Why do you like your E89?

[IRD]

Just love the shape. I have had three E89s now: 2.3 MSport, 3.5is and my current 2litre I bought from Pondrew a few months ago. The first two were Melbourne Red, which is my favourite colour and this one is white. All have their different strengths but I loved the sound of the six cylinder engines. However, Pondrew had had the 2 litre remapped and it is quick enough now and handles better than the 3.5is did.
I have found all three cars to be a lot more comfortable than the E85s I owned and they just float my boat.

 

[Phoenixboy]

Just love the shape. I have had three E89s now: 2.3 MSport, 3.5is and my current 2litre I bought from Pondrew a few months ago. The first two were Melbourne Red, which is my favourite colour and this one is white. All have their different strengths but I loved the sound of the six cylinder engines. However, Pondrew had had the 2 litre remapped and it is quick enough now and handles better than the 3.5is did.
I have found all three cars to be a lot more comfortable than the E85s I owned and they just float my boat.

did you find the 4 pot sound noticeably different from your 35is in terms of enjoyment with the roof up or down?

 

[IRD]

Just love the shape. I have had three E89s now: 2.3 MSport, 3.5is and my current 2litre I bought from Pondrew a few months ago. The first two were Melbourne Red, which is my favourite colour and this one is white. All have their different strengths but I loved the sound of the six cylinder engines. However, Pondrew had had the 2 litre remapped and it is quick enough now and handles better than the 3.5is did.
I have found all three cars to be a lot more comfortable than the E85s I owned and they just float my boat.

did you find the 4 pot sound noticeably different from your 35is in terms of enjoyment with the roof up or down?

Yes, both. As soon as you start the 3.5is you hear the lovely burble/growl sound, even with the roof up. With the 2litre there is nothing like that and there is little sound even when you accelerate hard. But on the positive side the car is lighter and much more nimble than the 3.5is. Re-mapped it is really quick and quite economical and I enjoy the manual gear box too.
I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

 

[jamesgarbett]

I went from a manual 6-cyl E85 to a (remapped) 4-cyl E89 auto

Yes I do miss the sound of 6 cylinders but in all other aspects i prefer the E89

The E85 did feel a little more sports car than the E89 but the E89 certainly has that mini GT feel about it

I keep my cars outdoors and the E85 roof was struggling to cope with winter conditions, so i really wanted to switch to a hard top

I can't justify a 2-seater that isn't a convertible and i still feel like a little kid when i drive with the roof down on a nice day

 

[Phoenixboy]

Just love the shape. I have had three E89s now: 2.3 MSport, 3.5is and my current 2litre I bought from Pondrew a few months ago. The first two were Melbourne Red, which is my favourite colour and this one is white. All have their different strengths but I loved the sound of the six cylinder engines. However, Pondrew had had the 2 litre remapped and it is quick enough now and handles better than the 3.5is did.
I have found all three cars to be a lot more comfortable than the E85s I owned and they just float my boat.

did you find the 4 pot sound noticeably different from your 35is in terms of enjoyment with the roof up or down?

Yes, both. As soon as you start the 3.5is you hear the lovely burble/growl sound, even with the roof up. With the 2litre there is nothing like that and there is little sound even when you accelerate hard. But on the positive side the car is lighter and much more nimble than the 3.5is. Re-mapped it is really quick and quite economical and I enjoy the manual gear box too.
I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

thanks for that mate.
its the one thing that makes me think i would miss the 6cyl noise.
love the 89, dont want the potential issues from the 35i/s, and there lies the problem...
it sounds a small thing, but we have these cars for lots of reasons, and the sound is a big part of it for me.....

 

[Pondy]

I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

When I was a kid, we used a 3/8" drill in strategic places on the silencers. That was cheaper! :wink:

 

[mcbutler]

I’ve never had a car this long before,
Usually average a charge every 2 years.
Every winter I get twitchy and start looking at something else ( mainly because I can’t give it the amount of attention in polish it receives in summer) then the spring comes along and I get reluctant to swap it … it’s kinda a one off now, and I just always seem to get to a point of a potential test drive and have nightmares about regretting selling this one . It’s obviously got SOMETHING going for it ….. this is my 6 th yeah now IMG_0112.jpeg

love the bonnet vent, do you have one each side?

 

[Smartbear]

Just love the shape. I have had three E89s now: 2.3 MSport, 3.5is and my current 2litre I bought from Pondrew a few months ago. The first two were Melbourne Red, which is my favourite colour and this one is white. All have their different strengths but I loved the sound of the six cylinder engines. However, Pondrew had had the 2 litre remapped and it is quick enough now and handles better than the 3.5is did.
I have found all three cars to be a lot more comfortable than the E85s I owned and they just float my boat.

did you find the 4 pot sound noticeably different from your 35is in terms of enjoyment with the roof up or down?

Yes, both. As soon as you start the 3.5is you hear the lovely burble/growl sound, even with the roof up. With the 2litre there is nothing like that and there is little sound even when you accelerate hard. But on the positive side the car is lighter and much more nimble than the 3.5is. Re-mapped it is really quick and quite economical and I enjoy the manual gear box too.
I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

You can peg the exhaust valve open for a little more growl from the silencer, it’s subtle and not an “in your face” difference.
Rob

 

[IRD]

Just love the shape. I have had three E89s now: 2.3 MSport, 3.5is and my current 2litre I bought from Pondrew a few months ago. The first two were Melbourne Red, which is my favourite colour and this one is white. All have their different strengths but I loved the sound of the six cylinder engines. However, Pondrew had had the 2 litre remapped and it is quick enough now and handles better than the 3.5is did.
I have found all three cars to be a lot more comfortable than the E85s I owned and they just float my boat.

did you find the 4 pot sound noticeably different from your 35is in terms of enjoyment with the roof up or down?

Yes, both. As soon as you start the 3.5is you hear the lovely burble/growl sound, even with the roof up. With the 2litre there is nothing like that and there is little sound even when you accelerate hard. But on the positive side the car is lighter and much more nimble than the 3.5is. Re-mapped it is really quick and quite economical and I enjoy the manual gear box too.
I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

You can peg the exhaust valve open for a little more growl from the silencer, it’s subtle and not an “in your face” difference.
Rob

Thanks for that info. Might try it.

 

[IRD]

I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

When I was a kid, we used a 3/8" drill in strategic places on the silencers. That was cheaper! :wink:

Knowing me Andy I would drill through the petrol tank!

 

[Pondy]

Thanks for that info. Might try it.

"golf tee mod" Ian. Loads of threads about it on here.

 

[IRD]

did you find the 4 pot sound noticeably different from your 35is in terms of enjoyment with the roof up or down?

Yes, both. As soon as you start the 3.5is you hear the lovely burble/growl sound, even with the roof up. With the 2litre there is nothing like that and there is little sound even when you accelerate hard. But on the positive side the car is lighter and much more nimble than the 3.5is. Re-mapped it is really quick and quite economical and I enjoy the manual gear box too.
I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

thanks for that mate.
its the one thing that makes me think i would miss the 6cyl noise.
love the 89, dont want the potential issues from the 35i/s, and there lies the problem...
it sounds a small thing, but we have these cars for lots of reasons, and the sound is a big part of it for me.....

It is a difficult decision. I do understand where you are coming from. My 3.5is had only covered 44000 miles but I was concerned about possible problems in the future. In a way it was spoiling my enjoyment of the car. So I sold it. Then of course I missed it. The current car is a compromise in some ways but overall it is more pleasant and comfortable to drive. So you ‘pays your money and makesj your choice’.

 

[IRD]

Thanks for that info. Might try it.

"golf tee mod" Ian. Loads of threads about it on here.

Ah! Remember that now. Thanks Andy.

 

[Phoenixboy]

Yes, both. As soon as you start the 3.5is you hear the lovely burble/growl sound, even with the roof up. With the 2litre there is nothing like that and there is little sound even when you accelerate hard. But on the positive side the car is lighter and much more nimble than the 3.5is. Re-mapped it is really quick and quite economical and I enjoy the manual gear box too.
I might consider a replacement exhaust system in the course of time. Bit I don’t want anything too loud or too expensive to buy.

thanks for that mate.
its the one thing that makes me think i would miss the 6cyl noise.
love the 89, dont want the potential issues from the 35i/s, and there lies the problem...
it sounds a small thing, but we have these cars for lots of reasons, and the sound is a big part of it for me.....

It is a difficult decision. I do understand where you are coming from. My 3.5is had only covered 44000 miles but I was concerned about possible problems in the future. In a way it was spoiling my enjoyment of the car. So I sold it. Then of course I missed it. The current car is a compromise in some ways but overall it is more pleasant and comfortable to drive. So you ‘pays your money and makesj your choice’.

yes, know exactly what you mean, the 35i/s seems the obvious choice, possibly with a bmw warranty?

 

[CliveN]

It’s a funny thing car choice. I chose a 3.0 rather than a3.5is as one came along at the right time etc. if I had really known about the 3.5 is “needs” then I might have steered away completely. However we need to put the “faults” into perspective (even if they do appear to be more needy than the subsequent b58 engined cars). Broadly with all high performance cars (not talking EV here) you need to expect outlay for routine repair (not just service). Many just accept it, sone come on forums like this to get help, sone ignore it completely and the car heads quietly to the tip. I have just bought a 15 year old Z4MC and realise that it might just be the most expensive decision in my life in that it is INCREDIBLY needy. I expect £1000 a year repairs minimum per year outside of normal dining costs and that’s with a very low mileage car. That’s the trouble with older motors - they break down

 

[RAYK47]

I have to echo Clives comments.

I have had my 35i for a month now and i love it but .......

If hear so many bad stories regarding the N54, that if i had known them all before, i may have steered clear and went for a 2.5 (there was no compromise on the straight 6). However the one i bought was from the forum and had excellent history and records of a lot of the issues being replaced already (not to say they cant go again).

If it happens then so be it, the wife will moan at me but ultimately i will repair it and either move it on or just carry on, only time will tell.

 

[IRD]

I think Ray and Clive are absolutely correct in their assessments. We are all different as individuals have different priorities and our financial circumstances vary. All of these things affect the decisions we make. But we are lucky if we are in a position when we can choose.
I certainly enjoyed my 3.5is. It gave me a huge amount of pleasure and I have no regrets about buying the car. But time moves on and so priorities change. I am really happy with my current 2litre. But I have had close to 80 cars over the years so that may well change again. Indeed I have just placed an order for a new model JCW Countryman to arrive March 2024 to replace the current daily.

 

[Pondy]

If you want to, you can make a good case for not buying ANY car with ANY engine. Thanks to t'internet there is so much information about everything. When it comes to cars most of the information is only the negatives, as that's what people want to know.

When it comes to Z4s, if you want to listen to all the negatives, the only one to buy would be the N52 because these are regarded as 'bulletproof', despite being prone to oil leaks, fuel pump failures, water pump failures, etc, etc.

 

[RAYK47]

If you want to, you can make a good case for not buying ANY car with ANY engine. Thanks to t'internet there is so much information about everything. When it comes to cars most of the information is only the negatives, as that's what people want to know.

When it comes to Z4s, if you want to listen to all the negatives, the only one to buy would be the N52 because these are regarded as 'bulletproof', despite being prone to oil leaks, fuel pump failures, water pump failures, etc, etc.

You are spot on there Pondrew.

 

[CliveN]

I think the point we are all making is that all z4s (as with most cars) have items that need replacing at routine intervals- not always often but when the time comes. The issue really is that the reason that expensive cars become cheap is that they cost a lot to repair after ten years old and many are tempted by the cheap purchase price but then wonder why their 12 year old whatever needs money spent on it. If you want trouble free and relatively cost free motoring buy a Dacia. BMWs might be costly to repair but no worse than other main manufacturers and they aren’t any less reliable on the whole.