My new BMW Z4 28i M Sport

[SteveS Cup]

Hi all,

Been looking at new cars recently and was leaning towards a 2013 TTS Coupe until I saw this...







Extremely pleased with it, its the 28i so 0-60 in 5.5 seconds plus an achievable 40mpg apparently! It also has £8k's of optional extras meaning some poor sod has lost over £25k on this in 2 years!

I picked it up last night, I've changed the aerial for a stubby one and ordered plain number plates to get rid of the Big Motoring World ones!

[Luke.]

A happy customer from Big Motoring World. Incredible. Did they ask you to do a testimonial?

[SteveS Cup]

Can't really complain about anything to be honest.

[lewisf182]

Looks lovely that! really do like the interiors in the z4. 0-60 in 5.5 isn't to be sniffed at either, better than the NA 3.0.
Have had a quick ride a 23i I think it was (still 2 litre petrol but less powerful than yours) and it left me a bit underwhelmed re noise, Any reason for not going for the 3.0 turbo? That will get you 40mpg on a run too.

[SteveS Cup]

lewisf182 said:

Looks lovely that! really do like the interiors in the z4. 0-60 in 5.5 isn't to be sniffed at either, better than the NA 3.0.
Have had a quick ride a 23i I think it was (still 2 litre petrol but less powerful than yours) and it left me a bit underwhelmed re noise, Any reason for not going for the 3.0 turbo? That will get you 40mpg on a run too.

23i is the old 2.5 straight six I think, 20i is the lower powered 2.0 Turbo.

The car is very well sound deadened with the roof and windows up. With them down you get to hear some noise. It's never going to compare to my colleagues Jag F Type but it doesn't sound to bad with the typical farts on upshifts and a few artificial pops on down shifts.

It really isn't a focussed car IMO. It's a fantastic all rounder. It is surprisingly quick but has just averaged 45mpg from Epsom Surrey to Aylesford Kent. Not too shabby.

Main reason for picking this one was that it's the perfect compromise for me. I was looking at 135i's, 35i Z4's as well as TTS and considering upping my budget for a TTRS (but I'd of been at the bottom of the market) but this one came up in my perfect spec (other than the wood but I quite like it now!) so I went for a test drive to see if it was quick enough or not. It was so I bought it!

I would very much doubt that a 35is would be as economical driven the same but I appreciate there probably isn't a lot in it. Also, 35is's fetch a few more ££££'s so I got a bit of a bargain IMO.

[Croutons]

For the hard of understanding (ie me) Can you say what the list was, and what you paid? Did the first owner pay list!?

[V8A*ndy]

35iS here. 40mpg on a run? Nope

I've now had it 6 years. First year I was a bit miffed/concerned with niggles but all sorted. Car has be brilliant since and I am very happy for once.

35iS seem to be holding values rather well as they are rather rare.

Only downside is driving in town as it's knob head magnet.

I think it's a keeper.

[problemchild1976]

good old big motoring world

i travelled from bristol to kent to look at some the 20+ 5 series they had on their website...... they actually had none and they guy said they couldn't be arsed to update their website regularly

the car looks V nice though

not sure how you are gonna get 40mpg but it will be great fun getting 20

JJ

[SteveS Cup]

Croutons said:

For the hard of understanding (ie me) Can you say what the list was, and what you paid? Did the first owner pay list!?

It's was originally just shy of £44k. I paid less than £20k.

[lewisf182]

V8A*ndy said:

35iS here. 40mpg on a run? Nope

I've now had it 6 years. First year I was a bit miffed/concerned with niggles but all sorted. Car has be brilliant since and I am very happy for once.

35iS seem to be holding values rather well as they are rather rare.

Only downside is driving in town as it's knob head magnet.

I think it's a keeper.

My brother has an M135i and gets 40 on a 70mph motorway cruise? Think it might be a slightly different turbo 3 though?
Either way bloody economical for what they are!

[SteveS Cup]

V8A*ndy said:

35iS here. 40mpg on a run? Nope

I've now had it 6 years. First year I was a bit miffed/concerned with niggles but all sorted. Car has be brilliant since and I am very happy for once.

35iS seem to be holding values rather well as they are rather rare.

Only downside is driving in town as it's knob head magnet.

I think it's a keeper.

I didn't think I'd be able to achieve 30mpg in a 35iS so glad I went for this one! I do a fair amount of miles for work so whilst I have no issue spending money on petrol for my enjoyment I like to make a bit on the 45p per mile fuel allowance if it's for work. Otherwise things like the e92 M3 would of been looked at.

I definitely think this is a keeper!

In terms of "knob head magnet"... I've been driving hot hatches for the last 5 years. Blatant hot hatches with louder exhausts and upgraded coilovers etc... I can count on one hand how many times people would sit up my arse or try to race me. In the 2 days I've had this there have been 4 occasions already were some dick in a TDI Golf is sat up my arse or a Mondeo has tried to beat me off a set of lights to cut in front.

I'm also surprised by the very positive feedback and admiring glances it gets. I never thought the Z4 was an overly liked car, I've always had a thing for them but it seems it gets a thumbs up from most!

[SteveS Cup]

problemchild1976 said:

good old big motoring world

i travelled from bristol to kent to look at some the 20+ 5 series they had on their website...... they actually had none and they guy said they couldn't be arsed to update their website regularly

the car looks V nice though

not sure how you are gonna get 40mpg but it will be great fun getting 20

JJ

Sorry but that's bks! Their website is updated hourly, as soon as a deposit is left the car will be taken off. It only goes back on if the owner pulls out.

My car was off the website with 15 minutes of paying the deposit.

I also called them to ensure the car I wanted to look at was still available.

I'm not a huge fan of theirs but they didn't really do anything wrong. I picked up my car within 24 hours of rest driving it and 9 hours of paying the deposit. In that time it was valeted in side and out and transported to their collections show room. For a second hand car buying experience the collection felt more like a main dealer experience than any other I've had.

The car is perfect sonapart from a salesman trying to push a warranty and guard x and the collections specialist being a tad "blonde" there really was nothing to moan about.

[SteveS Cup]

lewisf182 said:

My brother has an M135i and gets 40 on a 70mph motorway cruise? Think it might be a slightly different turbo 3 though?
Either way bloody economical for what they are!

I believe it's the same engine, I just know I never achieve quoted figures!

[cerb4.5lee]

Always liked these and I really like the interior and the fact it has a folding metal roof.

Used to have a Z4M Roadster and I didn't get on with its low rent interior and crappy looking fabric roof.

Also had a mk2 TTS and that wasn't a bad all round motor, enjoy it OP

[vsonix]

SteveS Cup said:

I'm also surprised by the very positive feedback and admiring glances it gets. I never thought the Z4 was an overly liked car, I've always had a thing for them but it seems it gets a thumbs up from most!

Speaking as a Z3 owner it seems most of the dislike our cars get are sour grapes from those who think the cars are either too 'old man' or too 'hairdresser'. But there may be some truth in that as I do get a lot of positive comments from older drivers and women! With the Z3 especially it was cursed by the early reviews of the 4-cyl cars that complained of the lack of power and the fact that there is a bit of engineered in 'playfulness' which some interpret as lack of stability and poor handling. Never mind it can be 'cured' by fitting slightly different bushes from the M version. However, I find it very hard to fall in love with the first-gen Z4, as one of the 'Bangle Era' cars I think there are a lot of horrible design mistakes...

[V8A*ndy]

Only ever had a couple of issues from other road users and to be fair it was the passengers of other cars not the drivers.

My main issues have been from pedestrians whilst driving through Belfast City centre and even when parked up I have had smart s coming over acting all hard and giving out abuse. You wouldn't believe some of the ste and intimidation dished out but this is Belfast s everywhere.

It's always when the roof is down.... Wearing sunglasses actually helps as the fkers can't make eye contact.

Then I was water bombed one day in Belfast. Wasn't pleasant, at least the water bombs were not "enhanced".

BTW have you ever seen the pic of the Z4 on here with the three people standing, sitting and lying on the car posing for fun?

Can happen to any nice car but I've had a few sporty cars and nothing has compared to the abuse the Z4 has taken.

Having said all that it was rather embarrassing one day when a coach load of Asian tourists were disembarking whilst I was sat in traffic. I was swamped as they all rushed to take photographs. Totally bizarre.

I'm probably on Instagram somewhere with "look at this wker" in Japanese.

BTW get over to the Z4 Forum. Not a bad bunch, very helpful.

Edited by V8A*ndy on Friday 18th November 18:15

[problemchild1976]

SteveS Cup said:

Sorry but that's bks!

well i got the website up on my phone and asked where all these cars were and thats what he told me

so not bks, just my experience

JJ

[flight147z]

Nice car OP!

I just bought an e86 - tempted by one of these but the decent engines like the one in yours were out of my budget! Looks good in white

[anonymous-user]

Nice

[Nezquick]

SteveS Cup said:

lewisf182 said:

My brother has an M135i and gets 40 on a 70mph motorway cruise? Think it might be a slightly different turbo 3 though?
Either way bloody economical for what they are!

I believe it's the same engine, I just know I never achieve quoted figures!

Afraid not. The 28i is a 4 cylinder turbo. The M135i engine is a 6 cylinder.

I used to have a 28i Z4 though and it was a lovely car. Good choice OP.