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      09-08-2017, 05:57 PM   #1
HEY32G
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Car Shopping - Love the Z4 - Can't Get Over the No Clutch Pedal - Please Help Me

Looking for a new (used) car. I love the latest Z4, but most don't have a stick shift. I love my clutch pedal. I know they're out there with a stick, but they're few and far between. For the record I'd be looking for 35i or 35is (no manual there).

Anyone else feel this way before they got their Z4? If so, how have you coped? I may just go with a e85 Z4M. I don't know. I've driven a 35i with the DCT and I enjoyed it, I just don't know about long term.

The two things I hate the most are having to check the dash to see what gear I'm in, and when it shifts for me. I'd rather have the dang thing die out than down shift for me. My 3.0si was an automatic and the paddles actually weren't bad, but I'd downshift .0000005 seconds after it did, so it would go from 3rd to 2nd, and the split second later I'd hit the paddle which would flip it down to 1st - not a pretty sound when you just about redline on a downshift into 1st gear.

Please share your thoughts.

Sincerely,
Dazed and Confused
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      09-08-2017, 09:51 PM   #2
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I've had 2 E89 Z4's. The first I settled on the DCT because I was having a hard time finding the color combo I wanted at the time. But after a year of owning it, I knew I had to get a manual car again, the DCT just didn't do it for me. Not to say it's a bad transmission, it's actually really good for an auto, just wasn't for me in the long run. So I found another E89 with a manual and traded in. BMW dropped the manual from the Z4 lineup in 2014 I think, someone else may be able to confirm that year. I got my 2011 E89 Atacama Yellow Z4, manual, M-sport, almost all options, for $30,000. They are out there for sure, you may just have to adjust the years you are looking at. The 35is never came in manual, but there are a lot of 35i cars out there in manual. And don't be put off by getting a 35i versus a 35is just because of the small power bump, a quick tune and you get the same power. Good luck!
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      09-10-2017, 01:36 PM   #3
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They are out there. I have one. You will too. Just be patient. The good news is they do not sell quickly. There are two in the DC area right now ... $30k ish ... one is an orange/black 28i the other a 35i m-sport grey/red.

Expect to ship yours to you. I found mine in Austin and shipped to Virginia.

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      09-12-2017, 11:30 AM   #4
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Yeah, I drove a few DCT BMWs including a Z4 35i and just didn't like it much. It took a couple of months of daily searching but I finally found my Z4 35i with a manual at a Carmax of all places. If you're planning on keeping this car for more than a very short time it's absolutely worth waiting until you find exactly what you want. One of the first things you'll learn is to absolutely not trust the BMW search tool when it claims a car is a manual. They almost always end up being something with a paddle shifter so you have to look through the pictures to spot the shifter or count the pedals.
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      09-12-2017, 11:30 AM   #5
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it out there i just got my last month. 2012 z4 28i manual with only 28k mile under $30k but i did have it shipped to me from CA to MA
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      09-12-2017, 02:12 PM   #6
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Having owned both, I feel I can give you some insight. The ride and feel of the 2013 or newer cars is better than the 2012's or older. Not to say that the older ones are bad, but the newer one post revamp is better. My '11 was manual, and my '15 is DCT. I wanted a "new" Z04 (4k miles!) and so I made the jump from stick to paddles.

I did regret it big time at first... but that has softened somewhat now that I have become used to the DCT. Biggest complaint with the DCT is that it is slower than the manual for lightning fast stop light jumps, but boy once it gets going it's a complete blast. I have taken to using the manual shifting (I prefer the lever over the paddles), and I actually can imagine what the DCT is doing as I roll away in first gear. Now for the good news.... downshifting is a blast. I love the way it blips the throttle, especially in sport mode with the gurgling exhaust.

As per my BMW shop foreman's instructions I learned to put the car in both sport modes as a matter of habit. But, as time has gone on, I find myself leaving it in comfort mode more often, simply enjoying the car doing all the work for me.

When I set out to buy my "new" one, I was not aware that the manual had been discontinued, and I was disappointed when I found out that there were no '15 or '16's with stick. But I could not resist the deal that I found on my '15, and coupled with 2.5 years of new car warranty, and 3 years of certified warranty, I made the compromise.

Do I regret it? Only a wee bit now compared to how I felt at first, and I imagine over time the regret will fade entirely.

If you are buying an older one with no warranty, then be patient and wait for a stick... it will come along. But do not fear living with the DCT if the car has a decent stretch of warranty left.

Cheers!
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      09-19-2017, 07:01 PM   #7
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It's been a slow day at work so I've been enjoying my hobby of online car shopping and thought I'd look for a Z4 35i with an actual manual and actually found something.

2011 Z4 35i in Melbourne Florida for $26k
http://cpo.bmwusa.com/used/2011-BMW-...LM7C53BE383467
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      09-21-2017, 10:48 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tangent View Post
It's been a slow day at work so I've been enjoying my hobby of online car shopping and thought I'd look for a Z4 35i with an actual manual and actually found something.

2011 Z4 35i in Melbourne Florida for $26k
http://cpo.bmwusa.com/used/2011-BMW-...LM7C53BE383467
BEAUTIFUL!!!
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      09-30-2017, 04:22 PM   #9
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I wouldn't write off the DCT until you have tried one out. I also wanted a manual Z4 but my first Z4 was a 2011 35is. Once I got used to the DCT I loved it. The shifts are lightning fast, this is not a normal Auto Trans, do your research, you are getting an auto shifted manual with sport modes and launch control.

I just nabbed me a 2016 demo 35is and not once was a thinking of finding an older car with a manual.

Also, remember the 35is has more upgrades then the added HP. There are larger brakes, better cooling, overboost, better exhaust.

If you Tune either 35's you end up with the same power but remember the 35is was equipped with better cooling because of the overboost.


This is why I was torn on buying a 35i, I passed on many 35i's because the cost to upgrade the cooling and brakes was higher than moving to a 35is.
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      10-03-2017, 11:05 AM   #10
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Wink

Its a long standing question isnt it stick shift or auto? I first went through the decision with my first 981 Boxster-S and went with a manual shift against the sales guys advice (everybody wants PDK it will hit your resale), two years later I was offered a great deal on a new 981S but with PDK and went for that. Initially I was horribly disappointed but quickly learned to move to sport mode. I then had a 987S with PDK, then a 991 with PDK but then swapped back to manual with my next 981S. For me the Boxster really suits a manual stick shifter, the PDK is fantastic, especially on the track but for a fun blast its not in the same league as manual shifting with heel and toe etc..
Roll forward to today and I've checked out of the Porsche (money reasons mainly but also comfort) and have had a 35iS with DCT for a few months now. I havent driven a stick shift E89 but unlike the Boxster which didnt feel suited to the PDK box, the Z4 feels like it was designed from day ne to have one as the default. The car is softer in most ways compared to the 981S and that suits the DCT shift IMO, that said moving to sport and the straight line performance is impressive, subjectively it feels as quick as the Boxster and the DCT box is every bit as good as the Porsche PDK, maybe even better in terms of smoothness and selection of the appropriate next gear.
Of course the other advantage of the DCT is slow traffic, lots of that in the UK and being able to left foot brake and take it easy when in a line of cars is pretty satisfying compared to dipping the clutch every few seconds.
Despite all of the above however if you will feel like your soul will be lost to the dark side if you go DCT..get a manual!
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      10-09-2017, 09:29 AM   #11
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I say get what you want always. I got the auto/paddle shifter and it's been a joy. In traffic, the lack of a clutch pedal makes life easier.

Good luck in your search.
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      10-23-2017, 06:59 PM   #12
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I went from a 2015 2.0t with 8-speed auto to a 2011 3.0 with 6-speed manual.

It's not a fast car, but I like the suspension a lot more (both had adaptive suspension) and the manual shift is worth it for me. The clutch and the shifter are a bit cumbersome compared to the best manual cars. It looks like that can be fixed with a clutch stop, clutch adjustment and a shorter, weighted shift knob, which I didn't do yet.
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      10-23-2017, 09:52 PM   #13
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i have both.. 2010 dct 35i and a 2011 6mt 35i

my dct is for sale as of yesterday. love the car, i have white on red and its more sexy looking than my 6mt but i do love the clutch
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