What To Look For When Buying A Used 2009 BMW Z4

The original Z4 was small and sporty, and that captured the perspectives of buyers looking out for a sports car that didn’t need assistance from the valet to park. Even after all these years, that’s a BMW Z4 that continues to be desirable. It was said that the car drove well – and being German – it was well-built. And it wasn’t too expensive either.

The 2009 BMW Z4 was the work of Chris Bangle, when he headed the design team for the Bavarian brand. Some liked his work; some did not. The breath of fresh air that came from the design team included Juliane Blasi and Nadya Arnaout – the two lead exterior and interior designers, respectively of the E89 generation Z4. It was the first BMW model to be entirely designed by women.

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The 2009 Z4 was no Mazda MX-5 rival; it had its sight set on the Porsche Boxster and Mercedes SLK. Besides having a foldable hardtop, the E89 Z4 was longer and wider than the previous model – and this meant there was more room and storage capacity. When launched initially, it came with either a 2.5-liter or 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine. But in 2011, BMW’s lighter twin-turbo 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder unit replaced the previous engines. For those who felt claustrophobic sitting in the first-gen Z4, the new one felt surprisingly spacious. With nearly 11 cubic-feet of trunk space – with the roof up – it could accommodate more than a couple of shopping bags. The E89 Z4’s journey came to an end in 2016, but that hasn’t stopped it from being desirable, with a lot of used examples at decent prices, making it among the best bargain roadsters to buy.

Related: Bring A Trailer: 2005 BMW Z4 3.0i With 34K Miles

Inspect A Used 2009 BMW Z4 First

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You will immediately be notified when the car’s due its service, just like all the other modern BMWs. Ensure you’re aware of when the last service was carried out, and there’s no better proof than a couple of documents. Double-check the hard top-folding mechanism. It’s normal to get confused with all the buttons around, which is why it is worth pointing out. Fidget with all the buttons to see if everything is in working order. Pay attention to the alloy wheels; make sure there’s no curbing damage to the rims. Have the vehicle inspected at an authorized and experienced workshop for a pre-purchase inspection. The Z4s are comparatively cheaper when it comes to spares, than what you find for the SLK and the Boxster. A single front shock absorber should cost you $160 (approx), a wing mirror should cost you around $215 (approx), while the fuel filter costs around $23.

A firm ride is bound to highlight the rattles inside – and this is particularly common with the glove boxes and the lids on the cubbyholes. Now while the electro-hydraulic roof is not prone to failure, fluid leaks have been a complaint, further jamming the roof and causing stains inside. The windows have been designed to roll down automatically when the doors are open, or the roof, for that matter. So make sure this happens on the car you’re about to buy and live with. Push the car to the limits on a test drive to notice any particular vibrations. They could be a result of anything between an unbalanced wheel, to a worn out or broken engine mount. The latter could prove to cost you dearly.

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Water tends to find its way into the tail lights, and this means they haven’t been sealed properly – in which case, the entire cluster will have to be replaced. Z4s that have been driven a lot tend to have faulty fuel-injectors, which could inevitably lead to the engine cutting off or warnings on the dash. Be careful to drive the car long enough to know if anything of this nature crops up. If it does, it will require a professional BMW workshop to diagnose and correct the problem, and usually these aren’t inexpensive repairs.

A Brief History Of The 2009 BMW Z4

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Despite its folding metal roof and the fact it was designed as a roadster, the Z4 looks the part. But the roof also makes the car heavier than the fabric roof found on its predecessor. Believe it or not, the Z4 has enough luggage room to have you plonk your suitcases into. The hard top opens or closes in 20 seconds. The cabin is solidly put together with no compromise on the materials used, plus all the extra room carved out, makes it better than its German rivals.

Related: 2022 BMW Z4: Costs, Facts, And Figures

Buying A Used 2009 BMW Z4

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It’s hard going wrong with the purchase of a Z4. The Mk2 model is a great, useable, everyday car that betters its predecessor in every possible way. The comfortable seats and dashboard scream German quality. Be it a daily drive to work or the weekend drive around your favorite mountain road, the Z4 is unlikely to disappoint if you’re careful buying one. For someone with an eye for great-looking roadsters, the Z4 never falls short. It’s hard to find a perfect used buy, but if you’re successful in spotting a fair deal for around $28,000, don’t let it slip away!

Source: RAC