This 35is sDrive...?

Maniac said:
I owned a 3.0 e85... and upgraded to the 35i e89. Totally different, the e89 is way more grown up and comfortable. The e85 did have a giggle like charm about it, you could really throw it about. I don't do that with the e89, far too much money spent. 35i has much more power and its easier to use that power. People often equate more power with M and its not that simple. M's are built from the ground up with one thing in mind, performance over anything else (for the most part anyhow). Suspension, brakes, engine etc are all about performance. Non M's have things like usability, ease of ownership, emissions etc tempering all of this. They really can't be compared. If you drove them both you'd see what I mean. If I was 30 I'd have an M, but at 42 I just can't take the poor ride quality any more, makes me feel sick. It all depends on what you want. A daily car thats quick and comfy/practical/convertible (e89), or something that can hurt your bones but ultimately sets your soul on fire when the moment takes you.
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Thanks for that I guess I had dismissed the 35i because I thought it was "M Like" and like you I wanted something less manic so had decided to concentrate on the the 3.0 e89, I guess i can look at the 35i now. Thanks.. :thumbsup:
 
trottski101 said:
It's proving hard to push them for a discount on this car. :x
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I had the same problem in July last year. Sometimes you have just got to pay up with a smile if you want the car.

If you are looking at say a £500 price drop - look at that sort of cash over five years and when comparing it to depreciation. :roll:
 
The M was comfortable to drive seeing as it didn't have the silly run flat tyres on it! I'm 45 with a bad back too.
 
trottski101 said:
The M was comfortable to drive seeing as it didn't have the silly run flat tyres on it! I'm 45 with a bad back too.
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The E89 on runflats is in my opinion, better than the E85 on Vreds!
That should be a back preserver.
 
Thought i'd chime in here, got to agree with maniac on this one. Having owned a 35i there's nothing that quite compares with the M setup. The 35is is a really great car but the handling just doesnt compare to the M, if you can find a good example pounce on it.

I went down the 35i route as I wanted to setup my car just the way I wanted it without the 'restrictive' bolt ons/settings BMW apply at the factory. Got some comments at the last Z4 Annual meet 'what have you got in there?' 'I couldnt keep up with that' that was from an M driver ;) But in the corners I still found the E89 to be wanting. You just cant beat an M for all around performance im afriad :)

Anyway good luck with your decision.
 
socketr said:
Thought i'd chime in here, got to agree with maniac on this one. Having owned a 35i there's nothing that quite compares with the M setup. The 35is is a really great car but the handling just doesnt compare to the M, if you can find a good example pounce on it.

I went down the 35i route as I wanted to setup my car just the way I wanted it without the 'restrictive' bolt ons/settings BMW apply at the factory. Got some comments at the last Z4 Annual meet 'what have you got in there?' 'I couldnt keep up with that' that was from an M driver ;) But in the corners I still found the E89 to be wanting. You just cant beat an M for all around performance im afriad :)

Anyway good luck with your decision.
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Im confused, I need to make my decision in the next two days. I loved my last 2 x Z4M's. If you don't mind me saying, Im a dab hand at driving, I can throw around a motorbike too. So, driving is my thing and loved the M very much. As long as the 35iS is quick and sounds good I will be able to get the most out of its handling. :driving:
 
trottski101 said:
socketr said:
Thought i'd chime in here, got to agree with maniac on this one. Having owned a 35i there's nothing that quite compares with the M setup. The 35is is a really great car but the handling just doesnt compare to the M, if you can find a good example pounce on it.

I went down the 35i route as I wanted to setup my car just the way I wanted it without the 'restrictive' bolt ons/settings BMW apply at the factory. Got some comments at the last Z4 Annual meet 'what have you got in there?' 'I couldnt keep up with that' that was from an M driver ;) But in the corners I still found the E89 to be wanting. You just cant beat an M for all around performance im afriad :)

Anyway good luck with your decision.
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Im confused, I need to make my decision in the next two days. I loved my last 2 x Z4M's. If you don't mind me saying, Im a dab hand at driving, I can throw around a motorbike too. So, driving is my thing and loved the M very much. As long as the 35iS is quick and sounds good I will be able to get the most out of its handling. :driving:
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Im sure you'll have a lot of fun in the 35is then mate :thumbsup: , they are a seriously quick car. I had the manual option in my 35i and it was awesome to chuck through the gears.
 
IMHO it's handling that let's this car down. It's too jittery, wobbly and crashy when pushed, camber makes it under steer badly etc.. It's setup all wrong, too middle of the road. Not comfy like a cruiser but not solid handling like a sportscar. BMW should have gone one way or another, again just my perspective as an owner. It's why I went with an adaptive suspension car... Still doesn't make it great tho. Power it has, lovely car, but the suspension isn't right to make it a truly great drive. I know socketr put new springs on his which helped but I think he'd agree its still not as good as it could be. I drove a carrera 4s some time back and that was both comfy and handled well so it can be done..
 
Maniac said:
IMHO it's handling that let's this car down. It's too jittery, wobbly and crashy when pushed, camber makes it under steer badly etc.. It's setup all wrong, too middle of the road. Not comfy like a cruiser but not solid handling like a sportscar. BMW should have gone one way or another, again just my perspective as an owner. It's why I went with an adaptive suspension car... Still doesn't make it great tho. Power it has, lovely car, but the suspension isn't right to make it a truly great drive. I know socketr put new springs on his which helped but I think he'd agree its still not as good as it could be. I drove a carrera 4s some time back and that was both comfy and handled well so it can be done..
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...Mind I will say that the M's aren't perfect in the handling department, but I never really minded. I loved ever bit of it. I had a Boxster S and although great handling the M for me is the one that thrilled me the most.

I have been watching quite a few video reviews online, what you are saying about how it feels is exactly what is being said. Everything else seems to be good but all out sports it just isn't quite there.

So, I have been trying to dismiss that and swaying towards the power, comfort, luxury and looks. The handling I have been hoping wouldn't upset me and spoil it for me to much... :?
 
Then you should be happy enough. It's a great car in almost every other way. 3+ years on and I'm tiring of pothole and road imperfection dodging as if you hit something, particularly with 19s it can be bone jarring (and wallet opening). If there's one thing that will eventually move me into something else it's that constant pothole spotting. Just want something that doesn't scare me to death when I hit what other cars take in their stride (could say same with old e85 but that also has a poor general ride to boot).

I think you'll be happy as long as you're not expecting too much from the handling.
 
I've been talking with AC schnitzer today about their adjustable suspension system and thinking of going down that route. I think the run flat tyres add to the handling problem in this cold weather but its like I've changed tyres when it gets above 5 degrees and they warm up a little.
 
The 35is is much more GT than Sports car. If you're hoping to throw it around some twisty roads with a smile on your face you will be disappointed, its just not set up for that kind of thing (to my disappointment) Ditching the runflats should improve it slightly, as maybe dropping down to 18" rims But then it wouldn't look so good. Also with it weighing in at 1600kg it isn't the most agile of motors. Which is a shame as i love just about everything else about the car. It looks the business, sounds awesome, the DCT box is fantastic, and it goes like stink!
 
Zed_Steve said:
The 35is is much more GT than Sports car. If you're hoping to throw it around some twisty roads with a smile on your face you will be disappointed, its just not set up for that kind of thing (to my disappointment) Ditching the runflats should improve it slightly, as maybe dropping down to 18" rims But then it wouldn't look so good. Also with it weighing in at 1600kg it isn't the most agile of motors. Which is a shame as i love just about everything else about the car. It looks the business, sounds awesome, the DCT box is fantastic, and it goes like stink!
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...oh boy. :?
 
Don't worry trottski... its not crap, its still good fun, just don't expect M like handling that's all. It can be a bit nervous when pushed. Its probably the ECU looking at all the chassis weight moving around and going 'I'm too fat to be thrown around like this' :rofl: The adaptive suspension (standard on iS) will do a lot to help the corner to corner pitching this car inherently has. Again, its why I opted for a car with it as standard. Unless you throw the car around at speed, most will never see/feel it.

There are a lot of other +'s with the car, so best not to dwell on this single point.
 
ronk said:
How often can you drive on the raggy edge ie 10/10 on public roads these days tho?
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In northumberland, every day :wink: And, I don't drive on the ragged edge but, I would leave most cars very fare behind after a series of bends even those I have never been around before even in a Scoda, fact!
 
trottski, it still shifts don't worry. We do the Ring most years and I took a full minute and a half off my previous best time in my first time out in the Z. Thing is I wasn't really pushing that hard and the noise was incredible.

Sean
 
Has anyone tried Birds suspension set up for the 35i.

They claim it can make it a sports car

http://www.birdsauto.com/models/z4-e89

So you could buy a used / new 35i and spend the saving making it work as you want.

I love the engine and sound, and the quality of build is an age above my old z. Just lacks the fun factor on smaller roads .
 
rhodesey35iM said:
trottski, it still shifts don't worry. We do the Ring most years and I took a full minute and a half off my previous best time in my first time out in the Z. Thing is I wasn't really pushing that hard and the noise was incredible.

Sean
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Nice mate. :D
 
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