Z4 35iS to M135i LCI

[Tea Pot One]

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 ?

[Tea Pot One]

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.

[Tea Pot One]

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

[Tea Pot One]

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.

[Tea Pot One]

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

[Tea Pot One]

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.

[Tea Pot One]

Or this one ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSjPigWbsjg

[Tea Pot One]

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

[Tea Pot One]

abarber said:

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.

I had a Z4M Roadster ... the 35iS feels noticeably quicker to me. The 35iS is easier to use the power which may down to the DCT gearbox as opposed to the notchy manual on the Z4M R that I never got on with. The Z4M R was better handling though and relished being thrashed

[Tea Pot One]

SFO said:

could you briefly summarise them please?

I will have a go ... High pressure fuel pump failures, coil packs and injectors, turbo wastegate rattle. Can't think of more off the top of my head. The failures are less the later the car was built - I have been told my 2013 35iS will not suffer the same issues as pre 2011 models as just when BMW brought out the N55 engine BMW were finally getting the N54 well sorted.

[Tea Pot One]

SFO said:

can you control the adaptive suspension independently of throttle/gearshift response (for example, dampers set to comfort, and throttle/gearshift set to sport)?

Nope

[Tea Pot One]

Thanks for the views. I am staying with the 35iS at the moment but will drive a new M135i when I can.