Out with the diesel and in with the Z4 35iS
Discussion
Counting down the days - 1 week till I pick-up!
I have been wanting this particular spec for a long time (M Sport, iS, black), but they are like hens teeth. Whenever one came up for sale and I enquired, they seemed to be bought almost straight away. One car I asked about sold within 3 hours of being advertised. Managed to snap this one up as the previous buyer's finance fell through. Lucky me!
Sept 2010, 35iS model - 340bhp (7 speed DCT)
18k miles
Recall work done
Service+tyres
Lots of extras: Heated seats, Folding mirrors, Comfort Access, Wind deflector, Extended storage, Extended lighting, Enhanced Bluetooth, USB, 19" wheels, front&rear parking sensors.
Probably wouldn't have chosen red interior, but when buying second hand you can't be too fussy !
No plans for any changes that might affect the warranty (12 months AUC)- not sure if an exhaust would invalidate it, can't see why.
Will get the car fully detailed+ceramic pro protected. Also looking to perform the M3 flappy paddle upgrade which seems easy enough to do
Time for some summer fun! I have a road trip back to Zagreb planned, 1000 miles across Europe. Will keep the thread updated as things progress.
Off to look for a Go-pro ...
Cheers
I have been wanting this particular spec for a long time (M Sport, iS, black), but they are like hens teeth. Whenever one came up for sale and I enquired, they seemed to be bought almost straight away. One car I asked about sold within 3 hours of being advertised. Managed to snap this one up as the previous buyer's finance fell through. Lucky me!
Sept 2010, 35iS model - 340bhp (7 speed DCT)
18k miles
Recall work done
Service+tyres
Lots of extras: Heated seats, Folding mirrors, Comfort Access, Wind deflector, Extended storage, Extended lighting, Enhanced Bluetooth, USB, 19" wheels, front&rear parking sensors.
Probably wouldn't have chosen red interior, but when buying second hand you can't be too fussy !
No plans for any changes that might affect the warranty (12 months AUC)- not sure if an exhaust would invalidate it, can't see why.
Will get the car fully detailed+ceramic pro protected. Also looking to perform the M3 flappy paddle upgrade which seems easy enough to do
Time for some summer fun! I have a road trip back to Zagreb planned, 1000 miles across Europe. Will keep the thread updated as things progress.
Off to look for a Go-pro ...
Cheers
zed4 said:
Lovely car. As you say, very rare! My friends dad had one, it was fantastic, very nice engine.
Ps. I love the wood and brown leather in the last photo of the other car, stunning!
Yes I drove one in Munich at BMW On demand and I thought it was great!Ps. I love the wood and brown leather in the last photo of the other car, stunning!
Honestly I'd prefer that brown interior, it feels a bit more sophisticated, but as I said before, it's not new so I can't afford to be fussy!
stuart-b said:
Love the Z4M btw, why did you sell?
I loved that car. Miss it everyday! I had to sell to buy our first house as I needed as much money as I could get to raise a decent deposit. I had no car for several months and eventually bought a really cheap 3.0i Z4 with a £5000 loan. I got bored with it really quickly, it just didn't compare to my stunning Z4 M, which was completely as new. So I told it and bought my TVR, best thing I ever did!
zed4 said:
I loved that car. Miss it everyday!
I had to sell to buy our first house as I needed as much money as I could get to raise a decent deposit. I had no car for several months and eventually bought a really cheap 3.0i Z4 with a £5000 loan. I got bored with it really quickly, it just didn't compare to my stunning Z4 M, which was completely as new. So I told it and bought my TVR, best thing I ever did!
Fair enough I suppose! I had considered the Z4M but then decided to get something a bit newer with less miles and a year warrantyI had to sell to buy our first house as I needed as much money as I could get to raise a decent deposit. I had no car for several months and eventually bought a really cheap 3.0i Z4 with a £5000 loan. I got bored with it really quickly, it just didn't compare to my stunning Z4 M, which was completely as new. So I told it and bought my TVR, best thing I ever did!
Mr Tidy said:
I love the red interior, but if we all liked the same that would be boring!
Still I do agree with your caption - I sold a 123d last year and bought a Z4 Coupe!
And I'm still wondering why I never test drove a 130i, because if I had I would never have bought a 123d!!!
Hope you enjoy it
Indeed - I look at the TCO of the E92 and being a diesel didn't save me anything. I paid £17.5k for it, spent a further 2-3k ... I could have had a 330i for less and enjoyed myself!Still I do agree with your caption - I sold a 123d last year and bought a Z4 Coupe!
And I'm still wondering why I never test drove a 130i, because if I had I would never have bought a 123d!!!
Hope you enjoy it
Big update! The car has already covered nearly 2000 miles under my ownership. Driven from Hull where it was picked up to Zagreb in Croatia, then down to Pakostane for a sailing holiday ! Currently it's based in ZG with me.
Pros
It gets a lot more attention than I expected. I bought this without seeing it, my last Z4 experience was 4 years ago. I figured it would blend in being a BMW far more than a bright red Porsche. I prefer the discrete look but fortunately all experiences have been positive so far - no w@nker signs or similar, just lots of interested Germans throughout Germany and Austria.
It is my first convertible and it's quite an odd sensation (but overall very positive out of town). In town people tend to stop and look at you at traffic lights or in stopped traffic - you feel vulnerable or exposed, you can't hide behind lots of metal. Tunnels are also strange, especially the 10km+ long ones in Austria. Very, very noisy, smelly and the jet fans above make you jump when they are running at full speed - a sudden "WOOOSH".
Believe it or not, in 7th gear around 75 mph it will return 40 mpg. BMW officially state this and I've proved it - although using the power results in that quickly falling to 15. At least on a long run it is possible. Plus tax is only £290 a year!
The engine (1M engine) and DCT are excellent, although I do feel they are massively complex beasts and I do notice a few oddities (see conns) every now and then. Trying to work things out with a combination of Google and my own experience with drive chains on old Porsches.
I have a full BMW warranty and the car has now covered only 20.5k miles
It is very, very quick, even without Cobb/JB4 - a quick Youtube video of one out accelerating a Gallardo confirms its potential, although won't be touching it due to the DCT (again see later).
It can take a lot of stuff even with the roof down and careful packing. A quick scan on eBay shows nice custom bags which allow the complete space to be used.
Lots and lots of popping and nice noises from the turbos and lovely BMW I6 - a truly excellent drive chain. No wonder it was used by the M division!
Conns
My lack of understanding and sheer terror regarding the DCT. Occasionally the car will feel like it has a slight vibration under full load - this could apparently be a number of things, drive shaft bolts, potentially HPFP (knock or misfire, although doesn't feel aggressive enough, feels drive chain related). My ignorance around this box is the scariest aspect - lack of computer logs/information currently. It could also require a clutch re-alignment or it could have a slight leak (nothing spotted). Will get it checked this Friday at BMW Zagreb. It does seem to be a hugely capable box which can handle big power (M3's with ESS superchargers, running 700 BHP+) - no idea how long the clutch will last under that power. The clutch change seems to be around $3500 in the USA at the moment. I think I will keep maintaining the warranty with the car for the time I own it. It also has an intermittent metallic click/knock every now and then from 2nd to 3rd and vice-versa. Happens before the gear change so I assume it is clutch related.
Not sure if it's because of the lack of mileage, but my friend following me said the car "stinks" when WOT. I assume he means a mixture of petrol and catalytic converter smell. Could be that it hasn't been driven much, probably all local trips and short blasts (4.5k per year). Apparently these engines are tuned to run rich at the top end to preserve the engine in the event of poor fuel/knock. Something I will raise with BMW too.
There is a tiny spot of corrosion on the roof where it touches the seal. This will be checked too. Wouldn't expect that on a 4 year old car.
Someone washed it with a wire brush and my detailing OCD self freaks out every time I see it, but it will be fully detailed and protected by Ceramic Pro as my last car was.
Lack of traction - investigating an LSD
Brakes could be better - investigating a BBK
Suspension could be better - options to go with new springs and retain the variable dampers which the iS model has
Sport mode makes the throttle odd - too sensitive. Could look at a custom map to sort this
Run flats and the 19" wheels need replacing with M3 tyres and either forged or better designed wheels - as my last car.
Needs LED upgraded halo lights
Pics!
Getting stopped by Slovenian special police after the border and kept for an hour, that was a pleasant experience....!
Pros
It gets a lot more attention than I expected. I bought this without seeing it, my last Z4 experience was 4 years ago. I figured it would blend in being a BMW far more than a bright red Porsche. I prefer the discrete look but fortunately all experiences have been positive so far - no w@nker signs or similar, just lots of interested Germans throughout Germany and Austria.
It is my first convertible and it's quite an odd sensation (but overall very positive out of town). In town people tend to stop and look at you at traffic lights or in stopped traffic - you feel vulnerable or exposed, you can't hide behind lots of metal. Tunnels are also strange, especially the 10km+ long ones in Austria. Very, very noisy, smelly and the jet fans above make you jump when they are running at full speed - a sudden "WOOOSH".
Believe it or not, in 7th gear around 75 mph it will return 40 mpg. BMW officially state this and I've proved it - although using the power results in that quickly falling to 15. At least on a long run it is possible. Plus tax is only £290 a year!
The engine (1M engine) and DCT are excellent, although I do feel they are massively complex beasts and I do notice a few oddities (see conns) every now and then. Trying to work things out with a combination of Google and my own experience with drive chains on old Porsches.
I have a full BMW warranty and the car has now covered only 20.5k miles
It is very, very quick, even without Cobb/JB4 - a quick Youtube video of one out accelerating a Gallardo confirms its potential, although won't be touching it due to the DCT (again see later).
It can take a lot of stuff even with the roof down and careful packing. A quick scan on eBay shows nice custom bags which allow the complete space to be used.
Lots and lots of popping and nice noises from the turbos and lovely BMW I6 - a truly excellent drive chain. No wonder it was used by the M division!
Conns
My lack of understanding and sheer terror regarding the DCT. Occasionally the car will feel like it has a slight vibration under full load - this could apparently be a number of things, drive shaft bolts, potentially HPFP (knock or misfire, although doesn't feel aggressive enough, feels drive chain related). My ignorance around this box is the scariest aspect - lack of computer logs/information currently. It could also require a clutch re-alignment or it could have a slight leak (nothing spotted). Will get it checked this Friday at BMW Zagreb. It does seem to be a hugely capable box which can handle big power (M3's with ESS superchargers, running 700 BHP+) - no idea how long the clutch will last under that power. The clutch change seems to be around $3500 in the USA at the moment. I think I will keep maintaining the warranty with the car for the time I own it. It also has an intermittent metallic click/knock every now and then from 2nd to 3rd and vice-versa. Happens before the gear change so I assume it is clutch related.
Not sure if it's because of the lack of mileage, but my friend following me said the car "stinks" when WOT. I assume he means a mixture of petrol and catalytic converter smell. Could be that it hasn't been driven much, probably all local trips and short blasts (4.5k per year). Apparently these engines are tuned to run rich at the top end to preserve the engine in the event of poor fuel/knock. Something I will raise with BMW too.
There is a tiny spot of corrosion on the roof where it touches the seal. This will be checked too. Wouldn't expect that on a 4 year old car.
Someone washed it with a wire brush and my detailing OCD self freaks out every time I see it, but it will be fully detailed and protected by Ceramic Pro as my last car was.
Lack of traction - investigating an LSD
Brakes could be better - investigating a BBK
Suspension could be better - options to go with new springs and retain the variable dampers which the iS model has
Sport mode makes the throttle odd - too sensitive. Could look at a custom map to sort this
Run flats and the 19" wheels need replacing with M3 tyres and either forged or better designed wheels - as my last car.
Needs LED upgraded halo lights
Pics!
Getting stopped by Slovenian special police after the border and kept for an hour, that was a pleasant experience....!
lewisf182 said:
Really like these, it's the only Z4 of the current range I'd consider. Strange how everybody raves about the M135i being super fast, but this Z4 is seriously fast as well.
Black with red leather is the best combo too IMHO.
Yes the M135i is a very capable car, I drove one in Munich. The gearbox isn't so brutal but I did think it was a DCT until recently as I had very little experience with AT. Now having owned the DCT I can safely say it's quite different in character. The extra 40+ bhp plus overboost and more aggressive drive chain do make it quite a bit faster across the range. Not taking anything away from the little 1 series, it's also great fun, but a totally different experience !Black with red leather is the best combo too IMHO.
Trailhead said:
Stuart are you sure this is the same engine as the 1M?
http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70496...They share the same part number and read the bmw press release (scroll to n54) so i assume so
Far too much I suspect. 
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