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Will the 23i be enough

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
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mr wilks
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by mr wilks » Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:10 pm

bazzab wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:54 pm
mr wilks wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:35 pm [quote=bazzab post_id=<a href="tel:1491523">1491523</a> time=<a href="tel:1512332986">1512332986</a> user_id=12444]
Glad you commented mr Wilkes, if it was used more I’d love to put more to it, but I run it on a tight budget servicing myself to keep costs down etc.
I think I might have to look at saving a little more 😳
Have you driven a E89 yet ? Again jmo & not meant to talk the na 6 cylinders down but if you want to feel some poke but don't want to throw £12 / £13k into a leggy 35i i would give consideration to a 20i 60k-70k car :wink: choose well with regard stamped oil services & add a remap you would have a car that felt much quicker than a 262 na car even if on paper the numbers were a little less

Not driven one at all, the 2.0 would fit but the reason for looking at the 2.3 was the price.
Think the cheapest nice 2.0 I’ve seen was around 10k and was cat d.
Is the drive nice in the e89?
What about creature comforts such as the I drive/satnav?
Thanks all for commenting
[/quote]

Spec is a personal thing , for me idrive , nav , cruise , uprated hi-fi are nice to have but would never stop me buying a potentially good car ( i don't have navspec on current 35i)
Mine sees minimal weekend use so not crucial to have a fully loaded car .
As for the drive / cabin ? E89s are a massive step forward with cabin noise , space , seats (Msport) dash layout but no matter the power , mods or tweaks will never give the driver the same connection or go-kart drive thrill of the 85 / 86
3 ZMRs
3 E89s
5 Si coupes
5 Si roadsters
997 C4
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F82 M4
MK7 Golf Gti
current Bmw 6 Gran Turismo

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Kugaman1
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Kugaman1 » Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:19 pm

Ok, I’ve just come out of my 23i and into a 20i.

The 23i is not the quickest as it only really moves at the higher end of the revs. Problem is, for 90% of the time I’m driving in the lower end of the Rev range.
The 20i is very different as the turbo means it’s much torquier and pulls at all revs. For day to day driving, the 20i is much more versatile.

When I drove down south in the 23i (to trade in against the 20i) I got caught out a few times when on the motorway in 6th. If I pulled out to pass a lorry, there is nothing at all underfoot unless you change down to 4th.....
Coming home again in the 20i......soooo different, never needed to change down at all as it pulls well in any gear.

However, finally, as a balance, the 23i sounds much better!

HillWalker
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by HillWalker » Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:46 pm

Kugaman1 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:19 pm Ok, I’ve just come out of my 23i and into a 20i.

The 23i is not the quickest as it only really moves at the higher end of the revs. Problem is, for 90% of the time I’m driving in the lower end of the Rev range.
The 20i is very different as the turbo means it’s much torquier and pulls at all revs. For day to day driving, the 20i is much more versatile.

When I drove down south in the 23i (to trade in against the 20i) I got caught out a few times when on the motorway in 6th. If I pulled out to pass a lorry, there is nothing at all underfoot unless you change down to 4th.....
Coming home again in the 20i......soooo different, never needed to change down at all as it pulls well in any gear.

However, finally, as a balance, the 23i sounds much better!

That's exactly why I changed my 23i for a 35is, not for more outright power but more torque, the shove from the 3 litre twin turbo and the sound of the 6cyl with sports exhaust is very addictive without driving fast.

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Will the 23i be enough

Post by clarker63 » Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:43 am

I've got the 2.3i and don't feel it is underpowered. Considering I came from a S2000 I thought (as others suggested at the time) that the 2.5 isn't really sporty enough. However the 6 cylinder pulls very well low down in comparison with the Honda where to get the most of it I you have to give it lots of revs (which is exciting but not that relaxing to drive).
One of the guys on the forum lives near me and took me out in his 3.5is which was much faster - but in my early 50s I'm happy with a relatively quick car, that looks great and is engaging to drive, roof up or down. If you're young you'll be intoxicated by the power but IMHO you become less obsessed with pure speed as you get older! Also the 2.5 is much cheaper and less expensive to own.. horses for courses...
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Nictrix
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Nictrix » Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:51 am

Kugaman1 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:19 pm

When I drove down south in the 23i (to trade in against the 20i) I got caught out a few times when on the motorway in 6th. If I pulled out to pass a lorry, there is nothing at all underfoot unless you change down to 4th.....
What speed were you doing that you had to do that? Was it uphill?
On the motorway I have never felt the need to drop 2 gears to pass someone no matter what car I have been driving.
Maybe yours was broken :)
E89 2014 35i M Sport Black with Black leather :)

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Will the 23i be enough

Post by flybobbie » Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:00 am

Dropping two gears near the motorway speed limit would probably redline my 23i.
Interesting some early reviews of the zed said the 35i was over powered and the 23i more engaging as you have to work the engine a lot more. If a daily drive i think the 23i more economical, mine averages 28 to 42 mpg. If it was a 35i i think it would drop to 22 to 33 and i'm sure some could get it down to the same mpg as the RX7 i once owned, 18mpg on a good day.

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Northotheborder
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Northotheborder » Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:46 pm

I like my 23i, bought it to use at the weekends. It had 14,000 miles on it when I got it, full BMW history, auto, sat nav, 19" alloys, pdc, heated seats etc... how much fun can you have for less than the price of a Ford Fiesta

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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Vonlipvig » Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:49 pm

flybobbie wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:00 am Dropping two gears near the motorway speed limit would probably redline my 23i.
It doesn't :thumbsup:
2009 Sapphire Black 23i

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jabber
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by jabber » Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:59 pm

I went from a 3.0 e85 to a 23 sdrive e89 and was disappointed with both power and handling so went back to another 3.0 e85, but now being older and less flexible I have settled on 3.0 e89 and find it a good compromise. I wouldn’t have thought there would be a huge difference in running costs betwwen the the 2 6 cylinders
Z less again
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg

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Kugaman1
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Kugaman1 » Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:19 pm

Nictrix wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:51 am
Kugaman1 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:19 pm

When I drove down south in the 23i (to trade in against the 20i) I got caught out a few times when on the motorway in 6th. If I pulled out to pass a lorry, there is nothing at all underfoot unless you change down to 4th.....
What speed were you doing that you had to do that? Was it uphill?
On the motorway I have never felt the need to drop 2 gears to pass someone no matter what car I have been driving.
Maybe yours was broken :)
Nope, definitely not broken :roll: , it was a mint 23000 mile car. If you are driving along at 60mph in 6th and floor it......nothing happens until you drop a couple of cogs. The simple fact is that, as others on here agree, the 23i is pretty low on torque at low revs.....it develops most of its power higher up.
Dont get me wrong, it was not a factor whatsoever in me changing mine, I changed for other reasons, Im just responding to the OPs question. Simple fact is that for a car with sporty pretentions, the 23i can be found lacking sometimes.
Im no speed freak, the 20i is no quicker on paper, however as its more torquey, it feels a lot quicker in normal driving.

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Nictrix
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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Nictrix » Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:51 pm

Kugaman1 wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:19 pm
Nictrix wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:51 am
Kugaman1 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:19 pm

When I drove down south in the 23i (to trade in against the 20i) I got caught out a few times when on the motorway in 6th. If I pulled out to pass a lorry, there is nothing at all underfoot unless you change down to 4th.....
What speed were you doing that you had to do that? Was it uphill?
On the motorway I have never felt the need to drop 2 gears to pass someone no matter what car I have been driving.
Maybe yours was broken :)
Nope, definitely not broken :roll: , it was a mint 23000 mile car. If you are driving along at 60mph in 6th and floor it......nothing happens until you drop a couple of cogs. The simple fact is that, as others on here agree, the 23i is pretty low on torque at low revs.....it develops most of its power higher up.
Dont get me wrong, it was not a factor whatsoever in me changing mine, I changed for other reasons, Im just responding to the OPs question. Simple fact is that for a car with sporty pretentions, the 23i can be found lacking sometimes.
Im no speed freak, the 20i is no quicker on paper, however as its more torquey, it feels a lot quicker in normal driving.
I suppose it really depends on how much acceleration you want and how quickly you want it.
E89 2014 35i M Sport Black with Black leather :)

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Will the 23i be enough

Post by PinkPineapple44 » Mon Dec 04, 2017 4:58 pm

Vonlipvig wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:49 pm
flybobbie wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:00 am Dropping two gears near the motorway speed limit would probably redline my 23i.
It doesn't :thumbsup:
Even dropping 3 gears won't red line my 3.0 :thumbsup:

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Will the 23i be enough

Post by HillWalker » Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:57 pm

From 50 to 70 in top gear my 1.4 petrol Skoda Yeti was quicker than my 23i Z4, nuff said, the problem is the lack of torque at low revs combined with the high gearing, obviously to give good fuel consumption figures. Like Kugaman said 90% of the time your driving along at a couple of thousand revs and when you put your foot down nothing happens. The yanks used to have an expression " There's no substitute for cube's " these days with much smaller engines than their 5 litre monsters, I think it should be there's no substitute for turbo's.

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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Kugaman1 » Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:26 am

HillWalker wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:57 pm From 50 to 70 in top gear my 1.4 petrol Skoda Yeti was quicker than my 23i Z4, nuff said, the problem is the lack of torque at low revs combined with the high gearing, obviously to give good fuel consumption figures. Like Kugaman said 90% of the time your driving along at a couple of thousand revs and when you put your foot down nothing happens. The yanks used to have an expression " There's no substitute for cube's " these days with much smaller engines than their 5 litre monsters, I think it should be there's no substitute for turbo's.
Thanks Hillwalker, glad someone else knows exactly where I was coming from!

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Will the 23i be enough

Post by Theivz » Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:47 pm

i have a 23i and like mr wilkes says for 95% of the time it is more than enough power. The only times it wasn't enough power was on 1. track and 2. racing friends in their supercars through twisties. It wasn't a slouch though and I achieved top 3 fast lap times (gravelly). I also agree that the car accelerates best at higher rev ranges which for me is enough to keep me happy on a spirited drive. You learn to find the torque there. I definitely enjoy the combination of a manual box with the linear straight six. Its very predictable and reproducible power. I love the control. In terms of out and out shove it doesn't have the all out power you want but like has been said for the money its hard to beat. The other important aspect is that it feels fast and fun and many faster cars I've driven haven't felt nearly as fun which is why i'm struggling with what to upgrade to. A bigger engine may be more fun but I haven't experienced the power delivery to be able to comment. I chose the 23i over a 35is mainly on enjoyment (but also running costs). I havent driven a 35i or a 30. I definitely would say test drive one. Remember to put it in sport mode.. good luck :thumbsup:

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