Z4 Pros and Cons

[looking for Z4]

I am looking to buy a 2017/18/19 probably 30i. Any recommendations on the year and pros and cons on the Z4. I don't expect anybody to write a book on this but any quick thoughts would be most appreciated, thanks.

 

[john-e89]

Hi there

They didn't make any Zeds in 2017 or 18, the E89 finished production in 2016, the new G29 came to market in 2019.

Pros are many, cons are very few, if you don't expect a razor sharp light car you'll be fine, excellent cars imho.

Good luck in your quest.

 

[Argyll Andy]

Hello and welcome.

You MAY find some of the info here useful but it’s pretty much M40i specific. As John says, the G29 was only introduced in 2019.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140230

Good luck with your search

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the forum. E89 looks better IMHO, as does the E85. But I gather the G29 drives better.

 

[Chris_D]

But I gather the G29 drives better.

Not in my experience, after spending a weekend and 200km with an M40i. Especially when comparing to my 3.0i E85.
Save your money and go for a 3.0i E85 or even Z4M. You'll thank me later.

But if you really want a lardy, benign GT laden with gimmicks and unecessary tech that will just end up going wrong instead of a true analogue roadster then go ahead, get yourself a G29.
At least do your own comparison first to avoid potential disappointment.
:wink:

 

[BigDave]

I couldnt fit comfortably in a E85 or E89, so the G29 I was for me...
Im tall with long legs so need the legroom, something the other cars didnt have...

And personally i think the G29 looks better..

 

[Argyll Andy]

And personally i think the G29 looks better.

+1 and the drive and handling is too, never had and issues keeping up with an E85/86/89

 

[buzyg]

But I gather the G29 drives better.

Not in my experience, after spending a weekend and 200km with an M40i. Especially when comparing to my 3.0i E85.
Save your money and go for a 3.0i E85 or even Z4M. You'll thank me later.

But if you really want a lardy, benign GT laden with gimmicks and unecessary tech that will just end up going wrong instead of a true analogue roadster then go ahead, get yourself a G29.
At least do your own comparison first to avoid potential disappointment.
:wink:

I was comparing the G29 to the E89 wrt my perception of the driving experience. ///MR all day long for me. But it's a completely different car, so hard to compare.

 

[ori]

But I gather the G29 drives better.

Not in my experience, after spending a weekend and 200km with an M40i. Especially when comparing to my 3.0i E85.
Save your money and go for a 3.0i E85 or even Z4M. You'll thank me later.

But if you really want a lardy, benign GT laden with gimmicks and unecessary tech that will just end up going wrong instead of a true analogue roadster then go ahead, get yourself a G29.
At least do your own comparison first to avoid potential disappointment.
:wink:

Says a man who obviously knows nothing about cars.
Buys lots, but understands nothing.

 

[DMike]

Hi and welcome to the forum! Cannot help with e89s but some say, ehem, that e85s are great little cars as well.

 

[Chris_D]

But I gather the G29 drives better.

Not in my experience, after spending a weekend and 200km with an M40i. Especially when comparing to my 3.0i E85.
Save your money and go for a 3.0i E85 or even Z4M. You'll thank me later.

But if you really want a lardy, benign GT laden with gimmicks and unecessary tech that will just end up going wrong instead of a true analogue roadster then go ahead, get yourself a G29.
At least do your own comparison first to avoid potential disappointment.
:wink:

Says a man who obviously knows nothing about cars.
Buys lots, but understands nothing.

Says a resentful G29 owner who is easily offended and doesn't like to read anything negative about something he's paid a lot of money for that has spiralling residual value.
Dear oh dear. There there petal.
:lol:

 

[inkey$]

I couldnt fit comfortably in a E85 or E89, so the G29 I was for me...
Im tall with long legs so need the legroom, something the other cars didnt have...

And personally i think the G29 looks better..

Blimey, Dave. How Big is BigDave?! I'm 6'3" and the E85/86 seems fine.

 

[john-e89]

I couldnt fit comfortably in a E85 or E89, so the G29 I was for me...
Im tall with long legs so need the legroom, something the other cars didnt have...

And personally i think the G29 looks better..

Blimey, Dave. How Big is BigDave?! I'm 6'3" and the E85/86 seems fine.

He might well be in Argyl Andy's club Inks..... living moving log cabins.... :evil: :wink:

 

[B21]

I am looking to buy a 2017/18/19 probably 30i. Any recommendations on the year and pros and cons on the Z4. I don't expect anybody to write a book on this but any quick thoughts would be most appreciated, thanks.

Welcome AFAIk there have been no material changes to the G29 in its first iteration.

The 20i and 30i are definitely better balanced than the M40i…

All are big cars on a par with a 3 series..

M40i has more than legal acceleration though..

All have the great 3rd generation ZF8HP auto box..

Reliability seems to have been good with 2nd generation engines 20i and 30i and 3rd generation M40i

All have the same spacious cabin and are well sprung and damped with the best luggage space of all the Z4s.

Well loaded with tech if that’s your thing.

FWIW out of 3 year warranty you can get a re-map on a 20i to exceed the 30i without any harm if you want more speed and want to be predatory in your pricing / acquisition…

Depends where you live and what you want to do with it..

I’d ignore those banging on about E85s…life has moved on..if you have that money you can buy sharper road warriors but in the hands of the competent it can keep up with any E85/E89 on the road if that’s important to you.

Plenty of choice and I’d imagine like the E89 getting one with lots of goodies will be better for subsequent resale..

Enjoy

 

[BigDave]

"Blimey, Dave. How Big is BigDave?! I'm 6'3" and the E85/86 seems fine."

Big Dave is 6ft5" , and a slender racing whippet....

Its the looong legs that make life difficult when getting into cars. And getting comfy..

Ive tried lots of 2 seater convertibles,,
Porsche Boxster, too small. :thumbsdown:
TVR Chimaera, that was ,,, interesting,,,,but fun,,, :evil:
Merc slk, in many different versions,, too small. :thumbsdown:
Didnt want the Merc SL as im not of the age ,,,yet,[Old mans car] although im getting close.. etc etc.
But the G29 M40i,,,is absolutely spot on for what i want...

Comfy, quick when you need it to be, stylish, smooth, lots of toys,, not that i use them all, or need them all. And hopefully great for intercontinental blasts , something which i intend to use it for...

If you want a "sports car" for blatting round the lanes, and with a manunal box, then obviously its not for you. But the auto box is superb...And once youve mastered the flappy paddles, its ,,,, FUN....

 

[matsmith749]

I like the look fo the g29, but for me the big attraction to the z4 was the uniqueness.

Previous gens e85 & e89 were unlike any other BMW inside or out.

For me the g29 is a convertible 2 seater version of any other small scale BMW - the interior especially looks just like a 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 series.

 

[Russ Z4]

Bit shocked to see g29 comparison to 3 series. It’s actually pretty much identical dimensions to f series 1 series.

 

[B21]

Bit shocked to see g29 comparison to 3 series. It’s actually pretty much identical dimensions to f series 1 series.

Apologies..it’s same length as a 1 series but wider than a 2 series..

 

[DevonPaul]

Having had a look at the new one and having a relatice with an E89, the biggest similarity between them is the badge. They're as different as the wfie's 'M' is to his 35i and really you need to try both to see.

And ignore the doomsters about the tech laden G29, I gather they're very reliable if you buy one with a Toyta badge on. They also look better, and come with a manual gearbox.

 

[H-J-F]

Over the last twenty years, in our household, we have had as second, third, etc, cars Classic Mini Cooper, MX5, Caterham, Clio Trophy, Lotus Elise, Elan Sprint. All great sports cars but ended up as low mileage little used as when we wanted to do any series driving with luggage we went with the daily driver.
The sports cars have now gone and they have been replaced with the G29. It’s a sporting GT car and I am doing as many miles in a month as I had done in some of the others in a year. I wouldn’t go back. No one car does everything but the G29 does most of what we want from long trips to popping to the shops with a sense of a special occasion every time.
The only car I could replace it with is a Cayman but they have their compromises and I cannot reconcile what they charge / value for money against what the car would deliver in the real world of crowded roads and speed cameras.