what's different on the 35is ?

[dakargelb]

Hi All: Having owned a 20is for about 4.5 years, we recently changed it for a 35is.

Aside from the engine (!!), the silver exterior bits and larger front brakes, what else did they change for this model?

Sorry if this is covered somewhere on here already, I just failed to find the thread :-?

That straight 6 lump must weigh a hole heap more than the 2litre four, so did they change the springs / dampers for a start?

Any pointers gratefully received

kind regards to all

 

[B21]

Suspension, brakes, diff, engine,gearbox, exhaust system, rear valance.

 

[dakargelb]

Hi B21. Many thanks - so its a quite a lot then!

Is that just different springs and dampers, or control arms and bushing too?

Is the rack the same? I think the steering feel has changed - perhaps slightly lighter? But difficult to say as we had MPS4S nrfs on the 20is and this car came with Bridgestone Potenza rfs.

and re the brakes, are the rear brakes also different, or just fronts?

Oh and I think the gauge cluster might be different too (is the red line a bit higher?), but didn't take any pictures of the old car to confirm this...

 

[The.Analyst]

B21 is the expert as he has a 20i and 35is

When I looked at the various cars I think I worked out that front and rear brakes were bigger, steering parts were the same, redline varies per engine , only 35is has a logo on it.

Springs and dampers as far as I know are all different

ARBs are the same which is weird

Many aspects of feel are driven by changes in software on the various models

 

[The.Analyst]

B21 is the expert as he has a 20i and 35is

When I looked at the various cars I think I worked out that front and rear brakes were bigger, steering parts were the same, redline varies per engine , only 35is has a logo on it.

Springs and dampers as far as I know are all different

ARBs are the same which is weird

Many aspects of feel are driven by changes in software on the various models

 

[Smartbear]

Hi B21. Many thanks - so its a quite a lot then!

Is that just different springs and dampers, or control arms and bushing too?

Is the rack the same? I think the steering feel has changed - perhaps slightly lighter? But difficult to say as we had MPS4S nrfs on the 20is and this car came with Bridgestone Potenza rfs.

and re the brakes, are the rear brakes also different, or just fronts?

Oh and I think the gauge cluster might be different too (is the red line a bit higher?), but didn't take any pictures of the old car to confirm this...

Hi, the name was different as well as there was no 20is, it was called the 20i (the “s” part refers to Sdrive which just means rear wheel drive)
Your new car is definitely called a 35is though
Rob

 

[B21]

Hi B21. Many thanks - so its a quite a lot then!

Is that just different springs and dampers, or control arms and bushing too?

Is the rack the same? I think the steering feel has changed - perhaps slightly lighter? But difficult to say as we had MPS4S nrfs on the 20is and this car came with Bridgestone Potenza rfs.

and re the brakes, are the rear brakes also different, or just fronts?

Oh and I think the gauge cluster might be different too (is the red line a bit higher?), but didn't take any pictures of the old car to confirm this...

As others have stated..control arms/bushes/ARBs all the same.

Front and rear discs larger.

If yours is a 35is obviously adaptive dampers. 35is logo in dash clocks.

Software revisions to EPS,DSC, DCT and ECU effect how the car feels.

Other sub systems change mostly with age of car not model type.

 

[dakargelb]

Thanks for all the replies. It just feels so different to the 20i (sorry I got the name wrong!) - and that's between two cars with very similar miles and both on a '65 plate. I thought it would simply feel a bit quicker with perhaps a heavier feeling front end, turn in less sharp. But no its just great on those fronts and if anything, the ride quality is slightly better. The DCT is a bit sluggish when cold, vs the auto 'box in our the 20i, but sharpens up as the car warms up. The engine is amazing though - I really like BMW straight sixes but haven't had one for a while so it was a welcome reminder.
kind regards to all

 

[B21]

Well a stock 20i would feel as flat as a witch's tit (technical term) compared to a 35is..

185 BHP vs 335 BHP... 270 nm vs 450nm (plus a bit of overboost if you floor it)

If you had a tweaked 20i at 300 BHP and 450nm then it would feel way different..but that's a tweaked engine.

Glad you found the ride quality better, I found it poorer, but that could be down to leaking front dampers, although it was the compression damping that was harsher..I guess depends which wheels and tyres you were comparing.

It is a great engine, but as discussed not without its maintenance related issues.

I prefer the ZF box to the DCT box but for a 35i its the only box in town.

No matter what its an E89 and that's all that matters, each to their own.

 

[Nanu]

Just enjoy the difference in the sound and performance and forget about all the technical stuff :evil:

 

[craig3.2]

Hi All: Having owned a 20is for about 4.5 years, we recently changed it for a 35is.

Aside from the engine (!!), the silver exterior bits and larger front brakes, what else did they change for this model?

Sorry if this is covered somewhere on here already, I just failed to find the thread :-?

That straight 6 lump must weigh a hole heap more than the 2litre four, so did they change the springs / dampers for a start?

Any pointers gratefully received

kind regards to all

Yeah, the 35i had optional Adaptive suspension, but it was Standard on the 35is.
And the 35i had the choice of a Manual box or DCT box, whereas the 35is only comes with the DCT.

Have driven both, and find them both good to drive.

Also driven a new(then) x4 30i M sport, a few years back, circa 2016/2017with the zf box, and found it okay, although you can feel the lower down changes a bit notchy compared to the, imo, smoother DCT boxes given the DCT has dedicated clutches for each of the odd and even gears(as is the nature of their design) , I find DCT boxes generally smoother on the whole as a result, but each to their own.

Personally, I like the adaptive suspension on the 35is'
Nearly bought one in 2012,before opting for my M Roadster e85.
As with our resident (Google) expert, all this info is readily available on Google still, that's where I did my research when looking to buy, lol

Don't worry about the slip up, easily done, with the 20/30i S drive name for those, then calling the 35 models 35i and 35is.
They really should have went full on with the e89 and made it a proper M car.
The beauty of the 35i/is', are they make good cruisers and everyday cars in Comfort mode, but sharpen up into a decent gt sports car in Sport modes.
Best of both worlds.

I personally enjoy the rawer (and more focused, imo) feel of the e85 Ms.

Enjoy your new wheels

 

[dakargelb]

thanks chaps

re adaptive suspension: I had the same controls as on our 20i. i.e. the buttons to the right of the shift lever for comfort / sport / etc. Was that adaptive too?

 

[B21]

thanks chaps

re adaptive suspension: I had the same controls as on our 20i. i.e. the buttons to the right of the shift lever for comfort / sport / etc. Was that adaptive too?

Adaptive was almost exclusively fitted to the 35is..maybe on a 35i..never aware of it on any other model.

 

[tiglon]

Currently on Autotrader if you search for an E89 with the text "adaptive suspension" you get 2 x 35is and a single 28i. Out of 400 cars for sale, it's fair to say it wasn't a common option!

In terms of other changes for the 35is, some journo's claimed that the steering settings were updated, but that may be completely made up...

 

[dakargelb]

Ok, I've misunderstood this one! I think that irrespective of whether the option was fitted or not, they all have the same buttons by the gear selector.

According to a VIN decoder, mine has option: 2VF Adaptiv M Suspension

I never thought to check that on my old car, so I don't think I can have known as (and again you guys can tell me where I'm wrong) there is nothing in the cabin / controls / iDrive that is specific to this option. Its a kind of a hidden option?

Maybe this is why I think she rides better (19s, Bridgestone Potenza r/fs, 2020 manufacture) than our 20i (19s - identical looking wheels - with MPS 4S non-r/fs 2020 date code)...

 

[Argyll Andy]

In terms of other changes for the 35is, some journo's claimed that the steering settings were updated, but that may be completely made up...

It was one of the first things I noticed getting out of the 23i to the 35iS. I think it was Peter who said that there’s a different steering flash on the 35iS

 

[B21]

In terms of other changes for the 35is, some journo's claimed that the steering settings were updated, but that may be completely made up...

It was one of the first things I noticed getting out of the 23i to the 35iS. I think it was Peter who said that there’s a different steering flash on the 35iS

As Andy said, there is a different s/w release for the 35i compared to the 23i/30i and the N20 variants…quite what it does I’m not sure..

 

[Nanu]

In terms of other changes for the 35is, some journo's claimed that the steering settings were updated, but that may be completely made up...

It was one of the first things I noticed getting out of the 23i to the 35iS. I think it was Peter who said that there’s a different steering flash on the 35iS

As Andy said, there is a different s/w release for the 35i compared to the 23i/30i and the N20 variants…quite what it does I’m not sure..

If you don't know then there is not much chance of the rest of us without Mr Google