Models · BMW
BMW Z4 G29 buying guide
The third-generation Z4, on sale in the UK from March 2019 and facelifted in 2022, developed with Toyota alongside the GR Supra. It's a fabric-roofed, rear-wheel-drive roadster with four- and six-cylinder turbo petrol engines.
The versions
- sDrive20i: 2.0 four-cylinder turbo (B48), 197PS
- sDrive30i: 2.0 four-cylinder turbo, 258PS, dropped with the 2022 facelift
- M40i: 3.0 straight-six turbo (B58), 340PS at launch
- Eight-speed automatic; a six-speed manual was offered on the sDrive20i, but few if any UK cars have one
- Electric fabric roof only; built by Magna Steyr in Austria
What to check on a G29 Z4
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Hesitation pulling away
What to look for: In slow traffic and from a standstill, pull away gently and then briskly. The car should move off smoothly. Note any flat spot or pause before the engine responds.
Why it matters: A flat spot when pulling away from rest or a crawl is reported on both the four- and six-cylinder cars, and on the related GR Supra. The cause hasn't been pinned down, with fuel, sensors and software all suspected. Note how pronounced it is on the car you drive.
Starting
What to look for: Start the car from cold and again when warm. It should fire promptly each time. Note any long cranking before it catches.
Why it matters: Intermittent long cranking times are reported on some cars. A diagnostic read and the dealer history show whether the car has had attention for it.
The electric roof
What to look for: Open and close the roof fully at least twice, watching for it stopping partway, especially in the first few inches of travel, and for any error message. With the roof up, listen for squeaks behind your head or at the top of the windscreen on the drive.
Why it matters: Some roofs stop early in their travel, linked to window and control module error codes; opening and closing the windows usually resets it. Squeaks are common in cold weather and usually cured by trim adjustment, foam tape and lubricating the mechanism.
Also in the full guide
- Stones in the brakes
- Climate control, locks and mirrors
- Recall work
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the G29 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.