The BMW Z4 is one of the best sports cars for enthusiasts as it offers a smooth, fast, agile, and easy-to-handle ride. Some of its close competitors are the Toyota Supra, Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayman, Audi TT, and Chevrolet Corvette.
Sports cars are not meant for everyday use and the BMW Z4 is not an exception. Even though you can utilize the BMW Z4 for a daily commute, it’s not ideal because of the overall cost involved. Besides, the BMW Z4 is not practical, therefore, it is not suitable for people with kids.
Overall, it is an excellent car for picnics and fun. Thanks to its high-end interior and advanced infotainment system. Furthermore, it performs exceptionally well, meaning that you will have a fun ride with your partner over the weekend.
History of the BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 is a line of roadsters made by BMW. The Z stands for Zukunft, and it has been manufactured in four different series with three generations, which include roadster, coupe, sports car, and concept variants.
The BMW Z4 came into existence in 2002 after it replaced the BMW Z3. The first generation was produced from 2002 to 2008, 2nd generation from 2009 to 2016, and the 3rd generation from 2018 to the present. The main difference between the BMW Z4 third generation and other generations is that it comes with a soft-top rooftop, while the other two come with a hard-top rooftop.
Features of the BMW Z4
Appearance
The BMW Z4 may not be the most beautiful roadster on the road, but it looks spectacular. This high-performance car comes with an unusually large kidney grille, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a lovely rear three-quarter view that make it look outstanding.
The interior of the BMW Z4 is well made with top-notch materials and finishes. It also has more legroom than most of its competitors, making it even more comfortable. Some of the outstanding features inside the Z4 are the soft-touch SensaTec-Trimmed dashboard, power-adjustable M-Sport seats, and Vernasca leather.
Performance
The BMW Z4 has two trim options. The first one is the standard sDrive30i with a 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 engine and rear-wheel-drive system. This engine also delivers up to 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It can also accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.
The second trim, which is the BMW Z4 M40i roadster comes with a 3.0-liter inline-6 gas engine with 8-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel-drive. This variant is more powerful as it produces up to 382 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. Besides, it has a top speed of 155 Mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds.
Fuel efficiency
Sports cars are known to be fuel guzzlers. However, that’s not the case with BMW Z4 as its one of the most fuel-efficient convertibles in its class. It has an EPA rating of 25 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined.
Price
The BMW Z4 is an affordable car as its luxurious, comfortable, performs exceptionally well, and it’s easy to handle. The standard BMW Z4 sDrive30i has a base price of $49,900, while the performance trim starts from $$63,700.
FAQ
Is BMW Z4 a good investment?
If you’re looking for an elegant and fun ride, the BMW Z4 is an excellent investment. It is beautifully designed and offers outstanding performance. But if you’re looking for a practical car with a low maintenance cost, the BMW Z4 is not for you.
Is BMW Z4 a reliable car?
No, BMW Z4 is not a reliable car. If you compare BMW Z4 with its competitors such as the Toyota Supra, Porsche Boxster, Chevrolet Corvette, and Audi TT, you will find that it is one of the least reliable cars in the class.
BMW Z4 is quite costly to maintain as its parts and service are somewhat expensive. Additionally, it breaks down often compared to its competitors. Nonetheless, this car has a slightly above reliability rating, which is a good thing.
What is high mileage on a BMW Z4?
BMW offers some of the most durable cars on the market. The BMW Z4 is not an exception. But like most BMWs, the BMW Z4 works excellently up to 250,000 miles. Regardless, most of the major BMW issues start after the car clocks over 100,000 miles.
Therefore, if you intend to buy a used BMW Z4, look for one that has not reached over 250,000 miles, which is high mileage for this car. Note that not all BMW Z4 clock over 250,000 miles. For your BMW to hit these miles, you will have to maintain it properly.
Is the BMW Z4 a good daily driver?
No, this is not a good car for daily driving. This is because the cost of maintaining it is slightly much higher compared to that of mainstream cars. What’s more, it uses more fuel than traditional cars, meaning you will spend more time on the road. Besides, it is not practical and not good if you have kids that you transport daily.
What are the common problems of the BMW Z4?
BMW Z4 is an excellent convertible, but like any other car, it also has a fair share of its issues. Some of which include electrical problems, faulty coolant system, engine misfiring, oil leaks, rust & corrosion on brake lines, and a defective convertible rooftop.
So, if you’re planning to own the BMW Z4, you should be ready to deal with some of these issues at some point. However, the issues also vary according to model year. Hence, you may experience some of the issues but not all of them.
Conclusion
Generally, BMW Z4 is an excellent car that many people would love to own. The Z4 is a 2-door convertible with a soft-top that you can easily open to enjoy the sun and wind. Additionally, it has two engine options, allowing the driver to either pick a standard option or a performance BMW Z4.
Unlike most of the cars in its class, the BMW Z4 is very spacious with considerable legroom. What’s more, it is also more fuel-efficient but it is not the best performing model in its class. In terms of reliability, the BMW Z4 is reliable but quite costly to maintain. Overall, it is a nice sports car with excellent performance.