The Ultimate Driving Machine. BMW Z4 2008

Summary

The BMW Z4 is one of the finest sports cars on the market today. It brings new meaning to "the ultimate driving machine". It has an excellent interior with contoured seating for sporty driving, and a quiet cabin. Overall the Z4 is fun to drive. Test driving one is a worthwhile experience as it is a sports car that meets the expectations of the enthusiast and in most cases, exceeds them.

Full Review 2008

The ultimate driving machine is usually thought of as a BMW sedan. The BMW Z4 lineup applies this mantra to what is by modern standards a true sports car, complete with rear-wheel drive and room for just two people. Freed from passenger-carrying requirements, the BMW Z4 focuses even more tightly on high-performance driving with cutting-edge style than do the BMW sedans.

First and foremost, the BMW Z4 is a blast to drive, with sharp handling that is the match for anything on the road. The Sport Package option sharpens handling further, though at the expense of ride quality.

The Z4 Roadsters offer manual and power soft tops, and both are easy to operate. The Z4 is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engines provide smooth, ample power. The high-performance M Coupe and M Roadster versions of the Z4 boast even more power and sharper handling. They are exciting to drive, though they can become harsh on rough roads.

The daring styling introduced with the 2003 Z4 was mildly updated for 2006, when BMW introduced new engine choices, the hatchback coupe, and a high-performance M model. For 2008, 18-inch wheels come on all Sport Package models.

Trims and Styling 2008

The 2008 BMW Z4 is offered in three levels of tune and trim, and in both coupe and roadster body styles. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on all Z4s. The BMW Z4 3.0i ($36,400) is available only as a roadster. Its 3.0-liter engine makes 215 horsepower at 6250 rpm, and 185 pound-feet of torque at 2750 rpm. Standard equipment includes a manual top with heated glass rear window, vinyl upholstery, air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, six-way manually adjustable bucket seats, heated power mirrors, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD with iPod connectivity, outside temperature indicator, rain-sensing variable intermittent wipers, automatic headlights, fog lights, theft-deterrent system, and 225/45R17 run-flat tires on 17-inch alloy wheels.

The BMW Z4 3.0si is available as a coupe ($40,400) or a roadster ($42,400), powered by the 3.0-liter inline-6 tuned to 255 horsepower at 6600 rpm, and 220 pound-feet of torque at 2750 rpm. The si models are more luxuriously equipped, also, with leather upholstery, automatic climate control, center arm pad, aluminum interior trim, THX audio system, trip computer, and map lights.

The M Coupe ($50,400) and M Roadster ($52,400) feature a larger, 3.2-liter inline-6 that puts out 330 horsepower at 7900 rpm, and 262 pound-feet of torque at 4900 rpm. Backing up that increased potential are 225/45ZR18 front tires and 255/40ZR18 rear tires, sports suspension, plus xenon headlights with washers. Roadsters get a power top. Cruise control and the THX audio system are deleted.

A Premium package ($3,550) for the 3.0i includes a fully automatic top, automatic climate control, eight-way power driver's seat with memory, auto-dimming rearview and outside mirrors, trip computer, BMW Assist with Bluetooth wireless cell phone link, and interior storage nets. A Sport package, available for the 3.0i and 3.0si roadsters ($1,200), and the 3.0si coupe ($1,300) includes sport suspension and BMW's Dynamic Driving Control, which has a Sport button that, when pressed, quickens throttle response, reduces power steering assist, and adds sport programming to the available automatic transmission. For 2008 the Sport Package also upgrades to 225/40R18 front and 255/35R18 rear tires on all three models.

Stand-alone options include leather upholstery ($1,150), eight-way power seats ($995), M sport seats ($500), heated seats ($500), power convertible top ($750), xenon headlights ($700), navigation ($1,800), BMW Assist with Bluetooth ($750), the THX sound system ($875), and HD radio ($350).

Safety features include dual front airbags, front side-impact airbags, front knee airbags, LATCH-style child safety seat anchors on the passenger seat, ABS, brake fade compensation, brake standby, brake drying, EBD, traction control, antiskid control, tire-pressure monitor, and a hill-holder feature that prevents the car from rolling backward at a stop. Roadsters have two roll bars mounted behind the seats.

When BMW first released the Z4 in 2003, its styling drew criticism. Drive a Z4 roadster today and few will notice. It's convex playing off concave, Z4ing to BMW. The traditional BMW twin kidney grille and the exotic headlamps work well together. The fenders are smoothly bulged, and BMW's various wheel choices look terrific.

The coupe's roofline flows into the tail with muscular grace. Coupled with the Z4's already low and wide stance, there's no mistaking it: This car is sexy.

The roadster's two roll bars are covered by gray plastic that has a seam and, unfortunately, looks cheap.

Styling and Interior Features

The seats are excellent. Contoured for sporty driving, they also offer long-trip comfort. We did some hard cornering, and appreciated the pad against the transmission tunnel for that body-contact spot. Unfortunately, BMW has skimped on storage space for small items. BMW provides small door pockets and an ashtray-sized cubby in front of the shifter. The Z4 coupe's body styling is more than just attractive. Coupes offer a relatively quiet cabin. The engines are subdued at normal driving speeds, and only the M's high-performance unit gets very loud under heavy acceleration. Wind noise is well checked, but road noise is noticeable.

In the roadster, wind-buffeting with the top down isn't a problem, even at high speeds. With the top up, the Z4 is quiet for a sports car.

First Drive 2008

The BMW Z4 is a sensuous sports car, not a visceral one. It's the ultimate smooth sports car.

Our Z4 3.0si coupe was equipped with the optional Sport package, which adds a firmer suspension, a 0.6-inch lower ride height, 18-inch run-flat tires instead of standard 17s, and a Dynamic Driving Control (Sport) console button.

The 3.0si is capable of a 5.6-secoond 0 to 60 mph sprint. Hitting the Dynamic Driving Control's Sport button quickens throttle response, making the Z4 even more responsive.

The six-speed manual gearbox is a pleasure to operate with any engine. M models have shorter, sportier gearshift throws, but all manual-equipped Z4s provide silky-smooth shifts. With the Sport package, hitting the Sport button can cause the engine to wind up, then bog, especially when the engine is cold. The body remains flat in corners. Coupes are rock-solid, and we detected little, if any, cowl shake in the roadsters.

In a high-speed environment, the steering feel was reassuring, the grip was tenacious, and the car was steady at high speeds. The vented disc brakes, with ABS, front-rear proportioning and electronic brake assist, were typically BMW-brilliant. All Z4s use premium-grade fuel.

Conclusions

The BMW Z4 is one of the finest sports cars on the market. "Unlike Porsche with its Cayman and Boxster twins, BMW does not charge more for its Z4 coupe than its convertible." says Car and Driver Z4ing to the Chicago-Sun Times, "It looks better than the mechanically similar Z4 convertible with its reworked rear end and sloping, shapely roof, which has a center roof channel that looks as if from Zagato, an Italian exotic car stylist." It offers the open-air fun of a roadster as well as the rigidity and utility of a hatchback coupe. Models range from a fun and affordable roadster to an all-out high-performance sports car.