The end of the Z4

[Vanne]

Hey crusty, where bouts in Sydney are you, I just spent 3 weeks there and only saw one e86.. Not yours was it? ; D

I am not phased, I've got mine, and likewise, it ain't going anywhere.. Unless I have to move back to Sydney and then I'll be in t lookout for a crashed z4m that I can swap from left to right ; D

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by TexasZed4MC

I was talking to a member of BMW Germany at the Texas Trifecta this weekend about possible new Z4 M Coupes and updates and he told me no. No matter what the car does with Rahal Letterman or any overseas racing the Z4 will soon be a distant memory.
He stated the dealerships have hell selling them and that BMW looses money on every one of them. The car may stop production soon. Sad to hear.

The problem I see is that the E89 should have been released with the M engine from the E92 M3. I would totally jump ship from the E92 M3 platform for an E89 M with the V8 engine.

Car would have sold for like $90k though.

[philjw]

Originally Posted by Endless619

The problem I see is that the E89 should have been released with the M engine from the E92 M3. I would totally jump ship from the E92 M3 platform for an E89 M with the V8 engine.

Car would have sold for like $90k though.

But that car would have been worth $90k. Not sure the 35is is worth $75k

[Aries326]

I too have to agree with Krusty. BMW should have never merged the coupe/roadster concept. I bought my E85 because I wanted a rag top. It's got the classic look. They need to separate the two again.

The E89 should have just come out only with a N54 for the "regular" version and also an "M" version with bigger turbos/more boost and better suspension than what the 35is has now. They came out with too many "weaker" engine options. As Krusty said, the Z4 line's prestige has been ruined with these weak options.

But as someone pointed out in another thread, because of the stricter fuel standards, BMW's hand has been forced to come out with more fuel efficient engines.

Question is, will BMW try to fix the Z4 or really dump the Z4 line? Quite sad if they do.

[ricanbandit]

It's always be my opinion the only true Z sports cars were the M variants. I remember always thinking that the Z was a more affluent persons corvette. Only older people got it as a sporty convertible and I remember driving one when I had my Mazdaspeed Miata and thinking, this thing is a cow! Of course compared to that little go kart it really did feel that way. Then enter the Z4M, a little more aggressive looking a LOT more aggressive everything! They definitely should have done an M variant of the E89. I would have jumped ship as I like the look and the hardtop is hot.

[MinneapolisJeff]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Wasn't there a plan to introduce a new smaller roadster with a canvas top and call it a Z2?

I believe so; Motor Trend even made mention to this the other day on their website in an article about convertibles

I read that and immediately had to hit Google for more info, didn't know it was happening for sure

[Huz-Z]

My google search turned up this:

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/201...r-ar99752.html

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...adster-plotted

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-the-spotlight

[MinneapolisJeff]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

My google search turned up this:

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/201...r-ar99752.html

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...adster-plotted

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-the-spotlight

this was the article -> http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...1_s_cabriolet/

excerpt:

Germany has 15 convertibles in production right now, with at least two more on the way (BMW Z2 and Porsche 918 Spyder)

[StickMon]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Wasn't there a plan to introduce a new smaller roadster with a canvas top and call it a Z2?

Front wheel drive?
FAIL!

I fear that when my Z goes Tango Uniform, I'll be forced into an Elise for lack of other options.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by StickMon

Front wheel drive?
FAIL!

I fear that when my Z goes Tango Uniform, I'll be forced into an Elise for lack of other options.

Didn't one of the articles sugggest that a variant of the Z3 could be all-wheel drive? In that case, it could have a rear bias, so it may be okay after all for the performance types.

[partlowr]

I was planning on replacing my E85 with a brand new E89 Z4 3.5is this coming winter or next spring at the latest...I guess I am going to have to go take a look at the Jag F Type instead.

[keepittrill]

Originally Posted by partlowr

I was planning on replacing my E85 with a brand new E89 Z4 3.5is this coming winter or next spring at the latest...I guess I am going to have to go take a look at the Jag F Type instead.

This isn't a set thing, it's a rumor. Who knows, maybe the Z4 will stay alive. I definitely think it's got a few years left.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by partlowr

I was planning on replacing my E85 with a brand new E89 Z4 3.5is this coming winter or next spring at the latest...I guess I am going to have to go take a look at the Jag F Type instead.

Very pricey and a bit bland on the exterior styling IMHO; I've seen a few here as there is a Jag dealer just a few miles from the house. The interior looks very upscale and I'm sure it's a rocket.

[partlowr]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Very pricey and a bit bland on the exterior styling IMHO; I've seen a few here as there is a Jag dealer just a few miles from the house. The interior looks very upscale and I'm sure it's a rocket.

The Jag starts at $69k, a 2013 Z4 3.5is is mid $60's, I know becuase I just test drove a new Z4 two weeks ago and even the base model Jag has 25 more HP and gobs more torque than the Z4.

[ricanbandit]

Originally Posted by partlowr

The Jag starts at $69k, a 2013 Z4 3.5is is mid $60's, I know becuase I just test drove a new Z4 two weeks ago and even the base model Jag has 25 more HP and gobs more torque than the Z4.

At this price point, I would go with the Jag. I think it looks great and if its faster, more torque and has the whole cache thing going. Yeah, plus on youtube the thing sounds amazing!

[Living Dead]

I'm planning to keep my 2006 another 2-3 years (almost 100K now and will be about 135-150K then) then I am seriously considering a CPO F-type, I love the looks plus it is a cloth top I'm not a fan of the E89 hard top, if BMW ever does the Z2 ragtop I may consider that.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by Living Dead

I'm planning to keep my 2006 another 2-3 years (almost 100K now and will be about 135-150K then) then I am seriously considering a CPO F-type, I love the looks plus it is a cloth top I'm not a fan of the E89 hard top, if BMW ever does the Z2 ragtop I may consider that.

You guys may be convincing me. The thing does have plenty of guts and sounds amazing. The one I saw locally was white with black rims and that combination just doesn't work for me. Now, in the right color with a more suitable rim..........

[David70]

I see the product being a bigger problem than the price.

My 06 M Coupe MSRP was $54,470, the '14 Z4 sDrive35is (name isn't helping anything either) MSRP with Cold Weather package is $66,425. 8 years later, with folding hardtop and not built in U.S. adds significant cost. Most of what made the 06 an M didn't cost that much (using an engine that came out 5 years earlier).

My 06 MSRP was cheaper than the Cayman S, this seems to be even more true today (spec to spec). Problem is I don't see them being equal performance (even then I am not sure but it was at least closer). At least to me the Z4 is less raw, more Grand Tourer than geared towards performance.

If I was buying new I would get the Cayman S.

[Zedfor]

Jaguar is out with their new F-Type, Alfa Romeo is returing with its 4C, Porsche and Mercedes roadsters aren't going anywhere and BMW have built up a lucrative business with their Z4-GT3 customer car program. The Z4 isn't going anywhere.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by philjw

But that car would have been worth $90k. Not sure the 35is is worth $75k

I totally agree with you on both counts.

Any current E89 variant IMO should not be over $60k period. No M then it should be $50k or less.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by Zedfor

The Z4 isn't going anywhere.

That's what we all speculated about the MZ4. That BMW will bring it out. But it ain't happening. BMW M Brand Manager has confirmed multiple times that BMW has ZERO plans of making an M version of the Z4 despite the presence of various competitor's performance roadsters. Why?

Because the MZ4 sold very poorly. As in the production numbers are so low not because BMW choose to limit it, but because NO ONE bought it. At times, during 2007-2008, there were as many as a dozen of MZ4s sitting at the local dealership lot, forcing BMW to throw a massive, $10,000 trunk cash to get the stale inventory to move.

The Z4 will go away if and when BMW realize that they can't make enough money and sell enough to justify the cost of development, nor can't throw enough $$$ and incentives at it to move them off of dealership lots, of which #2 is already starting to happen.

[dubsesd]

Or they can make it more attractive and introduce an m model to compete with amg and Porsche cayman/boxster. There is a reason why those are selling. You can view it from 2 perspectives