35is or chipped 35i ?

[loveivs]

Guys,

I need help.
I'm facing a problem here.
---Buy a 35i straight away
OR
---wait 4-5 months for 35is

cosmetic kit can be purchased afterward, no problem.

m suspension... ummm, i think i'll get either kw or pss10.

silver side mirror cover. not really my cuppa tea. can be re-sprayed too.

m steering wheel. that s a good one, will consider it or upgrade to bmw performance steering wheel.

sportier exhaust: there are many aftermarket products.

over-boost system that gives me extra torque: i seriously don't know if i can source some sort of thing like this in the market. lol


My understanding: 35is is a boosted 35i. same engine, re-tuned by Bimmer itself.
Refers to "Dinan" website, both 35i and 35is can be re-mapped to 378HP. So does it mean "i" and "is" become the same after apply dinan map?
If the answer is positive, I am gonna take the 35i.

--Eric

[teagueAMX]

Go with 35i M-Sport Package and do a Dinan Stage II or III tune.

The 35is has a few more bells and whistles, but visually they are very similar to the M Sport package, and you get more bang for the buck $ wise if you don't need the complete 35is package. With the 35i/Dinan Stage II tune your horsepower and torque are significantly higher than the 35is but you give up are the 35is chassis tweaks.

For comparably equipped cars in the US:

$62,300 -- 35i No M Sport Package
$65,800 -- 35i M Sport Package
$68,825 -- 35is

Dinan now has a Stage III package for the e89 Z4 35i

35i Stage II $2,199
Peak HP 384 horsepower at 5700 rpm
Peak Torque 421 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm
Stage II

35i Stage III $2,699
Peak HP 398 horsepower at 5700 rpm
Peak Torque 429 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm
Stage III

The Dinan map is better for the 35i than the 35is.

35is Stage II $2,199
Peak HP 378 horsepower at 5700 rpm
Peak Torque 415 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm

[jannisa]

Since you care for the additional cosmetic items and stuff I say to head for the is. Personally I would too if I were to order one now. 4-5 months for delivery sound too much imo you could perhaps push things to collect it earlier. Break it in, then chip it (you can start off by 650$), home run.

[Memphis1]

At the end of the day if you tweak a 35i and add muffler and body kit you might as well wait and get it from factory in the 35is. if you were to leave it as is then I'd say go for the 35i.

[loveivs]

Originally Posted by teagueAMX

Go with 35i M-Sport Package and do a Dinan Stage II or III tune.

The 35is has a few more bells and whistles, but visually they are very similar, and you get more bang for the buck $ wise if you don't need the complete 35is package. With the 35i/Dinan Stage II tune your horsepower and torque are significantly higher than the 35is but you give up are the 35is chassis tweaks.

For comparably equipped cars in the US:

$62,300 -- 35i No M Sport Package
$65,800 -- 35i M Sport Package
$68,825 -- 35is

Dinan now has a Stage III package for the e89 Z4 35i

35i Stage II $2,199
Peak HP 384 horsepower at 5700 rpm
Peak Torque 421 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm
Stage II

35i Stage III $2,699
Peak HP 398 horsepower at 5700 rpm
Peak Torque 429 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm
Stage III

The Dinan map is better for the 35i than the 35is.

35is Stage II $2,199
Peak HP 378 horsepower at 5700 rpm
Peak Torque 415 lb-ft torque at 4300 rpm

Hi teagueAMX,
thanks for the informations. Can you please tell me what chassis tweaks that 35is has?
I've heard people saying the steering wheel is too light, lighter than a Mercedes. Which should not happen on a sport car. However, "is" fixs the issue. If what people say is true, that's seriously

-Eric

[loveivs]

Originally Posted by jannisa

Since you care for the additional cosmetic items and stuff I say to head for the is. Personally I would too if I were to order one now. 4-5 months for delivery sound too much imo you could perhaps push things to collect it earlier. Break it in, then chip it (you can start off by 650$), home run.

Yeah, I think the M aero kit is neat and clean. Better than any kits on the market.

[Silver-Bolt]

We have the "is" and to do it over again I would do the "i" just to get rid of the adaptive steering. The adaptive steering drives me nuts.

[mrboon]

35i + JB3 and ull be smoking the 35is's

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by loveivs

I've heard people saying the steering wheel is too light, lighter than a Mercedes. Which should not happen on a sport car. However, "is" fixs the issue. If what people say is true, that's seriously

-Eric

Originally Posted by Silver-Bolt

We have the "is" and to do it over again I would do the "i" just to get rid of the adaptive steering. The adaptive steering drives me nuts.

I think Silver-Bolt is talking about the Servotronic (which comes std in the 35is but is an option in the 35i)? I've driven the 35is and it does make these odd changes in steering grip that does not seem natural when the car changes speed. Another factor is that I have small hands and the M steering wheel is too big for me. The steering in my 35i never feels light, feels just right.

Of course, you get bragging rights should you go w/ the top-of-the-line 35is.

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by loveivs

Hi teagueAMX,
thanks for the informations. Can you please tell me what chassis tweaks that 35is has?
I've heard people saying the steering wheel is too light, lighter than a Mercedes. Which should not happen on a sport car. However, "is" fixs the issue. If what people say is true, that's seriously

-Eric

In regards to the steering, Silver-Bolt can chime in here to make sure you know what he's talking about, but the current Z4's steering in whatever variety is electrically assisted rather than the good old fashioned hydraulic assist. Don’t get me wrong a lot of people really like it, particularly with the adaptive steering, which modulates the amount of assist and turning ratio depending on driving conditions. The problem (others would say the solution) is that it’s not “linear”. By the word linear I mean that it is not predictable or constant, which if you driven race cars like Silver-Bolt, it will drive you crazy. There’s also been discussion about how “light” or “heavy” the assist should be, and I think Silver-Bolt mention a “dead-zone” feeling – again he can fill in the blanks. On this issue, I come from the same school and would prefer hydraulic assist. On the other hand most people will tell that BMWs Adaptive Steering is one of their best technologies, and this is not meant to be a knock by any means, but simply an explanation – you’ll have to decide what’s best for you.

35i vs 35is Here's a recap I did on another thread on another forum, but other people contributed as well.

Price is a factor but as mentioned, depending your goals and configuration once you add up some the add-ons the differences are not that great.

The 35i normally has 300 lb-ft of torque, whereas the 35is normally has 330 lb-ft of torque, but for short bursts maximum torque with overboost function increases to 369 lb-ft.

The 35is includes the M Sport Package which is an option on the 35i.

The 35is has different front and rear bumper fascias.

The 35is has computer programming differences that are designed to make the steering, ride and shifting somewhat sportier.

The 35is has a number of interior trim differences, which in some cases are included in the 35i M Sport Package (e.g., steering wheel) or may be unique to the 35i (e.g., door threshold and floor mats)

A couple of exterior color options are different. Example: snazzy silver mirrors, Crimson Red is not available on the 35is, and Melbourne Red Metallic is available on the 35is, but available on 35i only if you get the M Sport Package.

One major difference: the 35is has a sportier exhaust system that sounds better! (Note Z4 35i dual exhaust systems are very expensive being up to $2500 to improve the sound).

It also comes with DCT as standard and the sports suspension.

Also if you want to be particular it has grey instrument dials with 35is written on them.

It is said that the BMW has slightly underrated the 35is power. I have seen a dyno somewhere. I was surprised that it 'only' produces 340 odd HP given that it runs around 14psi on overboost.

Also get the option of 326M wheels and it rides 10mm lower.

Both 35i and 35is have about 30 more HP and Torque than BMW claims, and it has been proven.

Here's a couple of links:

2011 35i and 35is specs, packages and options in PDF format

Z4 Series Overview

.

[fontana302]

Agree with godius - JB3 is the go for performance. You have the right approach with adding your own suspension & cosmetics. You'll end up with a better performing & handling car for less.

[cdeslandes]

35i + Dinan or JB3 = more power & much less $$$ than the 35is

And a manual transmission is available

[marcw]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

And a manual transmission is available

In my mind that's what kills the 35is. No manual. With BMW's stance on warranty claims on modded cars these days I'd be very leery to buy the 35i and mod it with anything other than Dinan. Unless you don't care for the factory warranty or enjoy a few rounds of litigation with BMW's lawyers.

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by marcw

In my mind that's what kills the 35is. No manual. With BMW's stance on warranty claims on modded cars these days I'd be very leery to buy the 35i and mod it with anything other than Dinan. Unless you don't care for the factory warranty or enjoy a few rounds of litigation with BMW's lawyers.

X2 Dinan has warranty and I got mine through a BMW dealer so a definite warranty, all the others will void warranty. Think carefully about it before you do anything to the software ....