2025 vs 2026 BMW Z4

Both years

• A notchy dead spot in the steering All years

  What to check: On a long straight drive, once the car is warm, feel for a notchy or dead spot either side of center. Ask whether the steering column or its bolts have been renewed.

  Three owners in two threads on a British owners' forum report the steering going vague or notchy around center when warm, one after a new steering rack did not cure it, and another poster found a BMW service bulletin for a steering wheel that sticks in the center.

  Owners' reports (unofficial)

• Stones caught behind the front brakes All years

  What to check: Listen for a loud squeal when slowing to a stop, which usually means a stone is caught between the disc and its shield.

  Three owners in two threads on a British owners' forum report stones lodging behind the M Sport front brakes and squealing, one of them four times in their first 800 miles, and another says rocking the car backwards clears it.

  Owners' reports (unofficial)

• Soft top faults All years

  What to check: Run the roof up and down several times, look at the edge of the rear window for black lifting away from the glass, and check the seals for cracks.

  On a British owners' forum, three owners in one thread had the rear window start to come away from the roof after about four to six years, which BMW would not cover, and two owners in two more threads had the roof stop working, from a switch and a stuck side flap. Euro Premium Parts says the roof's seals harden and shrink with age.

  Owners' reports (unofficial), a seller's guide (unofficial)

• Water on the floor All years

  What to check: Feel the carpet on the passenger side and behind the seats for damp, and make sure water poured in at the roof drains runs out in front of the rear wheels.

  Two G29 owners in one thread on a British owners' forum found water on the passenger-side floor from blocked roof drains, and another poster in it traced the same problem to a damaged panel under the windshield. Euro Premium Parts says hardened roof seals can let water in at the windshield pillars.

  Owners' reports (unofficial), a seller's guide (unofficial)

• Oil filter housing leak and cooling parts on the M40i 2020–2026 One source so far

  What to check: Look for oil at the base of the oil filter housing and under the engine, and ask whether the water pump and thermostat have been replaced.

  Euro Premium Parts calls the oil filter housing gasket the six's most common fault and names the electric water pump and thermostat as weak points.

  A seller's guide (unofficial)

Both years

Engines

2.0L turbo four-cylinder Edmunds, a published reference, 3.0L turbo inline-six (2020–2026) Edmunds, a published reference

Transmissions

Eight-speed automatic Edmunds, Six-speed manual (2025–2026) Edmunds, a published reference

Drivetrains

Rear-wheel drive Edmunds, a published reference

Body styles

Roadster Edmunds, a published reference

Packages

M Sport Package CarGurus, Edmunds, Track Handling Package CarGurus, Edmunds, Convenience Package Edmunds, Driving Assistance Package Edmunds, Premium Package Edmunds, Executive Package Edmunds, Shadowline Package Edmunds, Edition Handschalter Package (2025–2026) Edmunds, a published reference

Both years

• Sought after: The manual M40i 2025–2026

  Edmunds highly recommends the Handschalter manual, and an owner on a British forum who had both an automatic and a manual M40i calls the manual the best Z4 they have owned or driven. Edmunds, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Sought after: The M40i 2020–2026

  Edmunds recommends the M40i, and Euro Premium Parts calls it the clear choice for most buyers, with the more durable engine. Edmunds, a seller's guide (unofficial)