2019 to 2021 changes U.K. spec

Z

Zorro4

Member
Hi all, quick intro my name’s Al and I’ve been watching the forum since I purchased my Z4 M40i in December 2019. I’ve never really had anything to add until now .
I was so impressed with my 2019 Z4’s abilities that I decided while I could and before things really start to change with emissions and legislation etc, that I would purchase another 2021 model in the spec I wanted .
However, it would seem that a number of changes have already been made since 2019 and these are my personal experiences of the new car .
The 2021 car feels far more compliant on the road but whilst doing so it seems to have lost all of its sports car feel and now feels like a full on GT car. The car seems to ride higher and there’s a lot more body roll. It also has a much softer ride feeling quite soggy at times. The 2019 model cornered with hardly any body roll at all and handled superbly in my opinion .
Engine:
To me it sounds much quieter, pops and cackles are gone and power delivery seems even more lower down the rev range than it did before with less power up top .
Gearbox smoother, changes more gently.
Personally I liked the snappy changes of the 2019 Z4 more.
Steering:
Lighter with even less feedback .
I’ve tried all the settings and waited until I’d done over 1400 miles in it before I came to my conclusion and I was wondering if anybody could confirm these changes and let me know if it’s all software or if the springs or roll bars have been changed since the 2019 production .
Apologies for such a long winded first post.
 
Interesting post Zorro. :thumbsup:

I take it you have the same engine as before..? You’ll feel a difference on brand new tyres as opposed to the gradual decline of worn ones you may have left your other car with. Other than that I don’t ‘think’ there would be any mechanical changes, it’s too new a model.

Anyway congrats on the new one and pics when you get chance please. :thumbsup:
 
Well the latest version has a different engine version and a different gearbox revision.

Given that so much of how these cars feel is governed by s/w parameters they could well have changed those which could have a marked effect I how it feels…and goes..
 
Thanks for the replies . Both engines state B58c on the order forms . I don’t know what versions of ZF boxes they are . The changes are far more than tyres. I’d say spring damper and ride height changes along with throttle mapping etc . Basically the new car feels in sport plus the way the old car felt in comfort ride wise .
 

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Interesting points, coming from someone who has owned both,op.


From my search,as you say,the engine does appear to be the same designation according to BMW, but the gearbox has had a software update, apparently,to smooth out the shifts.
Maybe a result of"owner feedback", who knows.

Can't find any info on changes to the suspension. As john-e89 said,too new a model for them to start revising suspension components,which they had only just newly developed with Toyota, in development since 2013, so it would be odd if they had changed it already,given its all new,multi link etc?
I don't doubt what you're saying though,about it feeling different
I remember test driving two 2002/2003 Seat Leon Cupra's at two different garages,both brand new at the time,and one felt sharper in bends than the other,so bought to he one further away (both were pre registered new cars,no mileage on them).
Thought that strange at the time.

Maybe just this one is the same?
Would be interesting to know if they have changed the suspension?

Keep us posted if you find out.
 
Interesting.
I haven’t heard of this before. Any different options from your 2019 car?

I’m waiting on my new car which replaced my March 2020 car.
Won’t be able to compare until then.
 
The only extra option over my previous M40i was the tech pack .
I did wonder if due to shortages in the current climate that Magna Steyr might have had to source some of their components and materials from different sources , or if it might just be one of BMWs so called quality enhancement software upgrades
 
Real oem shows different engine codes / part numbers and different auto box codes and part numbers.

According to real oem rear dampers, which is when I gave up, are the same.

As I said with s/w changes you can change the feel dramatically ..

On this car with an engine, rear diff, auto box, dampers, brakes all s/w controlled who knows..

Without access to the code readers on both cars with access to s/w revision level and parameter changes it’s a guess.

I do know for example on mine that just toggling a few parameters in the DSC unit completely changes the feel of the brakes and how they react..
 
Thank you for looking Into that for me .
I totally agree with you on the S/W changes . I had an M240i have a BMW QE software Change a while back which totally changed just about everything on the car and made it feel like a completely different car (for the worse I’d like to add).
 
YES I do , the 2021 model is nowhere near as much fun as the 2019 model I had . It feels less responsive and wallowy . The 2021 Z4 however feels more comfortable and is better on a long run I have to admit .
My advice would be if you have a 2019 model keep hold of it FOREVER.
 
If you know what you are doing you can, probably, get most of the feeling back by altering the s/w parameters and are-map..but it’s definitely not for the faint hearted or technologically illiterate..not to mention booting your warranty into the long grass…
 
I can’t defiantly say the ride height has changed as I don’t have the two cars side by side or the ride height measurements of my old car. All I can say is that it feels slightly higher due to the way it rolls in the bends . I always felt the party piece of these cars was the way they handled . That now sadly seems gone in favour of a more comfortable ride with what feels like more suspension travel . If I’d never driven a 2019 car I’d be more than happy with what I’ve just purchased, It’s just I know it can be better . I wouldn’t want to mess with the software due to warranty issues etc and the fact that every time they service it or there’s an issue they plug it in at BMW and it just sends it back to factory or gives it the latest QE update. :headbang:
 
Zorro4 said:
YES I do , the 2021 model is nowhere near as much fun as the 2019 model I had . It feels less responsive and wallowy . The 2021 Z4 however feels more comfortable and is better on a long run I have to admit .
My advice would be if you have a 2019 model keep hold of it FOREVER.
Click to expand...

Sounds like pretty sound advice. My 2019 G29 continues to be the best all round BMW I’ve owned. :thumbsup:
 
All seems to be working fine .
Comfort is very soft and probably one of the most compliant cars I’ve ever driven . The plus side to this is I now think it would take 20” rims with ease . (Maybe there’s a z4m on the way)
Sport and sport plus it firms up but nowhere near the the stiffness the 2019 had but it definitely gets firmer.
Adaptive
You can still feel the car changing as your driving style and road types change .
I think they’ve just made the whole thing softer. Along with the throttle response and I have carried out the throttle re-set just to be sure .
 
They changed a number of s/w parameters on the E89s over time so it’s nothing new..it’s just the range of systems now that are s/w controlled….Zorro4 is probably relatively unique in having that ability to compare the behavioural characteristics of two models..most never know what changed so just accept it for what it is.. :thumbsup:
 
Thank you for your replies and yes I have accepted it for what it is. In some ways it’s a better car but as I’ve said in others it feels less of a sports car. I would advise any of you to be cautious if you put your 2019 Z4 in for a service and you are told it’s due a “QE” update you may be disappointed with the car you receive back. :-D
 
I think the software updates that happen over the app will do the same as going into the dealer?

My m40I was a March 2020 car, but when my new car arrives in October I’ll try and compare.
 
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