BMW Z4 roadster (2009-2016) - Reliability & safety
The BMW Z4 feels well built, but only has an average safety rating
The Z4 has finally been tested by Euro NCAP and the results were not as good as expected, with the lack of certain driver assistance systems contributing to its below par score. Reliability is good, too, with the latest model praised by our readers for being well built and not suffering from serious technical problems.
BMW Z4 reliability
The latest BMW Z4 doesn't feature in our current Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but BMW has a reasonable reputation for reliability. In the 2016 survey, the brand was ranked 15th out of 32 in the UK for overall satisfaction –squarely between Audi and Mercedes.
Safety
Unlike many of its sports-car rivals, the latest BMW Z4 has been crash-tested for safety by Euro NCAP and the results are slightly disappointing. It only managed to score three out of five stars and while there aren't many rivals to compare it against (neither the Porsche 718 Boxster or Mercedes SLC have been tested) the Mazda MX-5 - a much smaller car, remember - managed the full five stars.
The car comes with the legally-mandated safety systems; anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control (to stop skids) and traction control (to stop the wheels spinning on slippery surfaces) but not much else. There's no autonomous emergency braking system, speed assistance or lane-keeping assistance system available, which lost it a number of points.
The Z4 does have driver, passenger and side airbags, as well as rollover hoops (to protect you and your passenger if it flips over) and run-flat tyres that let you drive to a garage without changing a punctured tyre. An ISOFIX point lets you fit a child seat, plus there’s an alarm and tyre pressure monitoring.
Some safety equipment is optional, particularly on lower trim levels. Adaptive headlights will cost you £360, while parking sensors cost £650. A rain sensor with automatic headlight activation is £100.
