Life after the Z4 - update Sept 2012

A

a11y

Veteran
 Central Scotland
Following THIS THREAD a few weeks ago, I finally found the replacement for my Z4 :)

What a hard time I had choosing a replacement - the Z4 will be hard to match. Initially RWD and a nice engine soundtrack were top of my list along with cheaper running costs, but after driving Mrs a11y's Fabia vRS on a forum meet I considered a return to a hot hatch. Even considered diesel as mpg would compensate somewhat for a duggaduggadugga soundtrack...

So I found myself looking:
- mk2 Audi TT 3.2 V6 (too thirsty, too impractical, continuing the hairdresser theme)
- Audi A5 1.8T/3.0TDI (out of budget, mileage on 2nd hand was intergalactic)
- mk5 Golf GTI / Audi A3 2.0T quattro (nice but dull)
- E87 130i M Sport (small boot but I love them!)
- E92 Coupe 325i/330i (classy but 2 doors)
- E90 320d/325i/330i (big and practical but too big for my tastes?)

After a few weeks of watching, I picked this up on Wednesday night (excuse the initial phone pics, but I don't want any TTIUWP comments!):


2012-06-14 New car (1) by Ally Mitchell, on Flickr


2012-06-14 New car (2) by Ally Mitchell, on Flickr


2012-06-14 New car (3) by Ally Mitchell, on Flickr


2012-06-14 New car (4) by Ally Mitchell, on Flickr


2012-06-14 New car (7) by Ally Mitchell, on Flickr

Well, you didn't expect me to give up on life and buy a people-carrier did you?! :rofl:

I would've loved if it'd been the coupe version but 4 doors will make life so much easier when mini-a11y arrives in November. It's very big n practical compared to my previous car history so I had to keep things interesting...

- BMW E90 330i M Sport saloon
- 2007/57 on 75k miles
- largely the same N52 engine as facelift Z4s: 258ps, 6-cylinder
- manual
- 32.5mpg
- Dakota leather, non-Flimper spec (i.e. Professional sat nav), DAB radio, cruise control, iDrive, bluetooth, MFSW, dual-zone digital climate, rear PDC, all the M Sport bits: exterior, sport seats, M Sport wheel, 18" MV3's, etc.
- 2 previous owners (BMW first 8 months then private owner til now)
- and the icing on the cake: Falken ZE912 non-runflats have recently replaced the RFTs, so that's one less thing to do

Only thing lacking is heated seats and xenons. Condition is impressive and not at all reflecting the mileage: 75k is high for a 4.5yr old car, but I averaged 3k a year in my Z4 so should bring it down nearer average miles before long.

Bought at Kinross SMA auction but I'm already in touch with the previous owner - turns out he traded it against a new car, but the BMW dealership stuck it into auction due to the high miles and age rather than AUC it themselves.

Hopefully that's as close enough to a Z4 that I'll still be tolerated on z4-forum meets :oops:

Cheers,
a11y
 
Good choice A11y!

The only issue with my 3 series is when the snow comes down, it won't get off my drive, but for 51 weeks of the year it's great, enjoy :driving:
 
Nice a11y - looking at one of these to replace Mrs Bing's Honda, so might be PMing you for advice when the time comes :D
 
Nice one a11y! :thumbsup:

I was going to say that'll keep the pace on any future meets, but you managed a great pace in the Fabia :oops:

Cracking car, looks great in white


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Darren Slone said:
The only issue with my 3 series is when the snow comes down, it won't get off my drive, but for 51 weeks of the year it's great, enjoy :driving:
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Given the colour and the amount of snow we had a couple of years ago, my concern will be misplacing it in a snow drift :oops:

Winter tyres and wheels will be a necessity for me - I suspect the 16" ones I had on my Z4 won't clear the calipers.


The only negative I can say so far is there needs to be more engine noise in the cabin when accelerating - but then I'm used to a roofless Z4 with 2/3 of the sound generator foam removed so anything else is going to be subdued. Just seems a shame to have that great-sounding engine suppressed so much. GruppeM-style intake system, I wonder...
 
Very nice ally, good choice. Now we have a pace car/safety car/support car/icebox car for our Scottish runs :)

Is the house up for sale as well or is that the neighbours? Upgrading to one with a nursery! If it's you and you're using Clyde, then we looked at some of the properties they were marketing. They did very little chasing us as buyers to provide feedback etc to sellers - didn't bother checking up we'd even bothered to go to some of the viewings.
 
Great choice. I'm always looking for 6 cylinder 330is and 335is and they hardly ever come with xenons, and even rarer to find one with memory seats, which is what I am used to these days. Good to see you went for a manual too - never understood wht so many of the higher end 3 series models always get specced as autos.

Tell me though, given you aren't due an arrival until November how come you sold on the Z4 so soon? Timing it with the arrival of good weather?
 
Adamski said:
Eibachs :evil:
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Nah, it's pretty low as it is - perfect arch gap all round. Of course if the springs snap then I might be forced to reconsider :lol:


cj_eds said:
Very nice ally, good choice. Now we have a pace car/safety car/support car/icebox car for our Scottish runs :)

Is the house up for sale as well or is that the neighbours? Upgrading to one with a nursery! If it's you and you're using Clyde, then we looked at some of the properties they were marketing. They did very little chasing us as buyers to provide feedback etc to sellers - didn't bother checking up we'd even bothered to go to some of the viewings.
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Just need a flashing light for the roof and we're sorted - Jo or JimmyPop can probably arrange that too :evil:

Yes, was our house for sale but we've decided to stay where we are: we've been on an assisted sale with Ogilvie, trying for a move into the High School development in Kings Park in Stirling, but that's been since February with no joy. The arrival due in Nov means we're happy to stay put and enjoy all the space: 6 double bedrooms, 2 ensuites, dining room, lounge, living room, sun lounge (2400sqft). Just hacked off with the uncertainty as there's some alterations we've got planned and want finished before Nov and at least now we'll be able to start them.


James_G said:
Great choice. I'm always looking for 6 cylinder 330is and 335is and they hardly ever come with xenons, and even rarer to find one with memory seats, which is what I am used to these days. Good to see you went for a manual too - never understood wht so many of the higher end 3 series models always get specced as autos.

Tell me though, given you aren't due an arrival until November how come you sold on the Z4 so soon? Timing it with the arrival of good weather?
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Yeah I'm a fan of manuals even if sometimes a good auto can shift quicker. I'd looked at manual 335i's but was put off by reliability reports hence stuck with n/a, and I looked at 335d's but couldn't believe they're only available with an auto box!

Basically chose to sell now to hit the peak sale season for convertibles. I'd have loved another "summer" of top-down driving, but I didn't want to be stuck chasing a sale at the end of the summer when there's many more on the market traditionally. Saying that, I'm looking at the weather outside right now and being very grateful I don't have a soft top, it's fecking poruing down and windy too...
 
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