Z Series [Official] E89 BMW Z4

[Giannis]

It looks extremely cheap for such an upscale car, no matter how better it is over the normal iDrive system...

 

[Tarek]

Stock ones for me,this is anything but subtle.

 

[klier]

Not bad at all, but looks a bit cheap in my opinion! Would prefer the storage over any Navigation!

Why? Don't you travel to other places then the ones you know?

 

[ree]

Why? Don't you travel to other places then the ones you know?

Of course I do, and I love travelling around with a car. But I have a real problem with navigation systems, because the screen absolutely irritates me while driving (especially at night)! I know, that I can turn off the screen - but then I don't need one.

If I want to go to a place, I take a road map before starting…make me notes and then I drive. Works perfect, and until today, I find every place I wanted to go without searching…

 

[klier]

Fair enough I hate using a map and taking notes

 

[Will]

im very suprised BMW has opted for that sat nav option, looks ridiculous on the top of the dash so much for them looking out for the details in their new interiors.

 

[rollo]

Z4 is also available in configurator of BMW USA!

BMW North America

And over $60K with a few options.

As much as I like what I see, that puts it in boxster territory and I would choose the refreshed boxster over the new Z4 without hesitation.

 

[Mr Robert]

I know, I know... this has been said soo many times now; people in the US should never be allowed to whine about the price of cars as you guys pay silly little compared to the rest of the world.

 

[Tarek]

I know, I know... this has been said soo many times now; people in the US should never be allowed to whine about the price of cars as you guys pay silly little compared to the rest of the world.

The prices here are at least 4-5 times the US ones..pure nonsense

 

[rollo]

I know, I know... this has been said soo many times now; people in the US should never be allowed to whine about the price of cars as you guys pay silly little compared to the rest of the world. [/quote

It's certainly true that we pay far less than the rest of the world for automobiles although I believe that the rest of you pay silly too much.

Sounds like the spoiled American card has been a bit overdone in the past, yes?

For the record, my belief is that the new Z4 will not compete favorably with a Boxster S at the same price point in the US (or any other country if similarly priced).

No whining, just a humble opinion, but bash away if you must, its a free country!

 

[mike.blueberry]

im very suprised BMW has opted for that sat nav option, looks ridiculous on the top of the dash so much for them looking out for the details in their new interiors.

i agree with all of you, it looks terrible.
but it's interesting that BMW offers a cheaper and uglier alternative. We all know how expensive the bloody idrive/sat nav is and although mandatory for dashboard style, resale, and some electronic features, it is in reality paying for something that isn't as good electronically as a 300$ tomtom, so it's interesting that BMW offers another choice, although I wouldn't take it because the first picture kills the dashboard.

Mike

 

[BimmerToday]

i agree with all of you, it looks terrible.
but it's interesting that BMW offers a cheaper and uglier alternative. We all know how expensive the bloody idrive/sat nav is and although mandatory for dashboard style, resale, and some electronic features, it is in reality paying for something that isn't as good electronically as a 300$ tomtom, so it's interesting that BMW offers another choice, although I wouldn't take it because the first picture kills the dashboard.

Mike

This is just BMW's intention with the alternative sat-nav. You can see it here, and you can see how it looks. And after that you think something like "Well, the build-in system costs way too much, isn't as fast, isn't as good... But look at this cheap integration I would get if I would buy the cheaper one. No way, not in my new car. I HAVE TO take the silly expensive build-in sat-nav, it just looks so much better..."

 

[Mr Robert]

It's certainly true that we pay far less than the rest of the world for automobiles although I believe that the rest of you pay silly too much.

Sounds like the spoiled American card has been a bit overdone in the past, yes?

For the record, my belief is that the new Z4 will not compete favorably with a Boxster S at the same price point in the US (or any other country if similarly priced).

No whining, just a humble opinion, but bash away if you must, its a free country!

We all have our own perspective and I guess that it is fine if Americans feel that they pay too much for cars. We on the other hand would love to have your prices

I agree regarding the Boxster S, the new Z4 does not stand a chance, at least if we should judge by early reviews. It seems like BMW have tried more to make a SLK competitor.

EVO has a less than flattering review of the Z4 in their current issue. They say it drives like an Audi (they also question why the engine is positioned so extremely far to the front) and that it is fat and uninvolving... the conclusion is that the new Z4 is a lesser drive then the 335i and that it, strangely, is heavier.

 

[Osnabrueck]

Interesting comments about the Nav - This has been an ongoing point of discussion between colleagues and myself as of late.

It's looking more and more that there's a rift forming between the high price of integrated systems like iDirve and the easy, cheap access to nav-functionality devices like the iPhone and Blackberry Storm provide. Why spend $3,000 on a chunk of quickly-aging technology when you have the same thing in your pocket? Well... clearly, there's lots of reasons, but right now there's really no perfect solution.

Recently I had the chance to drive a new Audi A3 across Germany with their cheap-ass Nav, that had a monochrome red screen and a primitive, non-MMI interface. All in all, it was a pretty decent compromise - with a very integrated appearance that didn't seem like pitiful excuse for a full-blown MMI system.

BMW's solution seems strange. It just looks cheap - sorta like when dealers install rear-mounted entertainment displays that are basically off-the-shelf units that have been branded to appear like they're OEM gear.

I'm not sure where all this is heading. In this economy, the remaining new car buyers are going to be less willing to pony up the big bucks to have an integrated nav, when they can have a perfectly good outboard unit for a fraction of the money.

Personally, I'm a fan of integrated units like iDrive and MMI, it's just that their function is becoming increasingly redundant when everybody is starting to carry highly capable smartphones with built-in GPS.

Ultimately, I think manufacturers need to develop platform-agnostic equipment that mate with your smartphone. Basically, a system that is like a docking station for your phone, that uses its hardware to play music, give directions, etc, for a price that's substantially reduced from the current iDrive paradigm. Unfortunately, car makers really don't have much motivation to do this, since their financial upside isn't nearly as strong as it is with integrated systems.

Bottom line though - The price floor has lowered so drastically on store-bought Navs that soon there will be just a handful of buyers willing to opt for integrated systems.

 

[EnI]

That "cheap" GPS device is Garmin's Nuvi 7xxT model.

BMW & Garmin have cooperated for years now - initially "BMW branded" nuvi 360 was offered as an optional GPS device for your BMW.

So, in Z4 case a customer can opt for:

a) a car without NAVI (with optional storage place instead)
b) a car with original BMW NAVI (incl. iDrive screen)
c) a car with "BMW branded" Garmin device (incl. proper space for the device in central dash)

Yes, perhaps the central dash without proper cover (either fixed cover, storage place, or iDrive display) looks a bit "cheap" - but the device offered with such solution is quite capable GPS device ... and it can be placed on central dash - instead on windscreen, or on dash using funny plastic holders. And GPS device being placed on central dash is indeed very ergonomical solution.

But, yes ... that plastic central-dash module / shelf ("device holder") for that optional Garmin device could be designed more carefully - to fit visually better in the whole dash. Now it looks like a clumsy (and quite ugly) plastic shelf / module.

 

[mike.blueberry]

That "cheap" GPS device is Garmin's Nuvi 7xxT model.

BMW & Garmin have cooperated for years now - initially "BMW branded" nuvi 360 was offered as an optional GPS device for your BMW.

So, in Z4 case a customer can opt for:

a) a car without NAVI (with optional storage place instead)
b) a car with original BMW NAVI (incl. iDrive screen)
c) a car with "BMW branded" Garmin device (incl. proper space for the device in central dash)

Yes, perhaps the central dash without proper cover (either fixed cover, storage place, or iDrive display) looks a bit "cheap" - but the device offered with such solution is quite capable GPS device ... and it can be placed on central dash - instead on windscreen, or on dash using funny plastic holders. And GPS device being placed on central dash is indeed very ergonomical solution.

But, yes ... that plastic central-dash module / shelf ("device holder") for that optional Garmin device could be designed more carefully - to fit visually better in the whole dash. Now it looks like a clumsy (and quite ugly) plastic shelf / module.

isn't it possible to shoehorn the GPS device into the open storage space (option a above, that seems to have a nice cover, and once closed looks the same as a closed i-drive).

option C, with a gaping hole in the middle of the topdash is a strange offering to be honest.

Mike

 

[patrice03]

am quite happy with this storage, actually, i will keep my tom tom , and put in the open storage when i need it ! best solution, and no need to fix it on the windshield where it falls down every five minutes ..

 

[HighestOfHigh]

This is the one BMW that I could never stomach. So odd looking. Better then the previous model, but it still has that toe nail shape. Are they going to M this car?

 

[Mr Robert]

This is the one BMW that I could never stomach. So odd looking. Better then the previous model, but it still has that toe nail shape. Are they going to M this car?

The current word is that there will be no M-version and no coupe.

BTW, the car looks better with the roof up!

 

[Zafiro]

This is the one BMW that I could never stomach. So odd looking. Better then the previous model, but it still has that toe nail shape. Are they going to M this car?

What ?? you dont like the new Z4?
This one of few bimmers both MB and BMW fans like except for HoH