BMW Z4 Production Ends

[phoenixbmwlife]

I never understood why the Z models were so expensive. I miss my E86 Z4.

[ORIGIN M.]

Great driver!

Small w/no ragtop, to bloody heavy, and no useable trunk accordingly.

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

I understand the roadster market is pretty much dead/non-existent relative to everything else...

But with that said, the E89 Z4 has to be the most under appreciated, most neglected model BMW ever managed in recent memory.

[ORIGIN M.]

With Hardtop fuck yeah!

Originally Posted by Desmo85

A Shame no M Version was ever built. Pair it with an S65 or a S55 and it would have been a great car.

[ORIGIN M.]

Absolutely correct!

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

That's just what BMW wants you to believe.

The roadster market doesn't appear to have any issues over at Porsche or Mazda ...

[Desmo85]

Originally Posted by David70

Z4 U.S. Sales - http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01...s-figures.html

U.S. sales total for past 7 years - 20,017

2009 - 3523
2010 - 3804
2011 - 3479
2012 - 2751
2013 - 2480
2014 - 2151
2015 - 1829

Boxster U.S. Sales http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01...s-figures.html

U.S. sales total for past 7 years - 20,300

2009 - 1909
2010 - 2177
2011 - 1773
2012 - 2894
2013 - 4570
2014 - 3875
2015 - 3102

Neither are/were big sellers, and most seem to think the Z4 was irrelevant and the Boxster was such a great seller.

For the above time period I think the Boxster was redesigned in 2011 (2012 model year) and 2015 (2016 model year), and the Z4 never?

Z4 only got a mild LCI (White halos and different side indicators, along different interior trim packages, and a hard top that could open till 30mph)

[-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.

[-c-]

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.

Just a pic of the ol girl !

Funny though those 326m wheels looked better on the first gen z4 rather than the 2nd gen.

[MalibuBimmer]

R.I.P. It was a great although underpowered car.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

I guess you could throw in affordable too but even the cheaper roadsters like the Miata, they only sell on average 5-6k a year, the TT is around 2500 so while manufacturers are still making them, they don't really sell relative to everything else so it's a very, very small market.

Perhaps my words were over-exaggerating a bit, but the roadster market is insignificant.

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.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf

I never understood why the Z models were so expensive. I miss my E86 Z4.

Ditto on the price comment. Here in Canada, my local dealer has had a brand new turbo 4 cylinder E89 Z4 languishing on his lot for months now that is priced so high that you could buy a couple of 3 year old E89s for about the same money - and get SDrive 35i's to boot.

My car is ten years old now and to my eye, it still looks great and is in great shape, with only 35,000 miles. If BMW's practice of crazy pricing continues with the Z5 (I agree with ya, NickyC!), I think I'm keeping mine for a while yet. I certainly don't think I'd ever be happy replacing my wonderfully smooth and sweet sounding inline 6 with that rough 4 cylinder that the dealer wanted me to buy.

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Ditto on the price comment. Here in Canada, my local dealer has had a brand new turbo 4 cylinder E89 Z4 languishing on his lot for months now that is priced so high that you could buy a couple of 3 year old E89s for about the same money - and get SDrive 35i's to boot.

My car is ten years old now and to my eye, it still looks great and is in great shape, with only 35,000 miles. If BMW's practice of crazy pricing continues with the Z5 (I agree with ya, NickyC!), I think I'm keeping mine for a while yet. I certainly don't think I'd ever be happy replacing my wonderfully smooth and sweet sounding inline 6 with that rough 4 cylinder that the dealer wanted me to buy.

Car looks great btw! I meant new car prices not used cars. The reason some of the E86 are still prices high is because not many were produced and in the M Models it's even more rare. Mine was a coupe si model and if I could have kept it I would still have it.

Edit: Here's my old car.

[deemo319]

Originally Posted by matlok

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

If they sell a premium car in a premium segment to an affluent demographic it won't be underpriced whatsoever.

The demographic typically has more than three cars or more at two homes so it's either an impulse (emotional) or merit based (bonus, retirement or lifestyle change) purchase.

It's the psychographics of this segment that are interesting to read.

The E89 Z4 obviously had a much different mission than the E85 Z4.

One of the things was to improve the ergonomics due to age of the intended buyers.

It had to have much improved interior materials which it does.

The handling dynamics took a step back due to the RHT (Retractable Hard Top) and its associated hardware and weight.

Style wise, to me it looked lame if the car didn't have M Sport. It added some much need visual aggression and tension that wasn't on base cars.

I proposed on another site that BMW missed an opportunity to build an E89 M Roadster/Coupe.

Could have had BMW M build a limited amount of cars with 2,000 M Roadsters and 2,000 M Coupes total worldwide production over two years.

Start at $79,995 (2011 money)

M Roadster (Street)
S65 V8
6-Speed Manual or M-DCT
Brembo Brakes
Ohlins Coilovers
Revised Chassis
Recaro Street Seats
Aggressive Aero
Limited Options
Four colors exclusive to M Roadster

M Coupe (Track)
S65 V8
M-DCT
Fixed Roof only w/Roll cage
Track specific Ohlins Suspension
Recaro Track Seats
Aggressive Aerodynamics
Digital Performance (Awron)
Limited options
Four Exclusive Colors to M Coupe

It was a nice dream!

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf

Car looks great btw! I meant new car prices not used cars. The reason some of the E86 are still prices high is because not many were produced and in the M Models it's even more rare. Mine was a coupe si model and if I could have kept it I would still have it.

Thanks! - mine is also an SI. And I agree completely on your other points re price new and rarity. I loved the look of the coupe which was produced in very limited numbers as you say, but I really love the top down driving in the roadster. Sadly, as much as I might love the new Z5 when it arrives, I don't think I'll be buying one new.

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Thanks! - mine is also an SI. And I agree completely on your other points re price new and rarity. I loved the look of the coupe which was produced in very limited numbers as you say, but I really love the top down driving in the roadster. Sadly, as much as I might love the new Z5 when it arrives, I don't think I'll be buying one new.

Whatever you decide if you can hold on to your Z4 you should. I keep saying I should buy another one as a weekend car but my mind is set on other more important things. The new Z5 is up in the air for me. It all depends on many things if I will get it. Unfortunately if I'm in the market for this car I might actually get Toyota's version if it looks anything like the concept.

[PARTS@STBMW]

Wow!

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Wow BMW sure splashed Valencia Orange around so many different models.


1M
228
Mini
X1
Z4
Etc

To be correct MINI used the term Spiced Orange for the R56 and Hot Orange for the R53 Cabrio series and it was darker than Valencia Orange. It was also available on the F20 1er.

[David70]

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.

You seem really angry and I think I only posted facts.

Did I say anything about any roadsters being big sellers?

I do appreciate you both asking yourself questions and then answering them.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by David70

You seem really angry and I think I only posted facts.

Did I say anything about any roadsters being big sellers?

I do appreciate you both asking yourself questions and then answering them.

Not angry. Just direct (and factual as well).

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf

Whatever you decide if you can hold on to your Z4 you should. I keep saying I should buy another one as a weekend car but my mind is set on other more important things. The new Z5 is up in the air for me. It all depends on many things if I will get it. Unfortunately if I'm in the market for this car I might actually get Toyota's version if it looks anything like the concept.

No plans to sell my E85 any time soon. I'm one of those guys who totally loved the look of the car from the beginning and never got the whole hatred for Bangle thing. The only thing that would tempt me would be a nice low mileage Z4M roadster. By the way, lots of M coupes on the E85 classified section if you don't want to wait for the Z5!

[F87LUV]

RIP all my Z4s.

I need a new version of ZMC.

[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.

[deemo319]

The E89 also had a longer life. It had an 8 year life span instead of the typical 7 year lifespan.