Used BMW Z4 G29 (2019-2023): Buyer's Guide

The BMW Z4 you're looking at used almost certainly shares a factory, an engine, and a recall history with a Toyota. BMW and Toyota co-developed this Z4 with the A90 Supra, building both at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, on the same line. That partnership shows up in the paperwork: of the eight distinct NHTSA recall campaigns tied to the G29 Z4, most also name the Supra, and two of them are fire risks. The mechanical story underneath is a different one. Owners on the dedicated G29 forums report a genuinely solid car, with the B58 straight-six regarded as one of BMW's more dependable modern engines. The recalls are real. So is the reliability record once they're closed out.

This Generation at a Glance

BMW launched the G29 Z4 in March 2019 with a single engine: the 255-hp sDrive30i. The 382-hp M40i, powered by the B58 turbo inline-six shared with the Supra, joined the lineup shortly after as the performance flagship. Both trims run an 8-speed automatic exclusively through this window. BMW didn't offer a manual transmission on the Z4 until the 2025 model year, well outside the range this guide covers, so every 2019-2023 car you'll find used is an automatic. The 2023 model year brought a cosmetic refresh (a wider, more horizontal kidney grille) but no mechanical changes. BMW ended Z4 production entirely in May 2026, with no replacement planned, so this generation is now a closed chapter.

The G29 replaced the previous E89 Z4 (2009-2016), which had grown into a heavier, folding-hardtop coupe-convertible. BMW went the other direction with the G29: back to a classic fabric soft-top, a shorter wheelbase, and a curb weight trimmed by roughly 200 pounds versus the outgoing car. Inside, it runs BMW's iDrive 7.0 infotainment, a generation newer than what shipped in the contemporary 3 Series at launch. Every G29 comes standard with the M Sport aerodynamic and suspension package, adaptive LED taillights, and a fully digital gauge cluster; there's no lower, stripped-down trim to cross-shop against.

Current pricing and inventory: BMW Z4 market data, with per-year pages for 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023. CarScout's per-year data doesn't currently return a snapshot for 2021 Z4s, likely reflecting how few are on the market right now rather than anything wrong with that model year.

Powertrain & Trim Breakdown

sDrive30i: the 2.0L four-cylinder

The sDrive30i is the volume seller and the one most commonly found under $35,000 used. BMW's B48 2.0-liter turbo-four makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, enough for a 5.2-second 0-60 run, and it's the same core engine family BMW uses across the 3 and 4 Series. Forum consensus on g29.bimmerpost.com describes it as unremarkable in the best sense: no notorious oil consumption issue, no timing chain scare, nothing that reads as a ticking clock. The complaints that do surface are electrical and cosmetic rather than mechanical.

Two recalls are specific to this trim in its early production. Recall 20V355000, opened in August 2020, covers 2019 Z4 sDrive30i cars (also 2019-2020 330i xDrive and M340i) for a steering gear tie rod that can fracture under high heat and rough roads, a genuine crash risk. Recall 20V516000 covers 2019-2020 sDrive30i and M40i models for headlamps that can be misadjusted horizontally, increasing glare risk to oncoming traffic. Both are dealer-completed, free, software or parts fixes; confirm completion before you buy.

M40i: the B58 six-cylinder

The M40i is where this generation gets interesting, and where most of the Supra crossover fandom lives. The B58 inline-six is the same engine (with tuning differences) that powers the Supra 3.0, the 3 Series M340i, and the X3 M40i, and it has built a reputation as one of BMW's most dependable modern powertrains, with forum owners reporting six-figure mileage without major work. 382 hp and 369 lb-ft get the M40i to 60 mph in about 3.9 seconds with the automatic.

That reputation for mechanical solidity hasn't translated into resale value, and that's the real reason a G29 is affordable used today. Comparison data from iSeeCars puts the Z4's 5-year depreciation at roughly 48.5%, well behind the mechanically related Supra's 32.1% over the same period, even though the two cars share an engine, a factory, and most of their recall history. Buyers consistently pay up for the Supra badge and walk past the Z4, which is exactly why a well-documented M40i shows up on CarScout's current listings for less than a new base sDrive30i's original sticker price.

Recall 21V598000, mailed to owners in September 2021, covers 2019-2021 Z4 M40i cars for an engine management software bug that can cause a loss of brake assist during startup (mechanical braking without power assist still works, but pedal effort goes way up). BMW's own model-year history puts the M40i's mainstream US launch at 2020, so if you find this recall applied to an early 2019-titled M40i, don't assume it's a data error; run the VIN either way. The fix is a free software update.

The M40i also carries two of the fire-risk recalls that dominate this generation's paper trail. Recall 25V636000 covers 2019-2022 Z4 (both trims) for an engine starter relay that can corrode, overheat, and short-circuit; BMW's own advisory tells owners to park affected cars outside and away from structures until the fix is done. A second, related campaign, 26V056000, covers 2021-2022 Z4 for a separate starter assembly wear issue that can also lead to overheating and fire, and was issued as a follow-up after the first campaign didn't fully resolve the underlying failure mode. If you're buying a 2019-2022 Z4 of either trim, check both campaign numbers against the VIN, not just one.

The third fire-risk item is shared with the Supra directly: recall 20V700000, covering 2020-2021 Z4, addresses a fuel tank where the weld between the two tank halves may be incomplete, risking a fuel leak near an ignition source. BMW replaced the entire tank under this campaign, free of charge, starting in December 2020.

Shared quirks across both trims

Forum threads on g29.bimmerpost.com and z4-forum.com's dedicated "G29 Problems" board document a consistent set of non-recall issues across both engines:

Power steering rack knock. The electric power steering rack can develop play in an internal thrust piece, producing a knock over bumps or during low-speed parking maneuvers. BMW sells a thrust-piece repair kit running roughly $30-50 in parts, and the fix takes under an hour at a shop that knows the part number. It's a known quantity, not a mystery noise.

Convertible top hydraulics. The soft top's hydraulic motor can corrode from trapped rainwater if the drain channels clog with debris, and some cars have thrown fault codes from a Hall-effect sensor falling out of the top's linkage, causing the roof to time out mid-cycle. Neither is common on regularly-used, garage-kept cars, but it's worth cycling the top slowly and listening for hesitation before you buy.

Parasitic battery drain. The Z4's telematics control unit and always-on modules draw enough current that a car left sitting for 7-14 days can show up with a dead AGM battery. This isn't a defect so much as a modern-car reality; if you're buying one that's been sitting on a dealer lot, don't be alarmed by a weak first start, but do have the battery load-tested.

2022-2023 power window recall. Recall 23V099000 covers 2022-2023 sDrive30i and M40i for a software condition where removing the digital key doesn't reliably stop the power windows and sunroof from closing, a pinch risk. And recall 23V821000, tied to 2023 cars specifically, covers a transmission control unit whose weld seam may let automatic transmission fluid leak into the electronics, which in the worst case can cause the transmission to seize. Both are free dealer fixes; confirm completion on any 2022-2023 example.

Trim Levels

The Z4 G29 doesn't split into named trim tiers the way a mainstream crossover does. Every sDrive30i and M40i ships with BMW's M Sport equipment as standard (M Sport suspension, M Sport steering wheel, aero kit), so the real trim decision is which factory options were boxed at the time of order.

Because none of these are visually obvious from a listing photo, pull the window sticker or run the VIN through a decoder before you commit to a specific car, especially if a Dynamic Handling Package is part of your asking-price justification. Competing used-car guides for this model tend to treat package content as a footnote and spend most of their word count on the M40i's straight-line numbers; on a car this low-volume, the options sheet moves resale value more than most buyers expect, since a base sDrive30i with the Dynamic Handling Package and Executive Package can list within a few thousand dollars of a bare-bones M40i.

Which Model Years to Target Within This Gen

2019 is the launch year, and it's also the cheapest way into a G29. CarScout's current snapshot shows 2019 listings priced $25,399-$37,349 with average mileage around 37,000. Every 2019 should show five recall campaigns; confirm all are closed before you drive it, and note that the 2019 sDrive30i is the trim that carries the steering tie rod recall on its own.

2020 added the M40i and, with it, two more fire-risk campaigns (starter relay, fuel tank weld). CarScout's data shows the widest current price spread of any year in this window: $23,995-$50,076, reflecting both trims in the mix. A clean-history 2020 M40i is arguably the best value in the generation if you verify every recall by VIN first.

2021 is real, but thin in CarScout's current data. It's covered by three separate recall campaigns based on the years those campaigns' own NHTSA filings state, even though the per-year snapshot that would let us independently confirm inventory and complaint counts isn't currently available. Don't take a seller's word that a 2021 has "no recalls." Run the VIN.

2022 shows the cleanest complaint record in CarScout's data: a single total NHTSA complaint, no crashes, no fires. It also picked up the second starter-related recall (26V056000), so despite the low complaint count, confirm both starter campaigns are closed, not just one.

2023 is the newest and most expensive year available used, with CarScout listings running $35,836-$62,995 and average mileage under 30,000. It carries the fewest recalls of any year in this window and the mid-cycle grille update, but it commands a real premium over 2020-2022 cars with similar equipment.

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Every G29, regardless of trim or year:

• Run the VIN through CarScout's recall lookup before you look at anything else. On a 2019-2022 car, confirm both starter-relay campaigns (25V636000 and, for 2021-2022 cars, 26V056000) show as complete. An open starter recall is a fire risk BMW itself tells owners to park outside for.
• Cycle the convertible top slowly, start to finish, twice. Listen for hesitation, grinding, or a fault code, and check the top's drain channels near the hinges for debris that could trap water against the hydraulic motor.
• Cold-start the car if possible. Both the B48 and B58 should idle smoothly within seconds; a rough or hunting idle on cold start is worth asking about, not walking away from automatically.
• Drive it over an uneven surface at low speed and listen for a knock from the front end. That's the documented power steering rack thrust-piece wear; it's a cheap fix but a useful negotiating point if you find it.
• Check the battery date code and ask when it was last replaced. A car that's been sitting on a lot for weeks with a weak first start isn't necessarily a red flag, but a battery more than 4-5 years old is a near-term expense either way.

If you're looking at a 2019 or 2020 sDrive30i specifically:

• Confirm recall 20V355000 (steering tie rod) shows complete. This is a crash-risk item, not a comfort item.

If you're looking at any M40i:

• Confirm recall 21V598000 (brake-assist software) is complete, and ask the seller directly whether the engine has ever thrown a "Reduced Engine Power" warning, which forum owners associate with turbo-related faults on related B58-equipped models.

If you're looking at a 2022 or 2023 car:

• Confirm recall 23V099000 (power window/sunroof software) is complete. On a 2023, also confirm 23V821000 (transmission control unit) is complete; the failure mode described in that filing is a transmission seizure, not a cosmetic issue.

Running Costs

EPA data ingested into CarScout puts annual fuel cost around $2,700-2,900 for the sDrive30i and $2,900-3,050 for the M40i at typical mileage, both assuming premium fuel, which both engines require. RepairPal's aggregate reliability data rates the Z4 as more repair-prone than the average car in both frequency and severity of visits, while YourMechanic's estimates run lower, in the $400-800 range; the gap mostly comes down to how each site weights labor rates versus actual parts failures. Either way, budget above a mainstream car: this is a low-volume, run-flat-tired, premium-fuel roadster, and parts and labor both cost more than a Camry's.

The Z4 rides on run-flat tires with no spare, and owners on g29.bimmerpost.com are split on them: some keep the factory rubber for the no-spare convenience, others swap to conventional tires for a noticeably softer ride. A full set of run-flats commonly runs $1,000-2,400 depending on size and brand, more than a mainstream sedan's tire bill, and the M40i's staggered wheel setup (wider rears than fronts) means you can't rotate tires front-to-back to stretch tread life the way you could on a car with matched sizing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW Z4 G29 reliable? Mechanically, yes. Both the B48 four-cylinder and B58 six-cylinder engines have solid reputations, and forum owners on g29.bimmerpost.com report high-mileage examples with no major powertrain work. The generation's real weak point is its unusually dense recall history: eight distinct NHTSA campaigns, three of them fire risks, most shared with the Toyota Supra. Confirm every recall is closed and the underlying reliability picture is genuinely good.

What's the difference between the Z4 sDrive30i and M40i? The sDrive30i uses BMW's 2.0L B48 turbo-four (255 hp, 27-28 mpg combined). The M40i uses the 3.0L B58 turbo-six shared with the Toyota Supra (382 hp, 25-26 mpg combined), and adds its own recall (21V598000, brake-assist software) that the sDrive30i doesn't carry. Both use an 8-speed automatic exclusively through 2023; a manual didn't arrive until the 2025 model year.

Does the BMW Z4 share parts with the Toyota Supra? Yes, extensively. Both cars are built on the same line at Magna Steyr in Austria, share the B58 engine (in the Z4 M40i and every Supra 3.0), and share enough underlying hardware that several NHTSA recalls, including the fuel tank weld and starter relay campaigns, cover both nameplates by the same campaign number.

How many recalls does the BMW Z4 G29 have? Eight distinct NHTSA campaigns touch 2019-2023 Z4s in CarScout's data: a back-up camera software fix, an engine counterbalance shaft fix (2019 only), a steering tie rod fix (2019 sDrive30i), two separate starter-relay fire-risk campaigns, a fuel tank weld fire-risk campaign, a headlight adjustment fix, a power window/sunroof software fix, and a transmission control unit fix. Not every year is affected by all eight; check your specific VIN.

What's the best year to buy a used BMW Z4? Based on CarScout's current data, 2022 shows the cleanest NHTSA complaint record (a single complaint, no crashes or fires), and 2020 offers the best combination of price and the M40i's power once every recall is confirmed closed. 2023 is newest and carries the fewest total recalls, but at a real price premium. 2019 is the cheapest entry point if you're comfortable with a launch-year car and confirm all five of its recalls are done.

Bottom Line

Buy this generation on the strength of the B58 and B48 engines, not in spite of the recall count, but don't skip the paperwork: with three separate fire-risk campaigns across this window, an unverified VIN is a real risk, not a formality. A 2020 or 2022 M40i with every recall closed and a documented soft-top service history is the sweet spot for power, price, and current data cleanliness. If you're set on the roadster body style and want CarScout tracking price drops on the exact year and trim you're after, BMW Z4 market data is the place to start.

Data sourced from NHTSA recalls and complaints ingested via CarScout's per-year market API, EPA fuel economy data, and real owner experiences from g29.bimmerpost.com, z4-forum.com, and CarComplaints.com. See the full BMW Z4 market data for current pricing and inventory.