2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Roadster Road Test Review

2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Roadster Road Test Review

ASK TEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE what they are looking for in a new car and you'll likely get ten different answers.

For the most part however they'll agree that reliability, practicality, efficiency, safety and value for money are the most desired qualities. But what if their life circumstance allowed them to swap 'practicality' for other attributes such as beauty, balance and power?

More than a fair trade it must be said, and one that we'd all most likely enjoy making... perhaps more than we might care to admit.

Enter the BMW Z4 sDrive35i Roadster. With us for just a week, it taught us to 'pack light', leave the hangers-on at home and get behind the wheel just for the hell of it.

Styling

BMW's 'Z' car styling has had its moments, some good and some bad. The Z1 from the late 80's was unusual and forgettable, while the Z8 was simply stunning.

The Z3 was the first to come to our shores and while it was pleasingly styled, it didn't pack enough under-bonnet beef.

A Z3 with an M badge was the answer, but the added oomph was too much for the cheap trailing arm rear suspension and it earned a reputation as a tricky 'on-the-limit' handler.

The first of the Z4s was the E85 which arrived sporting Bangle's controversial 'flame surface' styling.

It worked, almost.

The E85 Z4's complex curves ended abruptly in a flat nose, making it one of those rare cars that can make your heart ache, or break, depending on its direction of travel.

The rare coupe version just amplified that loathe to lust effect.

In contrast, the new E89 Z4 features a more rounded mix of styling ingredients. The long nose and short tail remain, but it's now longer, wider and lower.

That the E89's styling is an evolution of the outgoing model is obvious, but there is no heartbreak here, the new Z4  'looks right' from any angle.

The Interior

Larger exterior dimensions mean more interior space, but the Z4 is still intimately snug.

Compared to the previous generation, there is more headroom and shoulder room, more room to move your arms and entry is easier via the larger doors.

The interior will impress even the hardest to please, offering a well-balanced mix of style, materials and quality. It is without question the best interior this reviewer has seen all year, trumping some more fancied offerings.

The introduction of i-Drive has had a profound effect on dashboard design at BMW. De-cluttered and minimalist, a modern BMW dashboard is a lesson in Teutonic efficiency, but they can be unnerving for some first timers.

In the Z4's case, and as befits a performance convertible, the attention to detail is impressive, ensuring that this particular interior is no barren waste-land.

There are beautifully crafted climate control knobs to twirl, while bordering the business sections of the front-face and lower-dash sections is impeccably stitched leather, complementing the Brown Ash woodgrain inlays.

The same cream leather graces the door trims as well as the infinitely adjustable, seriously supportive seats that lock you in place (pudgy Captains of Industry be warned).

The instrument dials are typically BMW, a little austere but perfectly legible and housed in a sporty binnacle, tucked behind a three spoke leather steering wheel.

As much as we have to point out that cabin space is at a premium, few people buying the Z4 will care. So it should be noted that the glove box is minuscule and the carpeted and netted shelf area behind the seats will hold a coat... just.

Thanks to the new folding hardtop, the boot (roof down) offers less luggage space than the old car.

With the roof up, the Z4's boot will swallow a very reasonable 310 litres of luggage. Drop the roof and the luggage capacity shrinks to 180 litres; but that is still more than enough to deal with some overnight bags and a few bottles of your favourite Shiraz.

Of course, that folding hardtop roof is one of the more notable changes introduced to the new Z4.

Replacing the previous model's fabric roof, the electro-hydraulic retractable roof, takes around 20 seconds to complete the Z4's transformation from coupe to convertible.

Equipment & Features

The Z4's cabin area may be small, but that's not to say that it's light on features.

Entry level for the Z4 begins with the sDrive23i which boasts a host of standard features including a leather interior, heated seats, climate control airconditioning, power windows/mirrors, bi-Xenon headlights, heated rear glass, auto wipers and headlights, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control with brake function, run-flat tyres with pressure indicator, an electronic differential lock and a trip computer.

Choose the sDrive35i and the standard features list expands to include a keyless entry and start system, sports seats, adaptive headlights with highbeam assist, 18-inch alloy wheels fitted with 225/40 and 255/35 size tyres and remote operation of the folding hardtop roof.

The interactive heart of the car is accessed via the now familiar, and no-longer so daunting i-Drive controller. A brief familiarisation session with i-Drive is all you need: it's intuitive and user friendly.

An LCD screen rises out of the upper centre dash section and angles forward a fraction to avoid glare. It is here that you can access (via the i-Drive controller) satellite navigation, audio controls (radio, CD and MP3) and a range of other vehicle functions.