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BMW Z4 E89

2009–2016
Community-sourced·updated July 9, 2026·1 sources
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Overview
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The E89 Z4 retractable-hardtop roadster with the N52 six, the turbo N20 four, and the twin-turbo N54 (35i/35is), 6- and 8-speed automatics, rear-wheel drive. Editorial summary, not a reliability rating; per-configuration facts are below.

Filtered: N20 · 2.0L petrol (N20).

Known issues

Sorted by severity. Tap an issue to reveal its symptom, repair and what to check.

HighOil pump drive chain wear (N20)built before 2015
MediumOil filter housing gasket leak (N20)
MediumValve cover / gasket oil leak (N20)

Engines & reliability

Tap a row to filter the issues to that engine.

Pre-purchase checklist

Documents
  • Check service history for repeated coolant top-ups
Test drive
  • Assess shift quality and D/R engagement when warm

Maintenance

Key service intervals — vary by engine and driving conditions.

ItemIntervalCost
Early timing-chain check
Engine oil and filter12,000–15,000 km
Cooling-system refresh120,000–150,000 km