2009 to 2011 major differences

HenryHank · 12-12-2011, 04:44 PM

Hello Everyone,
Well, the 2011 I was about to buy this weekend was sold out from under me. It was a great deal I don't think I'll find again.. roughly it was:
2011 sDrive30i Deep Sea Blue/Beige interior
Manual Trans, Nav, Premium, Sports packages
3000 miles.
(see: http://www.automotive.com/ni/2011/65...246951153/113/ )

They were asking $46,474, but then a week ago dropped the price to $42,441 to move it off their lot.. and it sure did move. It was gone in a couple of days to a Z3 owner who had his car in for service.

So now I'm still looking.. I found a 2009 with 25k miles that I liked (for about the same price as the 2011), but I'm curious what the major differences are between the 2009 and 2011 models -- especially the i-Drive and Nav software, and are they software upgradeable?

any other major diffs?

Thanks,
-Hank

persian54 · 12-12-2011, 05:28 PM

iDrive is escentially the same from 09 to 11

Differences would be if the 11 had BMW Apps, which isn't that crazy of a deal anyways

I had a 09 and now an 11

Honestly... I can't notice any difference as both of mine are similarly equipped

az34 · 12-12-2011, 06:20 PM

theres no major difference at all even whit an 2012

HenryHank · 12-12-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az34

theres no major difference at all even whit an 2012

Great to know, thanks! I guess I can save some dough going for a 2009.

I test drove a 2009/30i/auto on Saturday (the first time driving a Z4), and W-O-W, there is no comparison to my MB SLK. What a total and complete blast. I can't wait to get one and officially join the club.

rmorin49 · 12-12-2011, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryHank

Great to know, thanks! I guess I can save some dough going for a 2009.

I test drove a 2009/30i/auto on Saturday (the first time driving a Z4), and W-O-W, there is no comparison to my MB SLK. What a total and complete blast. I can't wait to get one and officially join the club.

Get a 6 speed manual with the non-turbo engine. You will have a blast!

Jayda · 12-12-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryHank

Great to know, thanks! I guess I can save some dough going for a 2009.

I test drove a 2009/30i/auto on Saturday (the first time driving a Z4), and W-O-W, there is no comparison to my MB SLK. What a total and complete blast. I can't wait to get one and officially join the club.

Try the sdrive 35i.......I wasn't really looking for a 35i but found a great deal on an 09. Once I drove the 35i I didn't look back (to the 3.0 that is)!

HenryHank · 12-12-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmorin49

Get a 6 speed manual with the non-turbo engine. You will have a blast!

It's really funny you say that.. my other car is an E39 M5.. so I found the 30i auto trans missing just a bit of "ummph" in the second-to-third gear range during the test drive... I thought that I sure wouldn't have that problem if it were a manual trans! So yes, I'm already limiting my search to only manual trans Z4s -- 30i or 35i.

2gumby · 12-12-2011, 11:37 PM

With the 35i, the tranny becomes just pure preference. You won't be missing any bits of "ummph" in any gear range with the dual clutch trans (DCT). It shifts faster than you possibly can - especially in Sport or Sport+ modes, and almost always seems to be in the right gear. Paddle shifters work well, if you feel the need. It's seriously good.

Still, there's nothing like the connected feel of a good manual. The Porsche Boxster/Cayman come to mind...

We chose the DCT, but would've been happy with either.

pltan75 · 12-13-2011, 03:38 AM

Oh wow that sounds like an amazing deal, I honestly wish I was back in America. I recently bought a 2009 23iS here, and well, cost me more than 90k USD. I'm jealous!

Nkc · 12-13-2011, 06:41 AM

so you are choosing a 09 3.0 that is the same price as a 2011 that was offered to you? I think you can easily get a 35i for that price if 2009 which is a totally different car.

HenryHank · 12-13-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nkc

so you are choosing a 09 3.0 that is the same price as a 2011 that was offered to you? I think you can easily get a 35i for that price if 2009 which is a totally different car.

I was just considering the 2009/auto/30i. I'm still looking for any year 30i or 35i, but I have other very specific requirements that are hard to find:

Deep Sea Blue (or I may consider Mojave/Havana)
Ivory White Interior
Navigation (only 10% of all Z4s I see for sale have Nav -- I really don't know why someone would pay that much for a Z4 and NOT get Nav???)
Heated Seats or Cold weather pkg
Premium Pkg
No wood trim
Manual Trans

The following are "nice to have" options but won't be dealbreakers if I can't find them:

- Sport Package
- Keyless entry/ingition/park distance
- Premium Sound Package (w/USB /iphone integration)

Given these requirements, I'll take either 30i or 35i when I find it.

Jayda · 12-13-2011, 09:08 AM

My car has navigation. I kind of like the I-drive for controlling functions in the car but I don't find the navigation itself very user friendly. It's good once you get a destination programmed but the programming process is not all that efficient. Could be because I am still learning how to do it though (just got my car at the end of October). I also really like the DCT...but if you want a manual than you want a manual! I think you are more likely to find all the goodies you list on a used 35i. You tend to find those loaded. Mine has all the above plus 19 inch wheels, adaptive m suspension and no wood trim (brushed aluminum I think).

teezee · 12-13-2011, 01:05 PM

Not sure you can get Design White interior with anything other than anthracite wood trim

bjarne · 12-13-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayda

My car has navigation. I kind of like the I-drive for controlling functions in the car but I don't find the navigation itself very user friendly. It's good once you get a destination programmed but the programming process is not all that efficient.

If I know the destination before I leave home, I look it up on Google maps, and send it directly to the car, makes it very easy

I think you have to have BMW Assist for it to work, though.

Jayda · 12-13-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjarne

If I know the destination before I leave home, I look it up on Google maps, and send it directly to the car, makes it very easy

I think you have to have BMW Assist for it to work, though.

I do have BMW assist. I'll have to investigate this. How do you send to the car?

Mr. ///M3 RD · 12-13-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayda

I do have BMW assist. I'll have to investigate this. How do you send to the car?

This should help you out ===>Click and have a peek

Jayda · 12-13-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

This should help you out ===>Click and have a peek

Thanks so much!

Wraith. · 12-14-2011, 12:46 AM

What's a 23iS?

CeEl · 12-14-2011, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryHank

I was just considering the 2009/auto/30i. I'm still looking for any year 30i or 35i, but I have other very specific requirements that are hard to find:

Deep Sea Blue (or I may consider Mojave/Havana)
Ivory White Interior
Navigation (only 10% of all Z4s I see for sale have Nav -- I really don't know why someone would pay that much for a Z4 and NOT get Nav???)
Heated Seats or Cold weather pkg
Premium Pkg
No wood trim
Manual Trans

The following are "nice to have" options but won't be dealbreakers if I can't find them:

- Sport Package
- Keyless entry/ingition/park distance
- Premium Sound Package (w/USB /iphone integration)

Given these requirements, I'll take either 30i or 35i when I find it.

Was browsing on the Carmax website this morning, they have a 2009 blue/ivory white (just search for Z4 nationwide, sort by year) with navi. Don't know if the price is any good. It's an automatic, though.

Nkc · 12-14-2011, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wraith.

What's a 23iS?

23iS is a 2.5L NA engine

HenryHank · 12-14-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CeEl

Was browsing on the Carmax website this morning, they have a 2009 blue/ivory white (just search for Z4 nationwide, sort by year) with navi. Don't know if the price is any good. It's an automatic, though.

I did see that one over the weekend on carmax, but there were no pics or details posted, but now I see they've completed the listing with over 60 pics.

It's pretty far away, but looks like a good deal, except that it's an Automatic. Is there some way to tell from the pics if it has the DCT? It looks like it does have the paddle shifters. Other than that, it is what I'm looking for, so I might be willing to go for the auto if it has DCT.

link: http://www.carmax.com/enus/view-car/...i=1&id=7899585

Jayda · 12-14-2011, 02:49 PM

Looks like DCT, you can tell by the shifter in the center. Dang, if I didn't just have a hip replacement last week I could check it out for you. I can't drive yet. I live in Columbia, SC!

12-12-2011, 04:44 PM	#1
HenryHank Private 12 Rep 96 Posts Drives: E89 Z4, e39 M5 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (0)	2009 to 2011 major differences Hello Everyone, Well, the 2011 I was about to buy this weekend was sold out from under me. It was a great deal I don't think I'll find again.. roughly it was: 2011 sDrive30i Deep Sea Blue/Beige interior Manual Trans, Nav, Premium, Sports packages 3000 miles. (see: http://www.automotive.com/ni/2011/65...246951153/113/ ) They were asking $46,474, but then a week ago dropped the price to $42,441 to move it off their lot.. and it sure did move. It was gone in a couple of days to a Z3 owner who had his car in for service. So now I'm still looking.. I found a 2009 with 25k miles that I liked (for about the same price as the 2011), but I'm curious what the major differences are between the 2009 and 2011 models -- especially the i-Drive and Nav software, and are they software upgradeable? any other major diffs? Thanks, -Hank
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12-12-2011, 05:28 PM	#2
persian54 Lieutenant General 922 Rep 15,818 Posts Drives: M760/G83M4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Valley, SoCal iTrader: (298)	iDrive is escentially the same from 09 to 11 Differences would be if the 11 had BMW Apps, which isn't that crazy of a deal anyways I had a 09 and now an 11 Honestly... I can't notice any difference as both of mine are similarly equipped __________________ From E93 335i to E89 Z4 to E93 M3/E89 Z4 to E350/SL550
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12-12-2011, 06:20 PM	#3
az34 Major 54 Rep 1,014 Posts Drives: 2009 z4sdrive35i 2008 x5 3.0i Join Date: May 2011 Location: montréal iTrader: (0)	theres no major difference at all even whit an 2012
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12-12-2011, 11:37 PM	#8
2gumby not so pokey 1 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 35i, Orion Silver Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dallas iTrader: (0)	Don't dismiss the 35i DCT With the 35i, the tranny becomes just pure preference. You won't be missing any bits of "ummph" in any gear range with the dual clutch trans (DCT). It shifts faster than you possibly can - especially in Sport or Sport+ modes, and almost always seems to be in the right gear. Paddle shifters work well, if you feel the need. It's seriously good. Still, there's nothing like the connected feel of a good manual. The Porsche Boxster/Cayman come to mind... We chose the DCT, but would've been happy with either.
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12-13-2011, 03:38 AM	#9
pltan75 New Member 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: ‘23 I7 / ‘23 M5C / Z4 / X5 40e Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Oh wow that sounds like an amazing deal, I honestly wish I was back in America. I recently bought a 2009 23iS here, and well, cost me more than 90k USD. I'm jealous!
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12-13-2011, 06:41 AM	#10
Nkc NOOB 1601 Rep 1,356 Posts Drives: Cars Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: @BMWclassicdivision iTrader: (0)	so you are choosing a 09 3.0 that is the same price as a 2011 that was offered to you? I think you can easily get a 35i for that price if 2009 which is a totally different car. __________________ @BMWclassicdivision
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12-13-2011, 09:08 AM	#12
Jayda Lieutenant 41 Rep 509 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 35i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	My car has navigation. I kind of like the I-drive for controlling functions in the car but I don't find the navigation itself very user friendly. It's good once you get a destination programmed but the programming process is not all that efficient. Could be because I am still learning how to do it though (just got my car at the end of October). I also really like the DCT...but if you want a manual than you want a manual! I think you are more likely to find all the goodies you list on a used 35i. You tend to find those loaded. Mine has all the above plus 19 inch wheels, adaptive m suspension and no wood trim (brushed aluminum I think). __________________ 2009 Z4 35i, alpine white with beige leather and all the goodies (new to me with 4,500 miles in October, 2011) Last edited by Jayda; 12-13-2011 at 09:17 AM..
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12-13-2011, 01:05 PM	#13
teezee Freude am Fahren 35 Rep 383 Posts Drives: E89 Z4, E46 325iT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Here,There and Everywhere iTrader: (0)	Not sure you can get Design White interior with anything other than anthracite wood trim __________________ 2011 E89 Z4 M Sport (Euro Delivery, Performance Center redelivery), Extended Nappa leather, Eisenmann Sport Exhaust 2003 E46 325i Touring
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12-14-2011, 12:46 AM	#18
Wraith. Captain 71 Rep 886 Posts Drives: ED '11 Z4 35is Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	What's a 23iS?
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12-14-2011, 02:49 PM	#22
Jayda Lieutenant 41 Rep 509 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 35i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	Looks like DCT, you can tell by the shifter in the center. Dang, if I didn't just have a hip replacement last week I could check it out for you. I can't drive yet. I live in Columbia, SC! __________________ 2009 Z4 35i, alpine white with beige leather and all the goodies (new to me with 4,500 miles in October, 2011) Last edited by Jayda; 12-14-2011 at 03:03 PM..
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