FUTURE Classics BUYING GUIDE
Believe it or not, it's well over two decades since the first E85 Z4 hit these shores. And thanks to its edgy ‘flame surface’ styling, it still looks good. The slightly toned down second generation E89 with its retractable hardtop followed in 2009 and shares its predecessor's Peter Pan-like resistance to age, putting both cars firmly on the future classic collector's radar.
The first Z4 was built at BMW's Spartanburg plant Stateside and was aimed squarely at the higher end of the open-top market, taking on the gauntlet from its predecessor, the Z3, when it came to battling Porsche's Boxster. There were just two engine options at launch; the M54 straight-six in 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre guise, mated to a five- and six-speed manual ‘box respectively, although a Steptronic automatic was optional. The firm's sequential manual (SMG) system was also offered from launch in the UK, but was a rare option.
BMW's M54 six-pot 2.2i joinedrevisions followed soon after in 2006.
