Wednesday 20th April 2011

BMW Z4 Gets New 4-Pot Option

240hp 4-cylinder entry model on its way for roadster line-up

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The BMW Z4 will be available later this year with the all aluminium 4-cylinder petrol engine already available in the BMW X1 xDrive28i.

Doubtless the advanced cadre of BMW nomenclature scholars here on PH will already have worked out what it's going to be called, but for the rest of you how does the BMW Z4sDrive28i sound?

BMW says the new engine with TwinPower Turbo tech provides increased torque, improved performance and much reduced fuel consumption and emission levels when compared to the existing 6-cylinder entry model - the BMW Z4 sDrive30 - which shouldn't come as much of a surprise. However BMW says figures won't be released until later in the year, suggesting there's a bit more fettling and/or testing to be done.

As in the X1, the engine features High Precision Injection as well as a turbocharger powered via two exhaust ducts. Other elements of what BMW calls a 'progressive engine package' include the variable camshaft control system double VANOS and the fully variable valve control system VALVETRONIC.

[Luca Brasi]

28i --> 4-cylinder Qué?

[cheadle hulme]

Thought the 23i was a I6?

[stuckmojo]

Doesn't the new Z4 weigh as much as the moon?

It might be a bit slow with that engine.

[Mr Whippy]

BMW have finally lost the plot with their naming system.

4 pot turbo. Hmmm, not sure I'd spunk a load of money to listen to a 4 pot turbo when there are 6 pot ones in the range.

If only they did a nice V8 one. SLK AMG 55 is more desireable than any of the current Z4 range for the very reason that there are no big NA motors in the BMW range anymore

Dave

[kambites]

The numbers haven't been an indication of engine size for quite a long time.

[piper]

Obviously the new inline 4 cyl turbo engines are being used because of ever more stringent emission regulations, somehow the in line 6 cyl engines just suit the Z4, more in keeping with the modern classic take on how a proper sports car should be configured.

[Luca Brasi]

cheadle hulme said:

Thought the 23i was a I6?

It is. I really don't get this BMW name stuff anymore

[mat205125]

Luca Brasi said:

cheadle hulme said:

Thought the 23i was a I6?

It is. I really don't get this BMW name stuff anymore

.... a 2.5 I6 IIRC too.

[kambites]

The naming is fairly simple - the number is an indication of how fast it goes. Nothing more.

[stuckmojo]

doogz said:

Did you read the article?

Yes, it says it's more powerful than the one it replaces. Is it enough for the weight?

As a petrolhead, is this the hairdresser's version of the Z4?

[mnkiboy]

I think the X1 28iX (whatever it's called) has 240bhp, so would expect something similar from the Z4i28iS (whatever it's called). With improved economy and emissions over the old 3.0 i6, if you like that kind of thing from your sports car.

[Dr S]

I really liked BMW's in the past but over the years there is less and less I find interesting. The latest rental cars I drove I found horrid. The last proper car they built was the M3CSL

The only hope with this model is that the four pot engine reduces weight but given that the Z4 is extremely lardy to start with I don't hang my hopes too high...

[adycav]

The N/A 3.0 that was fitted to the old 130i was a perfectly good engine. I would get well over 40mpg on longer journeys in mine, it had less C02 than all rivals, it pulled well from low revs, screamed like a banshee and revved to 7k+, and sounded fantastic (better than the 3.2 M engine in my opinion).

This will be a bland characterless VAG-a-like 2.0T.

BMW have lost it.

[va1o]

Should be OK really, think the new 28i engine is supposed to be quite good. No different to a TT 2.0 TFSI, the best selling version.

[smit8361]

adycav said:

The N/A 3.0 that was fitted to the old 130i was a perfectly good engine. I would get well over 40mpg on longer journeys in mine, it had less C02 than all rivals, it pulled well from low revs, screamed like a banshee and revved to 7k+, and sounded fantastic (better than the 3.2 M engine in my opinion).

This will be a bland characterless VAG-a-like 2.0T.

BMW have lost it.

Can i just point out the Z4 is available with 23i a 2.5 6 cylinder engine 204hp and 30i engine a 6 cylinder with 270hp and a 35i which is a twin turbo 6 cylinder with 304hp or 340hp. The 28i will be 240hp but will fit in between the 23i and the 30i. Personally looking forward to trying the engine in the z4.

[kambites]

doogz said:

Not all 2.0 turbo engines are bland and characterless.

To be fair, the huge majority are either bland and characterless, or fundamentally flawed due to turbo lag. I can't think of an I4 that doesn't come under one category or other.

[snorkel sucker]

adycav said:

The N/A 3.0 that was fitted to the old 130i was a perfectly good engine. I would get well over 40mpg on longer journeys in mine, it had less C02 than all rivals, it pulled well from low revs, screamed like a banshee and revved to 7k+, and sounded fantastic (better than the 3.2 M engine in my opinion).

This will be a bland characterless VAG-a-like 2.0T.

BMW have lost it.

+1. It's a great engine. In fact, if I were going to change to something other than my 130i and get a coupe or convertible, the Z4 with the same engine would be where i'd go.

Its sonorous, powerful, lusty from low revs and gives a decent mpg.

[Mr Whippy]

doogz said:

Did you read the article?

Doesn't say anything about how nice it might sound, or how responsive it might be etc.


Seems BMW, and buyers of these cars, all seem to care about how fast it goes and how many mpg it'll get. Bit of a pointless thing to worry about when buying a supposed 'sports car'


Mini rant, but I think BMW have dropped a ball with this Z4. It's moved well away from the Boxster end, and moved well into SLK territory, but the SLK does the GT thing much more effectively.

It was better as the in-between model imo.

I really like my Z4 as my first BMW, but I'm really struggling what modern BMW I'd buy. Only things that take my fancy are all older BMW's... maybe only the 135Ci is even half tempting, but even that isn't 'right' out of the box.

Dave

[adycav]

[redacted]

[kambites]

doogz said:

This may well start an argument, but the MINI/PSA engine is an absolute cracker imo. And there's no reason to believe the new BMW engine will be any different.

Minimal lag, low boost threshold, loads of torque, plenty power, plenty revs available, and 40mpg average in the MINI.

Hmm, it's a decent enough engine for a shopping car, but utterly characterless.

Inf act, I've never actually driven a turbocharged engine of any kind that I've liked.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 20th April 11:55