When buying a used E89 - concerns about CAT S/CAT N?

B21 said:
In the UK here's my view of budget / well equipped / loaded FWIW

Budget

Most or all of the following

Cloth seats
Non MSport seats
No idrive
Basic 6 speaker system
No parking sensors
No cruise control
Basic bluetooth
No heated seats
No electric folding mirrors
Manual

Well equipped

Cruise control
MSport seats
Heated seats
Electric adjustment seats
Extended media Bluetooth
11 speaker with offboard amp
Parking sensors
Idrive
Comfort pack (rear mesh diffuser)
Msport bodywork
Msport steering wheel
Auto/DCT
DAB
USB support


Loaded

As above plus / or

14 speaker with offboard amp
Heated steering wheel
Extended storage pack
Extended lighting pack
Comfort access
Adaptive headlights
Adaptive dampers
Lumbar support
Extended leather
Rear Msport diffuser
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Subjective though.
When I bought mine I wanted manual, didn’t want satnav, idrive, adaptive lights, comfort access, parking sensors, or a lot of the other stuff. I wanted a basic drivers car.
I can adjust the seat myself and no one else drives it anyway. Not interested in fancy sound systems.
So, as you can see, what you define as budget, I define as simple, less to go wrong and still the same fun to drive.
It really boils down to personal taste, so telling someone to avoid a car because it’s low spec could stop them seeing the one that actually would have suited them.
 
enuff_zed said:
Subjective though.
When I bought mine I wanted manual, didn’t want satnav, idrive, adaptive lights, comfort access, parking sensors, or a lot of the other stuff. I wanted a basic drivers car.
I can adjust the seat myself and no one else drives it anyway. Not interested in fancy sound systems.
So, as you can see, what you define as budget, I define as simple, less to go wrong and still the same fun to drive.
It really boils down to personal taste, so telling someone to avoid a car because it’s low spec could stop them seeing the one that actually would have suited them.
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Of course its subjective in saying whether you value or see as a liability a particular option..however..budget implies lower costs..and its a matter of fact (with rare exceptions) that adding options to the base car cost the purchaser progressively more money..you've conflated (as so many posters do) two different concepts!

I never suggested a budget car was 'bad'..several of my best Z4 buddies have 'budget' versions..and I still let them come out with me..albeit at a discrete distance!-:)

on my 35is I removed the heating steering wheel which I classed as 'loaded' feature..as an example..many have removed their adaptive dampers..lumbar options often leak, comfort access often fails, etc etc.. ergo I agree with you!
 
Chanceschmerr said:
I do want to see it! I'm not sure if I'm cut out to be the new owner for someone's baby though - it looks exceptionally well taken care of.
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It’s a very clean two owner example, never failed an MOT, original paintwork. It has been cherished, but it definitely will be sold.. the Mrs has been out in the G29 on her own now, and loves it…. So this will make way.

It might not be the car for you depending on your budget, but it’s not a high mileage, neglected or CAT car.

I’ll try and make a plan so you can view at the weekend, but I’m not sure what the weather’s doing. I might get a chance to take some pictures tomorrow as it looks like it might be mainly dry 👍🏻
 
B21 said:
Of course its subjective in saying whether you value or see as a liability a particular option..however..budget implies lower costs..and its a matter of fact (with rare exceptions) that adding options to the base car cost the purchaser progressively more money..you've conflated (as so many posters do) two different concepts!

I never suggested a budget car was 'bad'..several of my best Z4 buddies have 'budget' versions..and I still let them come out with me..albeit at a discrete distance!-:)

on my 35is I removed the heating steering wheel which I classed as 'loaded' feature..as an example..many have removed their adaptive dampers..lumbar options often leak, comfort access often fails, etc etc.. ergo I agree with you!
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My suggestion was in fact that a new person to this forum may read your comment, as a known senior figure round these parts, and think they should ignore these cars.
I merely wished to point out that they should check the spec as it may well suit them.

For someone wishing to have a fun summer then sell it on, a loaded car will probably get them a bigger precentage of their money back.
For someone like me, buying a car with no real intention of selling it on and no concern of resale value, then perhaps simplicity is of more benefit.
 
Regarding the ‘budget’ debate,

You can’t un-crash a Cat Car
You can’t rewind the documented mileage on the MOT history
You can’t, ‘easily’, replace a 4 pot turbo with a penchant for eating chain guides and destroying itself with a super reliable 6 pot.

You can retrofit most things that are important to you if a clean, cherished, low mileage car doesn’t have them.
 
enuff_zed said:
My suggestion was in fact that a new person to this forum may read your comment, as a known senior figure round these parts, and think they should ignore these cars.
I merely wished to point out that they should check the spec as it may well suit them.

For someone wishing to have a fun summer then sell it on, a loaded car will probably get them a bigger precentage of their money back.
For someone like me, buying a car with no real intention of selling it on and no concern of resale value, then perhaps simplicity is of more benefit.
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I'm grateful to the enlightenment that you proffer so that I may re-formulate my hypotheses for those who are not aware of my considerable idiosyncrasies!-:)
 
True-Blue said:
Regarding the ‘budget’ debate,

You can’t un-crash a Cat Car
You can’t rewind the documented mileage on the MOT history
You can’t, ‘easily’, replace a 4 pot turbo with a penchant for eating chain guides and destroying itself with a super reliable 6 pot.

You can retrofit most things that are important to you if a clean, cherished, low mileage car doesn’t have them.
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I understand the sentiments..

However I used the word 'budget' to define the options for a car..not the car itself..you've conflated the argument..

Reference options ..if you're paying someone else to do it..may I..humbly..and with deepest respects suggest that retro fitting idrives, comfort access, adaptive damping, electric adjustable seats, 11 or 14 speaker audio systems, extended Bluetooth heated steering wheels, adaptive headlights, DAB radio, heated seats are such that 99% of people would never entertain such things..

Of course the counter argument is that there are cost effective after market alternatives to some of those... but..for some of us.. we find those generally not acceptable...

So.. buy the car you want, with the goodies you want at a price you want to pay..end off..but ..then if you did that without due diligence then you can't complain about 'if only' etc..
 
B21 said:
Of course the counter argument is that there are cost effective after market alternatives to some of those... but..for some of us.. we find those generally not acceptable...
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Have you seen your own list of non O.E. Parts Peter…. There’s not much of the original car left? Which makes this comment laughable.

Also, who in their right mind would retrofit active suspension to an E89?

I agree iDRIVE is a Pita to retro fit, but anyone wanting high quality sound in a convertible would be better served going aftermarket Amp, stereo component speakers and a sub than the pointless 14 speaker DSP nonsense.
 
Having owned two E89s; one with i-drive and one without, if I was looking for another I would go without. It doesn't bring anything to the party and makes the E89 look VERY outdated, as it's a very old system. Only useful for ease of upgrading the 'tech' IMO, which is not important to me in a 'summer' car.
 
I'll be honest, stuff like i-drive/non i-drive isnt that critical to me. As long as the radio/CD player works, I can put tunes in, all good. The state of the engine, body, structure, roof....is what really matters to me. Along with fitting in the budget, obviously.

I'm trying to see two this weekend, @True-Blue 's lovely Alpine White and the Cat S one in Blackpool as what generated this conversation. Looking forward to seeing both!
 
If you want a basic 23i manual in very good condition for low money albeit with 150k miles CherryM has had to put his 23i up for sale due to heath issues..

I’ve ridden in a few times and it’s been on many many runs with us…silver.

Under 5k no accident damage / history

Well serviced

Recent new springs and Bilstein B6 shocks
 
Interesting, another question has come up. Since I'm new to the UK, I registered the family car we have here with Forces Solutions UK (They specialize in vehicle insurance for military folks posted to the UK from outside the country).

I called them today to get a quote on the CAT S car, in the event I buy it, and they told me that they dont think they insure CAT S vehicles.

Is that common here, are Cat S cars hard to insure?
 
I think some insurers won't cover Cat S cars, but some do.

My nephew had a 325i that his insurer (Admiral) made a Cat S and they were happy to cover it so long as he got an MOT certificate after it had been repaired.

My insurer (Saga) had the same requirement for my Cat N 330i.
 
Good to meet you today Chris, I hope you found it useful looking at my partners car.

By deduction, if this is the Cat S car you are viewing tomorrow, I’ve left you my thoughts on WhatsApp. There are many to choose from, and I’m genuinely fine if our car doesn’t work for you; Bugdet, Colour, whatever. But I think there’s probably many that are better than this one

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True-Blue said:
Good to meet you today Chris, I hope you found it useful looking at my partners car.

By deduction, I this is the Cat S car you are viewing tomorrow, I’ve left you my thoughts on WhatsApp. There are many to choose from, and I’m genuinely fine if our car doesn’t work for you; Bugdet, Colour, whatever. But I think there’s probably many that are better than this one

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@Chanceschmerr if this is the advert, its not on the wheels stated in the advert. The wheels on it are smaller and from an E85 I think. Also just generally doesn't look like a low mileage looked after example imo
 
Argyll Andy said:
@Chanceschmerr if this is the advert, its not on the wheels stated in the advert. The wheels on it are smaller and from an E85 I think. Also just generally doesn't look like a low mileage looked after example imo
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Agreed.
@Chanceschmerr be VERY careful buying anything via Facebook marketplace UK. It is notoriously full of scammers and crooks. Not all are but too many.
The seller also has a repaired VW van for sale (Cat S) and a car which he is stripping for parts. Looks suspiciously like he is repairing cars to make money. Be very careful!
 
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