The G29 although the most recent, tech updated Z4 model, is pretty good looking. However in my opinion, it will age quickly as it has few distinguishing features. Nothing special about the interior either, other than it’s newer. In comparison, the E89 quite simply has classical lines, a true roadster balance from front to rear, and in my opinion will endear for years to come. I think an underrated timeless classic roadster, roof up or down.
I liked the new z4 until I watched this. Man the e89 has REALLY good lines. They all just flow together so well. Nothing overdone, nothing too subtle. The person who was in charge of the e89 design team really knew what they were doing.
The E89 was designed by a Lady named Juliane Blasi. And Yea its a gorgeous design. Had an 28i in white. Unfortunately got in an accident and the car was gone. Now i am a proud owner of an rare Z4 35is Valencia Orange. It is simply a great car and compared to the new one much more beautiful.
@@Pacman871120 Sorry to hear that. May I know which year of Z4 28i do you have? Any issues so far? As I’m considering to get either 35i (2010) or 20i (2013). Thanks!
The e89 is a classic. Now the new one is out the e89 will become collectors. Look at the rear. The new one looks jumbled and frankly a mess. The e89 rear is a thing of beauty! 😍 Same for the front... The crease lines are achingly gorgeous. I love the round dials in the dash. Classic roadster. Great review btw!👍
Well the new one the v6 one had benefit from Toyota so that the one to get.. it more power.. While old one is better with smaller engine. New one is fatter car better for bigger engine..GT like car... the old one more open top sport car with hard top.. The old design to competing with old SLK and new one design to go against Supra and other 2 seat GT v6 car.. There are SLC but that just old car...
I think the biggest negative is the removal of the little back windows and hardtop. Who cares about .1 or .2 seconds 0-60 and 10 seconds for dropping the top. I love opening the back windows and getting that very open fe89ling even with the top up. I can wait 10 seconds too no problem. Top up the new Z4 looks like a Mustang which not sure how I feel about that.
Soft top looks better and opens faster and is lighter. Only benefit to the hardtop I would say is that it could save you if you roll over and you can't break it so easily with a knife. Which are pretty irrelevant features. Most people think that hardtop is someway warmer or more insulated but that isn't true at all.
Honestly , the E89 still holds up really well even by today's standards. To me it's by far one of the more interesting BMW cars you don't see all to often on the road. Really hope to get me one of these within the next few months!
@@ThePainWhisperer I love 35i! 👍🏻 Which year of Z4 35i do you have? Any issues so far? As I’m considering to get either 35i (2010) or 20i (2013). Thanks!
I love my E89 so much, i love the hard top look. I dont mind the extra added weight, its worth it to look sleek and perfect with the top up. The beautiful interior of the g29 is amazing tho, i must admit.
Ness a few extra's for you, The G29 boot space is 281 litres and the E89 is 310 litres with the roof UP. The G29 is more practical giving it 50% increase only when the roof is DOWN. Neither cars are proper front mid engine, you need to measure from the correct point, to compare look at a new Aston Martin Vantage, that is a correct front mid engine, you will see the engine sits much further back in it's firewall. Lastly in the G29 wheel arches those side slats are to remove air turbulence from within the wheel arches I don't recollect that going through into the engine bay. It helps with brake cooling and under body drag. Everybody likes to call those rear small boot spoilers "ducktails" which is correct and easy to understand why, it actually originates from a racing "Gurney flap", which is the proper name. A great video given nobody has done a direct comparison of model to model on You Tube until you!!! so well done....... :-) In general if you stand a G29 next to an E89 the E89 wins on looks, it shows clear heritage to the BMW 507. But parked in different locations I think the G29 looks okay and as a package is a better overall car... driving them back to back reasonably fast, over the same twisty open roads the G29 has a much better and refined ride and handling at least in an M40i as I have not driven an M20i
I prefer the old one. it has longer wheelbase although length is shorter than g29. And it has lower height. In addition to that, e89 has hard top so it's more suited both for closed coupe style and convertible on exterior style wise.
The change from hardtop to softtop is a step in the wrong direction, i.e. one step backwards. The hardtop convertible has some significant advantages over a softtop one, and looks much better when closed.
I've been driving my e89 Z4 for 8 years! Yes, 8 years 🙌🏼. This from someone who used to change car every 18 months. I have the 2.5 straight six and the only thing I've had to have changed in 8 years was a busted coil pack. 😏 I was thinking of changing to the new one, but tbh after having a good look at one here, I think I'll just keep driving mine for another 8 years. 🎉😂😂
I really enjoyed this side by side comparison of the two models. I have the 2020 SDrive 30i and I'm loving it. I actually like the new styling a lot, though I do favor the hood of the E89. Also, though I like the new styling, the E89 is the model that made we want to get a Z4 in the first place!
I bought a 2011 Z4 as a weekend car because it had a hard top (and manual shift). The new one looks great, but going back to a soft top is a non-starter. E89 all the way!
That E89 is a classic beauty and has been a favorite of mine for a long time. However, the new G29 is a beast, amazing tech inside and i love everything about it. I'm picking up the m40i in 6 days, i really cant wait.
Side by side, the E89 looks a LOT better!! You can see that the designers of the older model had the classic BMW 507 in mind when it was being conceived. The G29 looks like a Merc from the back and Mazda from the front. I think I'll be keeping my E89. I think I'll get a Porsche or an R8 next and skip this variant. That won't be for a while though as I love my hardtop convertible.
Nope, the old one looks better than the new. It looks more sleek, has a more classic roadster look. The convertible hardtop is better in winter and overall it has a more sleek, eye-catching appeal.
I've been running a 15 plate Z4 exactly like yours for more than three years. I've just decided not to change and to get it thoroughly spruced and keep running it. Can't find anything on the market that I'd prefer (looked at the Mazda RF and the Merc SLC). The old Z4 is a great looking car and possibly a future classic - the new one is stunning but doesn't have the subtlety in the lines - plus the price point, like the Merc, is a big turn-off. Thanks for this review, it was really helpful.
Nice to see that the seat belt isn't damaging the leather anymore. I would prefer the older model. Driving height and and sitting almost on top of the rear axle make for the spectacular driving experience.
The most important thing is, the old z4 (I got one) is much more classical, the new one is japanish(t) ;))) and i don't like it, The Z4 line is classic line and bmwerke lost this thing! They could create new line and live the original Z4 look.... Its my opinion but You can have another! best regards for every Z4e89 riders !
I love my E89 Z4... hopefully by the time i can afford the G29 it would of grown on me. But at present i prefer my old school E89 and it gets many admiring looks as its classic design i feel is unique.
Just ordered my G29 Z4... Had the E85, then the E89, now looking forward to getting my G29! I remember when the E89 first came out everyone turned their noses up to it, now people calling it a classic lol. I love all the Z4s but I'm ready to move on to the new one now. 😍
Just to leave a note, the G29 Z4 is more inspired by the limited edition BMW Z8 from the very early 2000's once you see it you will understand the design of the G29. The side mirrors are fitted on every BMW since the F-Generation was introduced and I prefer them much more than the old E-Generation side mirrors. However, the E89 has the nicer headlights.
They over-styled the new one especially the front hood as you pointed out. They're running out of new ideas to make a car look new and fresh and in some cases they really screwed up the redesign.
I have a bright red E89 and with the roof down cruising along it gets lots of attention. I used to have a BOXSTER and felt that it was a bit of a step down but I really love the car. It handles great and is totally reliable.
I have a 2011 i35 Z4 and drive it as a daily driver I love this car. The body style is very sexy and screams to the world that you are in a very special BMW. The newer G29 just looks like a wider Fiat Spider. I will take my strait six over the four cylinder any day.
My impressions as an E89 Z4 35i owner: The G29 is a weird mix of improvements and downgrades. The soft top being faster is nice, but the windows all being much smaller and it not looking nearly as good (when up *or* down) isn't. The interior fixes some layout deficiencies of the E89 and of course has much more tech but it also loses almost everything that made the Z4 special; it's a total clone of every other BMW model now. It's bigger so it's more comfortable and more practical but it's just less "roadster" now too.
The e89’s styling lines are more distinctive. It looks great and there’s no mistaking it as a BMW. I’m sure the g29 is a good car - again - but its not so obviously a BMW, just in my opinion. Glad to see they’ve ditched the run-flats. I’m on Michelin Pilot 4 and they’re so much better for ride and wet grip. Lastly, I love the hard-top roof of the e89 and sorry to see it depart on the new car
I own a E63 6 Series and never realised just how much the E89 Z4's rear looks like a baby 6 series. Same shape tailights and rear bumper lip. Still looks great and you clearly love your car.
I just got my used E89 a couple of months ago and can now say due to this side-by-side comparison, I like the lines on the front much better than the G29. While the interior of the G29 looks awesome, I can’t say the price point increase would make me go for a soft top. Speed to open/close the top is not a defining factor for me whatsoever (who cares about that).
What I like about the G29: 1. Back end looks fantastic. 2. All LED headlights. 3. Multimedia. What I like about the E89: 1. The hardtop. I'm sure it has a much quieter ride with the top up. Also when the top is down, it looks much better and looks like it is sealed up better. 2. The front lines in the hood. 3. It is closer to the ground. (Isn't this why we bought the Z4 to begin with?). 4. Dashboard looks MUCH better. classic roadster look. Has knobs and levers allowing you to control everything by feel, not look.
Great video, I have the E89 Z4 3.5i hard top. The new 2020 Z4 G29 is very nice with the upgraded & new features, but your review just confirm my extreme preference for my E89. It's' classic James Bondish! The hard top is more secure when you want to ride with the top up. Thanks
Somehow the MPG you mentioned doesn’t sound good. But I’m not familiar with the 4cil. My e89 is a manual in Line 6 sDrive 30i and would not change it for the new one, not even in my dreams. What mine does have is the smart key proximity sensor to lock and unlock the car when you place your hand under the door knob to open or touch to close. Great video my friend.
okay, I'm biased because I own a E89 35is. But I usually keep my cars no longer than 3y, so I thought about a replacement (own my E89 for already 5y) and the G29 was the obvious choice. Went to the BMW dealer, had a look and.....what a disappointment. Yes, all a matter of personal taste, but in *my* opinion the G29 is just ugly. It looks like a cross breed between an old Fiat Spider and a modern Ford Mustang. What it totally lacks is that very special kind of elegance, even noblesse the E89 has. The E89 is one of the few cars which managed to show that stylishness of 1960's sports cars and coupes. When I drive my E89 I have this speed boat feeling with the nice classy instruments and the endless bonnet. And the sound of the 35is is just wonderful. The G29 looks like a playstation, the nicer materials don't help here. And the seats I don't like at all. And come on, that gap around the opened roof of the G29? WTF, that is terrible! As I've said, only my opinion. I'll keep the E89 for the time being and if I replace it, the G29 will not be the new kid in my garage for sure.
Funny, I’m exactly in the same situation as you. I also own a e89 35is, went to see my local bmw dealer and my first feeling when I looked at the g27 was « it looks cheap and not elegant ». If I had to change my e89, I would rather buy a e85 than a g27.
Yes that's what i like about my z4 car, Riva Tritone speed boat look. I like the retro look of the car, the new one just looks confused, stealth bomber look.
So the decision which one I would choose (and have :) ) is simple -> the E89. Well, the G29 also has a real advantage, the much better seats and more legroom (especially relevant for tall people), but otherwise it fails all along the line in my opinion. 1) No more hardtop (I love it, screw the few extra kilos, it's a roadster and not a racing car). 2) The design. There has never been a more beautiful BMW design than the E89. Powerful lines, a bit of a retro look and that mega awesome bonnet just make it beautiful. And I also like the E89 rims a lot better. 3) The control unit. Honestly, who came up with the stupid idea of controlling everything with pushbuttons? A rotary control for the temperature can be operated blind and is super fast. Sure, the E89 has a plastic look here, but the ergonomics are a thousand times better. The same goes for the cruise control, the lever behind it is super easy to operate, this stuff in the steering wheel has already got on my last nerve in rental cars (which of the 6 buttons?). Where can I take it out? Why doesn't it remember the 100 from just now???? Stupidly confusing controls, the lever was easier and more intuitive to use. So the clear winner with a score of 1.1 is the E89 (0.1 deductions for the plastic look and the rather poor seats for BMW). I give the G29 a 2.5 (because it has completely messed up the best design, the radiator grille is terrible, the bonnet awkward and anything but beautiful. The concave and convex lines gave way to a straight line. Only the rear lights appeal to me... )
Put the front of the older model on the front of the newer model and it's automatically better. The new car doesn't look like a BMW. It look more like a Kia, or an imitation Z4. The back is nicer though, and the interior is by far superior. I'd choose a beige leather trim rather than the red leather. And I'd have kept the hard-top. Or better yet, having the choice between a hard and soft-top should be a thing.
The new z4 wins at the rear. I prefer the hardtop and low stance, front end and wheels in old Z4. I like 2 tail pipes together instead of spread apart like an Audi or eco friendly car. I have an E89 with red interior which is stunning. May add quad pipes and improve the volume. But the old car wins with classic looks, beautiful front bonnet and lower style. I also prefer run flat technology! Thanks for the vid 👍
I had a 2011 E89 for 24 months with the n/a 3 liter 6 and a 6 speed manual. Cozy with the top up but unless it was raining, I always drove it, day or night, with the top down. The security when parked of a hard top is compelling. However, the trunk space is not good on the E89 and with the top down, the trunk barely holds a briefcase. Maybe you can stuff a small bag of groceries on each side, but that's it. So not a practical trunk when used as a daily driver. As a fun car just bopping around, the trunk is not an issue of course. I have a 2023 G29 on order and think it will be a more useful car, even though it will be my extra car to Turo out for the most part. My daily driver now is an 2019 X3 M40i with an 2023 X3M Competition on order to replace it. And for real fast fun, I still have my 2010 M6 Individual. I spec'ed out the G29 Z4 for rental use, so I decided to forego the M40i which I would have done if the Z4 was primarily for my use.
I would have used slightly different terms. The old E89 vs the new G29. Comparing a new car design with a 10 year old design - new car is a clear winner in my book. I am biased because I am going to buy a M40i.
E89 looks way better, it's elegant and sporty like a BMW is supposed to be. G29 looks like it's designed by Honda or Toyota and I also don't like the soft top and the shorter wheelbase makes it look stupid. E89 remains my favorite, which I purchased after owning a Z3. It seems I need to skip every second generation, so can't wait how the new Z4 will look like :-) Thanks for the comparison, it just confirmed that I should stick to my lovely E89.
The G29 HUD and instrument cluster, seats and relocated cruise control are preferred, but I'll stick with the overall look of my E89 and its lines and hard roof.
I currently own a 2010 Z4 35I I absolutely love my E89 twin turbo N54. I like the new style as well but I HATE that they went back to the cloth roof. I love my Hard top. So I guess I wont be getting the new model anytime soon. My honest opinion on the two is the E89 is a sexier sportier car in my opinion. The G29 interior is cool but I really love my E89's interior it just seems like an old school racer.I wouldn't own the 4 cylinder in a Z4 platform I'm super impressed with the 3 liter twin turbo Boxster killer that I have.
Thanks for the good comparison! 👍 I wonder which of the two cars is lower under the front section. Lets say... which one would eventually touch down first if driving down to an inclined garage entry?
The slightly older car has an air of elegance to it. The new car is punchy and has an industrial-chic. But the older car has a more sophisticated and refined look.
My take on this is......For the E89 - better looking front area and rims........For the G29 - obviously the newer interior and electronics are a plus and I like the soft top better myself and the rear is way better looking something needs to be done to better accentuate the front grill.......So to sum it up I would take the G29 and modify the front grill area and swap the rims from a E89 or anything better looking then you would have a pretty sweet looking car.
I had the E89 (28i) 2015/16 and picking up my G29 (30i) next week. Sad to see that on the new car the tires are not protecting the rims as much as they used to on the old car (couldn’t curb the rim what ever you did). Rest of the car seems to be a big improvement so. Regarding fuel consumption at least for the cars I had / going to pick up it is a CO2 reduction of ~13% even so the test standard is way more difficult.
Wow the new Z4 looks stunning, makes the old one look, well old. The engine is newer and more powerful too, love it, shall be ordering one. Oh and you need to put the roofs down on both cars to really see the difference between soft top and hard top boot space, the soft top is the way BM and Merc are going because it's better for weight saving and boot space
They different type of car... The original the 2 gen and new one are not really in small category. The original is open top sport car. 2 gen is more hard top one to competing with SLK and new one is fatter GT like with more power and bigger tire..
E89 looks better from all angles except from the rear. Just need a boot lip on the E89 and maybe so rear light brows if that's possible to reduce the hight of the rear lights
Roof up hard top looks better than soft top. Why bother even locking soft top? What you really should have shown is trunk space with top down. With hard top trunk space is limited but how much stuff do you really need?
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