The Last BMW Z4 Has Been Built

the breakdown

• BMW has officially ended production of the BMW Z4.
• The final convertible rolled off the production line earlier this month.
• BMW currently has no plans for a successor.

We’ve known this was coming for a while, but now it’s official: The BMW Z4 has rolled off the production line for the last time at Magna’s plant in Graz, Austria. It brings an end to a model run that started in 2002 as the successor to the Z3.

With the Z4 gone, BMW is down to just one convertible model line with a retractable soft top: the 4 Series. Convertibles have never been a huge part of the market, but it’s still a bit sad to see another one disappear.

Under The Z Badge

Over the years, BMW’s Z lineup has had a pretty interesting evolution. It all started with the original Z1, launched in 1991 and remembered mostly for its wild doors that slid down into the bodywork. That clever (and dramatic) feature disappeared with the arrival of the Z3 in 1995, which was bigger, more powerful, and eventually offered with up to 325 hp in the hardcore Z3 M. BMW also gave it a quirky coupe variant—basically a tiny two-seat shooting brake that later became something of a cult favorite.

BMW Z1

Photo by: RM Sotheby's

BMW Z3

Photo by: BMW

Then came the BMW Z8 in 1999—arguably the most beautiful and exclusive model of the entire Z lineup. It also had its Hollywood moment alongside James Bond, played at the time by Pierce Brosnan, in the film The World Is Not Enough. The Z8 took over from the Z3, which had appeared in the previous Bond film, GoldenEye. Under its long hood sat a 4.0-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower, shared with the legendary E39 M5.

The first-generation BMW Z4 (E85/E86) arrived in 2003, followed by the E89 in 2009 and the current G29 in 2018. Across those three generations, the Z4 was offered not only as a roadster, but at times as a coupe as well, including high-performance M versions with up to 343 hp.

---

---

BMW Z8

BMW Z4

Long Live The Z4

While the first two generations of the BMW Z4 were closely related in both design and engineering—both heavily based on the BMW 3 Series—the third generation took things in a very different direction. The latest Z4 shares its platform and engines with the Toyota Supra, although the BMW remained exclusively available as a roadster.

The hardcore full-fledged M version disappeared this time around, but performance was never really lacking. The lineup offered three engine options, topped by a 3.0-liter inline-six producing 340 hp.

Now the big question is whether the Z4 will get a successor. BMW isn’t saying much, and there’s been no official word from Munich so far. Given today’s market conditions, the company may simply decide to put the Z family on hold for a while. What we do know is that Toyota is already working on a new Supra, so another partnership between the two brands definitely isn’t out of the question.

---

Motor1's Take: We're sad to see the BMW Z4 go. The lovable convertible looked great, was nice to drive, and later in life, finally offered a manual transmission. Hopefully, the nameplate doesn't stay gone for long. 

The Latest From BMW

Why The New 7 Series Has One Of BMW's Best Modern Interiors

The First Alpina In The BMW Era Is A Large Luxury Coupe

BMW's New Ignition Tech Could Extend The Life Of M Performance Engines. Here's How

The 2027 BMW iX3 Feels Like A Huge Value For The Range

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team