BMW Z4 Production Ends

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Also David70 : Name me a sales year -- ANY sales year -- in which roadsters were big 'relative' sellers, then.

Your answer is that there is none. Roadsters have never been big sellers relative to total sales. Even the Miata -- the most popular roadster in history, with just more than 1 million built since 1989 -- peaked at about 36K yearly sales in 1990, and was only over 30K for two years (1990-91).

Why, then, are roadsters so important that big luxury carmakers continue to spend hundreds of millions to develop them? Because of two reasons: 1). As a development platform, and 2). as a marketing tool.

It really is that simple. Roadsters are sexy. And carmakers know it.

Same could be said for the 6 series for BMW .. (Prior to the gran coupe )

In other words, cars don't always have to be big sellers for the company to have an large impact


The BMW 1M and the BMW M2 are two additional examples..

[LinkF1]

Originally Posted by matlok

Good looking cars but too heavy and waaay too overpriced. Hoping they rectify that with the Z5.

Everyone says it is a heavy pig, but it was the lightest car that BMW sold in the US over the past few years with the exception of the i3.

My wife has one and she enjoys it, but the EPS on it was one of the early versions and does not provide enough feedback so I only drive it when I have to.

[psuibmw]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Not really. Otherwise:
- Porsche wouldn't have bothered with a new Boxster
- Mazda wouldn't have launched a new Miata
- Fiat wouldn't have re-tasked the Miata as a resurrected 128
- Audi wouldn't be offering the redesigned TT in roadster form
- Tesla wouldn't be considering one (much less designing one) for a post-Model 3 launch
- Honda wouldn't be about to launch a roadster version of the NSX
- Mercedes wouldn't be offering not just one (SL), but two (SLK) -- no: three! (GT) -- into the forseeable future
- Aston Martin
- Jaguar F-Type
- Nissan Z

and finally ...
- BMW wouldn't be messing with a Z5 replacement.

I think what you meant was the 'affordable' roadster market is 'pretty much dead' -- which is largely the case. But the Z5 won't be affordable, so there's that. The roadster market is very much alive above $50K or so.

I think u meant Fiat 124 ... 128 is totally different

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by LinkF1

Everyone says it is a heavy pig, but it was the lightest car that BMW sold in the US over the past few years with the exception of the i3.

My wife has one and she enjoys it, but the EPS on it was one of the early versions and does not provide enough feedback so I only drive it when I have to.

I have a good buddy who loves the way the Z4 looks, but was really disappointed by the steering feel. He would have bought one if that had been more sorted out - instead he ended up in a used 997 911 convertible.

Would have been nice to see an M version of this car...

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by scoobysaurus

Ignoring the haters I loved my E89. By not offering an M version on it's ONLY 2-seat sports car it's almost as if BMW WANTED this to fail. Even the shitty SLK got an AMG model with a friggin V8 for over a decade. Same thing with the 7 series now it's like they're happy giving away market share to AMG and Quattro. Apparently an M7 would be "too heavy" but an X6M is not. yeah... got it.

Hey I'm definitely no hater of the E89 - I just still love my E85. I agree with your other comments - dunno why there was no E89M.

[oolas3]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I have a good buddy who loves the way the Z4 looks, but was really disappointed by the steering feel. He would have bought one if that had been more sorted out - instead he ended up in a used 997 911 convertible.

Would have been nice to see an M version of this car...

Any review or independent testing I've seen on the e89 had it rated as mediocre at best. Seems like it was always criticized as soft, odd riding, weird seating location, and no steering feel or feedback. The e85/e86 Z4 on the other hand are great driver's cars.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by m3m3mr

Any review or independent testing I've seen on the e89 had it rated as mediocre at best. Seems like it was always criticized as soft, odd riding, weird seating location, and no steering feel or feedback. The e85/e86 Z4 on the other hand are great driver's cars.

As an avowed E85 fan and current owner I appreciate your comments. But to be fair let's not forget Jeremy Clarkson's assessment on Top Gear that if he had to have just one car, it would be the E89.

[oolas3]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

As an avowed E85 fan and current owner I appreciate your comments. But to be fair let's not forget Jeremy Clarkson's assessment on Top Gear that if he had to have just one car, it would be the E89.

Fair enough. I missed that one. I've driven the e85 as my friend owns one, but never the e89.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by LinkF1

Everyone says it is a heavy pig, but it was the lightest car that BMW sold in the US over the past few years with the exception of the i3.

It was over 400 lbs heavier than the previous gen Z4.

[raysspl]

If BMW made this under 2800 lbs., it would've been great. In any case, it was a nice run

[bbbbmw]

I had a Z4 loaner for a day. It was a bland boulevard cruiser. The bar at the top of the windshield was in my line of vision (I'm not even 6' tall), but thought I'd buy one, as it was a BMW. I drove an s2000 a month later, bought it, and never looked back.

The Z4 is kind of the Chevy Nova of the BMW lineup.

[ljkiter]

Had both and they are great for different things. Nothing beats the look of the e89 and hoping to bring mine up to 400hp next year and overcome the heaviness. Wouldn't give up the hardtop for the world though. Its georgous.
I am excited about the z5 though!

[ljkiter]

Most stock z4's regardless of generation needs at least 2 things. Drop and new rims. Msport suspension and sport+ gives the car a great feel and still has the luxury feeling. I'd track a porsche or an z4m over this car anyday though.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by m3m3mr

Any review or independent testing I've seen on the e89 had it rated as mediocre at best. Seems like it was always criticized as soft, odd riding, weird seating location, and no steering feel or feedback. The e85/e86 Z4 on the other hand are great driver's cars.

Exactly - my dad had a Z4MC and it remains one the best cars I have ever driven.

Your comments are almost exactly on par with what my buddy had said - too soft and not enough feedback. But LOVED how it looked...

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

As an avowed E85 fan and current owner I appreciate your comments. But to be fair let's not forget Jeremy Clarkson's assessment on Top Gear that if he had to have just one car, it would be the E89.

It's like Uma Thurman....beautiful, but you're not exactly sure why.

[BQTuning]

The E89 Z4 models sDrive35i and sDrive35is will more likely become a tuners car. It carries the N54 motor which is found in the early 335i, 135i, and later 335is / 1M cars that are tuner cars.

The price tag mostly kept a lot of people away from it, which is a good thing, as you can pick up a used one for dirt cheap and don't really have to worry about some college student beating the horses crap of the car or it being previously moded as most of the previous owners are older non enthusiast drivers, mostly women.

I am surely going to pick another one but with DCT. I current have a 2012 sDrive35i M-Sport with 6MT. Don't mind having two for different events.

Lots of room under the hood to work with which you will rarely find nowadays since everything is compacted.

[adc]

RIP, no tears shed here.

Last year I bought a used 2004 Z4 3.0 for peanuts, drove it home from Kansas City and never looked back. It's a great drivers car, low to the ground, quick and direct. A true roadster.

As my wife has remarked it never fails to put a smile on our face every time we drive it.

[MSCD]

Saw a Valencia Orange one recently on s trip to the UK on a dealer lot....

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by ljkiter

Most stock z4's regardless of generation needs at least 2 things. Drop and new rims. Msport suspension and sport+ gives the car a great feel and still has the luxury feeling. I'd track a porsche or an z4m over this car anyday though.

See my pic for new rims and Michelin PSS rubber

[deemo319]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Hey I'm definitely no hater of the E89 - I just still love my E85. I agree with your other comments - dunno why there was no E89M.

Part of the problem was the take rate on the E85 M Roadster.

BMW M built 5,387 for world-wide production for a niche car within a small niche market.

And for the North American market BMW M built 3,041 cars. With America being its biggest market for the consumption of M cars, there probably wasn't a business case for it since that car would encroach near $100,000.

And guys would just get a Porsche anyways and leave BMW fans to buy the car. Cross-shopping is important and conquest more so.

See my earlier post about the E89 M Roadster and Coupe that would have crazy but oh so cool BMW's.

[BugsBunny]

Originally Posted by -c-

Miss my old z4!

Not the outgoing model but the first gen!

Seen them floating around and man they aged well, still looks good.

The first gen also handled better when they where chasing Porsche the second gen they ditched that direction and went luxury.

Indeed the E86 ages well.

I had the Z3, E86 Z4 and still drive the E89 Z4. Frankly I don't understand some of the comments here about the direction and the weight.

When the settings is on Sport Plus, the direction feels as good as the E86.
Of course if you set it on Comfort....

W.r.t. weight, it is one of the lightest BMW.

[BugsBunny]

Originally Posted by bbbbmw

I had a Z4 loaner for a day. It was a bland boulevard cruiser.

The Z4 is kind of the Chevy Nova of the BMW lineup.

May i guess that your loaner was probably not a 3.5iS ? Or perhaps not even a 3.5i ?
You drove it on Sport+ ?
M suspension ?