BMW Z4 Problems to Expect
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2020
- If you are looking for a BMW Z4 and would like to know what problems you can expect, you have come to the right video! Today I will be discussing all of the common issues and problems that you can expect on a BMW Z4 E89. This video is for the American cars as these are the ones I'm familiar with. They were sold from 2009-2016 and there were a few different variations of the car made over that period. Some of the problems were solved after the car was facelifted in March of 2013. I also talk about the problems I personally experienced with the car as well issues not related to the engines. Roof is one of the major items with this car and shouldn't be looked over when looking to purchase one of these beauties!
*- MUST HAVE CAR ITEMS - *
My Favorite BMW Scanners: amzn.to/4b6GQBa
My Favorite Car Scanners: amzn.to/3tR2VTT
My Favorite CarPlay Units: amzn.to/3Uc8lTZ
BMW Focused Mechanic's Tools: amzn.to/3krC4J1
Portable Tire Inflator: amzn.to/3V5F63v (my favorite), amzn.to/3AokFp4 (cheap, but good)
Portable Jump Starter: amzn.to/3L3YNUX
Favorite Dash Cam: amzn.to/41EdqWe (under $150)
Car Phone Mount: amzn.to/44bW1oM (MagSafe Air Vent), amzn.to/3PvG9ck (+Wireless Charger)
“BMW” Battery Charger: amzn.to/3HahLIi
GEAR I USE FOR FILMING: amzn.to/3Ex3RyI
______
If you'd like to support what I do, please consider supporting the channel for just $1 a month: / simplecarguy
/ simplecarguy
simplecarguy.com
----------------------------
Links are affiliated where possible.
This means if you click on the link and purchase the product, I will earn a commission. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Thank you everyone for watching. Please consider subscribing for more car videos!
BMW Z4 Full Speaker and Subwoofer Upgrade DIY: th-cam.com/video/1lbLSEAbvQY/w-d-xo.html
Brilliant video and excellent information, thank you.
Excellent video! You answered every question I had. Thanks for the upload!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for doing these videos
This dude knows alot about the E89. Love my E89! Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching! I've done a lot of work on this car, including swapping the engine so I've learned a few things here and there.
Well done with the video! Seems very well researched and I like the editing. Glad I subscribed months ago! Also, the z4 seems to have very similar issues to most other bmw other than the roof.
Took a lot of time gathering information, but I’m happy to have it all in one spot.
I've had my 2016 E89 6 months and I love it. Thanks for doing these videos.
Me and you both! Wish I gotten a newer one like yours, but I still enjoy it so much. Thanks for watching!
how do you like your 2016 bmw e89? I've been thinking of updating to a newer z4.
Love it. It's an M Sport edition so has all the bells and whistles. I wish they still made them. The new ones are not nearly as good looking and don't come in a manual. Hard to believe BMW would do that. Ditching the hardtop was also a bad idea.
@@n3307v it's a shame they are taking away this beauty from us without replacing it with something as good.
Yeah, the E89 is much better looking.
Great video man 🙏🏼
Appreciate it! Thanks for watching.
i just bought the BMW Z4 Roadster 20i sDrive M Sport 2d 2013/13. Thanks for your videos they helped me a lot!
Glad I could help!
excellent vid - thank you. (had an s20i from new for 6.5 years - zero problems)
Great review
I bought 35is and have had it for just over 3 years it’s been 💯👍reliable and a BMW mechanic told me with that 1M engine it’s fabulous, the hard top roof is the way to go because they get a lot of soft tops coming in and the labour on them is rather intensive.
Thanks for sharing 2016 Z4 35is my dream, hopefully in the near future.
Yes changed the rear lens after 6 years, the coil pack after 7. The hand brake sensor as well, 9 years the hydraulic roof pump.
The car is now ten years old, it’s the 3.5 2011 manual model.
I’ve had the up dated software flash on the engine to make it faster and give better mpg
I would also add that some of the cars are coming up on 9-10 years old now. One of the problems that causes the roof motor to burn out (and hitting you with a £2k+ fix) is that a pink relay gets stuck in the on position and is connected directly to the battery, causing the roof motor to run until either the battery drains or the motor burns out. You can pre-emptively solve this issue by replacing the two salmon relays every 5-10 years for ~£15 each (~$20 each for our American cousins). This should be a good bit of preventative maintenance for any owner. There are a few guides written on different forums on how to do this (its a 30 second DIY job).
Very good points! I actually have a video on salmon relay replacement, so hopefully it helps someone! Thanks for watching and thoughtful comment.
Man that color is beautiful. I just picked up an 09 with only 21K miles. Thanks for the video.
That's real low miles, congrats!
Looks nice and shiny, great looking car. Hope to have my white Z4 with red leather soòooooooooon !!
That’s such a cool combo! I’d love to have red leather in a white car. Appreciate you watching and being first, of course!
Great video, a few things I didnt know about. But you forgot the electronic parking brake issue :) only issue i've had with mine so far.
I haven’t heard much about that issue at all. What was happening on yours and how was it fixed?
@@SimpleCarGuy I've seen alot of questions about the issue on forums. The way to fix is to update the EMF module that controls the parking brake itself.
@@trackdayjunkie7777 Good to know, thanks for adding useful information to the topic!
Many tx for this video
Hey,
Regarding the roof on the E89, it is not the microswitches or hall sensors that go bad, it's usually the wiring which breaks. After the wiring breaks, the hydraulic lines follow it. (the hydraulic lines & the wiring harness sell as one part all-together, which costs around 1200-1400 USD and requires around 12 hours of work to replace).
Also, the roof is not reinforced in the facelift model, it just has one extra hydraulic line. You can also enable via carly / coding operating the roof up to 40km/h on the pre-facelift model.
Awesome, thanks for clarifications. I’ve seen a lot of people that needed the micro switches and hall sensors replaced, that’s why I mentioned it. Hopefully this video becomes a good source for people especially with the comments including more info.
@@SimpleCarGuy Hopefully :D, I had that issue on my Z4 ('11 30i) and learned a lot about how the roof works. Some things regarding the roof operation are kind of stupid, some are really smart.
Great video, thank you! Looking to buy a 35I 2011 with 100,000 KM. Any special history with the 2011 35I model?
Very informative video. Right now I'm looking at a low mileage '09 30i with 6sp manual. Don't want turbo or auto trans troubles and 255hp from a great BMW inline 6 is plenty fun. Hope the top doesn't give me any trouble though. Thanks for all the info.
That’s the one to get it you are happy with an ‘09. Like you said no turbo and n52 is one of the most reliable NA straight 6s BMW made. Good luck and I hope you find a well taken care of example. Thanks for watching!
I have an '11 30i auto, some might have the PCV valve issue (requires changing the valve cover cap as the engine makes a really high pitch noise on low revs - it usually breaks on all straight 6 engines at one point)
Have a 2010 35i DCT and apart from changing the High Pressure Fuel Pump in 2014 there have not been any issues at all. I keep it in a a garage, only do long distance in it, thoroughly make sure engine warms up first and cools down before stopping, that way and with long distances your turbos and injectors stay happy a long time. Do your service at BMW when it’s due also. I think this is a very reliable car overall and can only recommend, just make sure you buy a model that also has been taken good care of by people who know about what cars need :) P.S. Had to replace my rear 19’ V296 rims as well, common issue as you pointed out.
If only everyone took care of their cars like you do! Of course some cars will be perfect and only require minimal maintenance, but definitely not all. I'd say you have to be an enthusiast at the very least to get one of these and hopefully somewhat mechanically inclined. Thanks for watching!
Please what do you mean by "cool down before stopping", please I plan on getting this vehicle
thank you for your brilliantly informative channel, I am looking at buying a 2012 23i version here in the UK, do you have any information on common issues with that model ?
Thanks for watching!
Unfortunately I don’t know much about the 23i as they don’t sell them here so I’ve never done the research, but it should be similarly reliable as the 28i
Awesome video
Thanks!
Mate, what do you think about the N20 engines after 2015? I think I remember you mentioning that after 2015 they fixed alot of issues on that one. The one with 156 hp could be more stable? Cheers!
I am on the fence about getting a z4, something between 2007 and 2013, which one do you think is the most reliable one, I never had a convertible.
I have a 2010 3.0i manual. I have had it for 4 years now and love it. It has 65K mi. on it now. The only problem it has had is the one of the real calipers leaked and had to be replaced. It cost about $700. I will have to look into the salmon relay replacement.
That's not bad at all for 4 years of use! I have a video on how to replace the salmon relay, it's a 5 minute job.
Dear SimpleCarGuy,
Excellent videos, learned a lot, particularly for Z4 as an E89 owner. Regarding convertible roof, maintenance and salmon relay replacement diy videos were perfect. Recently I have faced an operational problem for the roof (does not close the rear glass panel properly, only works after I stop and start the engine, for now) and was able to retrieve the error code cc-id-447. Made an extensive web search and end up with either salmon relay and/or micro switches/hall sensors. But unfortunatelly non of them provide clear explanations or solutions. My question(s) to you:
* do you consider to shot another video showing micro switches/hall sensor locations and replacement diy (not sure the difficulty level) ? As far as I know there is no such a vidoe anywhere, at least based on my search. I'm pretty sure it will get lots of attention.
* are the error codes (from the car panel or scanner tool) give the exact location of the mulfunctioned item (for instance there are four microswitches in e89 and I think there is a single error code associated)?
* if no, is there a way to figure it out?
Many thanks in advance
Cheers
Hi Seis Arsm!
I'd love to shoot a video on hall sensors and micro switches, but honestly I'd rather not touch them as these can be very finicky. Maybe in the future, I will look further into it and see if mine needs. refresh. As for your issues, get a BMW specific scanner as that code looks to be a generic code that does not give a lot of information. Scanning the roof module with a BMW scanner will allow you to see live information on the sensors and probably show you which sensor is short.
Thanks for watching!
This has got to be one of the most informative videos I’ve seen to date. Would you say that a 2009 BMW Z4 30 6-speed manual with high miles but has every record of every scheduled service verified by an actual BMW dealer would be a safe buy?
Depending what you consider high mileage. I would say if it had great service record it should be a safe bet. Of course you’ll have to keep up with the maintenance once it’s yours and do the oil change at least every 5k miles. Also, check your oil to make sure it never starves of oil as that could cause lifter noise. Other than that, those naturally aspirated straight 6s are amazing engines.
Appreciate you watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy And the N52/N53 non turbo I6 is one of the Top Best Engines ever made worldwide. Hence the reason Toyota went to BMW in a partnership to develop the "New Supra". Mostly cause of its legendary followership and the astronomical value the older ones have become. I-6 platforms are very sturdy and the design has been around over 70 years. BMW is the very LAST worldwide auto maker that actually still makes an I6. Others have moved to the V-6 instead. The V6 needs a counter balance due to its inherent design some say Flaw, but, a counter balance solves the irregular balance point of the engine main crank.
Cautionary note: High Mileage means EXPECT to replace the clutch disc and pressure plate, shaft bearing and pilot bearing. These usually last 90-130K miles but are a guaranteed failure item cause they are like brake pads, they wear. The harder it is driven the faster it wears out.
yep. this dude sucks
I wanted the 35i or 35is but I didn’t want to be lumbered with expensive repairs bills which are inevitable with that engine so I got myself a low mileage well looked after N52 30i. It’s a peach of an engine so smooth and the sound when you floor it is intoxicating. Sure it can’t be tuned like a N20 can but in my view it’s a far better engine. Sure the car is older but it doesn’t feel any older then an example that is a couple of years newer. Had mine for some 8 months now and it’s been totally reliable. One thing about the roof that you should do as preventative maintenance is to change the two salmon relays by the roof motor every 5 years.
BMW’s NA straight 6 engines are some of the best! Congrats on the car and I’m sure it’ll serve you well many years to come. I wanted a 35i as well, but they are much more expensive to buy and then maintain. I do like the extra power in them, but it’s a fun convertible not a hard core sports car anyway.
Thanks for watching!
My favorite version is the sdrive35is with DTC and 293 alloy wheels. I didn't know that DTC transmission was not very reliable. After watching your video now I know that 2013 - 2016 Z4 sdrive35i is the more reliable. Thanks for all this valuable information!
Appreciate you watching! Took a while to gather all the info but totally worth it. DTC was a troublemaker for sure and that car didn’t come with a manual, so the sdrive35i is a better car as far as reliability. I’m sure both are great fun to drive though.
How often and at what mileage should the timing chain be changed? Thanks in advance.
I can’t decide which Convertible one to buy a BMW 2011 Z4 35is 335HP Vs Nissan 2011 370Z 332HP? Which one of the two is more reliable and cheaper on repairs?
My Z4 started to have a faulty Oil sensor at around 80k miles. I looked it up and it seems a common problem in modern BMWs
Recently purchased 09 35i and depression setting in waiting for all those issues to come my way. But will enjoy while it still runs issue free. Thanks for warning.
Don't get depressed about it, just take car of her! You have to realize that I mention all the things that have happened to many different cars/regions/driving styles etc., so you may only have to deal with one or two problems. Hope your 35i run for another 11 years!
Hi. Can you recomed videos or where to find info on the CTM and location of micro switches. My Conv top is not working, stops at the first roof movement. If I push it it continues the whole way down .
And when closing it stops right at the end of the top roof coming down. And won’t lock itself.
Thanks for your help the video was very instructive.
You can find locations of everything on this car using newtis.info. Looks like these two pages below is a good start. Good luck and let me know what it ends up being.
www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e89-z4-sdrive28i-roa_201111/repair-manuals/54-slide-tilt-sunroof-soft-top/54-37-folding-roof/8JFKuxp4
www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e89-z4-sdrive28i-roa_201111/repair-manuals/54-slide-tilt-sunroof-soft-top/54-37-folding-roof/1VnY72z6aT
Try changing the salmon relays attached to the pump. They go bad after several years.
@@SimpleCarGuy July 2023 those links are closed by BMW. The new link requires username and password. Guess they don’t like us working on our own cars.
Looking at a 2011 BMW sDrive35i with 66k miles @ 19,000. Service history shows the internal transmission repaired in 2014 @ 22k miles. Other than that routine maintenance and oil changes are consistent. Is that a safe buy? Only asking because you did not mention a transmission problem as being common
If it was repaired by BMW 6 years ago, I don't see it being an issue for you as it lasted 6 years. I heard that the DCT transmission on the 35is had issues with oil leaks and software, but nothing about regular auto or manual.
Can you release the top manually when a switch goes bad?
Technically yes, but you will need BMW dealer software. Better to replace the salmon relays (I have a video on this) to prevent getting into that situation.
Bought a 335i convertible few years back, its was fun to drive but when it comes to relibility, BMW really sucks,but Z4 is really a beautiful design car.
I used to have an e92 335xi and I loved it, still regret selling it. BMW is definitely finicky, but if you can do most of the stuff yourself, it's not THAT bad. Enjoy your sweet 335 convetible!
Im thinking about getting one of these.
You should and now you know what things to look out for and make sure the maintenance was done right!
Hello, I have a 2015 bmw z4 sdrive35is and I am having issues with the electrical part. I have checked the battery it comes off as GOOD, but the car has been having the same battery since 2018-2019. The battery has been tested, and comes out that its "good" but I am having issues with opening the car with the keys and on the dashboard, it shows the "key" logo as if the key needs to be replaced or the battery is bad , or the car is the issue.
thank you
That’s the battery in your key that needs to be replaced, not the 12v battery.
I bought yesterday my z4 e89 2.5 23i... i love it!!! A beautiful masculin roadster! What do you think about the 23i sdrive?
I think it's a great car! They don't have the 23i here, so I haven't driven one, but I assume it would pretty close to what mine feels like. Congrats on the car!
Hi riad i bought also 23i e89 recently... where is your location? So far so good?
@@mahatuberism hallo Maha, i am in Switzerland. YES best decision ever! The car is great! Every single time i drive it, it puts a big smile in my face hehe! How about you?
Hi Riad, beautiful country. Ive been there with my family in 2018 driving from zurich down to geneva... staying in grindelwald, zurich, pass by lucern, up to zermatt and end up to zurich before back to paris to catch flight. Am from Malaysia btw
I thought about one of these, or a Merc. Ended up buying a 2005 Sc430 with 56k for £10,500 as I wanted room for my dog in the back, no problems so far and it's as fast as a 3.0. I think you have to go a long way to beat a Toyota.
Can't complain about the reliability with Toyota/Lexus! Enjoy!
I am looking at an used 2012 sDrive20i. What do you think? I think you mentioned the 20i is having less issues.
We don’t have those here, but it’s a similar engine to the n20 in the sdrive28. They are reliable after 2013, prior to that they have timing chain issues.
@@SimpleCarGuy thanks a lot. One more question. For someone like me who don't know how to repair or diy, would you still recommend this car?
I would, as long as it was well taken care of and doesn’t have a lot of miles. Would this be your daily driver or a second car?
@@SimpleCarGuy a second car. perhaps a weekend car.
@@SimpleCarGuy hi coming in some tears later. Your vids are great!
I’m looking at s20 or s28 regular drives on motorways as work is all over the country. I’m guessing daily use is best?
Well...I did it! I traded in my 2012 Nissan 370Z Roadster Sport Touring with 55K miles for a 2015 BMW Z4 Sdrive 35is, (Loaded),with 27K miles on it.
That’s an awesome choice! Congratulations!
I still miss my 2013 z4. They're so sexy and turn heads even more so than a boxter. They belong in nice places like Southern California.
Have you had any regrets switching from 370Z to Z4. Has it become a unreliable high cost money pit repair vs the 370Z?
@@SIDVENOM Not one single issue. I love this vehicle.
@@nhpatriot6250 has it been reliable?
Thank you bro
It was my Dream car BMW Z4 2012 v6 turbocharger but I'm disappointed 😔 should I buy it or forget it
I think you mean the straight 6 turbocharged engine (BMW N54 engine). They are pretty decent as far as reliability if taken care of well. If you can find a good example and change oil often on it, it should be a great car to get!
Thank you bro
But I need to know Z4 v6 turbocharger comes with N54 or N55 or B58 engine?
It's the straight 6 BMW N54 engine that comes in Z4s.
Hello from Germany! You forgot the issue with the electric powered steering. The 2010 model had a lot of problems with the control unit, especially if you drive in a hot environment. The control unit has inner weldings that can loose contact and then you loose your power steering... I got that problem. The complete steering has to be changed which is really expensive. Another issue are the mixed tire sizes on some models, like the 35 is, 225 in front, 250 in the back. on bad roads the car reacts extremely nervous with that pairing. With the standard size 225 in front and back of the car, it drives like on tracks on the worst roads. You should remove that runflat tires. In Germany they are called „Wood tires“. Change them to normal tires and the car will ride much more comfortable and safe. Have fun riding guys!
I didn't know about the power steering, better keep an eye on it! As far as the tires, that was my winter set. Here is what it looks like in the summer: th-cam.com/video/pzde0C7F37I/w-d-xo.html
What Year is this car ?
2012
I’m considering to by 2010 model with 98 K.M., does it worth it?
That’s not a lot of kms, what model/engine is it?
SimpleCarGuy sDrive30i 3.0L
@@exp3905 I would think so, it's a great NA engine, no turbos to worry about and the mileage is low. Go for it!
I recommend buying a new one and having only certified BMW technicians service your car. your car was probably thrashed on. because my 2O15 35is has been awesome with no problems because I bought it brand new with 4 miles on it now it has 50,000 miles
Of course if you buy a new one, you won't have issues. What I'm trying to highlight here is the problems that CAN happen and thus you can pay attention to and hopefully prevent. Thanks for watching!
lol i am looking for the 3.5is but after seeing this i look for something else .These are big money pit's according to your video.
Look for a 35i (non-a) with a manual transmission and you’ll be in a much better deal and cheaper to maintain.
Thanks for watching!
Your n20 engine should have had extended warranty 7years/70k miles for timing chain
The car had 114k miles and I got it at an auction with a mechanical issue. Warranty wouldn’t have worked for me either way. Thanks for watching!
@@SimpleCarGuy Oh i see. I just got e89 at auction too, but mine having n52 engine and mechanical problem with roof. replacing hydraulic hoses now -_-
@@andyandy7968 That sounds like an interesting job. I assume it's really involved. Hopefully you'll fix it soon and at least you got the reliable engine.
this owner is very knowledgeable and saved a ton of money by doing big jobs by himself. For non techy people avoid BMW like plague.
Since it's discontinued, wouldn't repairs be more expensive?
Not really, a lot of parts are shared with other BMWs and the more obscure parts are radially available.
انت مصري صح😂😂
Nope :)
There sould be a lawsuit against defective car makers that break down really esy
1st. .......😊
Second!
Это тот самый акцент всех пилотов
or just buy a 1994 Toyota Celica
1994 is a cool car, but it is also a 26 year old car, so you'll have plenty of issues as well. If reliability is what you are looking for, Toyota makes some great Corollas!
And have someone to fix the rust, salty roads will eat them alive
I agree with SimpleCarGuy. I have a ‘92 Celica and I have replaced almost everything that’s external in the engine except for the starter, P/S pump and A/C condenser. All shocks, cv joints, clutch and its components, radiator and hoses were replaced in a span of 5 years. It could have been expensive but I have done more than half of the work. Anyway, I kind of want an E89 Z4 someday but only the early model with a 3.0 N/A I6.
@@SimpleCarGuy Or my Sc430??
Seats aren't leather.
These are leather.
@@SimpleCarGuy Sorry, I saw a video review saying one particular trim level of that 86 series was pleather. But you're likely right since I think higher trims are probably leather. I mistakenly took that person to mean all of them are pleather.
You also ahve a lot of experience w/ beemers I see. 86 is a soul code of the cabal.. just something I study.. ..
No issues until the engine BLEW UP! Gold. BMW junk.
Just a bit of engine troubles, normal BMW stuff.
@@SimpleCarGuy It is a little crazy how this is considered "normal" haha
@@Clintpoon I agree, BMW fan boys for ya.
Everything is expensive :)
Endless money pit
I have since new a 2012 Z4 with 60,000 flawless trouble-free miles on it.