BMW Z4 Roadster (2003 - 2008) 3.0si SE 2d Owner Review

I read somewhere that the 3.0si is the 'sweet spot' in the Z4 range. I think this sums the car up. It's a true sports car that can also work as a daily drive. Running costs aren't too expensive, and for a 3 litre 265 bhp car the average mpg isn't too bad - I'm retuning 29mpg and that's doing short commutes each day. Driving at a steady 70 on the motorway, however, can return an average mpg in the low 40's, I have managed to get 43mpg on long runs in the past. For a roadster the boot is impressive - even with the roof down we've had enough space for a week away using large duffle bags. I would recommend heated 'M Sport' seats rather than the standard sports seats as they don't provide the support you would expect from a high performance sports car. Driving it is a pleasure, it has great road holding and handling and the gear changes are smooth and direct. It's also blisteringly fast with a 0-60 of around 5.5 seconds depending upon which review you read. Every time I climb into the car and fire up the straight six it feels like an occasion. The lines of the Z4 still look contemporary and the car gets lots of attention on the road - its bright red with a dateless plate, which probably has people guessing its age. The model range ended in 2008, but for those who don't know it looks much newer. It's naturally aspirated (non-turbo) six-cylinder engine is well proven and appears bullet proof, and in my opinion for a 2 seater roaster the car gets the balance right between practicality and performance.