What Missing Comforts Would Be Deal Breakers ?

[Pondy]

I’m happy to say that my old bus has got all the toys with the exception of high beam assist. (I wish it had!)

High beam assist is rubbish. You ain't missing anything Ron. I've now had three cars with it (all different makes) and they were all terrible. It gets embarrassing when you are constantly blinding oncoming traffic, or dips the high beam for a road sign! :roll:

 

[Marcoose]

I was thinking of cruise control. 20 years ago exactly I used to hire cars weekly for work to drive 200 miles on a very boring route across the American Upper Great Plains. Endless corn fields to the right, left, in front and back. The company of choice was Avis. And some cars didn’t have cruise control. A drag of a drive.

Cruise control is a comfort high on my list. But to be honest, if BMW put out a proper sportscar without cruise control, it wouldn’t be a deal breaker.

 

[Chippie]

So many replies about air conditioning being a 'must'. They are convertibles! What is wrong with you lot?

On a sunny day when you’re sat in Traffic in temperatures over 25*c it’s nice to have cold air blowing over you.
Definitely a deal breaker for me.

 

[B21]

In hindsight, I wish I was more educated on options, and picked up a used 35is with fewer options. I love the DCT and paddleshifting, though. It was the key reason for choosing the 35is. I know the 35i came with DCT, but the 35is 'seemed' more appealing.

I was fortunate when I bought my 20i..it was well specced…the 35is additionally had electrical adjusted seats which I commented on..it did have the heated steering wheel but I binned it in preference to an Audi-esque steering wheel mod…the 14 speaker top fi was anticlimactic…the runflats on 18” were just as shite as 19” on runflats..the DCT box not as good as the ZF8HP and the adaptive dampers were also shite..but..what a stonking engine…

Replaying history if I could have found a DCT well equipped 35i then I would have taken it..but AY E89s are like rocking horse poo..

I have always wondered why anybody would buy a fully specced 35i with dct instead of a 35is.
I would have thought the point of the 35i was to get a manual box but people getting dct are just basically losing out on some power over the 35is.

For me since I knew I was going to throw the adaptive dampers out and re-map the car the ‘benefit’ of the 35is over the 35i was negated..

As to the debate of Auto or DCT vs manual it’s each to their own..as it turns out very few AY 35i anyway..the few N54 powered AY are mostly 35is it appears..

 

[jamesgarbett]

Things on my E89 that aren't essential:

Cruise (it's not adaptive like my other car so i don't use it)
Nav (the map is ancient)
Folding mirrors (very squeaky in summer time)

Things I couldn't live without:

Heated seats (i fitted these aftermarket)
Aircon (help to demist the windows)

Things I would like:

Heated wheel (only because my other car has it)
Reversing camera
Functional cupholder
Heated screen (again only as my other car has one)

 

[AnubisZed]

Some great responses there.

I bought my 23i with only heated seats (drivers didn't work initially), wind breaker and floor mats... that's it, very, very basic indeed.

So considering how much is now retrofitted to it I fully appreciate all of the options that weren't opted for initially. Yes it would have been easier to have bought a Z with all included, but to get everything I wanted was very difficult to find, and a lot more expensive.

In no particular order I now have....
Memory seats - essential as my wife drives it and she's 5'4" so the seat is always being moved.
Upgraded stereo to add Bluetooth calls and USB (iPod) control.
Upgraded stereo again to rip it all out and fully fit full spec Media iDrive. Love the folding screen and all of the usability.
Cruise Control, full factory spec with speedo cluster. I do use this from time to time.
Auto Wipers/Auto Headlights. Use all the time
Auto dimming mirrors. Always active and come in very handy
Powerfold door mirrors. Nice to have
Extra lighting.
Heated steering wheel. Love it, if you've not had one you'd not appreciate it, once you have though you defo know!
Front/rear PDC. Very helpful for parking on my drive
iDrive integrated reversing camera.

Then on the aftermarket front,
Ashtray replacement drink holder.
Android Auto/Apple CarPlay MMI Box.
SmartTop.


It's easy to fit the aftermarket bits yourself, so non of these would be an issue for buying again. But I love all of the retrofits I've done, so yes I probably wouldn't buy another Z4 without them, although I could always retrofit them again.

 

[ronk]

So many replies about air conditioning being a 'must'. They are convertibles! What is wrong with you lot?

On a sunny day when you’re sat in Traffic in temperatures over 25*c it’s nice to have cold air blowing over you.
Definitely a deal breaker for me.

I’ve been in SW Germany when temperatures have gone silly high and the ability to close the roof and fill the cabin with chilled air is a god send!

 

[Marcoose]

No aircon is a deal killer for me. Even living in San Francisco where temperatures are very mild year around, I find the Zed’s cabin heats up far too much for my spoiled constitution. The aircon is on very often. And I don’t seem to read or hear about it breaking down very often.

 

[tiglon]

For me the only must-have optional extra was the N54 engine, but that has been disappointingly reliable... how boring

67k miles in and my HPFP, injectors etc are all going strong. Cue catastrophic breakdown on my next journey...

With a lot of extras it depends on you and the kind of driving you do.

Cruise control is a big plus if you're on motorways a lot, but with the E89 I tend to occupy my time on motorways by playing with the engine rather than relaxing!

Heated seats are lovely in the winter, but I never had them before and it wasn't a problem. Just put a jumper on when it's 2 degrees and you want the roof down.

Parking sensors are probably great for all you old boys who can't see too well any more, but I don't really see the point.

My favourite feature is probably the auto angling-down passenger wing mirror when reversing, so helpful in avoiding scraped alloys!

IDrive? Not really sure what the point of that is 15 years later. Stick your phone on the dash and have a much better experience.

Electric folding roof is nice, I have to admit an old manual MR2 Roadster was pretty inconvenient when you get caught in rain with the roof down. Hardly the end of the world though, and I'd still have bought the E89 if it came with a manual soft top.

Adaptive suspension? More of a marketing gimmick than anything.

My first E89 was full on poverty spec and I loved it, the main motivation for a BMW was a 6 cylinder roadster, otherwise I'd be very happy with something much less "fancy".

 

[Ole gits rule]

Oh, I forgot about cup holders and heated mirrors. Also my wife's car has a heated windscreen but only available on Fords I think. :thumbsdown:

Heated seats / PDC but more importantly a roof that fold away, for me the rest I can live without even audio is not that important

Think heated screens are available on more models now.

Very rarely listen to music in the car unless I'm stuck in a traffic jam. I always like to hear the sounds that the car makes

Snap - even in a jam I have sport on rather than music

 

[SwissTone]

So many replies about air conditioning being a 'must'. They are convertibles! What is wrong with you lot? :roll:

Parking sensors on an E89 is the most useful option IMHO. You can't see feck all of the thing when in the driving seat. I drive my daughter's (POS) Mini quite a bit which hasn't got any sensors. I struggle to reverse it onto our drive as am so used to them on all the other cars.

A 'must' for me with an E89 would be not to have the N54 engine. It's great....but boy it is troublesome and expensive when it goes wrong (which it will).

Being on the short side you could get a booster seat

 

[SwissTone]

Aircon is super useful IMHO …. During the wet winter months it clears quicker and during the super hot days I’ll put the roof up when stuck in traffic.

Mine came with little to no options added (Paintwork, Interior upgrade, wind deflector) so I have added a few bits that I found I wanted/needed…thanks to our wonderful Dave’s support and guidance

1) iDrive/609/Combox etc (added a MrVolt box which is a lifesaver with the crappy old maps)
2) Cruise helps me keep to speed limits when i get distracted
3) Folding mirrors … handy for the garage
4) PDC (i have a tendency to bounce into things in the Zed compared to my other car)

 

[Mr Tidy]

You forgot see-through windscreens! :lol:

Sometimes things seem to bounce into your Zed!

 

[SwissTone]

I can see in HD now!!

My G20 got a lovely stone chip in the screen the other day and it doesn’t look like it’s repairable

 

[AnubisZed]

....
Parking sensors are probably great for all you old boys who can't see too well any more, but I don't really see the point.

My favourite feature is probably the auto angling-down passenger wing mirror when reversing, so helpful in avoiding scraped alloys! May I refer you to your previous comment!!

IDrive? Not really sure what the point of that is 15 years later. Stick your phone on the dash and have a much better experience.
...

It may be an old system but what can't it do?
If using your phone to change tracks you either have to touch the screen, taking your concentration off the road (which is now illegal to touch your phone while driving), or ask Siri or hey Google, if it'll pick your voice up, which isn't always possible especially if you have the roof down and at speed.
With iDrive you have everything at your fingertips,

Radio (+DAB)
CD/DVD (CDC/DVDC)
Built-in hard drive (Music storage)
USB & AUX input
Bluetooth handsfree & music streaming
Sat-Nav (updatable, current version 2024/1) - Still gives alternative routes for accidents/roadworks in real time

Also with the potential to add an MMI box for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto - More music and nav options.

But at the end of the day it's Horses-for-courses

 

[AnubisZed]

Aircon is super useful IMHO …. During the wet winter months it clears quicker and during the super hot days I’ll put the roof up when stuck in traffic.

Mine came with little to no options added (Paintwork, Interior upgrade, wind deflector) so I have added a few bits that I found I wanted/needed…thanks to our wonderful Dave’s support and guidance

1) iDrive/609/Combox etc (added a MrVolt box which is a lifesaver with the crappy old maps)
2) Cruise helps me keep to speed limits when i get distracted
3) Folding mirrors … handy for the garage
4) PDC (i have a tendency to bounce into things in the Zed compared to my other car)

We were stuck in a hold up on the A46 round Leicester the other weekend, it was red hot and we had the roof down. Debated whether to put the roof back up, but just decided to put the air-con on full blast instead. Probably not the most efficient way to do it but it did the trick until we got moving again

Always happy to help Charlie, glad you're sorted now

 

[B21]

....
Parking sensors are probably great for all you old boys who can't see too well any more, but I don't really see the point.

My favourite feature is probably the auto angling-down passenger wing mirror when reversing, so helpful in avoiding scraped alloys! May I refer you to your previous comment!!

IDrive? Not really sure what the point of that is 15 years later. Stick your phone on the dash and have a much better experience.
...

It may be an old system but what can't it do?
If using your phone to change tracks you either have to touch the screen, taking your concentration off the road (which is now illegal to touch your phone while driving), or ask Siri or hey Google, if it'll pick your voice up, which isn't always possible especially if you have the roof down and at speed.
With iDrive you have everything at your fingertips,

Radio (+DAB)
CD/DVD (CDC/DVDC)
Built-in hard drive (Music storage)
USB & AUX input
Bluetooth handsfree & music streaming
Sat-Nav (updatable, current version 2024/1) - Still gives alternative routes for accidents/roadworks in real time

Also with the potential to add an MMI box for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto - More music and nav options.

But at the end of the day it's Horses-for-courses

FWIW I just hate cabins where you’ve got things stuck on air vents or glued to windscreens with external wires etc running across the cabin..others seem to be happy with Christmas trees of adapters etc…

As was said if you are driving a roadster thr roof should be down so Siri etc tend to be useless..that means taking your hands off the wheel to answer phones, change nav etc etc.. :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

 

[AnubisZed]

FWIW I just hate cabins where you’ve got things stuck on air vents or glued to windscreens with external wires etc running across the cabin..others seem to be happy with Christmas trees of adapters etc…

[Hides dashcam]

I take it you're not a fan of the Japanese car scene then, especially the Bosozoku craze

 

[Marcoose]

With iDrive you have everything at your fingertips...

Perhaps our iDrives are different, or more likely I still haven't wrapped the old noggin around using it properly. But for most iDrive functions in my car, I have to move one hand off the steering wheel onto the knob, and gaze into the screen.

 

[AnubisZed]

With iDrive you have everything at your fingertips...

Perhaps our iDrives are different, or more likely I still haven't wrapped the old noggin around using it properly. But for most iDrive functions in my car, I have to move one hand off the steering wheel onto the knob, and gaze into the screen.

Yes thats correct, your fingertips are on the end of your hand!
Seriously though, you press the Voice button (left side block, top right button) and ask for what you want, radio, USB, nav, CD etc (full list of usable words are in the manual) that is assuming you have full Voice (VO code 620)