Powertrain families
N20 petrol I4 · N52/N54 petrol I6
Z4 (E89) — Roadster
2009–2016
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E89
- Production
- 2009–2016
- Body style
- 2-door roadster
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
Z4 → E89 → Roadster
Z4 E89: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected roadster fits into the family.
E89 consolidated Z4 into one roadster body with a two-piece electro-hydraulic aluminium hardtop, replacing the separate E85 roadster and E86 coupé. It moved production from Spartanburg to Regensburg and introduced iDrive to the model line.
The range used turbocharged four- and six-cylinder petrol engines in most markets; model names, outputs and manual/dual-clutch/automatic availability changed through the lifecycle. Unlike the first generation, BMW did not produce a full Z4 M, though the sDrive35is occupied the performance flagship role.
A 2013 update changed lighting details, trim, equipment and added the four-cylinder sDrive18i in selected markets. The folding hardtop's roof-up and roof-down luggage capacities are different catalog facts and should never be reduced to one cargo figure.
2009–2016generation lifecycle
1body branches
2engine/drive families
6range designations
E89factory code
longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Roadster: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,239 mm
Width1,790 mm
Height1,291 mm
Wheelbase2,496 mm
Luggage180–310 L
Fuel tank55 L
Seats2
Doors2-door roadster
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadster | E89 | 2009–2016 | 2-door roadster / 2 | 4,239 mm | 180–310 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented roadster applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z4 sDrive18i | 2013–2016 | N20B20 2.0 L turbo inline-four | 156 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW Z4: sDrive18i, sDrive20i and sDrive28i |
| Z4 sDrive20i | 2011–2016 | N20B20 2.0 L turbo inline-four | 184 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW Z4: sDrive18i, sDrive20i and sDrive28i |
| Z4 sDrive23i | 2009–2011 | N52B25 2.5 L inline-six | 204 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW Z4 |
| Z4 sDrive28i | 2011–2016 | N20B20 2.0 L turbo inline-four | 245 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW Z4: sDrive18i, sDrive20i and sDrive28i |
| Z4 sDrive30i | 2009–2011 | N52B30 3.0 L inline-six | 258 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW Z4 |
| Z4 sDrive35i | 2009–2016 | N54B30 3.0 L twin-turbo inline-six | 306 PS | 6MT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW Z4 |
| Z4 sDrive35is | 2010–2016 | N54B30 3.0 L twin-turbo inline-six | 340 PS | 7DCT | RWD | Global range | The BMW Z4 sDrive35is |
Factory designations
sDrive18i · sDrive20i · sDrive23i · sDrive28i · sDrive30i · sDrive35i/is
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- E89: 4,239 mm × 1,790 mm × 1,291 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
Second Z4 presented
BMW revealed the E89 and its standard retractable hardtop.
Regensburg production and launch
The single-body roadster entered production and worldwide sale.
sDrive35is flagship
A higher-output six-cylinder DCT derivative topped the range without becoming a Z4 M.
Update and final years
A detail revision and new entry engine carried E89 to the end of production.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Roadster
E89Z4 E89 is a distinct E89 body branch. A purpose-designed two-seat open sports car with compact packaging and a driver-focused cockpit. Engines/drive: N20 petrol I4, N52/N54 petrol I6.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- E89 — Roadster
- Range designations
- sDrive18i, sDrive20i, sDrive23i, sDrive28i, sDrive30i, sDrive35i/is
- Powertrain families
- N20 petrol I4, N52/N54 petrol I6
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW Z4 (E89)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary body, engine, update and production overview.
- 02The BMW Z4 Final EditionBMW Group PressClub
Factory retrospective for the E89 launch, hardtop and iDrive transition.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- E89 is one retractable-hardtop body, not separate roadster and coupé production routes.
- Roof position changes cargo capacity and must be stated with the measurement condition.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
2 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026