| Model year | 2003 |
| Make | BMW |
| Model | Z4 |
| Style | 2.5i 2dr Roadster (2.5L 6cyl 5M) |
| Base MSRP | $33,795 |
| As-tested MSRP | $40,745 |
| Drive type | RWD |
| Engine type | inline 6 |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 2.5 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 184 @ 6000 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 175 @ 3500 |
| Transmission type | 5-speed manual |
| Suspension, front | Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| Suspension, rear | Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| Steering type | Speed sensitive rack-and-pinion |
| Tire brand | Bridgestone |
| Tire model | Potenza RE050A |
| Tire size, front | P225/45R17 |
| Tire size, rear | P225/45R17 |
| Brakes, front | Front ventilated disc/rear solid disc |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 4.2 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 6.7 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 9.8 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 15.05 @ 91.28 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 27.97 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 111.19 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 67.1 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 33.1 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 55 |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 78 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 76 |
| Acceleration comments | I never feel 100 percent confident in BMW clutches. They require a very careful launch technique and if you don't get it just right they just slip and smell. Our test model's clutch proved a little better than recent BMWs I've tested, and by launching the car at 2,500 rpm with DSC switched off, I was able to get just the right amount of wheel spin and forward thrust without burning the clutch. It's obvious BMW wanted to make the most of out of its smaller-engined Z4, so the gearing in this car is short. That put me well into fourth gear before crossing the 1/4-mile lights (most performance cars can get there in third). However, a 15-flat in the quarter mile is quite impressive for a 2.5-liter engine, so the thinking behind this drivetrain obviously gets the job done even if the car is taching at 3,000 rpm in top gear at 60 mph. Good thing the engine is so smooth that, even at redline, it seems to be loafing along. |
| Braking rating | Excellent |
| Braking comments | What can you say about a car that starts with a 113-foot braking distance from 60 mph, and then gets shorter on each of the two follow-up runs? Our Z4 was down to 111 feet by the third run, begging the question, "So, if we just keep making runs will it eventually stop from 60 mph in zero feet?" It takes a heavy foot to put the car into ABS mode, but vibration and noise from the antilock braking system is minimal. The pedal's feel never changed from the first to the third run, and the numbers confirm that fade was not an issue (quite the contrary, in fact). The Z4 may have its issues, but slowing down or stopping isn't one of them. |
| Handling rating | Excellent |
| Handling comments | You sit low in the car, with a long hood stretching out in front of you. This makes it feel almost exotic in nature, and sure enough the car managed some of the highest slalom speeds we've ever achieved. Steering is go-cart quick, and the body basically doesn't lean at all. However, that long hood and low seating position make placing the car tricky. Avoiding cones was as much an act of faith as an act of skill. The car's excellent DSC system allowed a certain amount of vehicle rotation when engaged, but turning it off (while leaving DTC on) was ideal. It gave me the latitude to rotate the Z4 as much as I ever needed while still intervening before things got hairy. And let's not forget that turbine smooth engine and low gearing that provided gobs of torque for accelerating in mid slalom. Basically, the car seemed to be designed specifically to perform well in our slalom test. And it did. — Karl Brauer |
| Elevation (ft.) | 85 |
| Temperature (°F) | 62 |
| Wind (mph, direction) | 2 mph |
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | Auto 21/28 Manual 20/28 |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 21 |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 14.5 |
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 2932 |
| Length (in.) | 161.1 |
| Width (in.) | 70.1 |
| Height (in.) | 50.1 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 98.2 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 42 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 37.3 |
| Seating capacity | 2 |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 6 years / Unlimited miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Free scheduled maintenance | 4 years/ 50,000 miles |
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Standard |
| Head airbags | Not Available |
| Antilock brakes | Standard |
| Electronic brake enhancements | braking assist |
| Traction control | Standard |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Rollover protection | Standard |
| Emergency assistance system | Not available |
| NHTSA crash test, driver | Good |
| NHTSA crash test, passenger | Good |
| NHTSA crash test, side front | Average |
| NHTSA crash test, side rear | Not Tested |
| NHTSA rollover resistance | Excellent |
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