2009 BMW Z4 E89

Overview

Engines

3.0L inline-six, 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six

Came as

• Roadster

On record

5 warnings, 4 recalls

What changed for 2009

• The new Z4 arrives with a folding aluminum hardtop and the twin-turbo sDrive35i, which offers a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Edmunds

Compare 2009 with 2008

Colors

No paint color is recorded yet.

Specs

Badges

• sDrive30i: 3.0L inline-six, Rear-wheel drive Edmunds
• sDrive35i: 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six, Rear-wheel drive Edmunds

Engines

• 3.0L inline-six N52 engine page Edmunds

  255 hp and 220 lb-ft · 2009–2011

• 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six N54 engine page Edmunds

  300 hp and 300 lb-ft

Transmissions

• Six-speed manual Edmunds
• Six-speed automatic (2009–2011) Edmunds
• Seven-speed dual-clutch Edmunds, a published reference

Drivetrains

• Rear-wheel drive Edmunds, a published reference

Body styles

• Roadster Edmunds, CarGurus

Packages

• Sport Package Edmunds
• Premium Package Edmunds
• Cold Weather Package Edmunds
• Premium Sound Package Edmunds
• Ivory White Leather Package Edmunds
• Exclusive Citrus Yellow Package Edmunds
• Canyon Brown Package Edmunds
• Design Pure Traction Edmunds, a published reference
• Design Pure Fusion Edmunds, a published reference

Figures for the whole E89

• Built: Regensburg, Germany, from February 2009 to August 2016 A published reference
• Trunk: 10.9 cu ft with the roof up, 6.4 cu ft with it folded CarGurus
• Most built in a year: 24,575, in 2010 A published reference

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Fuel pump, injector and turbo faults on the twin-turbo cars All years

  Check: Ask for records of the high-pressure fuel pump, injectors, coils, plugs and water pump. Scan for fault codes and look for oil leaks around the turbos.

  Two owners in one thread on a British owners' forum had the high-pressure fuel pump fail. In a second thread an owner lists the injectors, the pump, the water pump and turbo leaks as faults to expect, and in a third an owner calls the twin-turbo engine's faults far more painful than the earlier car's. CarGurus says the turbocharged cars have had timing-chain or cooling trouble. CarGurus, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Water in the tail lights and the trunk All years

  Check: Look inside the tail lights for mist or water, check that every light works, and lift the trunk floor by the battery for standing water.

  Six owners in three threads on a British owners' forum report water in the tail lights, several having them replaced, and one says a failed tail light seal lets water pool under the battery. Owners' reports (unofficial)

• Folding hardtop faults All years

  Check: Open and close the roof several times with the engine off, by the key and by the switch inside. Ask whether the roof relays in the trunk have been changed.

  Four owners in three threads on a British owners' forum report roof faults, from cheap microswitches and relays to a large repair bill, and one names the roof wiring as a common problem. Others say most roofs give no trouble. Owners' reports (unofficial)

• Cracked wheels All years

  Check: Look at the inside of each wheel for cracks or repairs.

  Three owners in one thread on a British owners' forum had wheels of the same style crack, a fourth saying their 18-inch wheels were spared, and an owner in another thread says to check the inside of the wheels. Owners' reports (unofficial)

• Oil leaks from the valve cover All years

  Check: Look for oil around the valve cover and the oil filter housing.

  Two owners in two threads on a British owners' forum name valve cover leaks and oil around the filter housing, and Edmunds' owner summary for 2011 lists valve cover gaskets among costly repairs. Edmunds, owners' reports (unofficial)

Recalls

Newest first. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or check the VIN with NHTSA.

• 2006–2011 Recall 22V119000

  The heater for the crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short-circuit. Dealers fit a wiring harness with a fuse for the heater. Replaces recalls 17V683000 and 19V273000. NHTSA

• 2007–2011 Recall 17V683000

  The heater for the crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short-circuit. Dealers replace the heater. NHTSA

• 2009–2011 Recall 13V044000

  The positive battery cable's connector and its terminal on the fuse box can degrade, and the heat can break the connection and cut electrical power to the car. Dealers replace the connector and secure it better. NHTSA

• 2009 Recall 09V327000

  A faulty crimp connector in a seat belt tensioner's wiring plug can raise the connection's resistance. Dealers repair the wiring. NHTSA

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  The six-cylinder sDrive30i, for reliability 2009–2011

  In two threads on a British owners' forum, three owners name the non-turbo N52 cars, the sDrive30i among them, as the most reliable E89s, and CarGurus says the turbocharged first- and second-generation cars have had timing-chain or cooling trouble. CarGurus, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Avoid

  A twin-turbo 35i or 35is without records or a warranty All years

  Less sought after

  Five owners in two threads on a British owners' forum say the twin-turbo cars have a long list of costly faults, and three of them advise against running one without a warranty. Owners' reports (unofficial)

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.

Warranty when new