Used Automotive Assessment – E89 BMW Z4

The BMW Z automobiles have at all times occupied a little bit of a bizarre area within the BMW world. Regardless of having two seats, they don’t seem to be fairly devoted sports activities automobiles. Normally a roadster, they’ve been known as a extra grownup Miata or poor man’s Porsche Boxster. The Z automobiles additionally aren’t usually the primary place for even die-hard BMW lovers to look once they’re searching for a automobile. They’ll normally chase the M3 or M5, or perhaps a coupe 3 Sequence earlier than trying to the Z3 or Z4.

So, what’s the deal? Much less seats = extra efficiency, proper? Shouldn’t lovers be clamoring over these items? Effectively, sure and no. I spent a few days residing with the last-gen E89 Z4 to see if it was a misunderstood wunderkind I suspected it may be.

A Glimpse on the Previous: the E89 Z4 at a Look

The BMW Z4 advanced from its predecessor, the Z3, in 2003. Apparently, the first-gen Z4 was designed by Anders Warming – the present Design Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Vehicles. The second era debuted in 2009 because the E89 and ditched the ragtop for a Rube Goldberg-ian folding aluminum hardtop. The newfangled high partially contributed to the next curb weight, and in complete, the E89 weighs nearly 300 kilos greater than its predecessor. It most likely gained’t shock you to know that this E89 Z4 is longer, wider, and sits larger than the one earlier than.

For these of you paying consideration, this most likely sounds fairly acquainted. 12 months after yr, BMW releases thrilling new autos for us to take pleasure in. And yr after yr, we Management+F the press launch for “curb weight” and lament that our favourite sports activities automobile fashions now have extra in widespread with a college bus than we thought doable. Happily for the E89 Z4, a 3,241-pound curb weight is virtually featherweight by 2024’s requirements. Certain, it’s no Miata, however the one additionally makes round double the facility because the final Miata I drove.

Yellow, Not Precisely Mellow

And energy is what the Z4 sDrive35i does completely proper. The Z4 sDrive35i mannequin – just like the 335i it shares most of its every part with – makes use of the three.0-liter N55 engine. You get 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque from the turbo six-cylinder. It pairs up with a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized with ergonomically-challenged paddle shifters. Push to downshift, pull to upshift. Bizarre, however not an insurmountable hurdle. FYI, mannequin yr 2012 and newer comes with the newer model of paddle shifters.

A little bit of a miss on the {hardware}, then. Nonetheless, it did include is a flashy yellow paint job. Atacama Yellow paint with yellow Alcantara inside highlights are a part of the zanily-named Unique Citrus Yellow Bundle. This $1,500 addition provides the paint and inside combo – unique to those automobiles. It additionally will get you piano black trim, which on this automobile, was well-stained and fingerprinted to a predictable stage.

Efficiency and Driving Impressions of the E89 Z4

So, the factor seems to be the half and has a fairly strong drivetrain – however is all of it for present? Effectively, not completely. The Z4 sDrive35i has wonderful fundamentals. The N55 engine is a sweetheart that sings a throaty, if not unique tune, and the dual-clutch remains to be certainly one of my favourite transmissions – wonky shifting be damned. Energy is swift and accessible all through the rev vary, and the Z4 at all times feels fairly mild on its ft. Granted, the sense of agility may be extra of an indictment of the trendy state of the sports activities automobile. The automobile feels linked to the highway and is shockingly much like what my previous 135i felt like (in equity, the 2 fashions share mechanicals).

But it surely’s the final half that will get me. A two-seater – particularly one that appears this good – mustn’t really feel like a daily automobile, it doesn’t matter what velocity you’re driving. The steering is nice however not nice. It was an odd sensation; turn-in is balanced, however there’s plenty of guesswork after that. To fight the wallowing steering really feel, I toggled some settings and located that Sport+ solely succeeds in making steering an artificially colossal effort. Dialing issues into Sport mode takes away a few of the weight however doesn’t repair it completely – a extra apt title could be Compromise mode.

No Goldilocks, Regardless of the Coloration

I suppose the very last thing to cowl is whether or not the E89 Z4 is value contemplating towards the latest era. It’s shut. The G29 Z4 swells one other 400 kilos regardless of regaining a delicate high. But it surely additionally has a extra usable trunk. It makes a good bit extra energy within the Z4 M40i trim, however the auto is rather less participating – if extra refined – than the E89’s DCT. The B58 is overwhelmingly the higher mill, however I’m not utterly certain it’s sufficient to advantage the tens of hundreds of {dollars} extra I’d spend entering into it. Possibly name it a draw and provides me whichever one has a handbook transmission.

Whereas the Z4 sDrive35i isn’t good, it does have loads going for it. I want this had been the N54-powered iS model for some added persona, however I don’t suppose the decision would have modified. 13 years later, the E89 Z4 is gratifying total, however maybe not the sports activities automobile worth of, say, a 981 Cayman or Boxster. It’s, nonetheless, a automobile I feel flies below the radar for a lot of lovers.

It’s worthy of a take a look at drive, on the very least. With costs presently floating between $20,000 and $30,000, it’s good energy and appears for the cash if you happen to don’t wish to drive a Vette or platform-mate just like the 335i or 135i. I don’t suppose the Z4 is misunderstood – it simply isn’t pretty much as good as we desperately need it to be.