2024 BMW Z4

The volume 2024 sDrive30i uses the B48 2.0L turbo I4 at 255 hp; the M40i's B58 3.0L turbo I6 makes 382 hp. 2024 is a carry-over year of the G29 generation (launched MY2019, refreshed for MY2023).

The sDrive30i's B48 makes 295 lb-ft across a broad low-rpm plateau; the M40i makes 369 lb-ft.

BMW quotes 5.2 s to 60 mph for the sDrive30i with the 8-speed automatic; the M40i runs about 3.9 s.

The B48 delivers strong low-end torque with little turbo lag and smooth revving; the M40i's B58 straight-six is among the most refined engines in the class.

The ZF 8-speed automatic shifts quickly and smoothly with sharp paddle response and sensible gear logic. For 2024 the US Z4 was automatic-only — the M40i Handschalter 6-speed manual arrived for MY2025.

Every 2024 Z4 is rear-wheel drive; no xDrive all-wheel-drive version is offered.

Two distinct gas engines (2.0T I4 and 3.0T I6), both with the same 8-speed automatic in 2024; no hybrid, PHEV or EV and no manual option yet.

EPA combined rating for the volume 2024 sDrive30i (2.0L turbo I4, 8-speed auto); the M40i rates 26 mpg.

EPA city rating for the volume sDrive30i trim.

EPA highway rating for the volume sDrive30i trim.

EPA-listed total range for the sDrive30i, limited by the roadster's ~13.7-gallon tank.

EPA annual fuel cost at 15,000 mi/yr on premium gasoline, as currently published by fueleconomy.gov.

Both 2024 Z4 engines are listed as requiring premium unleaded; no flex-fuel or plug-in option, so every mile is paid at premium prices.

NHTSA has not crash-tested the G29 Z4 in any model year, including 2024, which is common for low-volume two-seat roadsters. The value is a mid-range estimate for a modern BMW body structure, since there is no tested result to use.

IIHS has not rated the 2024 Z4, so it has no TSP/TSP+ award and no individual crash results. With no known structural concerns it sits at the low end of the 50-79 band, below rated rivals like the MX-5.

On the 2024 sDrive30i, only frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a rearview camera and auto high beams are standard. Blind-spot detection, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert need the $700 Driving Assistance Package, and adaptive cruise is a separate option. That is thin for a luxury car at this price.

Standard frontal collision warning with city-speed automatic braking is BMW's current-generation system, but IIHS has never run front crash prevention tests on the Z4. Pedestrian detection is bundled with the optional Active Driving Assistant, so there is no confirmed night or pedestrian performance for the volume car.

Active Blind Spot Detection, which warns and applies steering correction, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are available but not standard. Both come only with the inexpensive Driving Assistance Package, which many dealer-stock cars carry.

Lane departure warning comes only with the optional Driving Assistance Package. The Z4 offers no lane-centering, Active Lane Keeping or Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, so assistance is limited to warnings plus blind-spot steering correction.

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is a stand-alone option; the base car has conventional cruise. When fitted, BMW's ACC works smoothly, but without lane centering it gives no combined highway-assist function.

The Z4 is not offered with any hands-free highway system. BMW's Highway Assistant is limited to models with Driving Assistance Professional hardware, such as the 5 Series, 7 Series and iX, and the Z4 is not one of them.

LED headlights and automatic high beams are standard, and adaptive LED lights are available. IIHS has not tested the Z4's headlights, so Good performance across trims is unconfirmed.

Top-down visibility is excellent, but with the soft top up the wide rear quarters and small rear window restrict over-the-shoulder and rearward views. On the base car the rearview camera is the main aid; parking sensors and blind-spot detection are optional.

The 2024 Z4 (G29) is a strict two-seat roadster in both sDrive30i and M40i trims, with no rear seat.

Generous front headroom for a soft-top roadster. The low seat cushion makes up for the shallow roofline.

Long front legroom for a compact roadster, well ahead of the MX-5. Tall drivers fit comfortably.

The folded soft top does not intrude on the 9.9 cu ft trunk, which is large for a two-seat roadster. The opening is still a shallow, narrow aperture.

In-cabin storage is sparse: small door pockets, a shallow console bin, a net behind the seats and cupholders. Wireless charging is an option rather than standard on the 2024 car.

From 2024, M Sport front seats with power adjustment are standard on the sDrive30i, and reviewers call them supportive over long drives. Lumbar support is only in the Premium Package.

Firm but controlled sports-car damping that copes well with most pavement. Adaptive M suspension is standard on the M40i and an option on the sDrive30i (Dynamic Handling Package, $2,450). It rides softer than the Supra and stiffer than a CLE.

Reviewers call the insulated soft top unusually quiet for a convertible, with top up or down. Tire roar on coarse pavement and wind noise at speed still trail the metal-roof CLE.

Dual-zone automatic climate is standard. On the 2024 sDrive30i, heated seats and a heated wheel cost extra ($550 package or the $3,000 Premium Package); they are standard only on the M40i. Ventilated seats are not offered, which hurts a warm-weather convertible.

The 2024 sDrive30i lists at $53,600 before destination, roughly $2,100 more than 2023. BMW's $995 destination charge brings the entry price to $54,595, near the top of the convertible band.

The sDrive30i is the higher-volume trim. A typical build adds the $3,000 Premium Package (HUD, heated seats and wheel, remote start) plus metallic paint or small options, which lands near $58,500 delivered.

Industry total-cost-to-own estimates for the G29 Z4 sDrive30i put five-year maintenance plus repairs around $8,000. Three years of Ultimate Care offset part of that, but out-of-warranty German-luxury service pricing in years 4–5 drives the total.

Residual studies put the Z4's 5-year depreciation around 40–45%, which is good for a luxury roadster. The 2024 is an automatic-only model year that predates the 2025 manual Handschalter package, so it is unlikely to command the manual car's enthusiast premium.

BMW's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 yr / 50,000 mi, which is standard for German luxury brands. That beats the 3-yr mainstream norm but trails Hyundai/Genesis.

BMW offers no separate, longer powertrain term. Powertrain coverage matches the 4 yr / 50,000 mi basic warranty, below the bottom of the 5–10 yr band.

BMW Ultimate Care includes 3 yr / 36,000 mi of complimentary scheduled maintenance plus 4 yr unlimited-mile Roadside Assistance and a ConnectedDrive services trial. That is a genuine multi-year maintenance package, though Genesis offers a richer one.

$58,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (55% retained, or about $32,175) leaves about $26,325 in depreciation. Add the projected $8,000 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $34,325 in total.

J.D. Power rates the 2024 Z4 'Average' at 79/100 for Quality & Reliability, noticeably below the 85 it gives the 2026. Consumer Reports does not publish a strong sample-backed Z4 prediction for this low-volume roadster. Mid-pack against convertible peers, below the Miata.

When the 2024 model was on sale, BMW was an above-average but not top-tier brand. It placed ninth in the 2024 J.D. Power VDS and has since climbed to the top of Consumer Reports' luxury rankings (#1 luxury 2025). It is the best of the German luxury brands but still behind Lexus and Toyota.

The G29 generation has a meaningful engine-starter recall with fire risk. NHTSA 26V438 covers 2022-2026 Z4 and other models, and 26V056 covered earlier G29 years; 23V821 covered 2023. The 2024 year is otherwise light on campaigns. Known G29 owner issues include cracked coolant expansion tanks and EPS rack faults.

The volume sDrive30i uses the B48 2.0T, a solid improvement over the N20, and the M40i uses the B58 3.0T I6, widely regarded as BMW's most durable modern engine. Both pair with the proven ZF 8HP automatic. Small deductions for coolant and gasket wear items.

Reviewers praise the cabin's soft leather, real metal trim and optional Vernasca leather, which are appropriate for a ~$55-70k luxury roadster. The 2024 car still runs the older Live Cockpit layout rather than the later curved-display update, so its perceived quality is a hair behind the 2026.

The car is assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz alongside the Supra, a plant known for tight, consistent low-volume assembly, and reviews note precise panel fitment. BMW's brand initial quality in the 2024 J.D. Power IQS was around industry average.

BMW has roughly 350-370 US dealers, giving dense metro coverage. Service satisfaction is mixed: J.D. Power owners rate the dealership experience 80/100 for the 2024 Z4, while ACSI ranks BMW low among luxury brands.

Parts are readily available through BMW OEM channels and a large B48/B58 enthusiast aftermarket. Repair costs are on the expensive side: RepairPal puts Z4 average annual maintenance near $895, and individual items such as struts and coolant tanks are costly.

Every 2024 Z4 has the same 10.25-inch central touchscreen, with no larger screen available. That is well below the 14.9-inch curved displays on newer BMWs.

iDrive 7 is fast and logically laid out. It keeps the physical rotary controller, shortcut keys and hard climate buttons, which reviewers prefer to BMW's later touch-heavy systems. The screen is small by 2024 standards and suffers glare with the top down.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on both 2024 trims, with no subscription.

Built-in navigation is standard, as is the 'Hey BMW' Intelligent Personal Assistant, which handles natural-language commands. The maps and voice are a generation behind the OS 8 versions in newer BMWs.

The standard 10-speaker system is adequate. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon upgrade is available and is the meaningful step up. Open-top acoustics limit how good any system can sound.

Both trims get BMW Live Cockpit Professional with a 12.3-inch fully digital cluster as standard. It is sharp and has mode-specific layouts, though less configurable than rivals' clusters.

As an Operating System 7 car, the Z4 can receive BMW Remote Software Upgrade over the air for infotainment, maps and some vehicle functions. In practice its updates have been less frequent and smaller than those for newer OS 8 BMWs.

The My BMW app covers locking, location, vehicle status and climate. Remote engine start is bundled in the Premium Package rather than standard. Phone-as-key support for this year is unconfirmed, so it earns no credit here.

There are a few front USB ports. Wireless charging is an option rather than standard on the 2024 car (it became standard later), and there is no household outlet.

Push-button start is standard. Comfort Access proximity entry and remote start come only in the Convenience Package ($600) or Premium Package ($3,000) on the sDrive30i, and KBB lists keyless entry as optional.

The only standard aid is a rearview camera. Park Distance Control and Parking Assistant (which reverses the car along its recent path) come in the Premium Package, and no surround-view camera is offered.

A full-color head-up display is offered on both trims, but only through the $3,000 Premium Package, so the base volume car does not have one.

As a strict two-seater with no rear seat, the Z4 can carry at most one child, in the passenger seat, and this is unsuitable for young children because of the front airbag. It cannot do daily family duty.

Neither NHTSA nor IIHS has crash-tested the Z4. Standard driver assistance is limited to forward AEB and auto high beams, with blind-spot and lane-departure warnings in a $700 package. That is a thin safety case at this price.

With only two seats it cannot take four or more people on a road trip. For two adults the 9.9 cu ft trunk holds a weekend's luggage.

The smooth ZF 8-speed automatic, a refined turbo four and a comfortable ride make it easy to drive in traffic. Its low seat and the poor rear visibility with the top up are the usual roadster drawbacks.

About 28 MPG combined is decent for the performance, but it requires premium fuel and wears expensive staggered run-flat tires. Running costs are above average for a commuter.

The short body and 36.1 ft turning circle make it easy to place in town. However, the base car has only a rearview camera; parking sensors are optional, and top-up rear-quarter visibility is poor.

It has no tow rating and holds only 9.9 cu ft of luggage, so it cannot do meaningful work.

The Z4 is a luxury roadster with a fabric top, low ground clearance and Sensatec/leather trim, not built for rough use. Its B48 engine and ZF gearbox are proven, but not in work settings.

It has no tie-downs, hitch, roof rack provision or onboard AC power.

For two people it is a capable grand tourer: comfortable seats, a quiet top and about 384 miles of EPA combined range. Adaptive cruise is an extra-cost option, and there is no lane centering, which limits fatigue reduction.

With rear-wheel drive, low ground clearance, summer-biased performance tires and no rack or hitch, it is limited to pavement.

The 9.9 cu ft trunk stays usable with the top down and takes two carry-ons. Nothing bulky fits, and there are no folding seats or racks.

The sDrive30i is grippy and composed, with a near 50/50 balance and strong body control, and since 2024 the M Sport content is standard. Reviewers find it less sharp than the 718 Boxster or MX-5, and adaptive dampers and the M Sport differential are a $2,450 option.

The electric steering is quick, accurate and stable but transmits little road feel, the most common complaint from enthusiast reviewers.

Braking is strong, with short stops and a firm, linear pedal. The upgraded M Sport brakes are optional on the sDrive30i and standard on the M40i.

The 255 hp, 295 lb-ft B48 turbo four pulls hard from 1,550 rpm, and the ZF 8-speed automatic shifts quickly and smoothly. Stop/start is unobtrusive.

The four-cylinder is smooth and quiet when cruising but has little aural character, especially next to the M40i's inline-six.

At 36.1 ft, the turning circle is competitive for a rear-drive roadster on wide staggered tires.

The seating is low and sporty, with standard power M Sport seats and a wide range of adjustment, and the iDrive controller and physical buttons are easy to reach. Top-up rear visibility and getting in and out of a low roadster count against it.

It is quick and enjoyable with the top down, but the sDrive30i plays the refined grand tourer more than a pure sports car. Enthusiasts favor the MX-5 for engagement and the M40i for character.

The 2024 sDrive30i comes with SensaTec upholstery (now standard on both trims), a power soft top, navigation, iDrive 7 with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, and a 10-speaker audio system. For 2024, though, fewer driver-assist features are standard, and heated seats, HUD and blind-spot monitoring sit in paid packages, which is competitive but not generous at about $54.6k.

A 255-hp sDrive30i for about $54.6k and a 382-hp M40i for about $67k put the Z4 between the far cheaper Miata and the pricier Porsche 718 Boxster. The M40i in particular delivers strong performance per dollar against the Boxster, but the 2024 price increases trimmed the value proposition.

There are just two trims (sDrive30i and M40i), both rear-drive and both automatic-only for 2024, with a handful of packages. Choice is narrow; the manual Handschalter option did not arrive until 2025.

US deliveries were about 2,129 units in calendar 2024, up roughly 13% from 2023 but still a small niche figure. It is a steady seller within a shrinking roadster segment, not a leader the way the Miata is.

BMW remains one of the most aspirational premium brands, with strong enthusiast equity in sporty models. The Z badge carries roadster heritage dating to the Z3 and Z8.

BMW Financial Services routinely backs the Z4 with lease support and APR offers, and as a low-volume, seasonal convertible it was commonly negotiable below MSRP. The discounts were moderate rather than deep.

For 2024 the G29 was in its sixth model year (launched for 2019), with a light facelift for 2023 and only a carry-over for 2024. It is mid-to-late cycle on the iDrive 7 platform, and BMW had already signalled there would be no direct successor.

Reviewers consistently praise the 2024 Z4's refinement, quiet cabin and strong engines, and U.S. News calls it a top pick among small sports cars. Comparison tests still generally rank the Porsche 718 Boxster ahead on driving purity, so the Z4 is well regarded rather than the class winner.