Market Watch BMW Z4 M40i G29

BMW’s striking G29 Z4 M40i comfortably delivers M car performance with the reassurance of a manufacturer warranty. Words: Guy Baker Photography: Various.

Market Watch BMW Z4 M40i G29

MW’s G29 Z4 M40i is the nearest thing you can buy to a contemporary Z4M Roadster. And with M car performance, impressive handling, rakish good looks and a plush spec it delivers in all the key areas. It’s faster than the original M Roadster too, whilst cruising with the roof down is a good deal more relaxing – and it comes with BMW’s impressive 8-speed sequential automatic transmission. Despite current inflated used car values, the typical price for a warrantied main dealer example is a very reasonable £38,000 to £42,000 – and the majority are for sale on BMW forecourts with a full service history and an extendable BMW warranty which is very much worth having. Launched at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, UK buyers first got their hands on the six-cylinder Z4 M40i Roadster in March 2019.

Powered by BMW’s turbocharged 340hp B58B30 2998cc straight-six the 0-62mph dash takes just 4.5-seconds, and although the factory limiter prevents you exceeding 155mph the Z4 M40i can touch 180mph with this removed. Torque peaks at just 1600rpm – so with up to 369lb ft available the acceleration in all gear sis impressive.

And the M40i handles and rides sweetly too. Boasting perfect 50:50 weight distribution and packing independent double wishbones with coil springs and an uprated anti-roll bar at the front, plus a multi-link rear suspension that comes with bespoke coil springs, the Z4 M40i Roadster that delivers both B-road thrills and relaxed motorway cruising with equal aplomb. Under throttle the M40i’s lusty turbo’d six sounds wonderfully muscular, whilst the eight-speed gearbox works brilliantly in almost all situations – and the cabin looks and feels classy. Well specced, almost all examples come with leather, 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive dampers, a Harman Kardon surround sound system and head-up display. And the M40i is readily tunable to between 400hp and 440hp with just a remap. Lightweight Performance, AC Schnitzer and Litchfield all have the relevant experience.

The UK used car market is temporarily buoyant at the moment, but values will likely fall later in the year and into 2023, so it’s important that you press for the best possible Z4 M40i deal, and buy a car with the highest possible spec. These two things will minimise any residual loses. Any Z4 M40i under £38,000 may have issues, with most decent examples advertised for between £38,000 and £42,000 – although you will see super low-mileage ex-demos stickered for up to £56,000. These represent poor value and are best avoided unless you’re offered an exceptionally good PCP finance deal.

We’d recommend you stick to average-mileage BMW Approved Used examples, like this immaculate Alpine White 2019 Z4 M40i we spotted at Sytner BMW in Maidenhead (sytner.co.uk/bmw/maidenhead) priced at £38,500. With 31,190-miles, a full BMW service history, the Comfort Pack, the Technology Pack, 19-inch 800 M double-spoke Bicolour Cerium Grey alloys, Comfort Access, a wind deflector and Cognac leather it looks the business. A one owner car it also boasts a heated steering wheel, Parking Assistant, enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging, Wi-Fi hotspot, head-up display, aluminium interior trim, heated front seats, cruise control and high-gloss Shadowline exterior trim. Most main-dealer Z4 M40is are equally well kitted out and come in a wide variety of colours, including striking Metallic Misano Blue – like this 14k-mile 2019 example for sale at Stratstone BMW in Harrogate (stratstone. com/dealers/bmw-harrogate). Advertised for £38,870 and upholstered in black leather with grey contrast stitching, it also features 19-inch 799 M double-spoke Jet Black alloys, black mirror caps, a wind deflector, Parking Assistant, head-up display, the Shadowline Plus Pack, the Visibility Pack and the Technology Pack.

With plenty of similarly impressive used examples for sale at main dealers, and the prospect of values falling later in the year, it’s probably not advisable to spend much more buying a nearly new car instead. But if you want your Z4 M40i to be as contemporary as possible then occasional ex-demo low-mileage cars do appear for sale – like the Metallic Frozen Grey 21-reg car we found advertised for £46,950 at Barons BMW Cambridge (baronscambridgebmw.co.uk). With a mere 3552-miles on the clock it comes with a Cognac leather and a comprehensive spec.

Your Z4 M40i must pack a full BMW service history, plus preferably an extendable BMW warranty. So a BMW Approved Used example is your best bet – and we’d stick to one-owner cars too. Check for any signs of repaired accident damage and the alloys for scuffs. A safety recall was issued for cars built from 30 October 2018 to 5 July 2019 to stop the track rods breaking in excess temperatures, check this work has been done and note that a few owners have complained about small stones stuck between the disc and heat shield.

WITH THANKS… Grant Darling and Darren Parker at James Paul (www.jamespaul.co.uk), the BMW Car Club of Great Britain (www. bmwcarclubgb.uk), British Car Auctions (www.bca.com), Silverstone Auctions (www.silverstoneauctions.com), Bonhams (www.bonhams.com), Classic Car Auctions (www.classiccarauctions.co.uk), Glenmarch. com, www.bimmerforums.co.uk, Redish Motorsport (www.redish-motorsport.com) and Glass’s (www.glassbusiness.co.uk) their help with this feature.

BMW Car retail price guide

Poor: Under £38,000

Good: £38,000 to £42,000

Excellent: £42,000+

Special editions: None

Recent BMW Z4 M40i auction prices*

Model Transmission Reg/year Mileage Sale Price

• Z4 M40i Auto 2019/19 15,969 £32,200
• Z4 M40i Auto 2019/69 35,041 £37,100
• Z4 M40i Auto 2020/20 16,001 £38,000
• Z4 M40i Auto 2020/20 8284 £39,000
• Z4 M40i Auto 2020/70 2851 £42,600
• Z4 M40i Auto 2020/70 4143 £49,900

*Sale prices of good-condition examples sold recently at British Car Auctions