Is there enough difference in 35i and 35is.........

[soetekouw]

that makes it worth the extra $9000? Is it a noticeable difference.

I am real close to buying another Z4, again (bought a 2005 Z4 when they came out and traded it 2 yrs later for a 2007 Porsche Boxster). Now 4 years later I am looking for something different with a little more power. Choices are between a 2012 Corvette or a 2012 Z4. Cost are approx. the same. Any comments.

[Black Chili]

The 35is is a smoking' fast car; I negotiated the price down to half the 9k retail difference between a similar 30i model. A 9k upper is hard to swallow but you'll get a decidedly faster car. If you care about the warranty, the 35is is a better deal; if you don't care (or can be sure your tune remains undetectable) you can get the same power from a tuned and lightly modded 30i (and it's there all the time whereas the 35is goes into temporary overboost).

My bone stock 35is with only 800 miles on and a passenger repeatedly laid waste to a 370Z manual. The Vette is faster however.

[Roadstergal]

[QUOTE= you can get the same power from a tuned and lightly modded 30i (and it's there all the time whereas the 35is goes into temporary overboost).

I believe the op was comparing the 35i to the 35is and not the 30i. There are a lot of threads on this subject if you do a search, but the general consensus on this board is that there is not really much of a differrence to warrant that increase in price. The 35i is plenty fast.

If I had to do it all over, I would still buy the 35i. I would probably go with the M package. I like the bumpers on the M package, but still absolutely hate the rear bumper on the is.

[Wiles]

The 3.5i vs 3.5is debate comes down to two options. The m-sport package is a must for the 3.5i. Next is the transmission. No manual option on the 3.5is power is good and extra good depending on your choice. Both have the n54 twin turbo, unlike the n55 twin scroll single found in the most new BMW's. Dinan and many others can change the power too. So for me it's all down to the shifting. I say while I can still shift manual I will.

[richard in NC]

I just drove the 35is at the BMW Performance Center. But only for a few laps. It seemed faster than my 35i but not by a signficant margin. The steering and suspension were noticeably tighter too. But a back to back would be necessary to really feel a difference.

I drove the Z4 35is right after a 135i which was right after a 550i. The 550i felt like a big soft luxury car even in Sport mode even compared to my X5 50i. The 135i than felt tossable but darty and still having to throw the weight around in an S curve.
The Z4 35is then felt like coming home... Low cg, tight, very grippy, good neutral turn in without a darty go cart feeling, and EASY to kick the tail out on exit. I kept it in SPORT as opposed to SPORT+ but still managed to push the tail a few times.

PS: I also got to drive the 750i, X6M, new X3, and set the best time of the group with an M3 on an autocross!

[Roadstergal]

So for me it's all down to the shifting. I say while I can still shift manual I will.[/QUOTE]


Ditto

[Wraith.]

I for one never wanted to experience the what if's.. I changed my order a couple of weeks after the iS was announced and never looked back. It's certainly the fastest car I've owned to date...

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by Roadstergal

So for me it's all down to the shifting. I say while I can still shift manual I will.

Same reason I got the 35i instead of waiting for the 35is. And if I ever need the extra power I can get the Dinan software for $2K and still have an engine warranty...

[flpnout]

My choice came down to 6-speed manual transmission for 35i and then Dinan Stage 2 tune. Plenty fast now!

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by soetekouw

that makes it worth the extra $9000? Is it a noticeable difference.

I am real close to buying another Z4, again (bought a 2005 Z4 when they came out and traded it 2 yrs later for a 2007 Porsche Boxster). Now 4 years later I am looking for something different with a little more power. Choices are between a 2012 Corvette or a 2012 Z4. Cost are approx. the same. Any comments.

I think you're comparing a base 35i to a 35is, but if you equip them the same the difference was only about $5k US. That included the 35i w/ M-Sport package and DCT.

A stock 35is has a momentary boost of extra horses and torque, but you can get a Dinan tune with plenty more of both for about $2K. Plus Dinan's increased horsepower and torque is available on tap full time.

It's likely, BMW is never going to build an actual Z4 ///M, so the 35is is about as close anyone will get, so is the $5k worth it for the special ///M detailing and slightly different (computer controlled) suspension and steering tuning? Only you can answer that, but some have complained about the steering feel of the 35is so drive it yourself.

The bottom line is the Z4 in its current incarnation is not about ultimate sports car performance or handling. It provides plenty of both, but it's a very classy package, so for some the 35is ups the ante a little more so the $5,000 may be worth it for you.

[STOOF]

Same for me, it came down to the tranny.

If the IS was offered in MT i wouldve gotten it.

[Wiles]

Originally Posted by teagueAMX

...

It's likely, BMW is never going to build an actual Z4 ///M, so the 35is is about as close anyone will get, so is the $5k worth it for the special ///M detailing and slightly different (computer controlled) suspension and steering tuning? Only you can answer that, but some have complained about the steering feel of the 35is so drive it yourself.
...

The suspension in the 3.5i with M-Sport is the same as the 3.5is, Check part numbers, (www.realoem.com)
if you don't want DCT, you save 5.5k

Plus the 3.5i has mirrors that don't look like they came from an Audi. The insert in the front spoiler is not silver grey, and the rear bumper is not painted.

the extra cash get you a little "s" on the side sDrive 3.5is vs. sDrive 3.5i, which I removed because its ugly on day 2 of getting the car home.

a bit more power (but less than Dinan)

Again its your money. Those who have the 3.5is, its still a nice car.

[ZheHbKa]

this summer bmw has specials where IS was cheaper then I, thats when u grab the IS, slightly better and cheaper!

[Vintage]

love corvettes made from 1958 to 1967, not such a fan of the new ones - so for me an easy call; I truly think the Z4 is one of the best looking cars ever and certainly on the road today - gorgeous curves and still aggressive, especially in iS form

[bmwmick]

Originally Posted by soetekouw

that makes it worth the extra $9000? Is it a noticeable difference.

.

Not in my book. If you REALLY want the automatic tranny, get the iS. A 35i with M-Sport and 6-speed is just as fast as any iS once you make the decision to tune it just a little.

[SANguru]

you guys are forgetting about the extra oil cooler, different exhaust, etc. you can also tune the 35is with JB4 and others.

[mike0804]

I can't say whether or not the 35is makes a good value proposition compared to the 35i. I will say it would be a challenge to justify an extra $9k over the 35i, simply because the 35i is so good. The 35is is significantly faster, but whether or not one thinks it's $9k faster is an individual call. In my case, the deal was simply too good to pass up - I got the 35is for about the same money as others have paid for the 35i, and slightly *less* than a well-equipped 3-series 335i convertible, so it was a no-brainer for me.

Now this ongoing debate over which transmission is better won't be settled here. This is a *very* controversial subject, and if we stay on this too long, it will probably get heated. But for what it's worth, I'll throw in my $0.02: This from someone who has spent the best part of 3 decades driving manual transmission cars and loving them. I'm one of those people who thinks a torque converter automatic in a Corvette is an abomination. I love everything about the way the clutch feels under my foot and the shifter in my hand. I love the mechanical music that is played every time a well-executed shift is done. I revel in the ballet of hand-eye-ear-foot coordination that comes into play with every gear change. I can heel-toe with the best of them. I can nail a manually rev-matched downshift every time, without a lot of thought (you younger drivers out there take note: a skilled driver doesn't need a computer and bunch of electronic b/s to do a decent rev-match downshift, it just ain't that hard if you've got the skills). Merely the thought of driving one of my manual transmission cars makes grin like a silly kid. I just love everything about them. And in spite of all that, I'm here to tell you the 7-DCT in my Z4 35is is about the best transmission I've ever experienced. There is a reason they put these in the new 458 Italia, the Porsche 911 Turbo/Turbo S, the GT-R, the new F10 M5 and others. Double-clutch technology and its widespread deployment in modern sports cars is, in my opinion, one of the most significant developments we have seen in the performance car arena in a very long time. My 7-DCT is an absolute joy, and I am rapidly approaching the point where I may actually prefer it over a traditional manual. It's *that* good.

Michael

[persian54]

Originally Posted by wiles335i

The suspension in the 3.5i with M-Sport is the same as the 3.5is, Check part numbers, (www.realoem.com)
if you don't want DCT, you save 5.5k

isn't the suspension between a sport 35i and a m-sport 35i the same as well?

only difference being the body kit and steering wheel (and M emblems)

[2045]

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

this summer bmw has specials where IS was cheaper then I, thats when u grab the IS, slightly better and cheaper!

that makes it no-brainer not to get the IS.

[J_Square]

if you want AT --> 35is, but if you want MT --> 35i

I got the 35i because of that reason alone. No AT, DCT, etc. will match the excitement of a manual car imo

[Dr Stig 2]

+100
what mike0804 said.

[Roadstergal]

[QUOTE=mike0804;10271554]I can't say whether or not the 35is makes a good value proposition compared to the 35i. I will say it would be a challenge to justify an extra $9k over the 35i, simply because the 35i is so good.

As others have stated, the difference is actually only $5K over a fully equipped 35i. I, too, have driven manual transmissions all my life, but when I was ready to order my car, I test drove a dct because I thought I was ready for the new technology. It just didn't do it for me. I found that the manual was far more exhilarating. I have never regretted my decision to stick with the tried and true. It is simply personal preference.