Z4 Reborn: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Full Test

[ilovespca94]

Hi I was wondering, If you could have your pick would u pick a BMW Z4 or z8? for me the Z4 looks more BMW-ish and i love BMW's. To me the Z8 looks like a porsche and i don't really like porsche's

[cantugabe]

am i the only one that thinks this car is a mid life crisis car?

[sportsfreundberlin]

@cantugabe yep. you're the only one.



[peeps2142]

@cantugabe not if you get one at 19 ;)

[cantugabe]

@peeps2142

too late for me. I'm 20 :(

[peeps2142]

@cantugabe hahahahaha cheers

[cantugabe]

@peeps2142

I take it you're 19 or were 19 and you got one? lol

[peeps2142]

@cantugabe yep =) Nothing drives like a BMW, its beautiful, leased for 3 years, its not that expensive....

[cantugabe]

@peeps2142

yeah i never liked the car that much but thats because i based it on looks. i'd still rather drive one rather than my car. its not bad or anything but i just have a celica. but if i could have a standard z4 i'd definitely take it

[peeps2142]

@cantugabe i've driven an old celica, they handle pretty well but it seemed a little underpowered to me... The z4 is great cause bmw has nearly the best steering feel of any car in the world. I think that its damn sexy though, and so do chicks ;)

[cantugabe]

@peeps2142

yep my car is underpowered. i wasn't aware the z4 had an inline 6. i love inline 6 engines and its a shame there not in many cars anymore

[peeps2142]

@cantugabe i agree, and bmw makes very good I6s, i drove my friends dads 530d a few months ago before i got my car, and it had a turbo diesel 6, it was quick as hell and i immediately fell in love with the steering, this was back when i had a 2010 vw Polo 1.2 with only 80 bhp =P. Then when i drove this, i loved it. Lots of power and toque and its so smooth in its power delivery...

[Anoush13]

Ok, looks good, but I'm waiting for the BMW Z4 M! Put a V8 engine in there and then we're talking :D

[sportsfreundberlin]

@Anoush13 there won't be an m version of this z4.

[venomXrevolter]

if ur gonna buy a z4 , buy the 2009 + or dont buy any Z series , got for the M3,5,6

[jmd11185]

can someone explain to me how the interior is much more luxurious? I mean I understand its nice, but so were the other 2 models.

[DiegodeSouzaLeal]

Coisa linda.....

[figure261]

i hope the price isnt like 10 000 000 dallars lol i heard its like 54 000

[hadabenz]

The folks at BMW have engineered a perfect roadster. Well done ! It's time to wait till I got enough checks to hand in...

[MEsmiley11]

sexy fucking car. i would honestly do many disguisting things to have at least the 30i....255 horsepower in a high class car like this...unbelievable

[GPX204]

Interior is stunning, but I like the Z3 better...

[DigitalGHILLIE]

my friend has this car and it flys!!

[vissi87]

It's BMW "ZED" 4 not "ZEE" 4

[GangstaDogg21]

Beautiful car!

I'm in love with it.

In red or blue looks stunning.

Red interior also look amazing!

Well done BMW!

[marchofthepiggs]

I still think the Z3 looks hott!

[rs2p00nz]

hmm, too bad an under 30 grand v6 mustang will beat this thing...

[dude2106]

@rs2p00nz But a V6 mustang is as unsofisticated as a cavemans toothbrush. The Z4 probably isn't as fast on the straights, but i am sure that it will be a lot better in the bends. And that is what a car like this is made for.

[carlosbashuertas]

I own an '07 M coupe and I love it.

[desertdetroiter]

I hate hardtop convertibles. They're taking the class out of roadsters by refining them too much. 360 lbs heavier? Roomier cabin? No thanks. I'll keep my '08 Z4...and at 64 grand for the new one, that's not a hard decision to make. Geez BMW...that's a steep hike, don't cha think?

[houdini69]

yeh i will stick to my 2.8 z3 !

[bs5000]

the only good looking bmw

[corki08]

you must be woman if this is good loking

[Junije1]

My dad just bought this car and it's awesome!

[mandyyoung1303]

Just bought the deep blue one !!!! it,s beautiful!!!!

[attadkihsuak]

man smbody buy me that baby!!!

[toyotas2006]

Rock on , BMW!

This is on The List!

If this is a chick car,

Call me Lady Goonie-Goo-Goo!

[sharonspaintings]

i'm a girl, and this car gives me a serious hard-on :)

[devilzmantis]

@sharonspaintings u know it was designed by 2 girls? i just leased a white on tan one 2 days ago... and after driving it, I will order a new one to buy in 2 years. it's soooo nice!

[buttnut1080]

@sharonspaintings That's such a retarded thing to say.

[mrtitsmigee]

@sharonspaintings so your a tranny?

[drftgto]

Was this filmed in South Africa? Great car by the way.

[coolerdude44]

noooo?  california

[lypezitu89]

fronte is beautiful

[darrengaudry]

Just bought one of these today, amazing car...

[TheJumper01]

ONE HOT CAR! The interior is sort of like the older Z4 but much more sophisticated looking, with a sporty look to it, just like its exterior. The hardtop idea I think is amazing, but trunk space is limited when its down, but who cares its still an amazing car. The front of the car is sleek and aggressive like any other BMW, and its stance is just a work of art.

[99998886666]

It's sad it took BMW over 10 years to make a coupe comparable to their Z8.

[coolerdude44]

@99998886666 the z8 was a terrible car

[devilzmantis]

@coolerdude44 Z8 is still 100K+ exotic, rare, classy.

[coolerdude44]

@devilzmantis so what, it drove and handles like crap considering it was so expensive. i say to everybody, there are good and bad cars at all price ranges, so it's no excuse when somebody buys a kia and says "well, i can't afford a good car" or if somebody says, "how could the escalade be a bad car when it costs as much as a range rover".

price is irrelevant. $20,000 cars like the golf gti and mazda mx5 are great whereas two 100k cars, the z8 and the maserati coupé, are terrible.

[devilzmantis]

@coolerdude44 have you ever driven the z8? I owned 5 bmw's, 1 acura, 1 lexus, 1 toyota, 1 mazda... nothing can ever drive and feel like a bmw. I am only stating from my own experience. What is your basis that the z8 is a terrible car?

[coolerdude44]

@devilzmantis i'm not debating you that bmws are supreme above other cars, but the z8 has been called a terrible car by many motoring journalists. look up the top gear review of it to see what i mean.

[pennywse]

You're using Top Gear as the basis for your argument? lol. That show cannot be taken seriously for real car reviews. It's a great show for entertainment purposes, but the guys are COMPLETELY bias on their likes and dislikes. Let me know when Jeremy actually fancies an American car, pigs will fly to the moon before that happens.

[coolerdude44]

@pennywse well, he wrote a fantastic review for the cadillac cts-v... but you're right. american cars will never offer the subtle elegance that he wants... british and german cars do. i don't get how you can call the show biased, just because they don't follow the general journalistic consensus. i've seen every episode about 3 times... they call them like they see them. the difference is that unlike edmunds and motortrend, they have the freedom to say exactly what they think.

[Terell187]

it has a hint of bmw 6 series in the rear, beautiful cars

[MzLiberty]

This car is so much fun to drive! I took her out to a racetrack and had way more fun than Disneyland!

[arturasa]

Haven't driven such yet but it's one of the most beautiful new cars in the market. Although I'm a Porsche fan, i would rather choos new Z4 than Boxter S in this segment :)

[fastalan]

Yeah..it's looks soft, definately a luxury roadster.

[kisslite]

I have a blue 3.5 and it is the best car I have ever owned - although it does not quite have the simple character of my old z3 it is 5x the car but of course 5x the price !!

The worst car was my girlfriends TVR Cerbera as it wanted to kill me everytime I drove it !!

[krlos116]

my i have your z3 lol !

[4MATICbenz]

That car looks sweet

[jmd11185]

wow they need to stop taking vids of the old m roadster off of youtube.....

[Jazket]

It better be a serious sport machine now... I beat a Z4 M two nights ago in my stock Ralliart. Lol joke of a car

[aechdlg]

wozzwozz the 2008 Z4 M is faster because it is the ///M version (you said it yourself), wait until they make an ///M version of the new Z4

[IIDanValicek]

there will not be a m version available. sorry :-(

[tommahow]

Not sure. They told us the same when the first Z4 came out. That was the reason for the Alpina Z4 but then BMW changed their mind and bring out the M-version. Maybe there will be a Z4 M in 1 or 2 years

[wozzwozz]

Misinformed review:

a) "New z4 is now a serious sports car":

lol - completely misinformed comment. The 2008 Z4 M (coupe or roadster) is faster, lighter and sportier than the new 2009 convertible ... mostly because the 2009 convertible adds about 500 pounds of extra weight over the old coupe. It is widely accepted that the new folding top models are less sporty - less harsh - less pure - than the preceding coupe models. b) The new model looks nothing like a Z8 either.

[jmd11185]

new model looks more like a z3 then a z4

that should help its sales though

[genesis667]

I wouldn't say the previous z4 M was just a cute convertible...Personally I like the look of the outgoing M coupe better...This new Z4 screams luxury more than sport...

[geforce5700fx]

i love the front, i hate the back, btw still a nice car

[lerx1980]

deutsches auto deutsche qualität

(and for our american friends: german car german quality)

^^ greetz from germany

[YTman28]

Nice. If anybody is inquiring for a challenge, this one shall be there for me.

[Sandr0G]

COOL CAR!

[abc123456efg]

Still looks like a girl's car

[sspope]

This guy is completely wrong, the old Z4 was just "cute" its handling was great, around track it was faster than Boxter. In other words, it was all about handling.

This new one isn't. It's more of a luxurious softie. No longer an ultimate driving machine. meh.

[sophiegromit]

Absolutely GORGEOUS car!!!

[tehdrama0]

my cat is dying :'(....

[haris300tt]

im sorry =[

[alernest]

Sorry to hear that...

[alernest]

I hope you're sincere, in all honesty that is so not a topic to joke about...

[bradenalmighty]

bmw is dying...

[euro944t]

The all are, except cars that could be driven on golf course.

Porsche is going bankrupt too. Sales almost as bad as Jag which is down 30

% from last year.

[IndianPrince04]

Still looks like a woman's car.

Might as well ship off all the cars in hot pink.

[jstnhnh]

You look like a woman's car.

[dtreysoz]

overpriced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mtooshort20]

way overpriced. I could get a C6 07'-08' Z06 for that price or less and have way more power and way more potential than this thing has.

Buy a Z06 for around 50 grand, add a STS twin-turbo kit for 4-5 grand, a suspension kit for another 2-3 grand, and have a 700whp beast that would destroy anything at the track, get better gas milage, and rip everything on the strip.....all for around the same base price as this Z4.....

BMW is seriously falling off with this one....

[nickthegreek2008]

i agree but im almost positive a big american muscle car is as good as a z4

[M5PowerM3Power]

"get better gas mileage"

You had to ruin your comment with that.

Just no.

[mtooshort20]

what's the gas milage on the this Z4 again?

b/c the C6 Z06 gets 24-25mpg highway....

if the Z4's milage is better, its only by 1 mpg or so.

[euro944t]

I was at the Corvette club a library this weekend.

Bowling Green Kentucky is shuting down.

I hope this don't happen to the only good American sportscar, the viper is a snake that will bite you, no stability.

[StreeTRacR008]

Well, the Z06 has a rental car interior. A generic V8 engine. Leaf springs. Not a hardtop convertible. Sure, you could say the Z06 beats a lot of cars in its price range, and its true, in terms of performance.

[StreeTRacR008]

Thanks man, I HAD NO IDEA THAT A BIKE COULD BEAT A CAR IN PRICE AND PERFORMANCE!!! WTF is that supposed to prove? Actually I'm still not sure what you're trying to say at the end with the car prices.

[bacdoliljo]

Is the Z06 as luxurious as this bimmer? mmm... NO

the Z4 isn't meant to be an all out sports car.

[1973MaseratiBora]

Wish they would make a coupe version...

[tranceme24]

lol

[alernest]

If they had at least fixed the sides of the back... IT F.....N LOOKS INCOMPLETE!

Mechanically a masterpiece, I wonder how those Bavarian engineers might be crying to see such a pathetism-turned-shape. It's like he's trying to show off with every design, like "hey, look, I'm Chris Bangle, and I'm bold, check this car, I designed it..."

F.U.! learn from De Silva, Pininfarina, Bertone, Alfa Centro Stile, or with BMW: Paul Bracq... those designers had SOUL AND NOT ONLY EGO...

[alernest]

OK, admitted, this car has nice ideas, even a nice concept...

BUT COULDN'T THEY FIND A SENSIBLE PERSON TO FEEL THE DESIGN, TO SENSE THE SPIRIT OF THE WHOLE THING...

This thing looks like an idea, an unfinished concept, a fetus, an abortion...

[euro944t]

Throw some 19" M6 wheels black Z4 and boost the ECU to 360ft lb  !!

[StreeTRacR008]

Wow man, you're a fucking moron

[euro944t]

A moron with a Porsche, M3 conv, and a 330i.

What's a moron like you drive other than the dildo in your butt ?

[StreeTRacR008]

I'm sure you drive those. For now, I have a Gran Turismo S, BMW 535xi and a Ford Flex. And, yes you are a moron. You don't just say boost the torque to 360 lb/ft. That would ruin the dynamics of the engine, that TT Inline Six has been stated as being the best six cylinder ever, If you want torque, go get a diesel. Fucking jackass, BLACK M6 RIMS on a Z4 AHAHAAAA

[dennyh86]

hahahahhahahahahah

[vissi87]

@alernest This car was not a bangle design

[alernest]

I can't transmit HOW MUCH I DESPISE CHRIS BANGLE!!!

Luckily he's gone for good, but the damage over these years remains (7 Series, 6-Series, Z4 I, Z4 II, 1-series hatch, 3-series compact... )

Before ruining BMW he did the vomitive FIAT Coupé...

The fault is BMW´s...

[tehdrama0]

ooops what was that? 4.9 sec? forget what i said its faster than the ugly ricer

[tehdrama0]

370z what??? rofl, the bmw has less horsepower and the 0-60 is the same with the ugly ricer

[charjohnnie]

OK LET'S FACE IT... THE 370 Z OWNS THIS BMW FOR HALF THE PRICE...

370Z >>>>>> Z4 sDrive35i ...

Go NISSAN!!!

[Chace1126]

@charjohnnie The 370z is made from cheap plastic parts.... which is why its half the price. It also sounds like a dieing cat. You get what you pay for, and Nissan will never beat BMW.

[GangstaDogg21]

@Chace1126 You're right man.

Japanese piece of shit can't be compared to german technology and engineering.

[jmd11185]

that car is no more of a sportscar then the z3 or z4. The guy talking in the background is just boasting a new car is all

[spitfire60]

$64,000 with options? bleh, I'd rather get a decently spec'd M3 Coupe for that kind of money.

[iLuvSmartCars]

$53,000??? Still want one though!

[vinnyman999]

I don't like how he says "Zee" four, being that I'm so used to "Zed" four lol

[ApachyDaro]

haha, the americans pronounce "Z" as "C"...

[Mtshadow2]

UR IDOT

[seroyer2]

ZEE not CEE.

[fayguy2]

whats better saab or bmw?

[hurley3222]

i say old one is better

[FloridaCarClubcom]

Does the Honda have a twin turbo 300 hp engine with torque?

[tomhuu2]

i dont think so

[KrisWales3]

I don't like convertibles and im not keen on BMW either but those headlamps are gorgeous.

[jtlovett27]

S2000...Were are you?...lol If honda plans to bring it back this will be some very stiff competition

[jidstores]

very very expensive if i wanted a fast bmw which looks great i will and wat 3-4k and get an M3 which comes with a very fast V8 and with M3 i can showoff my fast beemer with 3 friends

[sspope]

Possibly the best V6 ever made. But the car is too heavy :(

[jtlovett27]

Striaght 6 not V...But i agree one of the Best 6 Cycliner motors on todays market

[sspope]

WTF? Could've sworn I typed H6.

[omir1]

@sspope I own one and I can confirm the weight thing. It is fast and accelerates quite well, but you can't make the 1580 KG go away. It feels heavier than a Porsche.

But that's natural, either you want a metal top or you want a lighter car and all the trouble that comes with the cloth top.

[nikanj]

Not just another cute convertible? The old Z4 was no slouch. How about the coupe versions or the Z4 m?

[larryshere]

guess what im getting ^^

[omar03dammam]

Why would I buy this BMW while there is other options from Porche in the same price??!!!!!

[Whos2sayJay]

Because according to some critics, the BMW handles better and is more fun to drive. But I agree, I feel that this car is too expensive.

[iPMRMakaveli]

all BMW's are overpriced

[LeossJ433]

take a miata and put a v8...half money XD, faster

[DIVXVVX]

Z4s gotta better style

[c3vzn]

wow it dus look like a 507!

[tven99]

This Z4 looks more mean and much much much better than the old one..

[DCuerpoJr]

Agreed.

[moderndesignworks]

so much better looking now........... a few models left to work on, then the bimmer line will be stunning!

[flyboy333]

Sweet, it's corral canyon! Inside line obviously knows how to roll

[112namrepus]

love how you siad that!

[hanscholo]

it kinda look's like a Lexus SC430, But otherwise is very stylish and paired with great performance Like all Beamers, But also like all Beamers it's way too overpriced and that's before you ad on any options.

[pholcombe]

Looks like BMW is pricing itself out of the market like the old 300z, Supra, and others. Who the hell is going to pay $60k for a Z4? I would get a Porsche instead.

[ryanthemayan]

could be the worst launch off the line ive ever seen, on the first run.

[CSIS25]

The out side looks like someone shoved it up there ass, but the inside is really really nice

[evan6629]

I agree with koukicrisp. I would take GTR over the z4 or for a third the price I would buy s2000 and turbo it or even by a 370z for half the price. Hell you could even pick up a NSX for half the price of z4.

[Koomo0069]

aman to the NSX

[slzkilla]

why does the rear look like the new  VW Scirroco?

[phv628]

I want to take my 2009 335i coupe xdrive and race a dude in one of these z4s

[coolerdude44]

you'd probably lose, through the corners, the 335i can't keep up.

[phv628]

do you think the z4 has better handling and suspension through the corners?... we have equal power for sure, i don't know about weight though, am i heavier or is the z4??

[coolerdude44]

i think you are, but i'm not sure. i think the z4 would have been a phenomenal car if they had kept it a soft-top. because it's a hard top, it's still 2nd best to the boxster.

[phv628]

I have never driven a porsche but I am sure they are kick ass cars!!!

[koukicrisp]

Oh yeah bro, you're carrying ATLEAST another 200lbs. The Z4 is a 3400lb car and the base 335i is 3600, add an AWD driveline and transmission and you're probably closer to 3750. Don't take my word for it go to edmunds and look it up.

[JaBunGa23]

yeah i think its midsection makes it look like the 507

[Paradiddler45]

I just went to the BMW website and loaded up a 135i with every conceivable feature. I mean everything.

Price: $53, 715

The Z4 is officially a joke.

[x1tekja]

The 135i is not a roadster no matter how you slice it. It is a nice coupe but some people don't want to compromise for a boring coupe.

[DCuerpoJr]

You're right, the 135i is not a roadster, but it is far from being a boring coupe. It blows away a 335i coupe along with the last generation M3 in all performance categories with the exception of average track time on the Nurhingburg. It's a great performance vs price ratio.

[x1tekja]

Yes it is boring in the sense that everyone else will have a 335i for the exact reasons you have stated. The people that want a Z coupe roadster don't want something everyone else has. Sure there are cars that are easier to live with but they don't quite inspire the right passion a top down roadster can.

[Paradiddler45]

You sound like a living, breathing advertisement, haha

[DCuerpoJr]

The 135i beat the 335i on average track time. It was the last generation M3 that beat out the 135i. The thing that really puzzles me about BMW's decision to release the Z4 in the $52k - $65k price range is that it's now placed in the same price range as their M3 Coupe ($57k) & the M3 Convertible ($66k). It's hard for me to see why someone would buy the Z4 when it's faster, more exciting & better looking brother can be had for the same price. They should have kept the Z4 between $40k - $50k.

[x1tekja]

I agree that they should have kept the Z within the old price range and there is no denying the performance of the M3. However the M3 is not a roadster again and well to be honest when you state that it is more exiting and better looking I have to point out that that is merely your opinion. Certainly not everyone agrees. Personally when compared side by side the streamlined style of the Z4 does a much better job than the M3. Different strokes.

[criticaliron]

BMW seems to be losing a little bit of its edge now (did anybody buy an X6) . And now they will put M badges (performance?) on anything (X5 M, come on). Plus they have gotten too expensive. Nissan seems to be the performance leader right now (and I own a Honda S2000, so that is saying a lot).

[catlopy47cp]

wow that really is stupid putting M badges sorta cheesy

[sspope]

Nissan doesn't make anything like BMW M3.

[charjohnnie]

Yeah Youre right they make better things like the GTR...

[sspope]

If lap times and zero driver involment is what makes you have an orgasm then yes, the GTR is better.

But if you actually like driving, like me .......the M3 all the way.

[euro944t]

ditto,

I have M3 SMG Conv 19"

[alernest]

Yeah, hopefully they stop fitting the SMG, sequential gearboxes and reinsert proper manuals...

[FLOCKAIRpilots]

the key to a good convertible is it has to look good with the top up and down. This does a great job of both.

[criticaliron]

The old Z4 M had 330 bhp out of a naturally aspirated 6 and it was around 53K loaded and it had all the M attributes. 64K for a 300 bhp turbo is too much. The new Z convertible (non turbo 6) seems much fresher and a better bang for the buck.

[Z3RO0RD1E]

It's not very often a car comes out that looks as fast as it is. It looks rather sportier than previous models, and the performance is about that same interval too.

[occckid123]

umm the 370z put up better numbers. for much less

[alwong04444]

yea but with a chip the TTs can be pushed harder

[nitroboyn2o]

tail lights look an aweful lot like a porsches