Used BMW Z4 2009-2017 reliability

Z4s are complicated beasts, and the most common problems with the Z4 have been little electrical gremlins, so try out every electrical component on your prospective purchase to make sure it all works as it should.

Then while you are on your test drive, check for any excessive wear in the operation of the clutch and that the gear lever engages in a precise manner. Don’t be concerned by a heavy shift action, it was like that when new.

There have been some reports from owners of their alloy wheels cracking, requiring expensive replacements, too, so inspect the wheels carefully for damage. If you can, look through the spokes to the inner sides of the wheels to make sure there are no cracks there either.

Driveshaft

A joint on the driveshaft that sends power from the engine to the rear wheels may break on Z4s constructed between 30 December 2010 and 29 April 2011. A BMW dealer will be able to let you know if your car is affected by this, and will fit a superior part to solve the problem.

Power steering failure

The electric power steering system may fail on some Z4s manufactured between 1 November and 31 December 2011. The driver may notice that the steering gets much heavier when it does fail, but your BMW dealer will be able to find out if your car is affected by this, and can replace the steering system for you.

Limp home mode

A problem with the engine's timing system could mean that the engine gets out of time, leading to the car going into limp home mode to prevent major damage. This recall applies to Z4s made between 1 September 2009 and 30 November 2011. Find out if your car is affected by this by speaking with a BMW dealer for further information.

Plug-in electrical connection

An electrical connection in the electric system could be damaged by high electrical current. You may notice the car not starting after being parked; the lights in the instrument cluster flickering, or the engine cutting out while driving. This applies to Z4s built between 1 December 2009 and 13 October 2011, and if yours is affected by this, a more robust connection installed by a BMW dealer.

This generation of Z4 didn't feature in our most recent reliability survey, but BMW as a brand finished in a credible 16th place out of 32 manufacturers in the same survey.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.