Seat comfort

[Geoffrey Salvage]

Dear Forum,

I am interested in buying a second-hand BMW Z4 Roadster LCI (E89) sDrive 28i 8AT 245BHP 2013-2016 model.
There seem to be more of the second-hand BMW Z4 Roadster LCI (E89) sDrive 20i 8AT 184BHP 2013-2016 model available.
On a long drive, how comfortable is the seating, is it the same on both cars, and is there any package or anything available to make the seating more comfortable.
I would be interested in which model most members prefer.
Thank you.

Best wishes,
Geoffrey Salvage

 

[GoSteve]

I have driven both SE and M Sport E89's over long distances.
Both are equally as comfortable. I am fussy and sensitive to bad seats, so my experience with both are the same. They well supporting and comfortable.
I currently have an M Sport E89. For me it is much more about how the seats look and lumber support.
Personally I don't like the look of the SE seats, so on that basis alone, would only buy a car with Sports seats.
HOWEVER, the M Sport is definitely not suited to driving long distances on B roads.
We recently did a long distance road trip to a hotel break in Devon, and despite the seats being great, the firm ride just made it a bit tedious. Steering is sensitive too in Sports mode, so good idea to get that updated with a remap on the steering settings.
As many on the forum will also say, ditch the runflats, they just spoil the ride.
Great choice of car. I cannot imagine I will be without an E89 in the garage for some years.
So, for my 'penny's worth', get the Sports seats. They are standard on all M Sports and certain SE models with Sports pack extras. The rear of the car also looks nice, and the M Sport front bumper is nice.

PS. I'm selling my immaculate Melbourne red/cream leather/iDrive M Sport 'garage queen'. Not quite your engine spec though.

Regards
Steve

 

[Chippie]

Hi Geoffrey
Here’s a link to the options available when new
https://www.bmwbrochures.co.uk/0114/BMW_Z4_E89_LCI/files/inc/1d253fa797.pdf

I would suggest trying to get a car with the heated sports seats as they give more support and have the pull out leg support and being heated make a real difference when the weather is cold
Good luck with your search

 

[Silverstar]

For me having had BMWs with both sports seats and standard, the sports seats are way more comfortable and they really hug you in going through corners etc and have a lot more adjustability. All M Sport cars will have them but there are many non M Sport cars with sport seats too since they were available as an option on non M Sport cars.

 

[Tinker15]

I have sports seats in my non M Sport. They are very supporting and comfortable. Like last year if conditions were normal we would be driving over 700 miles to our home in France. I’ve found the E89 comfortable enough on non-RFTs although it is a sports car so will never be super soft.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to the forum by the way.

All of my Z4s had the M-Sport seats - I wouldn't have considered one that didn't have them as the standard seats just look out of place in a 2 seat Sports car IMHO.

But my 3 Series has the standard ones (after all it's no Sports car) and I find them just as comfortable on a long trip.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Geoffrey Salvage]

Hi Mr Tidy, Tinker 15, Silverstar, Chippie and GoSteve,

Thank you for your helpful replies.
The sports seats seem to be acceptable to owners.
The weak link are the run-flat tyres., that don't give much support on pot-hole roads.
As there is no room to carry a spare tyre in the boot, having a puncture in a remote place would be a problem.
I suppose Forum members would join the RAC or something for immediate roadside support. Repair it, pump it up and drive on.
What is the best most comfortable tyre to change to from the normal supplied tyres that come with the Z4 20i or 28i?
Which brand? Size 18" or 19" etc?
Thank you.

Best wishes,
Geoffrey Salvage

 

[Tinker15]

I carry a Halfords tyre inflator, a bottle of Slime tyre sealant, rats tail tyre plugs and if none of that lot works I have breakdown insurance. As for tyres you will get 10 different answers! I changed my 18inch wheels to 19inch and fitted FALKEN FK510 tyres. They’re not the most expensive nor the cheapest but do what I want of them. I’ve found them comfortable, quiet and have had no problems with road holding. But you pays your money . . . .

 

[Silverstar]

If the car you buy has runflats no matter if they are 18" or 19" or maybe even the 17" the first thing I would do is get rid of them and put some non run flats. Mine came with 18" wheels with runflats and I changed them to Goodyear Eagles F1 Asy 3s and the difference was just night and day, the car now rides and handles like a BMW should. I keep a slime repair kit in the boot.

 

[scootr]

My car came with 17s. I immediately changed to Michelin Pilot 4s which transformed the ride and handling to what it should have been.
Struts, shocks, and plugs made the old girl as good as new. The base seats with heat are a good fit and comfortable. Don't be afraid of them. Good Luck in your search

 

[Geoffrey Salvage]

Hi Tinker 15, Silverstar and scootr and anyone I've missed,

I am grateful for your helpful friendly responses, about your cars and tyres and wheels.
I like your wheels and tyres on your beautiful 30i.
I think it is amazing that AutoTrader has for sale a BMW Z4 3.0 si Sports roadster, 121,00 miles, for only £6,295.
They call that a high price! That's a lot of quality car for the money. German engineering at its best. These cars must be indestructible.
Is it easy or expensive etc to buy a 20i and have it safely upgraded to the 28i spec? There aren't many auto 28i models out there.

Best wishes,
Geoff

 

[Tinker15]

Hi Tinker 15, Silverstar and scootr and anyone I've missed,

I am grateful for your helpful friendly responses, about your cars and tyres and wheels.
I like your wheels and tyres on your beautiful 30i.
I think it is amazing that AutoTrader has for sale a BMW Z4 3.0 si Sports roadster, 121,00 miles, for only £6,295.
They call that a high price! That's a lot of quality car for the money. German engineering at its best. These cars must be indestructible.
Is it easy or expensive etc to buy a 20i and have it safely upgraded to the 28i spec? There aren't many auto 28i models out there.

Best wishes,
Geoff

There are forum members who have gone the 20i to 28i spec route so no doubt they will give you costs etc. I wanted 6 cylinders and was fortunate enough to find a low mileage car with the specification I wanted and at a price I was prepared to pay. The N52 engine is a joy.

 

[Geoffrey Salvage]

I think my heart and soul would like a 3 litre growling monster, with respect, but my head says 28i or 20i with a boost of some kind.

 

[Smartbear]

I think my heart and soul would like a 3 litre growling monster, with respect, but my head says 28i or 20i with a boost of some kind.

You’ll have to do a bit of research but I’d guess a remap on a 20i could be had for £300/£400. Avoid companies that are unheard of & stick to rated ones to avoid any potential hassle. The map can easily take a 20i beyond 28i power/torque levels.
Rob

 

[Anonymous]

I think my heart and soul would like a 3 litre growling monster, with respect, but my head says 28i or 20i with a boost of some kind.

I’ll antagonise the 6 potters by pointing out that, a re-mapped 4 pot will out run a 30i 6 potter by some way and in the vast majority of people who have driven both is a much better handling car...

 

[Silverstar]

I think my heart and soul would like a 3 litre growling monster, with respect, but my head says 28i or 20i with a boost of some kind.

I’ll antagonise the 6 potters by pointing out that, a re-mapped 4 pot will out run a 30i 6 potter by some way and in the vast majority of people who have driven both is a much better handling car...

But it won't sound nowhere near as good or have the silky smoothness of the 6. Horses for courses! Also I doubt the average person will really notice a huge difference in handling after all these are GT cars and not track weapons.

 

[mr wilks]

I have sports seats in my non M Sport. They are very supporting and comfortable. Like last year if conditions were normal we would be driving over 700 miles to our home in France. I’ve found the E89 comfortable enough on non-RFTs although it is a sports car so will never be super soft.

Msport seats on a SE Bmw offers the best of both worlds , ive had a good few models with this set up (E89, E90 & currently a F11 ) & struggle to understand why Bmw can't get their sport spec cars to have the comfort & ride quality of a Se Mercedes can do it so its not impossible .

 

[Anonymous]

I think my heart and soul would like a 3 litre growling monster, with respect, but my head says 28i or 20i with a boost of some kind.

I’ll antagonise the 6 potters by pointing out that, a re-mapped 4 pot will out run a 30i 6 potter by some way and in the vast majority of people who have driven both is a much better handling car...

But it won't sound nowhere near as good or have the silky smoothness of the 6. Horses for courses! Also I doubt the average person will really notice a huge difference in handling after all these are GT cars and not track weapons.

Well to keep the antagonism going..the N20 was supplied with an electronic Active Sound Design feed to the cabin speakers that makes it sound like a 6 potter..and with dual balance shafts i doubt anyone in a blind test could determine whether the N20 was rougher than the 6 potter..

If you are feeling that desperate you can always stick a 30i on the wing ..

As an aside I cannot determine what type of engine I’ve got in my Z4..it’s just smoooooothhhh n powerful ..now I have switch off the ASD it’s nice n quiet now and far less fatiguing..should have bought a Roller instead

 

[Silverstar]

I’ll antagonise the 6 potters by pointing out that, a re-mapped 4 pot will out run a 30i 6 potter by some way and in the vast majority of people who have driven both is a much better handling car...

But it won't sound nowhere near as good or have the silky smoothness of the 6. Horses for courses! Also I doubt the average person will really notice a huge difference in handling after all these are GT cars and not track weapons.

Well to keep the antagonism going..the N20 was supplied with an electronic Active Sound Design feed to the cabin speakers that makes it sound like a 6 potter..and with dual balance shafts i doubt anyone in a blind test could determine whether the N20 was rougher than the 6 potter..

If you are feeling that desperate you can always stick a 30i on the wing ..

As an aside I cannot determine what type of engine I’ve got in my Z4..it’s just smoooooothhhh n powerful ..now I have switch off the ASD it’s nice n quiet now and far less fatiguing..should have bought a Roller instead

I have tried both the 18i and 28i, I can't speak for others but the difference is big. It isn't a bad sounding unit for a 4 pot but face it you just can't get close to what an inline 6 can do. On another note when you open the bonnet on the 4 pots it looks like something is missing, it just doesn't look right with all the empty space around that engine.

 

[Smartbear]

But it won't sound nowhere near as good or have the silky smoothness of the 6. Horses for courses! Also I doubt the average person will really notice a huge difference in handling after all these are GT cars and not track weapons.

Well to keep the antagonism going..the N20 was supplied with an electronic Active Sound Design feed to the cabin speakers that makes it sound like a 6 potter..and with dual balance shafts i doubt anyone in a blind test could determine whether the N20 was rougher than the 6 potter..

If you are feeling that desperate you can always stick a 30i on the wing ..

As an aside I cannot determine what type of engine I’ve got in my Z4..it’s just smoooooothhhh n powerful ..now I have switch off the ASD it’s nice n quiet now and far less fatiguing..should have bought a Roller instead

I have tried both the 18i and 28i, I can't speak for others but the difference is big. It isn't a bad sounding unit for a 4 pot but face it you just can't get close to what an inline 6 can do. On another note when you open the bonnet on the 4 pots it looks like something is missing, it just doesn't look right with all the empty space around that engine.

You should try opening the bonnet on a Porsche or a Lotus, then you’d really notice something missing!
Got to agree with you on the sound difference, the n20 sounds pretty good but the n52 sounds better imho, the turbo does go better though
Rob