Most reliable Z?

[True-Blue]

Hi, first post here as looking to buy a Z4 as a weekend/Summer car.

I do a lot of business miles, and my employer is getting all ‘sustainable’ so I’ve ordered a Prius as it’s practically the only thing on the list that isn’t going to cost me fortune with the mileage I do and the mileage rates I can claim!

In order to maintain my sanity I’m going to be looking for a fun car that won’t need to be in the workshop all the time. I had a 125i Cabriolet on an 08 plate for a while, and loved the engine (after it was remapped properly) ...so I’m thinking the 3.0 is top choice?

I did have a 320i hardtop convertible for a while, but had no end of problems with it and the BMW specialist I took it too said the 2.0 petrol engine was one of the worst BMW had ever made, N46 I think it was from memory?

Anyway, although the 3.0 is top of my list (at this point) I’m keen to know if the 2.0 in the Z4 is the N46, and also how reliable the 2.2 and 2.5 engined variants are?

Any pointers very gratefully received!!

Thank you in advance.

[philbo909]

Indeed the 2.0 is the same engine
Most reliable is the m54, pre Facelift
N52 facelift is also reliable up until the water pump fails every 100k miles (£200 iirc)
If I was in the market for a roadster I would make it a 3.0i

[GarethFishr]

I have a pre-facelift 2.2i (m54) and it's faultless. I've driven it to France (Champagne) and to Belgium (Bruge) on separate occasions. I once drove it 7hrs from SW London to Whitehaven in the Lake District instead of the standard diesel workhorse (heatwave, sunshine - couldn't resist). Also regular 400mi round trips from London to Yorkshire to see the parents.

It's a car to be tinkered with if you want to though. It's probably one of the most accessible engines to work on, especially as it doesn't have a timing belt. I've taken a path of replacing and fixing anything which might go wrong just for peace of mind and the fact it got under my skin and I love it so what better way to spend a sunday than with your spanners out doing unnecessary stuff in the garage

If I could go back and do it again, I'd look for the 3.0l instead though but that's just because it's the biggest and best, not that I'm not satisfied with the smiles from the 2.2! In fact it's probably up there for me in the best cars I've ever driven.. feels as characterful as a classic but performs modern and has the modern features you would expect too - aircon, electric roof, etc.

In all honesty, the three BMW's I've owned of various ages have all been reliable - whether it's my 2yr old 3-series or the nearing 16yr old Z4.

[road warrior]

well if you have ordered a prius i dont think you need anything too exciting,.
as for the expert mechanic, i tend to find mechanics bitch about anything that causes them inconvenience so i would avoid him for starters, you will find many folk on here with the reliable 2.0 who will disagree with your lazy mechanic. I have one of each and its a sweet as a nut, handles like a go cart and is more fun to drive than the more tank like 3.0 and on twitchy roads will leave the 3.0 for dead . I also find its the people who dont have a 2.0 that seem to know the most about them - amazing eh

[Smartbear]

Brace yourself for the incoming salvo road warrior!
Rob

[road warrior]

hahah - ya think ?
i just love this forum
i see red sometimes when folk are soo quick to dismiss the 2.0, its a good car and handles like a go cart , i love my steve too of course - a brute of a car - but i have to give respect to the 2.0 - its a bloody good car - a 3.0 is faster of course - but corners ? a well driven 2.0 would surprise folk. and yes this convo about the most reliable, but i cant criticise a car thats never put a foot wrong now can i ?

[buzyg]

Buy an ///M. Treat em right and they are pretty much bullet proof. S54 is a work of genius.

[skelters]

You're probably doing enough for the environmentalists, hippies, vegans and the other assorted tree hugging humus eating weirdo's by driving a Prius.

Get a 3.0 SE, 3.0 SI, Z4M or Alpina and thrash it! Tank of dinosaur juice every weekend and a set of tyres every 6 months minimum or you'll lose your membership on here.
Small Animals and Trees!

That'll learn them!

[paddy wright]

The earlier M54 (2.2, 2.5 and 3.0) tend to be the most reliable. As with any older car you must buy on history and condition rather than mileage and spec to get the best car.

[True-Blue]

Thanks for all the input so far....

To be clear, I’ve ordered a Prius as it’s practically the only thing on my company car list that won’t crucify me based on my tax position and the mileage rates I can claim... nearly everything else would mean every mile I drive for work would cost me money personally. It is not a reflection of what I would consider to be exciting @road warrior but I’m guessing with a user name like that I’d need to be ordering an interceptor from Mad Max to be considered exciting?

Also, I have experience of the 2.0 engine in another BMW, and although it might be great in a Z4 it was forever going wrong in my 320i hardtop convertible. One of my friends had the same 320i as me, as a company car, and that had many engine problems and was in and out of the main dealers all the time from only a few months old...You’ve only got to google N46!

Thanks for all the positive input so far

[Mr Tidy]

Well first off welcome to the forum, True Blue.

Actually the first thing you need to decide is which model of Z4 you want! From 2003 to 2008 there was a Roadster - the E85. In early 2006 there was a facelift and a Coupe was added to the range - the E86. Then in 2009 both of these were replaced by the E89 with a folding metal roof.

FWIW my BMW Independent doesn't recommend less than 6 cylinders in a BMW!

So if you are looking at an E85 between 2003 and 2005 the sixes all use the M54 engine in different sizes - 2.2i, 2.5i and 3.0i which seems to be well regarded for reliability.

Facelift from 2006 it's the N52 engine in 2.5i, 2.5Si and 3.0Si formats, but the 2.5i is a detuned 2.5Si. This is the same engine you would have had in your 125i, but it doesn't need remapping as Z4s got the full power version. Other than the electric water pump these seem to be pretty reliable too.

The facelift also introduced the Z4M which has a great engine, but will cost more to run than the others - it depends if you think the extra performance justifies the extra!

Early E89 models also used the N52 but the 2.5 litre was called a 23i and the 3.0 litre was called a 30i - the start of BMWs confusing naming! There were also 35i and 35is models, but they use a 3 litre N54 engine with twin turbos which is probably going to cost more to run than the other sixes.

I've only had Coupes, but by all accounts the E89 seems to be regarded as a bit less "Sports Car" and a bit more "GT" than the earlier models. The only other downside with them is that boot space is limited if you want to have the roof down - which may not matter for a fun car.

Hope that helps a bit, but good luck deciding which one you want - and then finding one! And once you have found it, we like to see photos.

[Smartbear]

Well first off welcome to the forum, True Blue.

Actually the first thing you need to decide is which model of Z4 you want! From 2003 to 2008 there was a Roadster - the E85. In early 2006 there was a facelift and a Coupe was added to the range - the E86. Then in 2009 both of these were replaced by the E89 with a folding metal roof.

FWIW my BMW Independent doesn't recommend less than 6 cylinders in a BMW!

So if you are looking at an E85 between 2003 and 2005 the sixes all use the M54 engine in different sizes - 2.2i, 2.5i and 3.0i which seems to be well regarded for reliability.

Facelift from 2006 it's the N52 engine in 2.5i, 2.5Si and 3.0Si formats, but the 2.5i is a detuned 2.5Si. This is the same engine you would have had in your 125i, but it doesn't need remapping as Z4s got the full power version. Other than the electric water pump these seem to be pretty reliable too.

The facelift also introduced the Z4M which has a great engine, but will cost more to run than the others - it depends if you think the extra performance justifies the extra!

Early E89 models also used the N52 but the 2.5 litre was called a 23i and the 3.0 litre was called a 30i - the start of BMWs confusing naming! There were also 35i and 35is models, but they use a 3 litre N54 engine with twin turbos which is probably going to cost more to run than the other sixes.

I've only had Coupes, but by all accounts the E89 seems to be regarded as a bit less "Sports Car" and a bit more "GT" than the earlier models. The only other downside with them is that boot space is limited if you want to have the roof down - which may not matter for a fun car.

Hope that helps a bit, but good luck deciding which one you want - and then finding one! And once you have found it, we like to see photos.

You’ve forgotten to mention the 2litre turbo e89 models, with a great mixture of lower running costs & giant killing performance they make a choice that shouldn’t be ignored
Rob

[True-Blue]

Thanks again for the input,

I’m looking for a Roadster, as it’s just something for a bit of fun on summer weekends for me and the Mrs without the kids! I’m looking to spend no more than £5-£6k but will travel for the right car. I’ve started to read the ‘problems’ threads, so realise the springs are likely to go!! for starters.

I’m just starting to do my homework now, moving into a new house in March so hoping to buy late March/Early April when I’ll have a garage it can sit in over winter

[Jembo]

My only experience of the 2.0 was that of JohnnyEssex.

Of the two times I remember he came to Kent to enjoy the countryside meets, he had emission & other lights on his dash come up.

[Smartbear]

My only experience of the 2.0 was that of JohnnyEssex.

Of the two times I remember he came to Kent to enjoy the countryside meets, he had emission & other lights on his dash come up.

That was only because he’d turbocharged his ashtray or something
Rob