Z4 35i or 330d/335d coupe ?
Discussion
I have a 320d coupe ... after a Z4M Roadster ... and was looking at 330d/335d coupe's.
I have tried a Z4 35i and was actually not too impressed ! Felt no quicker low down than a 330d/335d (though it obviously is) and wondered whether to try another or not.
Z4 35i is quick but goes flat above 5K so maybe a diesel is the way forward with the coupe having loads more space and practicality than the Z4.
The Z4 with the roof down was extremely nice though ...
Practical, stylish and quick versus quick drop top gallon guzzler ?
With the Z4 be a poor choice in the current climate - and not as quick in the real world as the figures make it ?
Comments welcome ...
I have tried a Z4 35i and was actually not too impressed ! Felt no quicker low down than a 330d/335d (though it obviously is) and wondered whether to try another or not.
Z4 35i is quick but goes flat above 5K so maybe a diesel is the way forward with the coupe having loads more space and practicality than the Z4.
The Z4 with the roof down was extremely nice though ...
Practical, stylish and quick versus quick drop top gallon guzzler ?
With the Z4 be a poor choice in the current climate - and not as quick in the real world as the figures make it ?
Comments welcome ...
Tea Pot One said:
I have a 320d coupe ... after a Z4M Roadster ... and was looking at 330d/335d coupe's.
I have tried a Z4 35i and was actually not too impressed ! Felt no quicker low down than a 330d/335d (though it obviously is) and wondered whether to try another or not.
Z4 35i is quick but goes flat above 5K so maybe a diesel is the way forward with the coupe having loads more space and practicality than the Z4.
The Z4 with the roof down was extremely nice though ...
Practical, stylish and quick versus quick drop top gallon guzzler ?
With the Z4 be a poor choice in the current climate - and not as quick in the real world as the figures make it ?
Comments welcome ...
I drove a 35i yesterday and to be honest i was surprised at how terrible it was. It rolled far too much. You could forgive it if it was smooth over bumps as the roll would suggest but it just crashed over everything. Like you say the engine was one of the most characterless and diesel like ive ever been in. Just torque to 6k rpm and then immediately runs out of puff. The only thing it had going for it was the fact that it is a stunning and beautiful car, especially with the roof down.I have tried a Z4 35i and was actually not too impressed ! Felt no quicker low down than a 330d/335d (though it obviously is) and wondered whether to try another or not.
Z4 35i is quick but goes flat above 5K so maybe a diesel is the way forward with the coupe having loads more space and practicality than the Z4.
The Z4 with the roof down was extremely nice though ...
Practical, stylish and quick versus quick drop top gallon guzzler ?
With the Z4 be a poor choice in the current climate - and not as quick in the real world as the figures make it ?
Comments welcome ...
For me the decision would work out like this.
Do i need the space and practicallity of the coupe
Do i really need a convertible and if so would the 3-series be enough
Could i live with the ride and wolliness of the Z4?
Should i try the 35is with the adaptive suspension?
Tea Pot One said:
I have a 320d coupe ... after a Z4M Roadster ... and was looking at 330d/335d coupe's.
I have tried a Z4 35i and was actually not too impressed ! Felt no quicker low down than a 330d/335d (though it obviously is) and wondered whether to try another or not.
Z4 35i is quick but goes flat above 5K so maybe a diesel is the way forward with the coupe having loads more space and practicality than the Z4.
The Z4 with the roof down was extremely nice though ...
Practical, stylish and quick versus quick drop top gallon guzzler ?
With the Z4 be a poor choice in the current climate - and not as quick in the real world as the figures make it ?
Comments welcome ...
The N54/N55 engines used in *35is are apparently a lot more 'lively' after a remap. They have better top end power and allegedly a 'sharpened' drive by wire throttle response ~ would you consider it ? I have tried a Z4 35i and was actually not too impressed ! Felt no quicker low down than a 330d/335d (though it obviously is) and wondered whether to try another or not.
Z4 35i is quick but goes flat above 5K so maybe a diesel is the way forward with the coupe having loads more space and practicality than the Z4.
The Z4 with the roof down was extremely nice though ...
Practical, stylish and quick versus quick drop top gallon guzzler ?
With the Z4 be a poor choice in the current climate - and not as quick in the real world as the figures make it ?
Comments welcome ...
The following clip might put you off BM's 3.0 turbo ~ funny though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtenM2hFTgE&fea...
BTW I have an E92 335i and plan to have it remapped in the summer.
Thanks for the comments ....
I think it is likely to be a 330d coupe ... if I can find the right one.
I have toyed with the idea of a 330i ('new' 272bhp one) but it seems only the same speed as the 330d and probably the overtaking acceleration is less - albeit with a rather nice noise. That and the better consumption of the diesel and likely residuals point me towards the diesel ... though I have been told now more than once the Z4 35iS is loads better than the 'standard' 35i
I think it is likely to be a 330d coupe ... if I can find the right one.
I have toyed with the idea of a 330i ('new' 272bhp one) but it seems only the same speed as the 330d and probably the overtaking acceleration is less - albeit with a rather nice noise. That and the better consumption of the diesel and likely residuals point me towards the diesel ... though I have been told now more than once the Z4 35iS is loads better than the 'standard' 35i
Fox- said:
Why dont you take a 330i for a drive? It's quicker than the 330d if you know how to use a gearbox.
It will be an auto .... I used to have a 330i in 2003 but feel it is likely to be a good bit quicker - I think my old one was 230 ish bhp and 7 secs to 60 ... no slouch and pulled hard to the red line.
Ok, i'm on my second E89....
Both have had 19" and RFTs. No issues with ride quality at all. The car has a very long nose which does understeer under power and does lift and heave.
The adaptive suspension sorts that all out but doing so decrease ride quality somewhat, however it is a long nose roadster you do have to sort of "recalibrate" your driving style.
Also once you hit sport or sport+ (even without adaptive suspension) the car becomes a different animal altogether.
Normal setting is just that. It's soft and slow throttle response. Perfect for a lazy drive, slow town driving and economy. Flip the button and the cars becomes very sharp.
I now have a 35iS and the big difference with this car is actually the remapped steering. Very light in normal mode but it's razor sharp in the sport modes if a little dead just at the straight ahead point but seriously you would barely notice this.
A 23i manual with adaptive suspenion and sports seats would be a cracking used buy right now and a great staring point for luxury fun roadster driving with the E89.
The 35iS is just nuts. I leave it in sport most of the time and it's increadible effortless fun on short bursts of throttle. Push a bit further and the torque just seems to go on forever with the DCT changing gear ultra quick and unbelievably smooth.
Personally I love the new Z4.
Both have had 19" and RFTs. No issues with ride quality at all. The car has a very long nose which does understeer under power and does lift and heave.
The adaptive suspension sorts that all out but doing so decrease ride quality somewhat, however it is a long nose roadster you do have to sort of "recalibrate" your driving style.
Also once you hit sport or sport+ (even without adaptive suspension) the car becomes a different animal altogether.
Normal setting is just that. It's soft and slow throttle response. Perfect for a lazy drive, slow town driving and economy. Flip the button and the cars becomes very sharp.
I now have a 35iS and the big difference with this car is actually the remapped steering. Very light in normal mode but it's razor sharp in the sport modes if a little dead just at the straight ahead point but seriously you would barely notice this.
A 23i manual with adaptive suspenion and sports seats would be a cracking used buy right now and a great staring point for luxury fun roadster driving with the E89.
The 35iS is just nuts. I leave it in sport most of the time and it's increadible effortless fun on short bursts of throttle. Push a bit further and the torque just seems to go on forever with the DCT changing gear ultra quick and unbelievably smooth.
Personally I love the new Z4.
V8A*ndy said:
Ok, i'm on my second E89....
Both have had 19" and RFTs. No issues with ride quality at all. The car has a very long nose which does understeer under power and does lift and heave.
The adaptive suspension sorts that all out but doing so decrease ride quality somewhat, however it is a long nose roadster you do have to sort of "recalibrate" your driving style.
Also once you hit sport or sport+ (even without adaptive suspension) the car becomes a different animal altogether.
Normal setting is just that. It's soft and slow throttle response. Perfect for a lazy drive, slow town driving and economy. Flip the button and the cars becomes very sharp.
I now have a 35iS and the big difference with this car is actually the remapped steering. Very light in normal mode but it's razor sharp in the sport modes if a little dead just at the straight ahead point but seriously you would barely notice this.
A 23i manual with adaptive suspenion and sports seats would be a cracking used buy right now and a great staring point for luxury fun roadster driving with the E89.
The 35iS is just nuts. I leave it in sport most of the time and it's increadible effortless fun on short bursts of throttle. Push a bit further and the torque just seems to go on forever with the DCT changing gear ultra quick and unbelievably smooth.
Personally I love the new Z4.
Thankyou for that, you have confirmed my thoughts for me. After playing with one I wasnt sure if it was just me, if I had imagined what I felt as I had no-one else to compare against, now I do.Both have had 19" and RFTs. No issues with ride quality at all. The car has a very long nose which does understeer under power and does lift and heave.
The adaptive suspension sorts that all out but doing so decrease ride quality somewhat, however it is a long nose roadster you do have to sort of "recalibrate" your driving style.
Also once you hit sport or sport+ (even without adaptive suspension) the car becomes a different animal altogether.
Normal setting is just that. It's soft and slow throttle response. Perfect for a lazy drive, slow town driving and economy. Flip the button and the cars becomes very sharp.
I now have a 35iS and the big difference with this car is actually the remapped steering. Very light in normal mode but it's razor sharp in the sport modes if a little dead just at the straight ahead point but seriously you would barely notice this.
A 23i manual with adaptive suspenion and sports seats would be a cracking used buy right now and a great staring point for luxury fun roadster driving with the E89.
The 35iS is just nuts. I leave it in sport most of the time and it's increadible effortless fun on short bursts of throttle. Push a bit further and the torque just seems to go on forever with the DCT changing gear ultra quick and unbelievably smooth.
Personally I love the new Z4.
Now I know that my immediate concerns about the steering were valid, that it was completely dead with no feel at all. I was trying to talk myself out of thinking about after just 10secs in the car.
It is very very quick, esp on the short burst of throttle, but BMW have mapped a very short travel throttle and done th usual trick of putting all the grunt in the first part of that throttle travel. I found the ride quality to actually be very good, even with the sport stuffed turned on, but there was no feel through the seat about what the rear of the car was doing at all. It was just a rubber mess.
Anyway, thankyou for providing some information for me to put my experiences into context. Its a shame as I love the shape of the car and the interior and really wanted to enjoy the thing but the unfortunate truth is that as an enjoyment driving tool the thing is pretty horrible.
^^^^^^
As a matter of interest which model did you drive and did it have adaptive, Msport or normal suspension.
The 35iS steering is superb! Vastly superior to the rest of the range.
I have no issues with the throttle response you mention either but I do know the car "learns" a driving style and the "learned" throttle settings can be cleared.
Sport+ setting with adaptive suspension and the car really is alive, comunicative and taught.
Normal setting is a total comfy cruise fest and sport really is the happy medium.
I thought the 23i was that good I went out and bought a 35iS.
I love it, it's great and drives way better than the wifes Msport. It also feels way more expensive that it is.
Infact it's the best car i've ever owned.
As a matter of interest which model did you drive and did it have adaptive, Msport or normal suspension.
The 35iS steering is superb! Vastly superior to the rest of the range.
I have no issues with the throttle response you mention either but I do know the car "learns" a driving style and the "learned" throttle settings can be cleared.
Sport+ setting with adaptive suspension and the car really is alive, comunicative and taught.
Normal setting is a total comfy cruise fest and sport really is the happy medium.
I thought the 23i was that good I went out and bought a 35iS.
I love it, it's great and drives way better than the wifes Msport. It also feels way more expensive that it is.
Infact it's the best car i've ever owned.
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