BMW Z4 2.0i Review

Overall Rating

The straight six engine sounds fantastic, especially above 4500rpm.
Scuttle shake is almost non-existent.
The styling - ok, some people hate it but it makes sense of what Chris Bangle is trying to achieve.
The roof mechanism - 9.8 seconds to retract!
One of the best manual gearboxes I've come across.

Difficult to clean.
Blunt nose prone to stone chips.
Steering too heavy at high speed.
Build quality a little suspect compared to German built cars.

Finally, after the horrible mess that was the Z3 BMW finally come up with a decent drop top that handles and performs as it should - the BMW Z4 . In terms of performance it sits between the Boxter and the Boxter S and due to an abundance of torque at the bottom end its a better car than the S2000 as its more driveable.

Starting with the engine, the sound of the BMW straight six is brilliant - its one of those engines that makes you want to seek out tunnels just to listen to it revving and it's particularly good the higher up the range you go turning into a howling snarl around 6000rpm. It's flexible around town due to a decent slug of torque lower down making it an ideal real world car but it also appreciates a good ragging on the right roads.

The gearbox (in manual form) is also a delight encouraging you to make full use of it, although sixth to fifth could be easier. Having said that, sixth gear is irritating in the extreme and is too long making hard work of full bore acceleration at motorway speeds.

As far as steering, grip and handling are concerned the car turns in crisply although it is far too heavy at higher speeds. Around 110 - 120mph (on Autobahns) you have to manhandle the car and it requires far too much steering input for my liking. Although severe bumps and potholes can unsettle the car it generally copes well for a soft top with little scuttle shake in evidence but for some reason it seems to ground out too easily at hight speed which was surprising. With the traction control turned off and the sport button depressed its time to have some fun. The Z4 takes most corners in it's stride turning in positively with just a hint of undeersteer which can be provoked into oversteer with liberal applications of the accelerator. I've yet to find the limits of adhesion and probably won't until it's done a track day so suffice to say, that for everyday use there's more than enough. However, the ride is firm and it will be interesting to see what effect a change of rubber has to replace the harder than normal sidewalls of the Bridgestone run flat tyres that come as standard.

I feel the build quality is not quite what it should be for a £30k + car, especially when you look at the trim where normally you can't see. Around the footwells, the quality of plastic is very low rent and behind the seats bits of excess leather are visible which detracts from the overall level of satisfaction. Put it this way, when I shut the door in the showroom it sounded surprisingly tinny when compared to the 5 series next to it.

Next up is the interior which is a model of simplicity and should be mandatory for all cars. The controls are simple and unfussy and you're not overwhelmed with dials and buttons that clutter up the dashboard - the ventilation controls do exactly what it says on the tin. The only beef that I have is with the roof - it should be a one touch operation and you should not have to sit there for almost 10 seconds with your finger on the button. Still, beats a manual drop top anyday! The Carver sound system is a worthwhile investment giving audio levels that are brilliant at all speed levels. Put it this way, you can clearly hear the CD at over 120mph with the roof down which is impressive.

Other than that, the brakes work well although the traction control is particularly intrusive and irritating, cutting in too abruptly so you end up turning it off in annoyance when it could be helping you out.

Overall, I'd say its a good package which could handle some more power although I'd recommend the 18 inch wheels which not only fill the arches but look as if they are easier to clean than the 17 inch items that my wife's car has. The handling is good although a little benign at times (but if you want a hooligans car, then TVR will take your money) which can be thrashed or cruised depending on your mood.

Members' Comments onSqatters Rights's Review

• mlineberger on 20th May 2004

  I agree. I have an 03 z4 that had never been titled and purchased it with only 1200 miles. The run flat tires are stiffer. The 10 second roof I can live with but let it open or shut while moving. I know you can't do this on the highway but at least while you are rolling. Mine will only open/shut is I am below 5 mph. I enjoy it very much and do recommend it. Looks like they will hold value pretty well too.

• Sqatters Rights on 27th May 2004

  The roof is frustrating especially as the 6 Series system can be operated at speeds up to 25mph, so why they couldn't do the same with the Z4 I've no idea.