Best and worst BMW Z4 years — which to avoid

The BMW Z4 slowly becomes a classic among compact sporty two-door cars, but if you plan on buying one, your driving experience can greatly vary depending on the model year. It’s not just because of the quirks and features – reliability scores have shown that certain BMW Z4 model years are less dependable than others.

Our seasoned automotive experts will therefore lead the way by giving you a brief on the best Z4 years to get, and the worst BMW Z4 years to avoid. Our review metrics and sources like NHTSA records may help you make a confident buying decision, and we’ll further explain why certain years should be avoided along the way.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst BMW Z4 years

While evaluating BMW Z4 models, our team used a variety of metrics and feedback to form a list of best and worst model years. To do it with 100% accuracy, we leaned on prominent automotive organizations like NHTSA for complaints, and IIHS for safety reports.

We also wanted to give you a full picture of the BMW Z4 recalls and the reasons behind those recalls to help you understand what could go wrong with the car. On top of those, we also used real driver feedback and reviews through portals like Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and Kelley Blue Book, along with some forums with a proven track record of BMW Z4 complaints. So, here’s our ranking by year:

Most common BMW Z4 problems

For a sporty BMW, the Z4 is an excellent model in terms of reliability with just a few model years having some minor issues. The good news is – there haven’t been any engine or transmission-related problems diagnosed so far with any of these. On the other hand, there are other most common problems that drivers often report, mostly for the first-gen model, so let’s take a look:

1. Steering wheel clunks

If you own any Z4 model between 2003 to 2008, keep an eye out for this problem. When they applied the brakes, drivers reported feeling a jolt or clunk from the steering wheel. Sometimes they also heard a cracking noise when driving in reverse.

A faulty front control arm bracket bushing is the primary cause of the steering wheel clunks and noise. Its repair is inexpensive, costing no more than $80, including labor.

2. Drifting steering wheel

There have been reports of the Z4 jerking to one side and being hard to control. The brakes sometimes felt like they had been activated without the driver’s engagement and the steering wheel often proved difficult.

The cause of this problem is the steering column malfunction. Replacing the column costs about $100, including labor. If you own a 2007 BMW Z4, you must be most wary about this problem.

4. Faulty roof mechanism

The roof of some Z4s has an issue within its mechanism that causes it to withdraw into another chamber, leaving the roof motor susceptible to rust.

2008 Z4 models were most affected by this issue, causing drivers distress as the problem persisted even after the roof mechanism was replaced. To make things worse, a slightly open roof may cause water leaking inside car’s passenger’s side and it can even affect the side airbags.

5. Oil leakage

You have an oil leak if you notice white smoke from under the hood, visible oil leaks when you sit by the passenger side or a burning oil smell. The Z4 models most affected by this issue are those of 2003 to 2006.

The smoke results from a damaged valve cover gasket caused by the oil leak. In extreme cases, the oil leak can cause a fire to erupt from your car. So, if you notice oil leaks under the cover, it’s probably because of the gasket.

You must address this issue as quickly as possible, so you do not risk damage to your HVAC system, radiator, engine, and other parts. If you see it early, you may only have to spend about $80 to replace the valve cover gasket.

6. Coolant leak

There have been reports of coolant leaks, especially in the 2003 to 2005 Z4 models. The leak causes engine overheating, which, if left unattended, can damage engine components and eventually lead to engine failure. In case of a leak, you may notice some symptoms of low coolant, especially sudden temperature raises and engine overheating.

Fixing the leakage cost about $700 because parts like the upper and lower hoses had to be replaced, asides from flushing the system and replacing the coolant. Some of the latter model years also experienced this issue, including 2008 and 2009, but luckily BMW recalled most of these to fix the problem free of charge.

7. Faulty airbags

Airbags on the Z4 are notorious for deploying on their own. It is a serious safety hazard as the airbags can deploy voluntarily in the middle of a ride and cause an accident and severe injury to the driver. You should avoid the 2007 model to reduce your chances of facing this problem as they are more susceptible to developing it.

Worst BMW Z4 years to avoid

When gearing up to purchase the Z4, there are certain models you should avoid at all costs. Now that you know about the commonly-found problems of the model, it’s time to dedicate all of your attention to the important question – what are the worst BMW Z4 years?

The worst BMW Z4 years are 2003 and 2005, but here’s a complete breakdown:

• 2003
• 2005
• 2006
• 2016

We’ll take an in-depth look at each of these based on their model generation so we can give you some updates on why these should be avoided:

First-generation Z4 (2003 and 2005 model years)

The 2003 model is riddled with problems but there’s nothing that could ruin your driving experience here. It had many reported coolant and oil leaks, engine overheating, and failed front control arm bracket bushings. However, BMW recalled most of the vehicles plagued by these issues and buying a recalled one would also minimize the risk for you.

The 2005 Z4 inherited most of the problems of the 2003 model and added a few of its own. Clunking steering wheels, faulty airbags, sticky steering, steering drifts, and defective roof mechanism and convertible tops are some of these additions.

Second-generation Z4 (2016 model year)

After an excellent spell of excellence, 2016 brought its problems. The 2016 model is relatively reliable and better than the other models you should also avoid. It is on this list because of its issue with vehicle control speed.

When left untethered, this issue can spiral out of control and cause life-threatening accidents. It is best to avoid the model altogether to be safe.

What are the best BMW Z4 years to buy?

Now that we’ve cleared that out of the way, it’s time to focus on the good stuff. The majority of BMW Z4 years is more than decent and after removing the problematic model years, here’s what we were left with among those deemed reliable:

• 2004
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020

If you are looking for the most reliable models, consider the older ones, as their reliability has been tested longer than the newer ones. However, the newer ones are also very reliable and excellent options, whether you buy them factory fresh or used.

They also come with the latest innovations that promote safety and comfort. Among the best options overall, we have to suggest conisdering 2009 one as it had the least amount of complaints.

2009 BMW Z4

The 2009 BMW Z4 made a difference among early first-gen and second-gen models as it didn’t have any issues with the engine cooling or oil leaks. On top of that, it’s by far the best-rated model by users and previous drivers with accent on all the issues of 2003 and 2005 models being sorted out.

The only problems we could find reported for this one are wheel hub issues and those were more or less sorted out through the recall.

Is the BMW Z4 worth buying?

The BMW Z4 is worth its price. The sports car towers above the competition and is easily one of the most reliable and safer sports cars you can find on the market. With the proper care and maintenance, the car would go 200,000 miles on average.

BMW Z4 holds its value better than other sports cars, making it a suitable option if you enjoy investing in cars. Even as a used vehicle, it still packs some punch, delivering the optimum BMW experience when in good shape.

Looking into the Audi TT years to avoid or the Ford Mustang years to avoid? We’ve checked their history to highlight the years that shined and those that were a bit off. You’ll get all the details, making it easy to spot the best times to remember and the ones to forget for each car.