Which Z4 should I get?

[Cino]

I am looking to get an E89 model Z4 automatic. I like the extra power but also efficiency of the 28i, however I was reading that there were various issues with the E89s in the first few years up to the 2013 facelift, including problems with the timing chain. Could anyone please confirm to me after what year of car am I safe from these issues, i.e. BMW resolved them all?

There are way more 20is around, is the 28i worth the extra money/hassle of finding one? I don't want to remap and cause problems with insurance/resale etc. I would prefer unmodified. Finally, what are the E89s like for reliability? I had an 07 Audi TT and it was the least reliable car ever!

[Collectingbrass]

Might be better posting on the Z4 Forum https://z4-forum.com/forum/index.php?sid=1a13b6330...

In terms of engine size, I have the E85 varient and bigger is definitely better.

[ric19]

I have a 28i but manual, its a 2012 model and I have owned since it was new and its just coming up to 50k miles on the clock...they are pretty reliable cars , but do suffer from leaky roof seals and also the vents in the boots can also leak and can be replaced with an updated version, whilst the leaking boot seals can be sorted by using black gutter mastic to replace the dried out factory mastic..if I were you I would head over to the z4 forum and go to the E89 section and check out the common fault section.. The early ones like mine can suffer from chain issues, but I have coded the stop/start out and have the oil changed a lot more frequently to try and negate any issues..there was an N20 in the States that did half a Million Miles quite recently so its not certain to happen..If you have any specific questions DM me..

[The Conflated Outlier]

The 23i and 30i with the N52N are the ones to have. There are still enough low owner low mileage examples about and the N52N is a fantastic engine. The sound they make really 'make' the car.

N20's are superb when all is rosy (the 28i is very lively) but apart from the timing chain, the crank thrust washers aren't all they should be and a number of engines have failed, even at a youthful mileage. They wear out and drop into the sump causing massive crank end float. Both problems are very rare on the N52 - I've never heard of one with a crank related failure.

[Cino]

The Conflated Outlier said:

The 23i and 30i with the N52N are the ones to have. There are still enough low owner low mileage examples about and the N52N is a fantastic engine. The sound they make really 'make' the car.

N20's are superb when all is rosy (the 28i is very lively) but apart from the timing chain, the crank thrust washers aren't all they should be and a number of engines have failed, even at a youthful mileage. They wear out and drop into the sump causing massive crank end float. Both problems are very rare on the N52 - I've never heard of one with a crank related failure.

Is the 30i quite a bit thirstier that the 20/28i? The tax and insurance group are higher as well although not by massive amounts, the 35i is even more. The 30i seems roughly equivalent to the 28i, but 6 cylinder NA whereas the 28i is 4 cylinder turbo (and a lot less around) is that right?

[Mr Tidy]

Cino said:

Is the 30i quite a bit thirstier that the 20/28i? The tax and insurance group are higher as well although not by massive amounts, the 35i is even more. The 30i seems roughly equivalent to the 28i, but 6 cylinder NA whereas the 28i is 4 cylinder turbo (and a lot less around) is that right?

The 30i will probably be a bit more thirsty than a 28i, if that matters in a 2 seater! The N52 is such a great engine I'm on my 4th now but this one is in a 330i. Over the 17K miles I've done with it my average is about 33mpg but I don't commute any more. But that's pretty impressive for a 3 litre straight 6 that is still going strong after 125K miles!

I think the 28i was intended to replace the 30i and the 20i to replace the 23i.

The 35i will be dearer to tax and insure because it has a twin-turbo 3 litre straight 6, but it can have some issues with turbos, injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps.

[Court_S]

Mr Tidy said:

The 30i will probably be a bit more thirsty than a 28i, if that matters in a 2 seater! The N52 is such a great engine I'm on my 4th now but this one is in a 330i. Over the 17K miles I've done with it my average is about 33mpg but I don't commute any more. But that's pretty impressive for a 3 litre straight 6 that is still going strong after 125K miles!

I think the 28i was intended to replace the 30i and the 20i to replace the 23i.

The 35i will be dearer to tax and insure because it has a twin-turbo 3 litre straight 6, but it can have some issues with turbos, injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps.

Another vote for the N52; it’s a great engine. It’s capable of good economy for the size of engine (my Z4 coupe is currently averaging 29mpg). They also make a really good sound which is important in drop top.

The 35i with the N54 in stick form won’t feel massively faster than the 30i but it has a lot of tuning potential (and bork potential too). Did later 35i’s swap to the N55? That’s a bit more reliable although it has less tuning potential.

[Mr Squarekins]

I had a 35is from new. It was fantastic, great sound, very quick, but very pricey to fix.

Best version, but no way without a BMW warranty. Suspension dampers, turbos, cracked wheels. All eye watering.

[Mr Tidy]

Court_S said:

Another vote for the N52; it’s a great engine. It’s capable of good economy for the size of engine (my Z4 coupe is currently averaging 29mpg). They also make a really good sound which is important in drop top.

The 35i with the N54 in stick form won’t feel massively faster than the 30i but it has a lot of tuning potential (and bork potential too). Did later 35i’s swap to the N55? That’s a bit more reliable although it has less tuning potential.

Yes the N52 sounds great in a Z4, although I can barely hear it in my E90.

But I don't think the E89 ever got the N55.

[Cino]

Mr Squarekins said:

I had a 35is from new. It was fantastic, great sound, very quick, but very pricey to fix.

Best version, but no way without a BMW warranty. Suspension dampers, turbos, cracked wheels. All eye watering.

Would those costs be the same with the 30i? Way beyond warranty with the last of the 6 cylinder engines around 2012

[Mr Squarekins]

Cino said:

Mr Squarekins said:

I had a 35is from new. It was fantastic, great sound, very quick, but very pricey to fix.

Best version, but no way without a BMW warranty. Suspension dampers, turbos, cracked wheels. All eye watering.

Would those costs be the same with the 30i? Way beyond warranty with the last of the 6 cylinder engines around 2012

No, I had a 30i before the 35is. No turbo, no adaptive suspension. Most reliable car I've owned. 120k miles and no issues. Just not a fast car though.

[Cino]

Mr Squarekins said:

Cino said:

Mr Squarekins said:

I had a 35is from new. It was fantastic, great sound, very quick, but very pricey to fix.

Best version, but no way without a BMW warranty. Suspension dampers, turbos, cracked wheels. All eye watering.

Would those costs be the same with the 30i? Way beyond warranty with the last of the 6 cylinder engines around 2012

No, I had a 30i before the 35is. No turbo, no adaptive suspension. Most reliable car I've owned. 120k miles and no issues. Just not a fast car though.

The 30i seems pretty quick though? More or less the same as the 28i, 0-60 in 5.9 or something and 250ish bhp. Not a supercar but pretty decent? As quick as a Boxster of the same age.

[Mr Squarekins]

Cino said:

The 30i seems pretty quick though? More or less the same as the 28i, 0-60 in 5.9 or something and 250ish bhp. Not a supercar but pretty decent? As quick as a Boxster of the same age.

Fair enough, it was about 12 years ago admittedly. The 30i was a really nice car.

Get nav, cruise and heated seats if you can.

[Cino]

Mr Squarekins said:

Cino said:

The 30i seems pretty quick though? More or less the same as the 28i, 0-60 in 5.9 or something and 250ish bhp. Not a supercar but pretty decent? As quick as a Boxster of the same age.

Fair enough, it was about 12 years ago admittedly. The 30i was a really nice car.

Get nav, cruise and heated seats if you can.

Thanks. Just to be clear, this timing chain/ cam chain problem that affects the 20i and 28i 4 cylinder models up to 2015 has never been an issue with the 30i?

[Mr Tidy]

Cino said:

Thanks. Just to be clear, this timing chain/ cam chain problem that affects the 20i and 28i 4 cylinder models up to 2015 has never been an issue with the 30i?

I haven't read of the N52 engine like the 30i has having timing chain problems.

[Mr Squarekins]

Cino said:

Mr Squarekins said:

Cino said:

The 30i seems pretty quick though? More or less the same as the 28i, 0-60 in 5.9 or something and 250ish bhp. Not a supercar but pretty decent? As quick as a Boxster of the same age.

Fair enough, it was about 12 years ago admittedly. The 30i was a really nice car.

Get nav, cruise and heated seats if you can.

Thanks. Just to be clear, this timing chain/ cam chain problem that affects the 20i and 28i 4 cylinder models up to 2015 has never been an issue with the 30i?

I've no idea, but I did big miles and had no issues.

[Court_S]

Cino said:

Thanks. Just to be clear, this timing chain/ cam chain problem that affects the 20i and 28i 4 cylinder models up to 2015 has never been an issue with the 30i?

Chains are generally less of an issue in six cylinder engines.

[KPB1973]

I can only add that I had a 100k mile 09-plate 35i with a stage 1 tune and it was a great little car. No issues with reliability in the 12 months that I owned it, but it was a weekend toy and had been well looked after in the past, inc turbo refurbs.

I appreciate that you don't want to go down the route of modifications and it sounds like economy is a consideration for you, but I wouldn't discount the N54 engined cars by reputation if your pattern of usage is such that the risk is quite minimal. They can be economical, they sound fab and they have the power to wake up the chassis.

Plus, of course, a straight-6 is a proper BMW engine

For context, bar the advantages of him having PDK, my Z4 could keep up with my friend's Cayman 4.0GTS on all but the most challenging roads.

[Spuffington]

I had a 23i manual M Sport for about 6m back in 2016. Was a great little car and although I would've preferred a 30i at the time, it was an indulgent station car so I had to keep an eye on the budget and buy on condition and availability. I only ran it for a short period pre-divorce as storm clouds were gathering in that respect but it was a lovely little thing and I often look back and wished I'd tried to keep it as I went into the aforementioned period.

One of the best things about the 23i was the detuned 3.0 straight six which sounded glorious at all engine speeds, was silky smooth but didn't have so much of a surfeit of power that you couldn't rev it out and enjoy a decent few of the six gears.

Honestly, it was a very loved car and I miss it.

GLWTS

[Cino]

Spuffington said:

I had a 23i manual M Sport for about 6m back in 2016. Was a great little car and although I would've preferred a 30i at the time, it was an indulgent station car so I had to keep an eye on the budget and buy on condition and availability. I only ran it for a short period pre-divorce as storm clouds were gathering in that respect but it was a lovely little thing and I often look back and wished I'd tried to keep it as I went into the aforementioned period.

One of the best things about the 23i was the detuned 3.0 straight six which sounded glorious at all engine speeds, was silky smooth but didn't have so much of a surfeit of power that you couldn't rev it out and enjoy a decent few of the six gears.

Honestly, it was a very loved car and I miss it.

GLWTS

Looks nice, and the best colour!