2004 BMW Z4 Review

Specifications

The Stuff of Dreams

“You believe youre touching it, but in reality, it touches you” reads the esoteric statement used by BMW to describe the relationship between man and machine, when the machine is the 2004 Z4. Normally, Im less a fan of the esoteric point of view than the empirical one, but a single sunny fall afternoon spent in the cockpit of a 3.0-liter, I-6 powered Z4 revolutionized my perspective. Of course the suns warmth blasting the cool misty air, for a change, contributed to the euphoria, but only in a supporting role. The true emotional stimulus was the soft-top Z4 and its 225 horsepower drivetrain.

I remember when roadster fans came close to elation when BMW unveiled the 1996 Z3, which was the first BMW roadster to be sold in North America since the 1959 507. I was among those salivating over the Z3s long hood and sensuous lines. After seven years of Z3 success BMW replaced the tight little roadster with the larger, more sophisticated Z4 last year. The design, however, is contentious, due mainly to the vision of Chris Bangle, Director of BMW Group Design. For me, the Bangle-jury is still out on this one, and the verdict isnt expected anytime soon.

This years Z4 has changed very little from its 2003 predecessor, apart from rain sensing windshield wipers and steering wheel audio controls, along with several new colors and wheel packages. I especially love the Z4s even longer hood and wheelbase, and its decidedly stubby trunk. Unfortunately, the one place where the Bangle design concept fails to prove itself attractive is in the area of the Z4s convex to concave, scalloped side panels, featuring dramatic asymmetrical creases. Some like it, I dont.

Bangle jurisprudence aside, the Z4s proportioning is reminiscent of the classic roadsters of the 1960s and 70s, such as the
Triumph TR6, the Austin-Healey 3000 and the Ford V8-powered AC Cobra. These quintessential sports car icons placed the driver toward the rear of the vehicle, behind a large sculptured hood in the same way the thoroughly modern Z4 does. I sat behind the Z4 wheel, looked out over its bulbous hood and listened to the authority of its throaty inline-six, the entire experience attempting to transport me back to that golden era of ragtop roadsters. With the exception of the Z4s modern dash layout, everything about this car conveys the sense that time has stood still. Where time has moved forward, in leaps and bounds, is in build quality, comfort and most importantly, technology and performance.

It is beautifully assembled inside and out, with panel spacing that is accurate and true. Apart from the metallic clang of the doors, this little roadster is granite solid, exhibiting exceptional structural rigidity and nary a rattle or squeak to squawk about. On the inside, BMW has supplied generous amounts of stitched soft leather for the seating surfaces and door panels; in addition, the inner surface of the windshield frame and the fold-down visors are trimmed in leather (or a darned good imitation). Im a big fan of the liberal application of true, brushed aluminum, which broadly sweeps across the dash and down the center console. Hard plastics have been kept to a minimum, and out of direct sight or reach of the occupants. Regardless of height or leg length, those occupants will be rewarded with plenty of “stretch” room, whether the roof is up or down.

Stretching out in my testers power-actuated heated drivers seat was very comfortable over the short-term, although long-term occupancy was compromised by a lack of thigh support due to the abbreviated seat cushions and a deficiency of adjustable lumbar support to fine-tune the fit. Side bolstering was acceptable, but not Recaro-like. Instrumentation in the Z4 is on the small side, but clearly legible through the upper portion of BMWs slick, aluminum trimmed three-spoke steering wheel, which houses thumb-operated audio controls at the three and nine positions.

Less legible is the narrow information screen set center stage in the dash, because whenever the sun hit the red characters, the screen completely washed out. Its ineffectiveness could become annoying, given that sun worshipers are the ones who buy convertibles. Encouraging for this crowd, when it turns cold the Z4 pumps out heat from its dash mounted vents like a nuclear power plant in meltdown, a vitally important feature in a soft-top sold north of the equator.

Push a single dash-mounted button and the fabric drops faster than shorts at a nudist colony. Unfortunately, when retracted, the roof is not protected beneath a hard shell tonneau cover as it is on many rival open-air rides. Although the main portion of the roof forms a quasi-tonneau, which lies flat behind the seats, it lacks a seamless transition between the body and interior of the car. One look at the splendid tonneau design Chrysler incorporated into the Crossfire roadster illustrates exactly what I mean. More impressive than the Chrysler though, is the Z4s spacious, for a convertible, trunk. Yes Tiger, a set of clubs will easily fit in the boot with room left over for the oft-needed Nike raingear. The nicely lined soft-top seals hermetically tight when up too, which is a good thing this time of year as I never found myself sporting blue lips or trembling uncontrollably - well at least not from any chill in the evening air.

Trembling? Well maybe thats going a bit too far as my top-of-the-line Z4s 3.0-liter inline-six was only capable of zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, but being so close to the ground with the air rushing through my hair made it feel so much faster than the 745Li I just recently tested, even though its not. Its engine makes 225-horsepower at 5,900-rpm and 214 pounds-per-foot of torque at a modest 3,500-rpm, which is not particularly impressive next to a 350Z Roadster, for instance, but the power is adequate enough especially considering the Z4s svelte curb weight of 2,998 pounds. The inline-6 is smooth though, and features BMWs double-VANOS variable valve timing technology, which translated means soul stirring torque throughout the rev range. Anyone familiar with the refined, athletic characteristics of modern, inline 6-cylinder Bimmer powerplants will understand firsthand the sensory pleasures they can evoke, revving smoothly without constriction, all the while producing a spine tingling exhaust note.

My Sapphire Black tester featured BMWs outstanding 6-speed manual transmission, fortunately. Although not comprising the shortest throws in the industry, its shifter was never vague or indecisive in its actuation. Each gear clicked into place with a sharply focused notch that never left me confused about whether the cog was fully engaged or not. In typical BMW fashion, the roadsters drivetrain was tight, developing no unnecessary driveline slap or clunk. That sense of mechanical precision extended to the clutch as well. Its operation, though long in pedal travel, was smooth and progressive, requiring moderate effort to pump. Engagement came late in the pedals release, but not unexpectedly so.

The ratio spacing between the six sprockets in the gearbox also felt like a perfect match for the engines power curve, with no flat spots or weak points detected from first to sixth. Each shift thereafter arrived with startling rapidity as the wind rushing over the cockpit intensified, lifting the snugly fitting ballcap from my bean.

I suppose I should mentioned here that compared to others in this class, wind buffeting in the Z4 is no worse than normal, with or without the optional wind-deflector screen in place between the roll bars. I chose to leave this calming device in the trunk, as the wind in the hair experience is what I think a convertible is all about.

In addition to its civilized open-air manners, many buyers will be attracted to the Z4 for its outstanding, welded-to-the-road handling ability. There isnt much that beats the gleeful delight found in sitting just fore of a rear axle, piloting the long nose of an unflappable roadster through a series of twists and turns tighter than a Hitchcock drama. Accentuated by the smallish diameter of the steering wheel and its perfect, ergonomic shape, Z4 turn-in is immediate. Body lean in the Bimmer roadster is pretty much nonexistent, regardless of speed, even when the 18-inch low-profile Bridgestone Potenzas laid down a wide patch of sticky contact beneath the car and never lost traction or cried out in tire-screeching pain, despite the application of severe cornering punishment. These brave “soles” were attached to spectacularly good-looking, 5-spoke BMW alloy rims.

At this point, it should be said that the tremendous handling capabilities of the Z4 come at a price, both financial and human. The human toll pertains to ride comfort, or lack thereof. My tester was fortified by a sport suspension setup, which further intensified the cars ride firmness. Now dont get me wrong. The ride is nothing more than you would expect from a roadster with such a high road-holding threshold, but nonetheless it has the ability to jostle the innards around pretty well on rough pavement. Impressively, the extremely lightweight Z4 is free of the cowl-shake often inherent in vehicles lacking a solid roof.

The leanness of the Z4 contributes to its inspiring ability to nimbly and rapidly transition from side to side. It also contributes to the Z4s incredible braking ability. Squeeze hard on the inner-vented front and rear antilock disc brakes and youd better hope your fillings are all secure. Aided by BMWs Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), which regulates the brake pressure at each wheel thereby enhancing directional stability, the Z4 can dissipate speed with astonishing strength and control. Emergency stops are arrow-straight and briefer than an ill-fitting Speedo at a seniors pool party. Little pedal pressure is needed to accomplish perfectly controlled stops, time and again. Brake modulation is predictable and progressive, and nosedive is nil.

Now, if strong brakes are to be considered an automobiles first line of defense, then airbags must be the second. The Z4 protects its human occupants with front, side and knee airbags for drivers and passenger, with the option to deactivate the passenger side airbags when children are riding shotgun. BMWs SMART airbag deployment technology ensures the force of deployment is appropriate to the level of impact. In addition to airbags, BMW has pushed the Z4 safety envelope even farther with rollover protection and a crash-sensor system, which automatically unlocks the doors, turns on the interior lights and activates the four-way flashers in the event of a crash. This system also cuts off fuel and electrical power to the engine, reducing the potential for a post-crash fire.

In addition to its comprehensive list of safety features, the Z4 3.0i is complete, in terms of comfort and convenience items served up as standard equipment, which include keyless entry, central locking, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, cup holders and more. Optional equipment can include a Sport Package, which will add BMWs Dynamic Driving Control system, enhancing cornering flatness with the use of active suspension technology. A Premium Package is also available, which includes auto-dimming mirrors, premium audio and 6-disc in-dash CD, power seats with memory, multi-function steering wheel, power-folding mirrors and the wind deflector. A Navigation package is also available. Stand-alone options include BMWs clutchless 6-speed SMG transmission, and BMW telephone and assistance program, among other frills.

Ultimately, the 2004 BMW Z4 3.0i is a tremendously enjoyable roadster, and an extraordinarily special car to those who fondly remember two-place, open-air classics. Although it commands a substantial price for the joy of ownership, its joy can be priceless, especially to those who yearn for a classic roadster but demand the safety, technology and heightened performance of todays road cars. And lets not even get started on the issue of reliability. It seems those with yesterdays drop-tops spend more time fiddling with carburetors, clutch cables, brake lines and starters than actually enjoying themselves beneath the warm sun, cruising the scenic secondary routes that are the stuff of adventure and exhilaration. No, this is the stuff of dreams, as is the Z4.