Models · BMW
BMW Z4 E85 and E86 buying guide
The first BMW Z4, built from 2002 as the E85 Roadster, joined in 2006 by the E86 Coupé and facelifted the same year. Four and six-cylinder petrol engines drive the rear wheels.
The versions
- Before the 2006 facelift: 2.2i (170PS), 2.5i (192PS) and 3.0i (231PS), all M54 straight-sixes
- After the facelift: 2.0i four-cylinder (N46, 150PS), and N52 straight-sixes in the 2.5i (177PS), 2.5si (218PS) and 3.0si (265PS)
- E85 Roadster with a fabric hood; E86 Coupé from 2006
- Five or six-speed manual, an automatic, or the SMG automated manual on some pre-facelift cars; a six-speed manual on all facelift cars
- The Z4 M Roadster and M Coupé have their own page
What to check on a E85 Z4
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Broken rear coil springs
What to look for: Look at the car from behind and from each side on level ground: it should sit level. On the drive, listen for a rattle or clonk from a rear corner over bumps.
Why it matters: Rear coil spring breakages are a known issue on these Z4s, and a broken end can rattle around in the spring seat. It's a straightforward replacement, and uprated springs are available.
The hood and its motor (Roadster)
What to look for: Raise and lower the hood fully and watch for slow or stalling movement. With a torch, look behind the seats and in the area where the hood folds for damp, standing water or staining. Check the rear screen's heater lines work.
Why it matters: On pre-facelift Roadsters, blocked drain tubes let water collect around the hood motor, and the motor fails. The hood has to come off to replace it. Facelift cars have a sealed motor, which reduces the risk. A failed rear screen heater can mean a new hood.
Electric power steering
What to look for: On the drive, once the car is fully warm, feel for steering that becomes heavy or sticky, especially around the straight-ahead, or that responds unevenly.
Why it matters: The standard Z4s use electric power steering, and on pre-2004 cars it can stiffen when hot. Inconsistent or sticky steering can mean replacing the complete rack, so it's worth testing after a proper run.
Also in the full guide
- M54 engines: intake rattle and breather
- M54 engines: oil use
- Jerky pull-away in first and second
- Front suspension bushes and joints
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the E85 Z4
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with BMW.