers)

He was correct - the two cars are indeed very different beasts.

I only changed fro a 3.0l E89 to a 35is In September 16 as I decided I wanted the last in the breed and the highest spec available.
 
ronk said:
she's quite taken by the symmetry of the rear bumper/the twin tailpipes of the 35i/35is... plus the opportunity to slip into something closer to her preferred spec (deep sea blue + cream seats + wood trim).
Click to expand...
Happy wife happy life 😁 go for it.
 
Chippie said:
ronk said:
she's quite taken by the symmetry of the rear bumper/the twin tailpipes of the 35i/35is... plus the opportunity to slip into something closer to her preferred spec (deep sea blue + cream seats + wood trim).
Click to expand...
Happy wife happy life 😁 go for it.
Click to expand...

That’s not my quote!
 
ronk said:
Chippie said:
ronk said:
she's quite taken by the symmetry of the rear bumper/the twin tailpipes of the 35i/35is... plus the opportunity to slip into something closer to her preferred spec (deep sea blue + cream seats + wood trim).
Click to expand...
Happy wife happy life 😁 go for it.
Click to expand...

That’s not my quote!
Click to expand...

And it wasn’t meant to be, bloody forum quoting cockups at it again
 
Thanks for all the replies, much obliged… interesting to see that others have made the transition to the 35i/35is we’re considering.

matsmith749 said:
I've driven the 3L NA engine car & also a few versions of the 35is - there is a big difference.

For me the 3L cars all felt like nice looking, but 'normal'. Very quiet, performed like a hot hatch. But didn't excite.

The 35is is more of an occasion - more speed - more noise - the ones I have driven are better specced too. It doesn't feel like a standard car that your neighbours might drive. Hard tp pin down - but iit s not ordinary / run of the mill.
Click to expand...
This is exactly the kind of compare/contrast I was looking for… the sDrive30i is great, it’s a beautiful thing but lacks that sense of occasion. Nothing wrong at all with vanilla, but with a sprinkling of marching powder added makes all the difference!

I think we’ll start looking for a 35is to drive to test the concept - and if wifey is happy with how it drives, we’ll hold fire until the right colour combination materialises.

What average yearly running costs can I expect from a 35is?
 
Running costs arn't ruinous like an M class BMW - fuel consumption is about 22mpg in town / 35mpg on the motorway. Tyres £850 a set maybe every 20k miles. Servicing needs to be annual for oil / standard scope for eveything else (budget £500 a year for servicing). Tax is £360 a year for the 35is.

Overall running costs are about half what I was spending to run a porsche 911 (dealer serviced), and about the same as my 7 series BMW (again dealer serviced). Other cars have been cheaper.

Either the 35i / 35is could have costs that might bite you (like any compicated car). DCT gearbox is expensive if it breaks. Turbo car, so that's another added complication. Otherwise it's pretty standard higher performance car costs - they are more expensive to run than a 1.0l Ford Fiesta.

Don't buy a cheap one that has been skimped on - decent shape low milage cars are out there for £20k - £25k.

I much prefer the >2013 LCI facelift version. Nicer lights :)

For myself - I sleep better having the full BMW bumper to bumper warranty. I would note that my first 35is didn't ever break in any way (owned for 2 years & 12k miles). The 2016 one I just bought has also been flawless with no failures in the first 3 months.
 
I bought my car at the end of the production run in the hope that (hopefully) most niggles would have been ironed out.
Only time will tell I suppose - but I’ve kept the BMW warranty :thumbsup:
 
ronk said:
I bought my car at the end of the production run in the hope that (hopefully) most niggles would have been ironed out.
Only time will tell I suppose - but I’ve kept the BMW warranty
Click to expand...

Only time will tell, but your car is barely run-in. :lol:
 
That’s true!
Its shameful really - It is a summer only car and is never used unless it’s going to be fully warmed up.

The car is mainly used for the Germany/Netherlands trip each year but covid has stopped two of those trips .

Hopefully this year it will see die Autobahn once again!

Owning a car approaching 7yrs old (Sept ) with only 16.5k you can probably understand why I didn’t make the jump to the M40i recently!
 
matsmith749 said:
... I sleep better having the full BMW bumper to bumper warranty. I would note that my first 35is didn't ever break in any way (owned for 2 years & 12k miles). The 2016 one I just bought has also been flawless with no failures in the first 3 months.
Click to expand...
Had mine for 74k miles.
Very good value for money BMW Insured Warranty essential. See 'E89 Comprehensive problem list' on 'E89 problems' page.
26.4 mpg. Independent BMW garage service not expensive. BMW AD service not required.
Tyres (Pirelli P Zero) from Kwik Fit. Runs well on E10.
No car I've had has attracted as many 'Nice car that' comments. (Melbourne Red + Ivory White nappa + 295s.)
Never used its Launch Control.
Sport+ features very good.
And so on.
Excellent car.
 
I am on my 2nd 3.5i and both cars have been flawless. Admittedly my latest is low mileage (39k) LCI and also has BMW warranty for peace of mind. It’s also a manual which is quite rare. My first one had 83k on the clock when I bought it, sold it with 87k on the clock to my mate who still has it and the only thing that has failed is the water pump which I believe is common on high mileage 3.5i/is. His is also the DCT auto and again no issues at all with it.
 
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