BMW Z4 | Under Rated and Forgettable 

The subtext is clear: Mark is destined to retire riding shotgun in a BMW Z4 piloted by a shirtless security guard.

Mark has the skin tone of a beautiful geisha

Honestly, the Z4 is the only BMW currently in their lineup that I care about whenever I see one on the road.

I was at the dealership getting a tire replaced last week and saw one of these. I had totally forgotten the Z4 existed but it really is a beautiful car. But yeah the price tag should not be the same as a M2.

Is so sad what this turn to SUV's did to the automotive industry.

Did we ever find out how much room this car has for Mark’s Red Lobster takeout?

"less wind buffeting with the top down than the Supra with the windows open" 😂

I've been an owner of this vehicle for 2 years. Gradually modified it with BBS forged wheels, KW V3 Clubsport coilover, big brake kit, FI exhaust system, and chip tuning.. Driving the car on streets or pushing in touge is just a wonderful experience.

We all need more Savage Geese in our lives. Thank you gents for a great review! Does anyone else agree that this car will age really well?

I really like how this car looks, hopefully BMW's new design team doesnt refresh this one.

Glad to see this car get some recognition. Despite being less of a sports car and more of a GT, I feel like this is one of the best cars they make without going to an M. I had the chance to drive a loaner for about 30 minutes and it was truly a blast even in the 4 cylinder form. It is fairly niche and feels kinda similar to others smaller bmws, but I wonder how popular it would have been if they took the time to give it its own dedicated chassis.

I've driven 6 cyl on track at the BMW performance driving school and it was honestly so much fun to drive and it rips.

I own a 2007 Z4 Coupe that I love. It’s amazing that the company that bills its vehicles as the Ultimate Driving Machine doesnt want to dominate the premium sports car area. But SUV’s sell so I get it

I could listen to Mark & Jack’s driving impressions all day long….

The Z4 is the one BMW that truly interests me. It's better looking than an M2, M3, or M4, and it's pretty small and light. It's also a drop-top. The B58 is great. It's totally an appealing product, though a bit of a hard sell for the money.

I just got z Z4 M40i two months ago and I LOVE it. Driving with the top down is such bliss =D No regrets!

You guys are the best. Mark I'd say you've created the best auto lifestyle/review channel for people with a brain and a real sense of humor.

As a 2021 Z4 owner, I am thankful that it's the only BMW in the lineup that hasn't gone rogue in term of design

BMW has always pumped out roadsters just to forget about them. The Z3, the first Z4, the second Z4,, and now this Z4. I was very lucky to cane a Z4 M Coupe--with its 6MT and its 3.2L I6 that revved to the stratosphere--around a track about 15 years ago,, and it's STILL one of the best memories I can recall behind the wheel. The perfect, streetable track toy. Real shame what's happened with BMW over the past decade.

Man, you guys are so good at expressing the feelings that an automobile gives you. I really appreciate that... thank you!

Love the sarcasm from the goose. If it was $10000 less I would love to buy this.

I am very glad BMW forgot about this car. I hope they forget about it for a long time and no one in corporate realizes it's still being manufactured. Like some exec wakes up and thinks "Oh yeah, gotta discontinue the Z4" then goes out to a discotheque and starts binge drinking and gets distracted by all the lights and wakes up the next day and completely forgets about the Z4 again. Instead, he wakes up inspired by the euroclub scene from the night before and decides more resources need to be devoted to interior ambient lighting in their SUV's.

Drove this for the first time (M40i model) this weekend at the BMW UDE and was blown away. It feels more like a big boy BRZ than a modern BMW. The chassis, suspension, and steering tuning are fantastic. And the seats just hug you and keep you firmly positioned

Manual Z4 arriving in Spring 2024!

I own a 2022 white on white built to maximum S30Drive i spec...it is true this car gets more attention than the 20 911's sitting at your local Cars and Coffee, and chances are you will be the only one there, or even the only one you'll EVER see, depending on where you live. In 1.5 years of ownership in Virginia, I have never seen another current gen Z4 that looks like mine, and have rarely seen one at all. On road rallies with M4's, Nissan GTR's and 911s this car holds its own on public roads. On a track its obviously a different story but on your favorite country road this 255 hp might as well be 400. You can stay with higher horsepower cars, as Mark indicates with such great dynamics you can hardly overdrive this car---its a ton of fun. SO glad I bought it.

At the end of the day I traded in my SUV for a BMW i4 e40 msport, which has plenty of room under the hatch for bicycles or the dump run. As the epitome of the old white dude who should retire (71 tomorrow), I’m seriously considering the Z4 M40i to replace our Audi S4 when it reaches its use-by date. Thirty years of motorcycle road racing helped me accept that operating race cars (and liter bikes) on the street has a pleasure-frustration ratio of 1 to 99. In my dotage, I want a car with decent performance and dynamics that won’t punish me in daily driving. The C8 ‘vette might have been a contender but I can’t abide its big booty. A Cayman or 911 would be nice, but I’m unwilling to pay the premium. The LC500 looks to be a great gentleman’s tourer, but it’s too big and too fat for my taste. There are few options other than the Z4 in the rarefied breed of old guy car that I’m looking for.

I've always liked the Z4. Hard to think of another new car that's both underrated and forgettable, another great review from Savage Geese.

I own the 2022 Z4 M40I. The car is amazing. I am in my 50's. Why did I pay 76k for a Z4? Because I can and this car is the easter egg of the BMW line up. I am an enthusiast. And this car is a great example of great BMW. I intend to keep this car for many years. And I think it is the best looking BMW they have made in a very long time. That's my opinion and that is why I bought it. I have owned BMW's from E46, E92 to the X3M. This is by far the best handling most dynamic BMW I have ever driven. I did get the blue and regret that a bit it really gets a lot of attention. So many people never knew it exists.

Man, funny how I was recently remembering about this car and had to rewatch your original 4cylinder video!

This should have been the basis for the CSL. The fact that there's an X6M but no M version of this is insanity.

I never really liked Z4s, but honestly the styling on this generation is mint. The Supra got 120% of the attention, but I honestly like the Z4 better, at least looking at it on the internet.

This review is a masterpiece from start to finish. Suggestion: Next livestream Mark gives an extended (therapy) session sharing more of his dreams...must be tough being RU-vidr by day, Cyborg body donor by night

There is also a z4 touring concept of this being a shooting brake. Looks awesome

Forgot a beep 06:00 😂

Absolutely love my Z4 M40i. I get compliments everywhere I go in the car. Most people don't know what it is when they see it.

BMWs tagline went from the ultimate DM to "we're a Mercedes with a sports package" in 20 years.

I love mine. I have an M40i. I bought it as a keeper. This car is an utter joy to drive and it is incredible value when you add up what you have,

I’ve got a manual 2003 BMW Z4 roadster 3.0i and I love my car, it’s been my daily driver for like 12 years :) I still like these modern Z4s though, although this one took a bit more warming up to the looks. It definitely grew on me! If I had unlimited funds, I would buy the Z4 M40i in black or purple for sure. And a Z8 for a weekend car :)

I owned the predecessor E89 Z4 whilst this was released and I wasn't really interested in one of the new ones but they kinda grew on me visually.

Ive got the 2022 Z4 M40i. I use it how it's designed to be used. The rear-end almost never breaks out on dry pavement, and you have to want it to break out on wet road to get the rear to slide (Florida wet. Running new Michelin Pilot Super Sports). I do notice bump-steer on occasion (front end feels like it's not tracking perfectly straight when opening it up hard due to toe-in/toe-out of rear wheels, I believe...like a little kind of front-end drift on lift when hammering it at certain speeds). Other than that, it's a ridiculously fast rocket that sticks to the road, even hitting rises on turns. I love this car. I chose it over the 911, Boxster, Jag F-Type. Road noise is minimal with top up and down, and the top takes up zero trunk space. I fit 10 bags of groceries in there, or all my golf clubs, though the bag is a bit too big for the trunk...the entire bag/clubs fit no prob in the front seat with roof down. Bag is easy to get in with the top up or down. Done. The wind screen takes 100% of the buffeting out - even doing well over 100 on the freeway...so I've heard people say haha. Top up: sounds like a quiet sedan at all speeds. Though, every kid who stole their parent's sports cars will be on you wanting to race.

Sold mine late last year and miss it terribly. B58 is unreal in this thing.

Found one of these in my area for 39 grand. only 20k miles.

that's my exact car... even in the blue with the black trim.... got every add-on package... and now got it up to 320 brake... i absolutely adore it

This car is dope. A roadster with a good interior, good handling, unique. What’s not to like. Let a dentist buy it new and pick one up used in a few years

Great review guys - I owned the older iteration of a Z4 from 2004 - drove it from Calgary to Monterey and back through Vegas - what a blast! It was great on the highway. We test drove a newer one last year but stuck with an M240 as it is just more practical. B58 forever. I enjoy watching your reviews - the only time I would ever skip an SG review is for an EV and I have even watched some of those. It gets too cold where I live to have reliable EVs. Thanks for your hard work. Is it Zee 4 or Zed 4?

HAHAHAHA when the robot showed up, I laughed out loud 😂😂

So cool that you do a follow up on the Z4. I own a M40i unicorn. I owned a Boxster Mk 1 and wanted the 4.0, but the price was out of the charts. Superhappy with the car. A bit heavy in the front on track because of the six, but a great cruiser. A great all rounder. Classic?

I ended up buying a G83 (Vert) M4, but the M440i Z4 swayed me heavily once I drove it. It really is a complete convertible car and amazing experience of speed and luxury w/B58. Amazing!

My z4- m40i is insane fast. Damn what a machine. They downplay these Z4’s forgetting that car n driver got 3.5 0-60 time.

I have a San Francisco Red Z4 2021 and it continues to turn head’s when I drive it. I love my Z4 to pieces ❤!

I'm still surprised BMW made this Z4. I have the previous generation Z4 and I'm constantly surprising even BMW enthusiasts with it because everyone forgot BMW made it. I distinctly remember seeing an ad by BMW while there were still a few years of that Z4 production left to go and "see our entire lineup" and the photo didn't even include it. I'm glad this one exists but I'm really confused about why they bothered considering how much they seem to want to forget about it themselves...

I have a '99 BMW M Coupe, and this is such a far cry from that car :) It is pretty neat how far it has evolved, but just not the original spirit it used to have at all.

I want you guys to review the m340i so bad. The bang for buck on that car is insane

End music was perfect for the vibe of this review.

Come on man! As a seventy seven year old “geezer” who currently owns two BMW’s an X3 and a X5 plus an Audi A5 Cabriolet. I’d like to say we have not given up on life’s pleasures just adapted to limitations imposed on our aging bodies. I owned numerous “sports and muscle “ cars including two Corvettes, a Mach 1 mustang “ , 240Z, RX7 and four Porsches including two Boxster S and a 991.1 911 Carrera 4. There comes a time in your life when comfort and practicality take a higher role over high performance and ultimate speed. That’s all for now, got to head to Olive Garden for the early bird special in my A5 Cabriolet with heated and cooled seats and air scarf!

As always your insights are spot on; it looks as though BMW the driving machine has morphed into BMW the cash cow (or in the case of the Label Red a cash sow). For everyone who loves driving lighter cars are always more enjoyable even when they're not necessarily the fastest. The more fun you can have at or below the speed limits the better.

‘The rustang’ absolutely sent me

A marked up 50k-60k BRZ made me buy a 4 cyl 2 series with a track pack and manual. $20k cheaper than the M2 of same generation, it does handle track driving very gracefully and the brakes are not a limiting factor since its a lighter car.

I had a 2005 3.0 for a couple of years, Sterling Grey with black roof and black sport seats. It was a manual with special order 2 piece 18" style 78 wheels and it looked fantastic. Very fun to drive in small doses, but I got tired of shifting. It was a little cramped and too noisy on the highway, so I grew tired of it and it mostly sat in the garage until I sold it. It's in Vancouver now, it will be the only one with those wheels. Not sure I'd ever buy a roadster again, too many compromises. Maybe a hardtop MX-5, but even then, it would be a pure indulgence for a summer weekend evening driver.

This is the only decent looking vehicle BMW still makes. You have to give it that. I don't know if BMW has the four cylinder timing chain issues figured out, but if they have, and if you can find one at a reasonable price, then it would be a nice toy.

I knew Jack's "B58" was coming and I still almost choked on my swedish meatballs

Off topic, but on 9.16.23, were you shopping at Whole Foods around 7 pm in Claremont, CA?

Been waiting for this review. Been between '24 Mustang GT Conv and this in the M40i package.

Take the M40, mod the suspension and you have an incredible car and one that is more of a drivers car than any M enthusiast car in the current lineup - apart from a manual M2, perhaps. Absolutely love mine - just needs a manual option. And I came out of a G80cx M3 . Also, BMW sells many more Z4's in Europe and elsewhere than in the US.

I love my Z4, the design, the driving. No other car like this on the market.

An excellent video about a relatively nice-looking and well-driving BMW (it's like an echo of BMW's past). I love it that Mark took the mickey out of the company for being a-holes with their attitude towards the thing. As both he and Jack suggested, it really is too bad. But... I sure wish I was getting my cataracts out, because I'll bet my gang would really like the car!

I owned a z4 6 cylinder for 2 years, then I drove a buddies F-type v6 and immediately sold the Beemer and bought the Jag. Best 2 seater drop top for moderate money on the market. And the SOUNDS! Intoxicating!

So much for striving to make the ultimate driving machine

If I could afford to I would love to get one of these in M40i trim CPO'd and enjoy the hell out of it. It's the perfect combination of sports car, grand tourer and cruiser with a phenomenal drivetrain, great interior/tech and good looks. It's got a bigger, bougee Miata vibe. Such an underrated car now.. I never liked the Z3 or Z4 but this generation is really nice. I have a feeling it's gonna get killed off soon though..

I own a 2023 Z4 and it’s a great little sports car. Great road trip car too.

I love this car and can’t wait till my new one arrives ☺️ great video tho

Bought the M40 last year. Insane car.

Bought my Z4 2 years ago and still loving it. Small, light and nimble, unlike new BMWs. Looks much better than new generation as well. If everything goes well, i hope to use it until end of life (mine or Z4s) :-)

Got mine for 50 in 2019 and still love it

Lived in Lake Forest for a decade...agree on the take!

I thought it was “underrated”, instead of two words. 🤔Y’all been dropping the ball since the Dark Horse docuseries. It’s contagious. 😅

I was always surprised how few of these I've seen on the road

I wanted to hear the rest of the dream 😢

I' had mine since december 2019. Absoluely no regrets.

A point-for-point copy of the Abarth 124 Spider released two years prior, scaled up 50% on displacement, power, weight, and price.

I test drove the Z4 M40i and I love it . I plan on buying one . I’m keeping my X5 Xdrive 40i 😎 PS I think it’s better than the M440i convertible I drove.

I was put onto the z4 from another channel, the e86, the coupe manual combo sold it for me and while i cannot afford it now, i can still appretiate it. that car along with the e89, while im not a fan of the convertible i do love the more spacious and premium feel inside that car even though i dont own either of these vehicles i still do love the Z4 family.

I swear Mark is high on something.

If they went through the trouble of making a sport car platform, they should've made a Z4M...coupe with a S58, it would've been such a beast

Z4 M40i MANUAL confirmed for 2024, will have updates to differential, steering, etc.

Let’s not forget to be glad Toyota and BMW made two seat sports cars at all. And from what I glean, both good ones. Thanks Toyota and BMW for building these cars!

always liked these and the z3's

BMW needs to forget about more of their cars if this is the result. It should be noted, however, that the BMW B48 is a marvel of engineering prowess. A symphony of mechanical perfection, meticulously crafted to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. First and foremost, let us acknowledge the mesmerizing displacement of 2.0 liters. A numerical value that resonates with automotive enthusiasts, evoking a sense of power and dominance. Within this voluminous chamber lie four cylinders, each one a testament to precision and harmony. Together, they dance in perfect synchrony, harmonizing the symphony of combustion. In conclusion, the BMW B48 is a masterstroke of engineering ingenuity. Its melodious harmony, its raw power, its meticulous attention to detail-all combine to create an experience that transcends mere transportation. It is a symphony on wheels, a magnum opus of automotive excellence. The B48 is more than an engine; it is an ode to the pursuit of perfection. Well Done.

Used z4 g29 or used sl 400 , what would you take ?

@savagegeese, this as a Z4M40i or an M2Comp?

I am surprised you didn't review a m40i version.

Pre-drive conversation should be a regular thing:) LOL

It is pretty cheap to rent the 20i version of this car from Sixt in Germany. They also have the M40i (for more than twice as much). Even the 20i is wonderful.

In the first video a few years ago Mark said so many good things about the 4cyl. So I bought one. I still think it's a very good car, but true that when just a m340(no need c8) is around I regard I didn't go with 40i because the car is too quiet.

How does this compare to jag f type convertible?

Funny. Mark trying to incorporate Olive Garden into every video haha

the leaking at 2:50 haha

that piped in engine sound is exactly the same as my 21 F56 Cooper S lol. I know it's the same engine but at least make it sound a little different lol

Imagine if BMW release a version of this with an s58 and a manual unannounced.

I recently bought a used 2021 Z4 3.0 with 11k miles with the blue interior and brown leather interior (same as this one) with every possible option on it for $41k. That's not cheap, but sticker was $63+k. I absolutely love it. It's a blast to drive. The brakes are very touchy and it does not come with ventilated seats, but other that, it is a perfect car for what I want. Top down cruising, plenty of power, fun in the twisties, great gas mileage and very comfortable with all the advance tech and creature comforts. Plus, it's a real head turner-not many on the road, also. What more could you want?