Owning a BMW Z4 - The honest long-term review
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- Опубліковано 16 сер 2021
- After 7 years of ownership, I am selling my BMW Z4! If you want to see what car will replace the BMW Z4 then make sure you subscribe (if you haven't already) as I will be revealing all very, very soon!
Here I take you for a quick walk around of my 2014 BMW Z4 and discuss the things I love about the car, and some of the things I don't like so much.
If you have any questions on the BMW Z4 and my experience with owning one for almost 7 years, then please do ask away in the comments.
Hope you enjoy the video and I can't wait to share with you my new car!
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Instagram: / carswithbrad - Авто та транспорт
I am 55 years old , and looking at the same car ! I paused this video when you said only 10 views at 3.50 ! I think I am going to enjoy your video , thank you
Thank you so much for the kind words! It has made my day reading this!
that red interior is just gorgeous
I don't understand English, but I understand that E89 Z4 is the best.😆
Please continue to enjoy a wonderful car life.🤞
From the Japanese owner😃
🙌🙏
I LOVE this E89. I have almost the same. Mine is a 2016 28i m-sport in sapphire-black metallic and red leather interior. I enjoy it EVERY minute even when I do not drive it, because the car is also extremely sexy to look at, especially in shiny black. It is just very thirsty and sometimes a bit uncomfortable on bad roads. But I do not think I will EVER part with it, because I love it sooo much.
Totally agree with everything you’ve just said. 👊
The shine on your car was really magnificent. What did you use? I always use P&S Bead Maker after cleaning the paint and it works wonderfully as well.
Im doing the complete opposite of you - I’m researching everything on the Z4, dating between 2009 and 2014 and came across your video. I’m looking for one in exactly your colour, hard top but the lighter colour (white? cream?)seats. I don’t really care which engine size I’ll end up with because I just really love the aesthetic of this car. Oh, and it has to be a manual and not auto. I want to get it as a Sunday/weekend/holiday/road trip car. At the moment I drive an Audi A3 1.4TFSi sedan (2015 model which I bought in 2017) and I will never get rid of it. My wife drives a 2022 Audi Q3 1,4 TFSi. Both are auto so they are perfect for stop/go traffic and even better on the open road. Another big reason for having my mind set on a Z4, is that the design of the car reminds me a lot of Audi in the sense that most Audi models from now and decades ago feel like the design doesn’t feel dated. Oh, and we live in Sourh Africa where the weather is absolutely perfect for a convertible or roadster. Thanks for this video. I’ve subscribed and will check out what else you have to offer. This is the first of your videos I’ve come across.
Wonderful car. Objectively one of the most beautiful cars in recent years, and surprisingly practical (as much as a roadster can be, I know...). Very happy to hear that you have gotten several years of good ownership experience out of it.
Also: "I'm so sorry about how dirty it is..." Americans laugh at your pain...
Thanks Zach! Yup, more practical then I first thought it work be. I did at times miss not having back seats tho (hence the latest purchase (m140i)) 😊
THANK YOU for an excellent video - all true - no space, not a race car, not practical (at all), and yet "we" love it. Except for those tires.
Haha! I do miss my Z4, but I had a good stint with it. :)
Well done Brad. Lovely example, hope you are enjoying your new car? I have 2009 z4 e89 35i. Water pump and thermostat are almost programmed to go at 60k miles. Mine went last year! Next up will be the dual turbos… so far so good.. I don’t thrash the car and only did 1600 mls last year. The hard top roof can be a bit squeaky, so make sure you lube the mechanism. Does it put a smile on my face… yes, but I do miss my z3 2.2.. it was cheap, lighter and not trying to compete with a Porsche.
Greetings from Texas! Beautiful review. Felt very personal indeed. Subscribed. Have a good one.
Thanks Shaw for the kind words, that really means a lot that! Thank you. :)
Ive owned this car with a slightly bigger engine for over 6.5 years. My thoughts…
- Agreed, don’t get runflats
- Love driving it on a sunny day
- Still get compliments
- The hard/soft top is fantastic for all seasons
- Only issues I’ve had are cracked wheel (result of run flats) and replaced one rear light unit due to a leak.
Great car, will also be sad to see mine go.
Thanks for the comment Tim, glad you enjoyed the video and have enjoyed your time with your Z4. What car do you plan to get next?
@@CarswithBrad that’s a tricky one… leaning towards Audi S5, thoughts?
@@Wirralwonderer nice, big fan of those and Audis in general. Nice amount of space and some decent performance. You’ll have to let me know what you go for in the end, I’m intrigued which direction you choose to take after owning a Z4 😊
@@CarswithBrad thanks Brad, will do. Love the M140i, good choice 👏
@@Wirralwonderer what did you go for tim? I’ve currently got an S5 and am considering going the other way to a Z4! I want something smaller and more fun and engaging.
I know I love mine. I have an Sdrive35is. It is fast and handles better than I can drive it. And this generation of z4 is beautiful.
Hey Brad, I just came across your channel and I see you fitted aftermarket? parking sensors. Can you tell me which you fitted as I want to do this on my E89 (2011). Sadly, in a way, the car had been fitted with a set of new 19" runflats just before I bought it so they have to stay for now. I am going to fit a pair of 12mm spacers on the rear just to push the wheels out in the arches. I have subscribed so will watch out for new content. I don't do Instagram. By the way mine is a 23i 2.5 N52 motor, following on from a 3.0i E85 Z4 and a 2.0 Z3
Gorgeous and exotic looking car, more than a bit of the z8 about it. Would look great on my drive
Great vid and well presented! Can I just ask please, I noticed you didnt have a wind deflector. I'm on the verge of buying one of these cars but it's also not got one. Evidently you think a wind deflector not needed, is this correct ? :)
Edit: I actually just saw the comment u made
Hey, sorry for the slow reply. Did you get your Z4? I’d probably suggest a wind deflector, the wind can whip around in the cabin. :)
E89 s18i Is great looking great sounding. But slow. I have the exact model with black exterior red interior and carbon fiber motif inside! However mine is s28i it's faster but muted so not as great sounding. I'm keeping mine forever. I know how painful it must be to let it go. And the g20 z4 is the final gen? Hope to get that as well in future.
Loving the video right up until you said you weren't a big fan of the rear. Are we looking at the same car? Although that said, I do think it is front to back the best looking car ever made so 🤷♂️
looking to buy one by christmas end, can anyone advise if the Msport package is an absolute? Here in Melbourne (Australia) there's not much equipped with it. Some roads are harsher especially motorway driving but i do prefer a more "sharp" handling rather than something too soft. Thanks in advance :)
that's one of my dream car, man! lucky you!
👍
You are absolutely right. The run flat tires are a real pain in the ass. After replacing it full with set of tires, there is space for a spare tire. Run flat tires are very, very uncomfortable, very bad on pot holes, man holes, speed bumps, railway crossings. I just hate them. One run flat run tire cost about $400 dollars. I am still stuck with the run flat tires. I keep hearing full size tires are not recommended for the Z4 sDrive 35is. Need advice on what to do with the tires.
Thanks for the comment Ken! I’ve heard similar stories about putting ‘regular’ tyres on a Z4, but not 100% sure what real difference they make. I’ve just persevered with them (mind you, a few nails + general wear over the years were a costly to replace). There’s some good communities on FB which I found helpful for answering questions such as yours. I chose to not experiment with my Z4 (which I regret), I literally left it stock throughout my time with it.
@@CarswithBrad - You mean you never replaced your run flat tires with regular tires?
What are the names of Z4 communities on FB that are helpful?
It would have been great if you could have talked about reliability. Cause that’s the most important thing any potential car owner wants to know.
I didn’t have any issues with it at all during my ownership. Very reliable. 👍
Thanks, great review. All, do consider, if like me, you have almost zero intention of driving with the hardtop down (for me, it will NEVER come down), then you have a decent trunk.
Beautiful car! 😍 Thank you for sharing. 🌈✌🏼
Thanks! Should’ve made more videos on this car before selling it. Seems a lot of people are interested in Z4s.
ive just bought a very low milage 20,000 miles, 2005 version soft top, will be a great drive around Cornwall in the summer, as I bought it as a summer car
You’re going to love it Paul!! ☀️ 😎
How has it been so far?
@@toneski8411 brilliant, no problems 4000 miles later and I’m happy as can be
Hi, can I be nosey and ask how much you bought it for and how much you sold it for? I'm in the market for an E89 Z4 and I'm interested to know how well they hold value and how much you can expect to lose. Thanks
Buy one, you won't regret it. I would never sell mine, also wrapped it in matte black. 🤩
I agree with Omar, you won't regret buying one. I found an 10 year old 23i with 32,000 miles in white. Roof and mirrors wrapped in red. It looks the dogs.
Maybe you need a heavier engine in the front instead of the weedy 18i if you find the steering is washed out. I have the 30i and whilst not as sharp as say a Boxster the handling and steering really isn’t that bad. Heck even Clarkson the man himself was pretty impressed with this gen Z4! Also ditching the runflats will make a huge difference to the ride and handling, night and day difference! I think the weight distribution is pretty much 50/50 too.
Totally agree with you about the 3.0i engine Z4. I'm not an expert but perhaps the best match for weight distribution and such a joy to drive and wow - that exhaust note 👍
What else could you need besides a radio? S2000 owner here. I've never owned a car with a screen.
I love bmw z4! I bought my sixth one and csnt wait to get it next week
Wow, you’ve had six?! You really do love Z4s!
@@CarswithBrad yeah.. a bit crazy someone might say
I'm looking to buy a used Z4 to carry my mountain bike in style and pleasure, not drive 0-60 in 2 seconds. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the kind words! You’ll have a lot of fun with it - defo not the fastest thing on the road, but it never failed to put a smile on my face for 7 years! 😊
I love my Z4 23i!!!
They’re such great cars!
Ive had my 23i for 3 months absolutely adore it 😃
@@matthewhickman9220 it is a fantastic car! For good weather only! I keep my Z4 in the garage by rainy days!
I want to get the same one as a daily driver, are the roofs problematic?
Hey, no not from what I experienced. Only thing to be mindful of is that nothing is blocking the mechanism from working in the boot. Always make sure you leave enough space for it to fold down and it will be fine.
I changed mine to non- run flat tyres (19 inch) and also fitted a Bilstein B9 adjustable and lowered, suspension kit... The vehicle drives better but it is still a very disappointing drive.. If you fancy a vehicle for fun driving buy a Porsche Cayman.. Not the Z4..
It is fun for driving with the roof down and it can drive along better than many vehicles... But for me it has never given me any sporty driving..
My Z4 is a third car so I already have other practical and very nice vehicles to use. But the Z4 is a nice vehicle to sit in and it is comfortable and reasonably practical for a 2 seater..
Be sure to have a good drive and see if you like it before buying..
You are right! The set of the suspension set up with too much understeer has been critised a lot, especially also in Germany on the internet forums and ao by AutoBild. There are a number of companies in Germany, who have specialised in developing modifications, which should make the understeer something of the past. Principally, they advivce Eibach Prokit springs, H & R shocks, no RFTS, 19" wheels and a adaptation of the suspension set up. No RFT will do a lot, lowering springs not so much, better shocks/a trackrace switch in case of adaptive suspension (factory option) will also help, but the change of suspension set up makes all the difference. I am plnaning to have this done on my Z4 Sdrive 3.0i.
Great car .one day I have one mate
They are great little cars!
with that few miles, why sell it?
Miata and S2000 owners be like 👀 when you talk about "not having space."
Mine is 2014 e8928i.
Mine also
You drove 26,000 miles in 7 years? Crazy…
Yeah, my M140 isn’t looking much better! 🤦🏻
I’m 6 feet can I fit in it with space for my legs and head
6ft you’d be fine, I’ve had a few friends over 6ft in the car (with the roof up), and it was fine.
@@CarswithBrad thank you 😊
It’s fine; I am 6,2
#BMWZ4
Subaru Impreza WRX rally
One subjective comment, I hate the red color in the interior. Personal taste of course.
I'm currently on the fence whether to sell my 3.0 6spd m/t. The wife say's I'm now old enough for a Corvette, my take is she wants me to go faster...
😂 Brilliant!!
176HP? seriously ?? why didnt you buy the 35i or 35is ?? you are too wealthy
She felt uncomfortable this whole time
LIke the former and famous 3 twatty hosts of TG on BBC, i don't know why it is that reviews of certain cars in the UK, come across as sanctimonious. Why moan about the car when you made the choice to buy it. There are other engine options. (*yes i've lived where fuel is 3 euro pro litre. ). I"ve owned an LR3 with a large V8 that would cost me 150 euro to fill up. Only in England where the majority of vehicles owned by the denizens of the UK are 2.0L or under in displacement. I have had the E85 Z4M, E85 Z4 3.0si and currently an E89 Z4 sdrive 3.0 (same N52B30A as my 2007 BMW Z. My rather long winded point (still shorter than this video), the cars do a lot of things exceptionally well. It' isn't a supercar so why bring it up? Here's some advice. Only buy inline 6 motors. Be advised the 4 cyl dual scroll turbo motors are the worst choice you can make and i wish BMW would stop offering these during the paradigm shift from dino juice powered engines to electrons/ions. You want handling, buy a mk 1,2,3 Miata and tune it. You want Power, buy a 911. You want a balance of the aforementioned? Get the Z. You don't like RF tires? Change to traditional and carry a tire puncture kit and a compressor. How's British Leyland these days? oh, that's right...
*buy
I really sufered sometimes with the lack of space.
Surely your female side lol.
my polo has 188hp
Not bad for a Polo! I definitely didn’t buy this Z4 for its power (or lack of)! 😊
are you a hair dresser? your looks and that car ...
Interesting but my goodness what have you done to your arm? All that self-harming tattooing - so sad.
It was a horrific printing accident.
Z4 e89 20i - Super fun handling after lowering it with eibach springs, tuning to 276hp, and ditching the run flats!
This sounds epic!! 🤤
Looking at purchasing a 20i e89 in the coming weeks, anything I need to look out for?
@@xXiTaKeOuTZzXx Nothing unusual; I would prioritize service record, proper functioning of top and its seals, condition of shocks, springs and brakes…on older bimmers make sure there is no loud humming sound in the rear which could indicate worn differential bearings. Kinda have to check everything out like any car.
@@xXiTaKeOuTZzXx don't buy 2 liter one they are shite