Z4 35iS to M135i LCI

Z4 35iS to M135i LCI

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Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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So, I am on my second Z4 35iS and love it ... but a change of circumstances has got me thinking about swapping my Z4 and a little diesel Smart for a new LCI M135i.

I have driven the 'old' pre facelift M135i and liked it a lot ... but not the looks. The new LCI seems to look a lot better. Not sure about the ducting on the lower sides of the front bumper - I have yet to see one in the flesh though.

The Z4 35is seems to be a bit more 'special' than an M135i but as a result may not retain it's value as well. My dealer (unsurprisingly as they are a dealer) thinks the M135i is a better 'buy' in the longer term and has given me a good price for the car itself if not the trade in (as they think the 35iS will be harder to move on than any M135i).

Anyone on here with an LCI M135i who would like to comment ?

I find myself in the same position I was last year with a practicality versus top down fun kind of decision ... any views welcome !

FWIW I drive all of 5 miles each way to work and love convertibles. I also happen to miss the practicality of a hatchback !

The new upcoming B58 engine has made me stop doing anything with the N55 M135i though ... is it worth waiting even if I do decide to go for an M135i ?

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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Nice position to be in !

I am a bit concerned with "brand new" engines, hence my decision to stick to the "old" N55. Getting my LCI next week.

5 miles is also my commute, so not great as not enough to bring it to temperature. I have a feeling I will be going the long way round when I don't cycle to work.

The M135i has enjoyed superb depreciation performance since its launch, I hope the LCI will maintain that. Don't see why not as it's less (subjectively) ugly.

Have you considered selling privately ? A car like yours should easily sell this time of year for quite a lot more than part ex. A good wash, a careful advert and realistic price should yield a nice return financially for little work/hassle.

Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Won't sell privately. Yes, more money but with the value of the car goes a level of hassle I don't want.

I looked at an M135i LCI yesterday and IMO it was a lot better looking than the last one. Very, very tempting, but then I took the Z4 out roof down last night after washing it and loved it.

Decisions, decisions ! A PCP on an M135i is affordable ... just whether I want to do it.

There is money 'in' the Z4 but I have only had it 7 months and it seems a waste in a way. People say, though, that if you are going to get out of a PCP do it in year 1 or the last year (in my case year 4) as the middle bit has the most depreication. I don't know how true this is as my car was 15 months old when I got it so had done a big wedge of depreciating already.

johnfm

13,668 posts

249 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Well, of course the dealer wil say that the car he is trying to sell you is the 'better long term buy' and, quelle surprise, talk down your trade in.


Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
johnfm said:
Well, of course the dealer wil say that the car he is trying to sell you is the 'better long term buy' and, quelle surprise, talk down your trade in.
I know. I have looked and the depreciation for both my current 35iS and the M135i seems to be at an almost identical rate after the first year. The 35iS unsurprisingly is hit much harder in year one - which is why I was happy to buy at 15 months old biggrin

johnfm

13,668 posts

249 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Tea Pot One said:
johnfm said:
Well, of course the dealer wil say that the car he is trying to sell you is the 'better long term buy' and, quelle surprise, talk down your trade in.
I know. I have looked and the depreciation for both my current 35iS and the M135i seems to be at an almost identical rate after the first year. The 35iS unsurprisingly is hit much harder in year one - which is why I was happy to buy at 15 months old biggrin
Harder in year one relative to what? Other years or other cars?

Depreciation aside, you're going to lose a couple of grand at least just in the dealer bid-offer spread, probably more.

Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
johnfm said:
Harder in year one relative to what? Other years or other cars?

Depreciation aside, you're going to lose a couple of grand at least just in the dealer bid-offer spread, probably more.
Other years - years 2-4 show a similar rate of depreciation (according to What Car anyway) for an M135i vs Z4 35iS.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Watching this vid, I think it's an improvement on looks and if you need a hatch back seems a pretty good choice.


http://video.citnow.com/vsRGZWlpv8X


Jonsv8

7,175 posts

123 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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I'm lost with the questions really. You're on your second z4 and clearly like the car but your thinking of changing it. You talk as if it's a choice of staying with the z4 or m135i, then I'd stay with what you have. If you need to change the question is to what and we could look at other options like a 3 series convertible.

Are your change of circumstances the need for more room, or a change in finances?

Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Jonsv8 said:
I'm lost with the questions really. You're on your second z4 and clearly like the car but your thinking of changing it. You talk as if it's a choice of staying with the z4 or m135i, then I'd stay with what you have. If you need to change the question is to what and we could look at other options like a 3 series convertible.

Are your change of circumstances the need for more room, or a change in finances?
I don't need to change but the space 4 cars were taking up was the issue as the wife got a company car a few months ago. We should really only have two thus if I go down to one the M135i would be my preferred choice. I think the fact I am so undecided means I should stick with something I already which looks the business and goes rather well smile

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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be very interested in your impressions of the Z4 35iS .. a very rare car.

does it still have a 50:50 weight distribution?

Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
SFO said:
be very interested in your impressions of the Z4 35iS .. a very rare car.

does it still have a 50:50 weight distribution?
No idea on the weight distribution. It feels a big car with a long nose but does handle OK if you take it by the scruff of the neck ! It is not as good handling as my old Z4M Roadster but that is to be expected.

Engine is superb - the extra 35bhp over a 35i or a 335i does notice when you extend it. It is quicker than my Z4M R was definitely. Easier to exploit too due to the DCT gearbox. IMO it looks the business and the materials inside are a notch above say a 1 series. Fuel is about 22mpg for me normal though on a long run it will go over 30mpg average; normally about 32/33 mpg but no more no matter how gentle you are.

The 35iS has a BMW sports exhaust as standard over a 35i which is 10db louder - and it is great ! Not boomy or intrusive - just right and does turn heads.

My only issue has been reliability - if you search my threads you will see my last 35iS was, for three months of ownership, pretty much a nightmare. I put that down to just a bad example but my current 35iS is not fault free. The old one was an 11 plate with 28500 on it when I bought it last June. The new one is a 13 plate LCI model which only had 2450 on it at 15 months old. The new one has had a micro switch fail meaning the roof wouldn't work. It now has a flickering idrive/sat nav screen which it is going into the garage for in 10 days. In addition the gearbox is now shuddering slightly when I go to reverse and has a few noises the garage are going to need to address. Nothing major but still frustrating for such a low mileage and new car.

To drive they are superb - the fact I got a 2nd after the problems of the first says a lot. They are a good cruiser and seriously quick when you wish. 0-62 in 4.8 is in no way going to mean you are embarrassed with the performance ! They remap to 400bhp easily but I won't due to having a warranty and the fact I think the car would struggle to put down more than another 20bhp on our roads.

There are indeed rare - at last check I think there is only 265 of them in the UK.

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
quotequote all
Tea Pot One said:
No idea on the weight distribution. It feels a big car with a long nose but does handle OK if you take it by the scruff of the neck ! It is not as good handling as my old Z4M Roadster but that is to be expected.

Engine is superb - the extra 35bhp over a 35i or a 335i does notice when you extend it. It is quicker than my Z4M R was definitely. Easier to exploit too due to the DCT gearbox. IMO it looks the business and the materials inside are a notch above say a 1 series. Fuel is about 22mpg for me normal though on a long run it will go over 30mpg average; normally about 32/33 mpg but no more no matter how gentle you are.

The 35iS has a BMW sports exhaust as standard over a 35i which is 10db louder - and it is great ! Not boomy or intrusive - just right and does turn heads.

My only issue has been reliability - if you search my threads you will see my last 35iS was, for three months of ownership, pretty much a nightmare. I put that down to just a bad example but my current 35iS is not fault free. The old one was an 11 plate with 28500 on it when I bought it last June. The new one is a 13 plate LCI model which only had 2450 on it at 15 months old. The new one has had a micro switch fail meaning the roof wouldn't work. It now has a flickering idrive/sat nav screen which it is going into the garage for in 10 days. In addition the gearbox is now shuddering slightly when I go to reverse and has a few noises the garage are going to need to address. Nothing major but still frustrating for such a low mileage and new car.

To drive they are superb - the fact I got a 2nd after the problems of the first says a lot. They are a good cruiser and seriously quick when you wish. 0-62 in 4.8 is in no way going to mean you are embarrassed with the performance ! They remap to 400bhp easily but I won't due to having a warranty and the fact I think the car would struggle to put down more than another 20bhp on our roads.

There are indeed rare - at last check I think there is only 265 of them in the UK.
thanks.

micro switch failure is not that worrying

gearbox shuddering is not good though

is the sports exhaust switchable?

Z4 is the best looking roadster out there IMO

Jonsv8

7,175 posts

123 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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SFO said:
thanks.

micro switch failure is not that worrying

gearbox shuddering is not good though

is the sports exhaust switchable?

Z4 is the best looking roadster out there IMO
I've not heard of regular issues with the gearbox. If there's a problem it's the speed of going into reverse, the second or so feels like an eternity at times.

The engine being the N54 has all the same potential issues as those in other cars with the same engine.

I didn't realise the 35iS had a louder exhaust compared to the 35i. The 35i doesn't sound bad and that's definitely not switchable




James P

2,950 posts

236 months

Monday 25th May 2015
quotequote all
Jonsv8 said:
SFO said:
thanks.

micro switch failure is not that worrying

gearbox shuddering is not good though

is the sports exhaust switchable?

Z4 is the best looking roadster out there IMO
I've not heard of regular issues with the gearbox. If there's a problem it's the speed of going into reverse, the second or so feels like an eternity at times.

The engine being the N54 has all the same potential issues as those in other cars with the same engine.

I didn't realise the 35iS had a louder exhaust compared to the 35i. The 35i doesn't sound bad and that's definitely not switchable
iS exhaust is not switchable and you can (if you want) easily drive around it to keep it subtle around town.

Agree that a second can feel like an eternity, especially if you have been changing manually. I also sometimes feel that it is caught deciding between 2nd and 1st as you approach a roundabout.

Jonsv8

7,175 posts

123 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Having been curious about the exhausts I found a video comparing them - the iS is definitely more beefy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X0O14wgKzw


Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Tea Pot One

Original Poster:

1,842 posts

227 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Having come home today in the sun with the roof down listening to said exhaust I feel at least until the weather gets worse I will be staying with the 35iS evilbiggrin

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Jonsv8 said:
The engine being the N54 has all the same potential issues as those in other cars with the same engine.
could you briefly summarise them please?

abarber

1,686 posts

240 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Don't get the hatch unless you need to. It sounds like you'll miss being able to drop the top, just before the summer.

The Z4 35is is similar to a Z4M, but certainly not significantly quicker. 17.2 seconds to 200kph vs 17 dead for the S54 beasties.