Hi Guys,
So, I'm a long time reader of this part of the forum with the very occasional post... Mostly because of my terrible car history in the past. Now that this has improved I'll hopefully get more involved - just thought I'd make a post showing off my new car!
5 weeks ago I drove a 2002 Ford Focus before handing it over to my Dad and heading down to London to pick up my new car. Yes... it's "recession" white. Originally I was not a fan and I wasn't considering one, but when I saw this colour combination I was converted.
Anyway, pictures (taken on a not-sunny day with my HTC One M8 potato):
(A few more Here)
I know it's not as fancy as some cars on here (Today's M5 and Housey's R8 spring to mind) but I'm unbelievably happy with it.
Specs:
- August 2013 Z4 LCI 35iS
- 3l Twin Turbo N54 engine -340BHP,
- 7 Speed DCT Gearbox,
- 19" Style 326M wheels,
- Adaptive M Suspension,
- Folding roof,
- Metallic Mineral White exterior,
- Red Kansas leather interior, with brushed aluminium trim,
- Professional Navigation,
- Professional loudspeaker with DAB,
- Heated seats,
- Front/Rear parking sensors,
- Adaptive headlights,
- High beam assist,
- Extended storage,
- Auto lights/auto wipers/auto climate
It's easily the most powerful car I've owned and it's addictive, the power is effortless. The DCT is a joy around town, I've found, the changes are hardly noticeable, and when you want to floor it it's as responsive as I'd want.
The 35iS has a bit more power than the standard 35i and a louder exhaust, the noises it makes are awesome
Pops and crackles on gear change, especially downshift, and a lovely grumble when pushing on. Planting your right foot at 50 ish results in a cracking noise and silly speeds in no time - it's quite deceptively quick.
I was weary of buying a sporty car with an auto, but after test driving the newest BMW standard auto and then the DCT in a 35i I was converted. It makes getting out of the city in the morning easy, changes in the blink of an eye when you're actually driving and I'm even enjoying the paddle shifts when on a more "spirited" drive. Yeah, a manual may have been more involving, but this suits me perfectly.
The car is on runflats at the moment and the ride is quite firm, but not too bad. I think the adaptive suspension helps with this as the car manages to soak up most poor roads well. However, hit a pothole and you'll know about it through the noise alone. I had to have one with the 326M wheels though, I think they finish the car off better than any other wheel they offer on the Z4.
High beam assist and adaptive headlights are a bit of a gimmick, I find the high beams take a bit too long to lower when traffic is approaching and sometimes just plain don't bother, but the lights themselves are really rather good. The LCI got the new style of lights with the whiter coloured bulbs, so even in DRL form they look great. When the dark comes they illuminate everything in front of you (But I am comparing that to my focus from 2002).
The white manages to stay quite clean, even when it isn't, so I'm happy with that. It does look awesome when properly clean though, so it's something I'm going to have to keep on top of. I had been looking for a few months and aiming to buy before the summer tax for this sort of car arrived, thankfully I did. I test drove the TT, SLK, Z4 and Boxster and felt the Z4 was the best all rounder. It's definitely the prettiest, has a lovely 6 cylinder engine and has a much better interior than all but the very latest TT and SLKs (out of budget with decent engines). The argument that the Boxster is a better driver's car is probably valid, but the refinement and surprising comfort the Z4 offered means it'll be a better "normal" car I think. Not to mention the poor spec for most Boxters I looked at.
In the end I bought private from someone who had clearly cared well for the car. It's not had any issues (as you'd expect) and I'll be purchasing the BMW warranty when the new car one expires in 6 months. When I picked it up the car had done 7,250 and it's now done 9,500. The cost was £26k, which some may find expensive for a "last generation" BMW, but I don't feel short changed when sat inside it. Considering I saved three or four thousand compared to buying from a dealer I think I got a pretty good deal.
Oh, and only £440 a year to insure, even though I'm 24, with 15,000 miles a year as it's my daily.
So yeah. Very, very happy, have been enjoying the nice weather up north lately and will hopefully carry on enjoying the car for the next couple of years. Might even post a bit more or come to a meet should any happen nearby.
Be gentle, OcUK!
So, I'm a long time reader of this part of the forum with the very occasional post... Mostly because of my terrible car history in the past. Now that this has improved I'll hopefully get more involved - just thought I'd make a post showing off my new car!
5 weeks ago I drove a 2002 Ford Focus before handing it over to my Dad and heading down to London to pick up my new car. Yes... it's "recession" white. Originally I was not a fan and I wasn't considering one, but when I saw this colour combination I was converted.
Anyway, pictures (taken on a not-sunny day with my HTC One M8 potato):
(A few more Here)
I know it's not as fancy as some cars on here (Today's M5 and Housey's R8 spring to mind) but I'm unbelievably happy with it.
Specs:
- August 2013 Z4 LCI 35iS
- 3l Twin Turbo N54 engine -340BHP,
- 7 Speed DCT Gearbox,
- 19" Style 326M wheels,
- Adaptive M Suspension,
- Folding roof,
- Metallic Mineral White exterior,
- Red Kansas leather interior, with brushed aluminium trim,
- Professional Navigation,
- Professional loudspeaker with DAB,
- Heated seats,
- Front/Rear parking sensors,
- Adaptive headlights,
- High beam assist,
- Extended storage,
- Auto lights/auto wipers/auto climate
It's easily the most powerful car I've owned and it's addictive, the power is effortless. The DCT is a joy around town, I've found, the changes are hardly noticeable, and when you want to floor it it's as responsive as I'd want.
The 35iS has a bit more power than the standard 35i and a louder exhaust, the noises it makes are awesome
Pops and crackles on gear change, especially downshift, and a lovely grumble when pushing on. Planting your right foot at 50 ish results in a cracking noise and silly speeds in no time - it's quite deceptively quick. I was weary of buying a sporty car with an auto, but after test driving the newest BMW standard auto and then the DCT in a 35i I was converted. It makes getting out of the city in the morning easy, changes in the blink of an eye when you're actually driving and I'm even enjoying the paddle shifts when on a more "spirited" drive. Yeah, a manual may have been more involving, but this suits me perfectly.
The car is on runflats at the moment and the ride is quite firm, but not too bad. I think the adaptive suspension helps with this as the car manages to soak up most poor roads well. However, hit a pothole and you'll know about it through the noise alone. I had to have one with the 326M wheels though, I think they finish the car off better than any other wheel they offer on the Z4.
High beam assist and adaptive headlights are a bit of a gimmick, I find the high beams take a bit too long to lower when traffic is approaching and sometimes just plain don't bother, but the lights themselves are really rather good. The LCI got the new style of lights with the whiter coloured bulbs, so even in DRL form they look great. When the dark comes they illuminate everything in front of you (But I am comparing that to my focus from 2002).
The white manages to stay quite clean, even when it isn't, so I'm happy with that. It does look awesome when properly clean though, so it's something I'm going to have to keep on top of. I had been looking for a few months and aiming to buy before the summer tax for this sort of car arrived, thankfully I did. I test drove the TT, SLK, Z4 and Boxster and felt the Z4 was the best all rounder. It's definitely the prettiest, has a lovely 6 cylinder engine and has a much better interior than all but the very latest TT and SLKs (out of budget with decent engines). The argument that the Boxster is a better driver's car is probably valid, but the refinement and surprising comfort the Z4 offered means it'll be a better "normal" car I think. Not to mention the poor spec for most Boxters I looked at.
In the end I bought private from someone who had clearly cared well for the car. It's not had any issues (as you'd expect) and I'll be purchasing the BMW warranty when the new car one expires in 6 months. When I picked it up the car had done 7,250 and it's now done 9,500. The cost was £26k, which some may find expensive for a "last generation" BMW, but I don't feel short changed when sat inside it. Considering I saved three or four thousand compared to buying from a dealer I think I got a pretty good deal.
Oh, and only £440 a year to insure, even though I'm 24, with 15,000 miles a year as it's my daily.
So yeah. Very, very happy, have been enjoying the nice weather up north lately and will hopefully carry on enjoying the car for the next couple of years. Might even post a bit more or come to a meet should any happen nearby.
Be gentle, OcUK!
)
Mineral white is actually really nice too, much better than Alpine white which is the real recession white 
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