Model research hub
BMW Z4
The current BMW Z4 (G29) is a two-door roadster sold since 2019, the successor to the E89, and Your BMW Blog says for the G29 generation, you should avoid the 2020 year. What-Breaks documents 29 known weaknesses across the 2019-2026 G29, 21 engine-related and 8 vehicle-related, and names the M40i (2019-2022) with its 340-hp inline-six as its insider pick. Federal data shows the 2019 and 2020 with the most recalls (6 each). The 2026 Z4 starts at $57,275.
What the current BMW Z4 is
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the second-generation Z4 (E89, 2009-2016) as the predecessor to the current G29 generation, related to the BMW 1 Series (E82) and 3 Series (E93). The current 2026 Z4 is a G29-generation roadster with a 2.0L four-cylinder or a 3.0L six-cylinder, rear-wheel drive, rated 22 to 28 mpg combined by the EPA, about $2,750 to $3,500 a year in fuel, and Kelley Blue Book base prices are $57,275 for the sDrive30i and $69,575 for the M40i.
Best and worst Z4 model years
Federal data shows the 2019 Z4 with 6 recalls and 5 complaints, and the 2020 with 6 recalls and 5 complaints as well, covering exterior lighting, the backup camera, fuel system and engine on both. The 2021 has 5 recalls, the 2022 has 4, the 2023 has 3, and the 2024 to 2026 have 1 each.
Your BMW Blog (opens in a new tab) says for the G29 Z4, you should avoid the 2020 year. What-Breaks (opens in a new tab) documents a total of 29 weaknesses for the G29 (2019-2026), 21 engine-related and 8 vehicle-related, and names the M40i B58B30 (2019-2022), a 340-hp inline-six roadster with a fabric soft top, as its insider pick, out of five engine variants ranging from 163 to 387 hp. Autojunket (opens in a new tab) says there are no years to avoid specifically for the 2019, since it is the first of the G29 generation, though later models may offer marginal improvements.
Choosing a year
Your BMW Blog's specific caution against the 2020 stands out against Autojunket's more neutral view of the 2019 launch year, and both agree later G29 model years offer at least marginal improvement, matching the falling recall counts in federal data from 2021 onward.
Questions buyers ask
Which BMW Z4 year should I avoid?
Your BMW Blog (opens in a new tab) says for the G29 generation, you should avoid the 2020 year.
Which BMW Z4 engine is the pick?
What-Breaks (opens in a new tab) names the M40i B58B30 (2019-2022), a 340-hp inline-six, as its insider pick among the G29's five engine variants.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 BMW Z4 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder or 3.0L turbo inline-six, rated at 255 / 382 horsepower across its roadster body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 2 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 Z4 seats 2 and is a Roadster.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 Z4.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 BMW Z4
sDrive30i uses the 255-horsepower turbo four; M40i steps up to a 382-horsepower turbo six and is the only Z4 trim offered with a manual transmission.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed BMW Z4 model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 BMW Z4 | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 BMW Z4 | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the BMW Z4.
The BMW Z models are a line of roadsters manufactured by German automaker BMW. The Z stands for Zukunft (German for future), and has been produced in four different series with six generations consisting of roadster, coupé, sports car, and concept variants. The introduction of the M Coupé and M Roadster in the Z3 line marked the first of the Z series to have a high-performance BMW M variant.
Source: BMW Z (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
BMW Z4 at a glance
- Production
- 1989–1992, 1995–2016, 2018–2026
- Class
- Sports car (S)
- Body style
- 2-door roadster (automobile), roadster, 2-door coupé
- Layout
- Rear-wheel drive
Year by year
The BMW Z4 across 10 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 BMW Z4 | 22–28 | $2,850–$3,650 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2025 BMW Z4 | 22–28 | $2,750–$3,500 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 BMW Z4 | 26–28 | $2,750–$3,000 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 BMW Z4 | 26–28 | $2,750–$3,000 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 BMW Z4 | 25–28 | $2,750–$3,100 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2021 BMW Z4 | 25–28 | $2,750–$3,100 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2020 BMW Z4 | 26–27 | $2,850–$3,000 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| 2019 BMW Z4 | 28 | $2,750 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| 2016 BMW Z4 | 19–26 | $3,000–$4,100 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 2015 BMW Z4 | 19–26 | $3,000–$4,100 | 4 | 1 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the BMW Z4, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 2 to 3 | 27.0 to 25.0 | Transmissions: Manual 6-spd | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 26.5 to 27.0 | |||
| 2019 to 2020 | 1 to 2 | 28.0 to 26.5 | Labels: Z4 M40i; Engines: 3L 6-cyl SIDI | |
| 2016 to 2019 | 4 to 1 | 22.5 to 28.0 | Labels: Z4 sDrive30i | Labels: Z4 sDrive28i, Z4 sDrive35i, Z4 sDrive35is; Engines: 3L 6-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S7), Manual 6-spd |
Buying used
What the BMW Z4 recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | visibility (power window devices and controls); power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2022 | 3 | visibility (power window devices and controls); electrical system (starter assembly) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2021 | 5 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); seat belts; engine; 1 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2020 | 6 | back over prevention (sensing system); exterior lighting (headlights); fuel system, gasoline (storage); 2 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2019 | 6 | back over prevention (sensing system); engine; steering (linkages); 2 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2016 | 1 | engine and engine cooling (cooling system) | None |
| 2015 | 1 | engine and engine cooling (cooling system) | None |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2019, campaign 25V-636 (Sep 2025): electrical system (starter assembly). A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
- 2020, campaign 25V-636 (Sep 2025): electrical system (starter assembly). A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
- 2021, campaign 25V-636 (Sep 2025): electrical system (starter assembly). A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
- 2022, campaign 25V-636 (Sep 2025): electrical system (starter assembly). A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 5 | 31% | 2020 (2) |
| engine | 4 | 25% | 2019 (2) |
| unknown or other | 3 | 19% | 2016 (1) |
| steering | 3 | 19% | 2020 (2) |
| structure | 2 | 13% | 2019 (1) |
| service brakes | 2 | 13% | 2020 (2) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 BMW Z4 trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sDrive30i | RWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 255 | 295 | 3,314 | – | 28 | $57,275 |
| M40i | RWD | 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 382 | 369 | 3,543 | – | 25 | $69,575 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every BMW Z4 model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 255–382 | 3,314–3,543 | – | 13.7 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 255–382 | 3,314–3,543 | – | 13.7 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 255–382 | 3,314–3,543 | – | 13.7 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 255–382 | 3,314–3,543 | – | 13.7 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 255–382 | 3,287–3,457 | – | 13.7 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 255–382 | 3,287–3,457 | – | 13.7 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Turbo) | 254–382 | 3,287–3,457 | – | 13.7 |
| 2019 | 1 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 255 | 3,287 | – | 13.7 |
| 2016 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 6-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 3.0L | 240–335 | 3,307–3,549 | – | 14.5 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter 6-cylinder (Twin Turbo) | 240–335 | 3,263–3,549 | – | 14.5 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
BMW Z4: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2021 BMW Z4 : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and seat belts.
- 2020 BMW Z4 : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting exterior lighting and backup camera.
- 2019 BMW Z4 : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting engine and backup camera.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | electrical system |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | electrical system |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | electrical system |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | visibility/wipers, powertrain, electrical system |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | electrical system, visibility/wipers |
| 2021 | 5 | 1 | electrical system, seat belts, fuel system, engine |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | exterior lighting, backup camera, fuel system, engine |
| 2019 | 6 | 5 | engine, backup camera, steering, exterior lighting |
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | 1 | 4 | engine cooling |
| 2015 | 1 | not available | engine cooling |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for BMW Z4 model years 2015, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a BMW Z4?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2021, 2020, 2019 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which BMW Z4 model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2021 BMW Z4 has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, seat belts, fuel system; The 2020 BMW Z4 has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting exterior lighting, backup camera, fuel system; The 2019 BMW Z4 has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting engine, backup camera, steering. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the BMW Z4 by model year?
2026: electrical system. 2025: electrical system. 2024: electrical system. 2023: visibility/wipers, powertrain, electrical system. 2022: electrical system, visibility/wipers. 2021: electrical system, seat belts, fuel system, engine.
Q04Why do some BMW Z4 model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for BMW Z4 model years 2015, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering, Buying, records and recalls, Transmission and drivetrain.
2021 BMW Z4 owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Engine and cooling.
2020 BMW Z4 owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Engine and cooling.
2019 BMW Z4 owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Climate and electrical and Brakes, tires and steering.
Compared with
Models this BMW Z4 is most often compared with.
Nearest BMW models
Other BMW models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 Z4 come in?
The 2026 BMW Z4 (roadster) comes in 2 trims: sDrive30i, M40i.
Q02What are the 2026 Z4 trims?
The 2026 BMW Z4 trims are sDrive30i, M40i, listed from the entry sDrive30i up to the top M40i.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 Z4 use?
The 2026 BMW Z4 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder or 3.0L turbo inline-six, rated at 255 / 382 horsepower across its roadster body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 Z4 have?
The 2026 BMW Z4 is rated at 255 / 382 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder or 3.0L turbo inline-six).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 Z4?
The 2026 BMW Z4 is offered with RWD.