[krc217]

I just heard 2026 will be the last production year for the Z4 with nothing to follow! If it does come back it will be electric! I just purchased a 2022 Alpine White Z4 with Magma Red interior. Waiting for shipment.

[Josh-PA]

March '26 is the end of the road for the roadster. Oct '25 is the end of the 718 run, so if you want a 2 seat manual convertible you might want to act quickly

[NickyC]

Sad, the current Z4 is one of the few bright spots in the G series styling wise. I was so hoping for a proper ///M version as well with the S58 and a 6MT, I would have bought it. Would have been incredible, what we wound up with is still a pretty nice car though. Saw one in Thundernight with a white interior the other day, looked fantastic.

[c1pher]

I wish they had an S motor and hardtop convertible. I’d probably get one.

[mjj]

I have a 25 Z4 M40i. Absolutely love the car. It is quick enough with the B58 at 3500-3600 lbs. It gets driven more than my LCI M4c.

The S58 would have made it legendary.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Sad, the current Z4 is one of the few bright spots in the G series styling wise.

Aesthetically? Perhaps.
Sales wise? Not at all:

Originally Posted by NickyC

I was so hoping for a proper ///M version as well with the S58 and a 6MT, I would have bought it. Would have been incredible, what we wound up with is still a pretty nice car though. Saw one in Thundernight with a white interior the other day, looked fantastic.

Touble with that thinking is that while an S58 version of EVERYTHING would be awesome, one needs a minimal volume of sales to justify ROI for engineering, crash testing, and marketing of a SKU.

With past 10-years of Z4 sales struggling to stay over 2K/year mark, a S58 version of the same just wouldn't be worth the bother.
Same goes for wagon version of anything. A few folks would love those, but way too few to make importing them into the US financially viable.

It is what it is.

a

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Aesthetically? Perhaps.
Sales wise? Not at all:

Attachment 3741516



Touble with that thinking is that while an S58 version of EVERYTHING would be awesome, one needs a minimal volume of sales to justify ROI for engineering, crash testing, and marketing of a SKU.

With past 10-years of Z4 sales struggling to stay over 2K/year mark, a S58 version of the same just wouldn't be worth the bother.
Same goes for wagon version of anything. A few folks would love those, but way too few to make importing them into the US financially viable.

It is what it is.

a

Very true. I rarely if ever see the G series Z4. That purple one I saw was maybe the first one in 6 months. :/

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Aesthetically? Perhaps.
Sales wise? Not at all:

Indeed we live in sad times that most people rather have the SUV experience than the raw driving experience of a roadster

Luckily the G29 still came out with a manual (which probably won't sell at all....)
Indeed no real ///M version, but tbh, ///M cars aren't that special anymore imho. The S58 is very much akin to the B58 compared to the high revving engines from yesteryears. The G29 with B58 is very easily tuneable, has a good LSD and a reasonably good braking system. The platform is very capable imho.
I would like it to be a bit smaller (and lighter), so you can better place it in corners on the more challenging mountain passes in the alps. That is proper roadster territory

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Indeed we live in sad times that most people rather have the SUV experience than the raw driving experience of a roadster

Globally true, with sales of sports cars in decline in the US.
https://carbuzz.com/america-falling-...ve-sports-car/

But there is also the matter of pricing and competition.

Z3 used to start in high-$30K's, and sold in mid-high teens of thousands.
Z4 starts at $55K and can easily hit high-$70K's rivaling a Boxer.

In the meantime, new Miata still starts at $29.5K.

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Luckily the G29 still came out with a manual (which probably won't sell at all....)
Indeed no real ///M version, but tbh, ///M cars aren't that special anymore imho. The S58 is very much akin to the B58 compared to the high revving engines from yesteryears.

Yep, distinction between the two is getting blured by the day.
Z4 M40i has B58 in it. I can't find how well it sells vs. slower models.

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I would like it to be a bit smaller (and lighter), so you can better place it in corners on the more challenging mountain passes in the alps. That is proper roadster territory

You've just described the MX-5 RF!

a

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by afadeev

You've just described the MX-5 RF!

a

To a certain extent: yes. Although a bit underpowered in these modern times imho.
I'm also describing an older Z4m, or a 718S or some Lotuses also fit that bill...

[BlkGS]

Arguably, the Z4 might not sell well because there is no M model. If you're spending $70k for a 2 seat car, who's really going to be happy with being in the 300s power wise? A C8 Corvette is less money and has 500hp.

Truth be told, I think the big reasons the Z4 flopped are two.

1) The only way to get it with a hard top is as a Supra. Not everyone wants a roadster. The last gen Z4 had the folding hardtop that was awesome. The first gen Z4 and Z3 had coupe versions. This generation had the (cheaper) Supra.

2) It was too much money, especially with the supra existing. M40i is a full $10k more than the Supra, and the Supra arguably comes better equipped.

That said, I do think the sports car market in general is a dumpster fire. Disposable income is down overall, and the people who do have it at largely buying a level of car above this and/or are too old and fat for sports cars anyways. The level of competition for the remaining buyers is fierce. You can buy a Nissan Z for under $40k. You can buy a new C8 in the 50s. Mustangs offer a crapload of car for 30s-40s. If you're willing to spend a buncha money to be the loser at a Porsche club meeting, you can buy a 718 Boxster or Coxster. That's to say nothing of all the older, depreciated cars that DRIVE BETTER ANYWAYS. It's tough to sell a "pure driver's roadster" facsimile as a modern car when you can spend half that much on one that's actually an older driver's roadster a few years older.

[pikkagtr]

Agreed as the first gen E85 Z4 M Roadster still is the gem in BMWs M car line up and was available in coupe form
The Supra is dynamically the better 3rd gen Z4 coupe
Bmw should have offered the full send M version with an S58
I would have been an owner , even at 75k+

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by krc217

I just heard 2026 will be the last production year for the Z4 with nothing to follow! If it does come back it will be electric! I just purchased a 2022 Alpine White Z4 with Magma Red interior. Waiting for shipment.

I seriously doubt they will come out with an EV roadster after the EOP of the Z4.

[Zed Head]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

Agreed as the first gen E85 Z4 M Roadster still is the gem in BMWs M car line up and was available in coupe form
The Supra is dynamically the better 3rd gen Z4 coupe
Bmw should have offered the full send M version with an S58
I would have been an owner , even at 75k+

I had a 25 6spd on order…bailed and bought a 06 M Roadster with 23k on it for less than 1/2 the price of the 25…

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Arguably, the Z4 might not sell well because there is no M model.

I don't know if that's the problem.
Compared to the older generations Z4, the amount of /m models is pretty much negligible, just as not having a coupe model.
/m versions probably summed up as less than 5% of sales globally, so that is not something that makes or breaks a business case. BMW is a volume manufacturer.
I think it's just a sign of the times. The roadster market is just not popular and only very strong brands/models in this segment (or affordable ones) make their market. That's how I look at it.

[tom2021]

2003 E85 manual is good enough for me. It is my recreational car.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by tom2021

2003 E85 manual is good enough for me. It is my recreational car.

Pretty reliable too. Most potential problems are now known and fairly easy and cheap to fix (sometimes with aftermarket altered parts) or prevent.
And was available with most of the necessary creature comforts. The only real thing I miss is front pdc with that long nose and low seating position.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by Zed Head

I had a 25 6spd on order…bailed and bought a 06 M Roadster with 23k on it for less than 1/2 the price of the 25…

Awesome car, boy do I miss mine.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I don't know if that's the problem.
Compared to the older generations Z4, the amount of /m models is pretty much negligible, just as not having a coupe model.
/m versions probably summed up as less than 5% of sales globally, so that is not something that makes or breaks a business case. BMW is a volume manufacturer.
I think it's just a sign of the times. The roadster market is just not popular and only very strong brands/models in this segment (or affordable ones) make their market. That's how I look at it.

Let us not forget that BMW has not invested any sizable advertising money to speak of in the G29 body I discovered mine by accident when I visited my dealer to purchase a new 4 series convertible and saw one in his garage. It was love at first sight! ❤️

Also, because the Z4 shares the production line with the Supra from Toyota at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria there might be a limit as to how many Z4's that plant can produce in a year which is reflected in the low number of sales.

[Emily172013]

Z4 production ending early next year. Porsche 718 the end of this year.
I bought a 1979 TVR 3000s convertible when regulations were threatening the end of convertibles and everything was way down on horsepower (55mph speed limit). Soon after the tables turned. Hopefully we'll see more rag top sports cars being manufactured again before long when the used market can't supply demand.

[ShocknAwe]

Very very nearly bought an E86 Z4MC before taking the plunge on a 964.

I still want one.

[mendou]

It wasn't so long ago when the choice of roadsters, at least here in the UK was just spectacular. From the 90s to the 2000s, we had a huge amount of choice - Mazda MX-5, BMW Z3, Toyota MR-2, Alpha Spider, Lotus Elise, MG F, Vauxhall VX220, Porsche Boxster, Mercedes SLK, TVR Tamora, Chrysler Crossfire, Honda S2000, Suzuki Cappuccino, Fiat Barchetta, Renault Spider, Audi TT, and probably more I have forgotten.

What do we have now? The Boxster is hanging in there until its inevitably hugely expensive replacement arrives next year, the MX-5 is also due for replacement in a year or two. And the Z4, still there, but not for much longer. There's the new MG Cyberster, which I've driven a few times and loved, so fingers crossed it finds some success and can keep the roadster alive. So weve gone from a choice of 16... to 4. Soon to be 3.

As someone who basically lives life as a mixture of teenager and pensioner (I have no kids and can afford silly cars (although I sadly do still need to go to work), I've had three MX-5s, a Lotus Elise, and now I have a Z4. I love Roadsters. I love doing epic road trips across Europe. Honestly driving roads like the Furka Pass in Switzerland in an open top sports car is one of life's highlights. That so few ever get to enjoy this now, stuck as they are in bloated, house sized SUVs is sad.

If only there was a Z5 on the horizon, but I guess BMW have no interest in roadsters anymore. Got to keep making those SUVs even bigger.