BMW Z4: common faults & what to check

Which BMW Z4 are you looking at?

4 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

2 variants documented

2009–2016E892009–2016E892.5 petrolPetrolDocumented issues1 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2009–2016E892009–2016E893.0 petrolPetrolDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Engine not documented

2 variants documented

2002–2009E852002–2009E85Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: MercurySable99 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2018–nowG292018–nowG29Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Elise240SX via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this BMW Z4

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a BMW Z4 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Run the VIN through a BMW dealer or the manufacturer's recall checker to confirm the tie rod recall has been completed.

  See why

  Steering tie rod safety recall (early G29, MY2018-2019 build)

  BMW Australia recalled early-build G29 Z4s (along with G20 3 Series and X3M/X4M) because the steering track rods could be damaged by high temperatures and vibration and ultimately break, impairing steering control. The same defect drove recalls of the Z4 and its Toyota GR Supra twin in other markets. The fix is free replacement of both tie rods at a BMW dealer - the buyer's job is simply to confirm the work was done.

  What you would notice

  • Usually none before failure
  • Clunk or vagueness from the front steering
  • Steering pull or uneven front tyre wear

  Typically $0–$1,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Cold-start the car and listen for wastegate rattle and rough running.

  See why

  N54 high-pressure fuel pump, injector and wastegate problems (sDrive35i/35is)

  The twin-turbo N54 in the sDrive35i inherits that engine's full catalogue: high-pressure fuel pump failures (long cranking, misfires, limp mode), leaking or stuttering piezo injectors, and turbo wastegate wear announced by a metallic rattle at cold idle. Early pumps should have been replaced under BMW's extended programmes in some markets, but NZ/AU-delivered and imported cars need the history checked. Individually manageable, collectively these make a neglected 35i the expensive Z4 to own.

  What you would notice

  • Long cranking before start
  • Misfires or stutter in the first 30 seconds from cold
  • Metallic rattle from the turbos at idle
  • Limp mode with fuel-pressure fault codes

  Typically $1,500–$5,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Cycle the roof fully at least twice, listening for hesitation, and check the boot floor and roof storage area for hydraulic oil stains or damp.

  See why

  Retractable hardtop hydraulic and sensor failures (E89)

  The E89's two-piece folding metal roof depends on a hydraulic pump, multiple rams, solenoid valves and position sensors; with age the system develops leaks, worn microswitches and relay/solenoid faults that leave the roof stuck half-open. Diagnosis is specialist work and hydraulic component replacement gets expensive quickly. Water ingress into the boot from perished roof seals is a related complaint.

  What you would notice

  • Roof stops mid-cycle or refuses to latch
  • Grinding or hesitation during operation
  • Hydraulic fluid staining in the boot area
  • Wet boot carpet after rain

  Typically $1,000–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  From a cold start, turn lock-to-lock at parking speed and feel for heaviness, stickiness or uneven assist.

  See why

  Electric power steering column failure (E85/E86)

  The E85 Z4's column-mounted electric power steering motor is a notorious failure: the steering suddenly goes very heavy, the EPS warning lights, and often the column stops communicating with diagnostics entirely. Failures can be intermittent at first, which makes them easy for a seller to shrug off. Repair options are a refurbished column/motor or an expensive new unit, so verify it on the test drive.

  What you would notice

  • Steering suddenly heavy, especially at parking speeds
  • Power steering warning light
  • Steering assist cuts in and out
  • Notchy or sticky self-centring

  Typically $900–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Ask when the electric water pump and thermostat were last replaced - on a 100,000 km+ car with the original pump, budget for it.

  See why

  Electric water pump failure (N52 3.0si/sDrive23i/30i, also N54)

  The N52 and N54 use a Pierburg electric water pump that commonly fails electronically from around 80,000-130,000 km, often with little warning, causing overheating and limp mode. On the E89 the pump is awkward to reach - workshops often remove the steering rack for access - so labour is a big share of the bill. Many owners replace it preventatively with the thermostat.

  What you would notice

  • Cooling fan running at full speed from cold start
  • Temperature warnings or limp mode
  • Whirring noise from the pump area
  • Speed-deviation fault code for the coolant pump

  Typically $1,500–$3,200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Operate the roof at least three times in a row.

  See why

  Soft-top roof motor failure from water ingress (E85)

  The E85's electro-hydraulic roof motor sits low behind the cabin where blocked drainage holes let rainwater pool and flood it, killing the motor. Roof microswitches and the roof module also fail, leaving the top stuck. Many owners relocate the replacement motor higher or into the boot as a permanent fix; keeping the drains clear prevents the problem entirely.

  What you would notice

  • Roof will not open or stops mid-cycle
  • Whirring pump noise but no roof movement
  • Damp carpet or musty smell behind the seats
  • Roof works only intermittently after rain

  Typically $600–$2,800 to put right.

BMW Z4 service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the BMW Z4. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

Other BMW models