Thinking of upgrading from 2.5SE to 3.00si

[mason storm]

I currently have a 2005 2.5SE with 192 hp and am thinking about upgrading to a 2006 or 2007 3.00 with 260 hp. Can anyone give me any advice on what to look for on the test drive and anything I should be aware of compared to my 2.5?

According to the official mpg it's about the same if driven gently is this correct with the newer engine and 6 gears? Or are these figures rubbish?

Also any idea what i should be asking for in exchange for my 2.5 SE 2005 with 36K on the clock, it has 18" 108's, black leather, 10 speaker system. They are asking for 18,995 for a 2007 3.00 with 16K on the clock similar spec to mine. With the current market what do you think the difference will be?

 

[Iceman_Jay]

Personally if you already have the 2.5 and want a faster Z4 Id go for the M, thats what I'd do rather than go down the modification road again with this 3.0, supercharging it and so on its a nice project and it does make it a custom one of a kind car, but it also puts your insurance up and creates problems re-selling later.

 

[Smokin]

I went from a 325Ci to a 3.0Si coupe and can't be happier. Loads more apparent horsepower and torque--even if you don't look at the numbers. Fuel mileage is just about the same unless you really get out and play in the Si.The knee-jerk reaction on here is go for the M if you upgrade from anything, but you have to decide how you are going to drive the car and where (daily vs garage queen, open road vs around town) and whether you want the higher maintenance costs associated with the M (lower gas mileage, higher insurance, shorter service intervals).


If you plan to track the car on more than a rare occasion, then it's M all the way. Otherwise, go drive the Si and see if YOU can appreciate the difference.

 

[Iceman_Jay]

Its probably just me but when I change this car I want a 4 second car not somthing around the same speed as a 3.0 z4.

My :heart: is set on a lotus exige s tbh, just a bit out of reach at the moment but I'll get there eventually.

3.0 is a good car tho I mean I overtook 5 cars in 3rd gear last weekend including the fto infront who was trying to race me, I could keep up him in 3rd at half throttle when he was flat out I could tell cos of how it was smoking.

 

[Reverend]

...I mean I overtook 5 cars in 3rd gear last weekend including the fto infront who was trying to race me, I could keep up him in 3rd at half throttle when he was flat out I could tell cos of how it was smoking.

Says more about your driving than black shoes & white socks ever can, mate!

Do they ever have have a 'Patience' mode in that cockpit, I wonder..

 

[mason storm]

I went from a 325Ci to a 3.0Si coupe and can't be happier. Loads more apparent horsepower and torque--even if you don't look at the numbers. Fuel mileage is just about the same unless you really get out and play in the Si.The knee-jerk reaction on here is go for the M if you upgrade from anything, but you have to decide how you are going to drive the car and where (daily vs garage queen, open road vs around town) and whether you want the higher maintenance costs associated with the M (lower gas mileage, higher insurance, shorter service intervals).


If you plan to track the car on more than a rare occasion, then it's M all the way. Otherwise, go drive the Si and see if YOU can appreciate the difference.

Although the idea of an M is nice the fuel economy and additional running costs would be too high for me, so good to hear the 3.00 isn't much worse on feil than the 2.5. I think 260 hp will be plenty enough and 230lbs ft torque from 2,700rpm sounds nice. Hope to get a drive tomorrow.

 

[Iceman_Jay]

Says more about your driving than black shoes & white socks ever can, mate!

Do they ever have have a 'Patience' mode in that cockpit, I wonder..

I have no Patience for anyone that dosent drive at the speed limit of 60mph, I go around corners at 50-60 in a high top van yes its a bit on edge but it goes round and then there are ppl in cars braking and doing 40 that really does piss me off, Z is sweet as a nut at 60 on almost any corner ive been round.

It wouldnt be so bad if I was actually going somewhere but I just go for a race around the countryside on the weekends and anyone who slows me down must be overtaken as soon as possible, I think its the red mist descending.

 

[Reverend]

I have no Patience for anyone that dosent drive at the speed limit of 60mph, I go around corners at 50-60 in a high top van yes its a bit on edge but it goes round and then there are ppl in cars braking and doing 40 that really does piss me off, Z is sweet as a nut at 60 on almost any corner ive been round.It wouldnt be so bad if I was actually going somewhere but I just go for a race around the countryside on the weekends and anyone who slows me down must be overtaken as soon as possible, I think its the red mist descending.

I see why now...van man syndrome...and a Dudley dude at that!

Darwin Awards here we come

 

[Anonymous]

I have no Patience for anyone that dosent drive at the speed limit of 60mph, I go around corners at 50-60 in a high top van yes its a bit on edge but it goes round and then there are ppl in cars braking and doing 40 that really does piss me off, Z is sweet as a nut at 60 on almost any corner ive been round.It wouldnt be so bad if I was actually going somewhere but I just go for a race around the countryside on the weekends and anyone who slows me down must be overtaken as soon as possible, I think its the red mist descending.

I see why now...van man syndrome...and a Dudley dude at that!

Darwin Awards here we come

I had a WVM in some big Fiat thing actually try to race me off the lights the other day. He pulled up beside me on the inside lane and tried to give it some off the lights. 10/10 for trying

 

[Magsy]

I haven't driven a 3.0si but there won't be anything in the race between the 2.5 and 'old' 3.0. We have had similar cars in our 'family' for many years, a 325, a 328 and a 330 and the 3.0 only moves away at 120mph+

I find the 3.0 quite gutless to be honest, it never really wants to go and has such a flat torque curve you never really seem to get shoved back. I'd hope the SI with 260bhp is more keen but I don't have the experience to know..

We had an FTO for five years and if you think you could pass it at half throttle you are mistaken, it was broken or it wasn't the 200bhp model.

 

[Wondermike]

They are asking for 18,995 for a 2007 3.00 with 16K on the clock similar spec to mine. With the current market what do you think the difference will be?

Probably around £10k, maybe slightly less. Be interesting to see what they say. Not sure it'd be worth it for that upgrade.

 

[Iceman_Jay]

I have no Patience for anyone that dosent drive at the speed limit of 60mph, I go around corners at 50-60 in a high top van yes its a bit on edge but it goes round and then there are ppl in cars braking and doing 40 that really does piss me off, Z is sweet as a nut at 60 on almost any corner ive been round.It wouldnt be so bad if I was actually going somewhere but I just go for a race around the countryside on the weekends and anyone who slows me down must be overtaken as soon as possible, I think its the red mist descending.

I see why now...van man syndrome...and a Dudley dude at that!

Darwin Awards here we come

I had a WVM in some big Fiat thing actually try to race me off the lights the other day. He pulled up beside me on the inside lane and tried to give it some off the lights. 10/10 for trying

Well just last friday I had someone in a black ford puma struggling to keep up with me on the bends, for sure it was faster 0-60 but he didnt pass me cos I was on the outside lane at the lights anyway, but as usual after blasting around the twisties leaving him for dead he caught up again once I ended up behind captain slow in his corsa traveling at bang on 50mph, it must take great precision and skill to drive so slowly.

hit the dual carridgeway which is 40mph and got 70, some of you may know it where the old stewpony used to be on the 449, then I pulled to the inside and had some bloke in a volvo try to race me, honestly I know its a van I know it isnt fast but if you wanna come by at least put your foot down, needless to say I got a cracking start caught the wheelspin just right into 2nd, shocked him I think as he stayed glued to my arse for 400 yards afterwards naturally becos I was caught up behind ppl dawdling around having been to collect there pension or buy shoes where as I've been at work for the past 12 hours all I wanna do is get home as quickly as possible and have a refreshing beverage.

It is an appaulingly poor van tho, 32 thousand miles and the rear suspension is knocking cos the rubber has fell out, the floor where your heels go has gone in a big hole, it dosent like to go into 3rd gear but the worst thing by a mile the radio dosent save the code so you have to enter it everytime.

Still Im doing my bit for LDV

 

[Smokin]

I haven't driven a 3.0si but there won't be anything in the race between the 2.5 and 'old' 3.0. We have had similar cars in our 'family' for many years, a 325, a 328 and a 330 and the 3.0 only moves away at 120mph+

I find the 3.0 quite gutless to be honest, it never really wants to go and has such a flat torque curve you never really seem to get shoved back. I'd hope the SI with 260bhp is more keen but I don't have the experience to know..

We had an FTO for five years and if you think you could pass it at half throttle you are mistaken, it was broken or it wasn't the 200bhp model.

The Si and the "old" 3.0 are totally different engines. The Si is the newer N52 engine. More torque and, in the Si version, more horsepower.

 

[zeddy]

You need to drive the car to see if it meets your expectations. Its all well and good looking at figures, but if you don't feel the difference, then why bother?

 

[mason storm]

I'm going to test drive a 3.0 si coupe on Saturday so it will be interesting to see how it feels with the newer 3.0 engine and 260bhp. Still not sure if I want a coupe as I really enjoy having the roof down at the moment.

 

[chetalien]

I was in the same dilemma in winter last year. I looked for many 3.0si, I test drove and the same dealer had an M and test drove it too. U need a good test drive. I had an hour with the cars which was great. In the end I bought the M from the other dealer due to the specs. I've never stopped smiling since. Everytime I sit in the car, i had a grin on my face. easy to live with, touch expensive maintanence but I'm happy. 3.0si with electric steering, lack of torque didnt give me enough to actualy upgrade from a 2.5 to 3.0. There's my verdict. good luck mate.