The BMW Z4 isn’t the stiffest or sharpest roadster around, but it’s still great fun to drive.
Hollywood is a lot like cars. Let me explain. Just like a seasoned Tinseltown actress who has to upgrade herself cosmetically to fend off younger, “gravity-defying” upstarts, cars also receive occasional makeovers to keep up with newer, more refreshing rivals. It’s a cruel world where sharp, curvy and fresh are always favoured over dull, boxy and familiar.
Now for the good news – BMW has given its zippy Z4 Roadster a facelift. But the bad news is, you have to look hard to spot the changes. To be honest, though, the Z4 never needed much updating in the first place. BMW’s modern definition of a classic roadster – long wheelbase, elongated bonnet, low beltline, short rear end – has withstood the test of time, perhaps more successfully than key rivals such as the Mercedes SLK, Audi TT and Porsche Boxster. While some of them have had to deal with unflattering stereotypes (think hairdresser’s car), the Z4 is virtually “salon-free”.
Sassier interior includes glossy black surrounds for the air vents and a foldaway screen for the iDrive system.
What is the renewed Z4 garnished with, then? Besides three new metallic paint finishes, including the very striking Valencia Orange on our test car, other modifications to the exterior include chrome “colouring” on the side indicators, an altered front grille and redesigned headlights. It doesn’t sound like much, but the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it refresh does give the four-year-old Z4 a more expressive look, especially when you compare it next to its predecessor.
The so-called Design Pure Traction package colour-coordinates a generous portion of the two-seater cabin in the same hue as the exterior, and trims the door panels in matching Alcantara. The top-of-the-range sDrive35is model reviewed here also throws in M badges, which adorn the steering wheel, gear knob and door sills.
The Z4 cockpit is certainly the biggest winner as far as the mid-life update is concerned – it now looks livelier and more contemporary, although you’d do well to avoid performing the “finger-tap test” on places such as the doorside pockets and roof panels, as the plastics used there are hard and cheap-sounding.
It’s pretty much business as usual under the long bonnet, with the same turbocharged 3-litre in-line 6-cylinder engine as its predecessor. Start it and you’re greeted with a booming exhaust note that’s accompanied by pops and crackles on the overrun each time you rev the machine.
With 340bhp of power and 450Nm of torque (an overboost feature adds 50Nm), the engine propels the range-topping Z4 from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds – marginally quicker than Porsche’s speedy Boxster S. Aiding the powerplant in its frantic performance is a sweet 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which has two personas – eager and responsive in manual mode, or smooth and intuitive as an automatic.
This is a powerful engine, with 340hp and 450Nm, overboosted to 500Nm in certain situations.
Drive up to 80 percent of this roadster’s potential and it’s entertaining around a twisty road, but push harder and little flaws begin to emerge. The biggest let-down is the steering – vague, inconsistent, and with slack at various points that momentarily “disconnects” the hard-charging driver from the whole experience. And despite the standard adaptive suspension, this convertible still suffers from rigidity issues and noticeable scuttle shake. An all-out sports car the Z4 is not.
Thankfully, the beauty of the Z4 materialises when you drop the top and cruise around, soaking in the elements and the admiration of passers-by. That folding metal roof, which takes 19 seconds to stow at speeds of up to 40km/h, provides decent enough insulation from outside noise. The ride quality is firm but never harsh, even in the most aggressive Sports Plus driving mode. As an accomplished cruiser, the Z4 is hard to fault.
In the end, the Z4’s mild cosmetic tweaks just about keep it fresh against its rivals. It doesn’t offer as dynamic a drive as the latest Boxster S, and neither is it beautifully built like an Audi TT, but it’s still an exciting all-rounder, especially with that compelling powertrain. It’s a shame that BMW chose to improve the car’s looks and not its “goods”, because this revised roadster could have been a lot better, I reckon.
This story was first published in the June 2013 issue of Torque.
2013 BMW Z4 sDrive35is 3.0 (A)
ENGINE 2979cc, 24-valves, inline-6, turbocharged
MAX POWER 340hp at 5900rpm
MAX TORQUE 450Nm 1500rpm
GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select
0-100KM/H 4.8 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h (governed)
CONSUMPTION 11.1km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 210g/km
Check out our review of the Audi TT Coupe here
The Audi TT Roadster takes on the BMW sDrive28i here
