Why do you like your E89?
- Thread starter CliveN
- Start date
Scottish Borders
CliveN said:
All the above is true..but..
What catches people out is the unscheduled big ticket items that they (at the time of purchase) were unaware of..
So on N20s its the pre 2015 cam chain sub system
On N54s its adaptive dampers, HPFP, injectors, turbos, and heavier wear n tear on plugs /coils / brakes etc
The N52s do have common issues with the others like OFHGs, water pumps, cam box leaks..but they don't have the unique features of early N20s and all N54s..
Of course every version has the roof related issues sooner or later.
How that compares to early Boxsters, SLKs and other similar class roadsters I don't know..I hear horrifying tails of costs on Porksters but whether that's rumour or fact I don't know.
FWIW on the N20 vs N54 debate, I do agreed that the sound of the N54 on the charge is a great sound..I found the N20 with a sports cat downpipe made a perfectly acceptable sound in its own right.
If I re-wrote history I would have stayed with my N20 powered E89 rather than bite the bullet of the 35is..
Not sure what I would have done with the months of effort and thousands spent otherwise..but you can't go back.
For sure the N20 is a much nicer handling car than the N54s and as been said, wih a re-map all you would ever need for a UK road..even in the north of Scotland.
However both my cars have been a joy to look at and drive..nothing has since come by that temps me..apart from an early F-Type
The Z4 community seems like a great group, with precious little of what folks tell me about some other manufacturer's clubs.
That all adds to the Z4 experience be they Z3, E85/E86,E89 or G29.
My 35is. No need for an amazing sound system as the sound of the engine is a joy to behold. Saying that since the roof broke (and from what I understand is they will all go that way unless one is extremely lucky) it has sat in my garage looking very pretty but no more than that. I stupidly went and bought a 2012 TTS ( okay okay.. 
) but I can kick the sh*t out of it and it feels solid as a rock. Spring time 35is will be back on the road I'm sure. Hopefully, I will fall in love with it again.
) but I can kick the sh*t out of it and it feels solid as a rock. Spring time 35is will be back on the road I'm sure. Hopefully, I will fall in love with it again.
Hmmmmmm......B21 said:
It would be fair to an E89 if you would separate the general topics (engine & co) from roadster-specific topics.
For example, every other vehicle from the BMW Cosmos has the same engine problems.
What remains with the E89 is age-related wear and tear and, in my opinion, no design errors.
The roof wears out just like the brakes. No longer.
And of course, no one expects this wear and tear. But that is unrealistic dreaming.
RobbiZ4 said:Hmmmmmm......B21 said:
It would be fair to an E89 if you would separate the general topics (engine & co) from roadster-specific topics.
For example, every other vehicle from the BMW Cosmos has the same engine problems.
What remains with the E89 is age-related wear and tear and, in my opinion, no design errors.
The roof wears out just like the brakes. No longer.
And of course, no one expects this wear and tear. But that is unrealistic dreaming.
Whilst engine issues are generic to the BMW wider fleet as you say, I think the line of the conversation is not comparing the E89 to other non roadster BMWs but to other 'roadster' type alternatives..of which I know nothing..as my entry into roadsters was the E89 and my exit out will be E89s..!
I put a lot of thought into buying my current car, it's the most expensive I've ever owned. To start with I wanted something different, having had an E89 before, but once I went through my preferences the 35i/is was the only option.
5+ cylinders (for the noise and sense of occasion), sensible mileage, no slower than 5 seconds to 60, less than 10 years old, roadster, under approx £25k and exterior and interior looks that don't upset me. A fun colour was a bonus.
You can waft along on a wave of torque, or flick a few switches and unleash all kinds of unnecessary mechanical ferocity. Perfect.
It doesn't handle nearly as well as some other roadsters I've had, but they didn't have nearly as exciting an engine. Sadly N54 power AND sub 1,000kg in the same car tends to be very expensive!
With regards to reliability and costs, I've had mine 2.5 years and 25k miles (just passed 70k). I've had to replace coils (possibly only because of the remap) and the cam cover gasket (still not convinced it was needed). Very different to the horror stories on the Internet, most of which seem to come from earlier N54's (but maybe that's because most N54's were produced much earlier than mine).
Yes, tyres and breaks and fuel are expensive, but that's just part of owning a performance car, and nothing compared to an SUV. If dampers go, I'll just pay relative peanuts for a bilstein setup and improve the chassis in the process.
I have spent less on non-routine maintenance for the Z4 than I did on my 1.0 Focus during the same time period.
5+ cylinders (for the noise and sense of occasion), sensible mileage, no slower than 5 seconds to 60, less than 10 years old, roadster, under approx £25k and exterior and interior looks that don't upset me. A fun colour was a bonus.
You can waft along on a wave of torque, or flick a few switches and unleash all kinds of unnecessary mechanical ferocity. Perfect.
It doesn't handle nearly as well as some other roadsters I've had, but they didn't have nearly as exciting an engine. Sadly N54 power AND sub 1,000kg in the same car tends to be very expensive!
With regards to reliability and costs, I've had mine 2.5 years and 25k miles (just passed 70k). I've had to replace coils (possibly only because of the remap) and the cam cover gasket (still not convinced it was needed). Very different to the horror stories on the Internet, most of which seem to come from earlier N54's (but maybe that's because most N54's were produced much earlier than mine).
Yes, tyres and breaks and fuel are expensive, but that's just part of owning a performance car, and nothing compared to an SUV. If dampers go, I'll just pay relative peanuts for a bilstein setup and improve the chassis in the process.
I have spent less on non-routine maintenance for the Z4 than I did on my 1.0 Focus during the same time period.
At the summit of the picturesque fens
That's because BMW kept going with the N54 in the Z4 for years after they had superseded it on all other models. The N55 came and went and the B58 had been born before the end of the E89 (IIRC).tiglon said:
For what you get I think the consumables are pretty good TBHtiglon said:
225 and 255 18" or 19" tyres are pretty standard across a lot of the BM range. A 318D M-sport uses the same size tyres.
Have you tried pricing brakes for an 'M' car? The 35is is peanuts in comparison. For the price of one disc for, say an M6, you could change all four and probably pads too.
Apart from the overall look of the e89, the other standout feature was the N52B30, that flat torque curve up to 6500 rpm really did make you want to hold onto the gears, oh what fun
Then they said the change to N20 was progress, yeah okay I'll believe you BMW, whilst it didn't ruin the car, it did not make it better either and I can remember the furore on here over that decision.
Then they said the change to N20 was progress, yeah okay I'll believe you BMW, whilst it didn't ruin the car, it did not make it better either and I can remember the furore on here over that decision.
Owned mine 11 years. Bought at 29k miles now 101k.
Still nothing out there i like, that i can afford. Possibly go F Type if i had the cash, but why?
Fell in love with the shape when i saw one on local car park.
That guy still has his car, local shop owner. Never seen it with roof down though?
Still most expensive car bought, i went into debt to buy.
All other cars i owned were never over £2k, but after a few years got sold for far less.
So treated myself, determined to ring every £ out of this car.
Couple of things that bug me, the gearbox and steering.
Still nothing out there i like, that i can afford. Possibly go F Type if i had the cash, but why?
Fell in love with the shape when i saw one on local car park.
That guy still has his car, local shop owner. Never seen it with roof down though?
Still most expensive car bought, i went into debt to buy.
All other cars i owned were never over £2k, but after a few years got sold for far less.
So treated myself, determined to ring every £ out of this car.
Couple of things that bug me, the gearbox and steering.
It was. But only for 'eco warrior' reasons....oh and profitability. Less emissions, better efficiency.....and they could change the maps and sell it in three guises, all with a different RRP for almost zero cost to them.sars said:
BTW I hope you sorted that broken roof tile. That would drive me mad!
I only rented a room there whilst in Bristol before buying a houseDave 2 dogs
Senior member
Thanks … yes, one each sidePhoenixboy said:
Pondrew said:
To be fair though, oil leaks fuel and water pump failures goes across the board. Saving grace for the N52 is that they have no other major issues unlike the N20 with its cam chain problems or the myriad of expensive issues that afflict the N54.
BMWs aren’t as expensive to run as an equivalent Porsche. That’s a fact. And I think the e89 and e85/86 are reasonably reliable. As Robbi says most of the problems are wear and tear rather than design faults. Even the 35i engine seem to have its problems at later mileages (but probably not as late as people would like it to be). I personally have a thing in my head that engines should last at least 100000 miles before anything needs to doing outside service items (my hyundai coupe was one such car and I reckon I can get my Talbot samba to that as well) but we seem stuck to undertake other stuff on our BMWs. The good news is that places like the z4 forum mean you can go in with your eyes open. Before I bought my Z4MC I read everything in here. So knew all about big ends, vanos, etc. still didn’t stop me getting an air bag warning light 200 miles into my return journey home. Hmm - still to be sorted, have bought a OBD reader!
Well, we 89ers are not alone.CliveN said:
The roof chain begins with nearly all E85 in the first 10 years, followed by E46 after 15 years, E89 after 6-12years, F33/F83 after 5-7 years, F12 after 8-10 years, ... And don't discuss about Audi!
Others will follow soon.
Devon
Okay guys, yes I agree, the E89 is a lovely looking car and was the one I wanted but they were to highly priced for me when I was ready to buy as it is only a fun car for weekends and coffee runs with the wife.
So I looked around at the E85 and I was never happy with how the front end looked but after 2 years of ownership I have grown to like it and now love the car to bits and can't see I'll ever swap for an E89. So each to his/her own I suppose.
So I looked around at the E85 and I was never happy with how the front end looked but after 2 years of ownership I have grown to like it and now love the car to bits and can't see I'll ever swap for an E89. So each to his/her own I suppose.
I've not got it anymore but I always thought the e89 was a lovely looking motor, especially in the dsb/ivory combo and I do still miss sitting in that interior even with the 981 on the drive. Once the mortgage is done in a few years I think I might pick another one up
