2010 BMW Z4 35i
Discussion
Hello, I'm back!
After 18 months with a leased B9 A4 following my Focus, with many of those months involving me looking at what my next car would be (from lots of different Fords of varying ages, city cars, other German exec saloons, sheds and financed cars, lease deals and most things inbetween), I decided I'd had finally enough of paying so much money for something so boring and have sorted out early termination.
After talking to my petrolhead housemate about the strong lease deals on Leon Cupras from back in April as part of my omnipresent research into the next car, he came up with an offer I couldn't refuse. His E89 BMW Z4 35i that you see here.
The arrangement we have means that he still has a stake in it but effectively it's mine for the next 6 months or so, just in time for the second half of this summer and ending just in time for me to be without a powerful RWD car in winter.
This marks quite a lot of firsts for me! Including but not limited to...
- First BMW
- First car with > 150bhp
- First RWD car
- First car with > 4 cylinders
- First convertible/coupe/roadster (I'm classing this as covering all 3 bases)
- First car with > 1 turbocharger
The 35is have a fairly generous spec as standard but it has these as optional extras:
SPACEGRAU METALLIC (A52)
S2KWA - BMW LA wheel V-spoke 296 (at some point in the last 9 years these have escaped from the car)
S2TCA - Sport gearbox with twin clutch
S2VFA - Adaptive M chassis
S2XAA - Sport leather st. wheel w/ shift paddles
S387A - Wind deflector
S459A - Seat adjustment, electric, with memory
S481A - Sports seats
S609A - Navigation system Professional
S612A - BMW Assist
S615A - Extended BMW Online Information
S633A - Preparation, mobile phone, Business
S4ADA - Interior trim strips, brushed aluminium
Here's the pictures from when he purchased it from a dealer in March (with claims of it being his "project" car) with better photography skills than myself.
Things he's done:
Debadged the rear
Replaced the mobile phone cradle with cupholders
Had it serviced and inspected by our local independent BMW dealer, no issues to report
Had it walnut blasted
Things that could do with doing:
Sort the absolutely buggered passenger side mirror, I've already purchased the parts for this
Sort the dents on the passenger side rear arch (there's a well reviewed PDR place near me so will get a quote but will probably not bother if over £100)
[pic]https://i.imgur.com/Dp9lzBz.jpg[/[pic]
Replace the beat up centre caps and M badges on the freshly refurbished Style 326s that came on the car (instead of the Style 296s) with new ones
[pic to follow]
Things I want to do
Retrofit cruise control (I have already got the parts and have scheduled fitting and coding)
Update the 2009 maps from when the car's iDrive was built
Things that probably won't get sorted in my custodianship:
Bubbling paint on the roof
Fitting a remote roof folding mechanism
Slight chip on the front bumper
I'm very excited to have a Readers' Cars thread again and to drive this absolute machine, stay tuned for the first of the things I want and need to do...
After 18 months with a leased B9 A4 following my Focus, with many of those months involving me looking at what my next car would be (from lots of different Fords of varying ages, city cars, other German exec saloons, sheds and financed cars, lease deals and most things inbetween), I decided I'd had finally enough of paying so much money for something so boring and have sorted out early termination.
After talking to my petrolhead housemate about the strong lease deals on Leon Cupras from back in April as part of my omnipresent research into the next car, he came up with an offer I couldn't refuse. His E89 BMW Z4 35i that you see here.
The arrangement we have means that he still has a stake in it but effectively it's mine for the next 6 months or so, just in time for the second half of this summer and ending just in time for me to be without a powerful RWD car in winter.
This marks quite a lot of firsts for me! Including but not limited to...
- First BMW
- First car with > 150bhp
- First RWD car
- First car with > 4 cylinders
- First convertible/coupe/roadster (I'm classing this as covering all 3 bases)
- First car with > 1 turbocharger
The 35is have a fairly generous spec as standard but it has these as optional extras:
SPACEGRAU METALLIC (A52)
S2KWA - BMW LA wheel V-spoke 296 (at some point in the last 9 years these have escaped from the car)
S2TCA - Sport gearbox with twin clutch
S2VFA - Adaptive M chassis
S2XAA - Sport leather st. wheel w/ shift paddles
S387A - Wind deflector
S459A - Seat adjustment, electric, with memory
S481A - Sports seats
S609A - Navigation system Professional
S612A - BMW Assist
S615A - Extended BMW Online Information
S633A - Preparation, mobile phone, Business
S4ADA - Interior trim strips, brushed aluminium
Here's the pictures from when he purchased it from a dealer in March (with claims of it being his "project" car) with better photography skills than myself.
Things he's done:
Debadged the rear
Replaced the mobile phone cradle with cupholders
Had it serviced and inspected by our local independent BMW dealer, no issues to report
Had it walnut blasted
Things that could do with doing:
Sort the absolutely buggered passenger side mirror, I've already purchased the parts for this
Sort the dents on the passenger side rear arch (there's a well reviewed PDR place near me so will get a quote but will probably not bother if over £100)
[pic]https://i.imgur.com/Dp9lzBz.jpg[/[pic]
Replace the beat up centre caps and M badges on the freshly refurbished Style 326s that came on the car (instead of the Style 296s) with new ones
[pic to follow]
Things I want to do
Retrofit cruise control (I have already got the parts and have scheduled fitting and coding)
Update the 2009 maps from when the car's iDrive was built
Things that probably won't get sorted in my custodianship:
Bubbling paint on the roof
Fitting a remote roof folding mechanism
Slight chip on the front bumper
I'm very excited to have a Readers' Cars thread again and to drive this absolute machine, stay tuned for the first of the things I want and need to do...
Edited by mholt1995 on Wednesday 10th July 07:46
Correct me if i'm wrong, but are you saying your spending money upgrading a car you are essentially renting off your friend for 6 months? After which you will be handing it back allowing him to reap the benefits of the money you have spent on his car?
As i said correct me if i'm wrong.
As i said correct me if i'm wrong.
I bought one and was going to run it for a year, kept it for four years a great car and a lot of fun, I had the 23 sdrive, 200 hp the 35 is a different breed.
its a short wheelbase car, its also powerful. be careful as they can bite.
The traction control has three settings, all on nanny mode, partially off in sport and then all off in sport+ id keep it on as when its off the car can be a bit wayward with 200hp let alone over 300.
runflats ? horrible things and make the handling wooden compared to normal tyres. I dropped from 19 to 18' wheels and put on runflats on the rear and that transformed the handling. still had runflats on the front which made things a tad interesting in that fronts would break away before the rears,
Oh and that last comment, its a rental car as its still owned by the original owner Id not be looking at spending too much on another persons car if it could be helped. work out the mileage and depreciation and make sure your not being done over.
its a short wheelbase car, its also powerful. be careful as they can bite.
The traction control has three settings, all on nanny mode, partially off in sport and then all off in sport+ id keep it on as when its off the car can be a bit wayward with 200hp let alone over 300.
runflats ? horrible things and make the handling wooden compared to normal tyres. I dropped from 19 to 18' wheels and put on runflats on the rear and that transformed the handling. still had runflats on the front which made things a tad interesting in that fronts would break away before the rears,
Oh and that last comment, its a rental car as its still owned by the original owner Id not be looking at spending too much on another persons car if it could be helped. work out the mileage and depreciation and make sure your not being done over.
Edited by ruggedscotty on Sunday 30th June 21:46
DevonLad said:
Correct me if i'm wrong, but are you saying your spending money upgrading a car you are essentially renting off your friend for 6 months? After which you will be handing it back allowing him to reap the benefits of the money you have spent on his car?
As i said correct me if i'm wrong.
That's right- they're improvements I'm making for me (cruise control is an absolute must for me), hence why it's quite a small list.As i said correct me if i'm wrong.
ruggedscotty said:
Oh and that last comment, its a rental car as its still owned by the original owner Id not be looking at spending too much on another persons car if it could be helped. work out the mileage and depreciation and make sure your not being done over.
Have done the financials already don't worry, without disclosing figures, all in all I'm paying less than I was to lease the A4 and getting plenty more for my money! I'm effectively paying a single payment to him for:
- Servicing/Consumables
- Repairs
- MOT Costs
- RFL
It took a fair bit of fleshing out the agreement but we're both happy with it now and neither of us feel we're being mugged off.
Plus it gets me in something I definitely couldn't afford to run myself, having fun with no liability for a few months!
I really like these now. If I’m honest, I hated them when they were first released because they looked so big and bloated compared to the original (which I still think has aged fantastically).
They were on my list as an opt out car until the most boring man in the office went out and bought one and won’t stop going on about it!
The engine is great. Enjoy.
They were on my list as an opt out car until the most boring man in the office went out and bought one and won’t stop going on about it!
The engine is great. Enjoy.
So it's very different in so many ways for you OP - I hope you are enjoying it.
More power is just a re-map away if you need it!
E89 23is and 30is have the N52 engine.
As do E85 2.5is, 2.5Sis and 3.0Sis, plus E86 3.0Sis.
It was also fitted to E8* 125i and 130i models, as well as pre-facelift E9* 3 Series 325i and 330i models.
Plus some E6* 5 Series 523i and 530i models.
More power is just a re-map away if you need it!
ATM said:
ajguk said:
I've got the 30i (N52) one and it's a lovely car so enjoy OP!
Which cars have the n52?As do E85 2.5is, 2.5Sis and 3.0Sis, plus E86 3.0Sis.
It was also fitted to E8* 125i and 130i models, as well as pre-facelift E9* 3 Series 325i and 330i models.
Plus some E6* 5 Series 523i and 530i models.
Just a quick update now we're a week in.
This car is so much fun!
It loves a drink (I didn't crack 15mpg average for the first few days and still haven't yet hit 25mpg average) but it's tremendously good at turning petrol into fun and noise (and what a noise!). Bit difficult to get used to from the A4 doing 30 urban and 50 on a run but that's not the point.
The exhaust sounds really good (I believe it's stock) even just pootling around and has a sublime engine note.
On a longer trip (35 miles) up the A1 it was a bit fidgety in comfort mode (probably not helped by the RFTs and the 19" wheels) and I'd managed to forget how bad not having cruise is (getting that sorted this weekend!).
All in all, loving it. As for remapping, I honestly don't feel like it needs any more; in normal driving I'm rarely going above 2.5k RPM and when I do get chance to plant the foot I'm at considerable leptons before I even realise anyway.
Map files have been received and will also be being installed this weekend.
I have noticed a little niggle where sometimes the car refuses to read my (64GB) USB stick with music on. Apparently there is a software update to remedy this but I'm having trouble working out how to install it - the Software Update option doesn't appear in my settings menu.
This car is so much fun!
It loves a drink (I didn't crack 15mpg average for the first few days and still haven't yet hit 25mpg average) but it's tremendously good at turning petrol into fun and noise (and what a noise!). Bit difficult to get used to from the A4 doing 30 urban and 50 on a run but that's not the point.
The exhaust sounds really good (I believe it's stock) even just pootling around and has a sublime engine note.
On a longer trip (35 miles) up the A1 it was a bit fidgety in comfort mode (probably not helped by the RFTs and the 19" wheels) and I'd managed to forget how bad not having cruise is (getting that sorted this weekend!).
All in all, loving it. As for remapping, I honestly don't feel like it needs any more; in normal driving I'm rarely going above 2.5k RPM and when I do get chance to plant the foot I'm at considerable leptons before I even realise anyway.
Map files have been received and will also be being installed this weekend.
I have noticed a little niggle where sometimes the car refuses to read my (64GB) USB stick with music on. Apparently there is a software update to remedy this but I'm having trouble working out how to install it - the Software Update option doesn't appear in my settings menu.
Sn1ckers said:
Really, really nice car.
Have you taken the car to a bmw dealership to see if the rust can be repaired under the 12 year warranty? I have had a couple of cars done under warranty and it was fairly painless on both occasions.
Will look at doing that then for sure!Have you taken the car to a bmw dealership to see if the rust can be repaired under the 12 year warranty? I have had a couple of cars done under warranty and it was fairly painless on both occasions.
Edited by mholt1995 on Wednesday 10th July 19:40
(1/2) About time for an update!
This car is so much fun!
It loves a drink (I didn't crack 15mpg average for the first few days and can only hit 25mpg average after doing a run - it gets about 35mpg driven normally) but it's tremendously good at turning petrol into fun and noise (and what a noise it is!).
The exhaust sounds really good even just pootling around, bit of a burble to it.
On a longer trip up the A1 it was a bit fidgety and I'd managed to forget how bad not having cruise is.
All in all, loving it. As for remapping, I honestly don't feel like it needs any more (possibly due to it being the fastest car I've ever had); in normal driving I'm rarely going above 2.5k RPM and when I do get chance to plant the foot I'm at considerable leptons before I even realise anyway.
I have noticed a little niggle where sometimes the car refuses to read my (64GB) USB stick with music on. Apparently there is a software update to remedy this but I'm having trouble working out how to install it - the Software Update option doesn't appear in my settings menu.
Couple pictures!
Also had cruise control fitted - took just shy of an hour and a half to have the stalks/steering column cover changed and the coding done, guy doing the work had a matching Space Grey Z4 himself.
As the boot has a electric soft close and the battery needed to be disconnected, the genius solution of a bit of cardboard was used to keep the boot open.
Old stalks
"New" stalks
Naked steering column
All done (steering wheel has since been cleaned)
This car is so much fun!
It loves a drink (I didn't crack 15mpg average for the first few days and can only hit 25mpg average after doing a run - it gets about 35mpg driven normally) but it's tremendously good at turning petrol into fun and noise (and what a noise it is!).
The exhaust sounds really good even just pootling around, bit of a burble to it.
On a longer trip up the A1 it was a bit fidgety and I'd managed to forget how bad not having cruise is.
All in all, loving it. As for remapping, I honestly don't feel like it needs any more (possibly due to it being the fastest car I've ever had); in normal driving I'm rarely going above 2.5k RPM and when I do get chance to plant the foot I'm at considerable leptons before I even realise anyway.
I have noticed a little niggle where sometimes the car refuses to read my (64GB) USB stick with music on. Apparently there is a software update to remedy this but I'm having trouble working out how to install it - the Software Update option doesn't appear in my settings menu.
Couple pictures!
Also had cruise control fitted - took just shy of an hour and a half to have the stalks/steering column cover changed and the coding done, guy doing the work had a matching Space Grey Z4 himself.
As the boot has a electric soft close and the battery needed to be disconnected, the genius solution of a bit of cardboard was used to keep the boot open.
Old stalks
"New" stalks
Naked steering column
All done (steering wheel has since been cleaned)
(2/2) Unfortunately this is to be the last update to this thread as the Z4 has now been sold by my housemate (more info on the alternate accommodation I've been provided later)
Will certainly miss it and went out on a "last drive" with my friend- managed to experience what 130 leptons feels like (on closed roads etc.) which is the fastest I've ever been - scary!
Some more pictures:
I had an enjoyable month in it and certainly was not ready to give it up. Unfortunately it now resides with a Jaguar Land Rover dealer, having been taken in part exchange towards a 2015 FFRR V8 Supercharged, see if you can spot it.
When finances allow I can certainly see myself getting another, excellent cars if you can live with the fuel economy. The run flats and 18"s would absolutely have to go though, it had quite the crashy (but not firm) ride over potholes and the like.
As a way of making it up to me, I've now been put in his 2018 Mini Hatch JCW with an absolutely disgusting spec list (he almost fully loaded it from new, think the only thing missing is the Lounge leather), as below - nothing exceeds like excess as you can see:
Exterior: MELTING SILVER METALLIC (C2K)
Interior: DINAMICA-/LEDER CARBON BLACK (GSE1)
Dynamic Damper Control
Reversing camera
Fold-in outside mirror
Comfort access
Interior surface Piano Black
Colour Line Glowing Red
MINI Excitement package (extra dials etc)
Panorama glass roof
Sun protection glazing
Armrest front
Driving Assistant (Main beam assistant, Rear-end collision warning, Traffic sign recognition)
Park Assist
Park Distance Control (PDC)
Active cruise control
Adaptive LED headlight
Light package
MINI Head-Up Display
Radio MINI Visual Boost
MINI Connected XL
Telephony with wireless charging
MINI navigation system
Hi-Fi system Harman Kardon
Chili II
And he's letting me have it at the same price I was paying for the Z4 through the end of the year to make up for the money I spent on the cruise, navigation maps etc which translates to less than he's paying on the PCP payment for the Mini so more than happy with that. It still feels fast enough it must be said! With all the spec too it's a very cool car, it's great experiencing adaptive cruise again and the HUD is so excessive but absolutely amazing.
Don't think I'll bother with a reader's ride thread again until I'm owning something myself once again (most likely a shed Focus again) but here's some pictures of the Mini
Will certainly miss it and went out on a "last drive" with my friend- managed to experience what 130 leptons feels like (on closed roads etc.) which is the fastest I've ever been - scary!
Some more pictures:
I had an enjoyable month in it and certainly was not ready to give it up. Unfortunately it now resides with a Jaguar Land Rover dealer, having been taken in part exchange towards a 2015 FFRR V8 Supercharged, see if you can spot it.
When finances allow I can certainly see myself getting another, excellent cars if you can live with the fuel economy. The run flats and 18"s would absolutely have to go though, it had quite the crashy (but not firm) ride over potholes and the like.
As a way of making it up to me, I've now been put in his 2018 Mini Hatch JCW with an absolutely disgusting spec list (he almost fully loaded it from new, think the only thing missing is the Lounge leather), as below - nothing exceeds like excess as you can see:
Exterior: MELTING SILVER METALLIC (C2K)
Interior: DINAMICA-/LEDER CARBON BLACK (GSE1)
Dynamic Damper Control
Reversing camera
Fold-in outside mirror
Comfort access
Interior surface Piano Black
Colour Line Glowing Red
MINI Excitement package (extra dials etc)
Panorama glass roof
Sun protection glazing
Armrest front
Driving Assistant (Main beam assistant, Rear-end collision warning, Traffic sign recognition)
Park Assist
Park Distance Control (PDC)
Active cruise control
Adaptive LED headlight
Light package
MINI Head-Up Display
Radio MINI Visual Boost
MINI Connected XL
Telephony with wireless charging
MINI navigation system
Hi-Fi system Harman Kardon
Chili II
And he's letting me have it at the same price I was paying for the Z4 through the end of the year to make up for the money I spent on the cruise, navigation maps etc which translates to less than he's paying on the PCP payment for the Mini so more than happy with that. It still feels fast enough it must be said! With all the spec too it's a very cool car, it's great experiencing adaptive cruise again and the HUD is so excessive but absolutely amazing.
Don't think I'll bother with a reader's ride thread again until I'm owning something myself once again (most likely a shed Focus again) but here's some pictures of the Mini
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