BMW Z4 (2003 – 2009) Review
BMW Z4 (2003 – 2009) At A Glance
The first generation of BMW Z4 showcased the firm’s ‘flame surfacing’ design style. Coming on the heels of Chris Bangle’s radical new direction for BMW’s styling, the Z4 was a complete and welcome break from the previous Z3.
However, the Z4 was styled by BMW’s Danish designer Anders Warming, so the car has its own unique appeal that helped it take on the Porsche Boxster directly where the Z3 had always trailed in the Porsche’s wake. Thanks to a spread of engines and dose of practicality, the Z4 also managed to challenge the Mercedes SLK and Audi TT to be a very competent all-round roadster.
Produced in BMW’s Spartanburg factory in South Carolina it was obvious the main market for the Z4 was in the USA. That hasn’t stopped it being a success in the UK, which has been a strong market for the BMW convertible.
A fabric soft-top aped the Z3’s design, but the Z4 features a glass rear screen for added comfort, noise suppression and security. It also makes it easier to defrost on chilly mornings to make the Z4 usable all-year round.
Sticking with a classic front engine, rear-wheel drive layout, the Z4 enjoys perfect 50:50 weight distribution. It shows in the handling balance of the Z4, which errs much more on the sporty side than its Audi and Mercedes rivals. There is also quick reacting steering to deliver a keen driving experience.
BMW fitted the Z4 with its smooth, sonorous six-cylinder engines from the start in 2.5- and 3.0-litre guises. Both offer strong performance and were joined by a 2.2-litre six-cylinder in 2003. This latter engine was superseded by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor in 2005 which, although slower than the 2.2, is smoother and more enjoyable to use.
Real MPG average for a BMW Z4 (2003 – 2009)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
95%
Real MPG
21–45 mpg
MPGs submitted
245
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