Benny, the editor over at our BimmerToday.de sister blog, decided to step out of the boundaries and try something different: BMW Z4 vs. Porsche Cayman S. To some roadsters purists, this might seem a bit unorthodox since the Cayman S has been said to be king in its own market, but let’s take a look and see if the new BMW Z4 lived up to our expectations:

“Despite the Porsche leaving the sportier impression, the adaptive M-suspension seems to be more refined. The possibility to switch modes is extremely nice in everyday driving and due to the ergonomically positioning of the buttons, you can really switch between the drive modes every minute.

So the Z4 presents itself as a divided personality, because it’s ready for long-distance drives as well as for the sporty driving on country roads. This is where the Porsche can not keep up, because the driving comfort at long-distance travels is not at the level of the Z4.

It remains a mystery why BMW doesn’t give us high-tech features like the Head Up Display, Night Vision and Active Cruise Control, these features would have completed the long-distance capabilities.

In the end, truth is that no matter which car you choose, you won’t make the wrong decision – at long as you know what you want from a car. If you are searching for the sporty car without compromises, the Porsche will do the job better than the Z4 without a doubt. But the larger buyer group will be very satisfied with the Z4 because it offers the best out of the two worlds:

• very good driving dynamics that can be combined with a rather good long-distance comfort, the Z4 is your daily driver and not just a “weekend fling”.
• you can drive to work every day without the lack of comfort you have to live with in the Porsche – and despite that, you can have a lot of fun in the weekend at the touch of a button.

Full review and more photos (translated with Google)

Some bits of this review will be also posted by us, along with a comparison against the Porsche Cayman S. Before we jump into the four minutes video, here is a short history on the new Z4 sDrive35i.

The new roadster outputs 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. With a manual transmission, the new Z4 goes from still to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, just .1 second slower than the old Z4 M. The sDrive35i weighs around 3,400 lbs. The new Z4 was designed by Juliane Blasi and Nadya Arnaout.

Z4 SDrive35i from www.mt-video.de.vu on Vimeo.

Starting with the engine, AC Schnitzer removes the speed limited and the 3.0 liter twin-turbo engine achieves now 177 mph (286 km/h). The open-top roadster from BMW accelerates from a standing start to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.9 seconds. Power has been raised from the standard 306 horsepower to 360. At the same time, maximum torque achieved by the AC Schnizter Z4 is 383 lb-ft (520 Nm), a significant increased when compared to the standard (295 lb-ft) 400 Nm.

AC Schnizter upgrades the suspension variant in the Z4 with a new spring kit.

Exterior upgrades include an aerodynamic pack for the new BMW Z4 consisting of a chrome front grille and front spoiler, where both components combine to give a more muscular look to the long bonnet lines. To enhance the Z4 look even further, AC Schnizter uses new sports fenders, consisting of wheel arches with integral air outlets for improved cooling of the front brakes and chromed deflectors.

At the rear-end, a two-piece spoiler gives the the BMW Z4 by AC Schnitzer an impressive look.

Inside, we have an aluminum cover for the iDrive System Controller, aluminum foot rests and pedal set and many other branded AC Schnitzer elements.

Famous for their wheel design, the Z4 by AC Schnitzer gets two type of wheels: Type IV in 18” or Type VI wheels in 18, 19 or 20 inch.

No pricing has been announced so far, but what we know is that AC Schnizter offers a 2 year warranty up to 100,000 km on all of their components.

Here is a short summary on the austrian vineyards: “While Austria is synonymous to many for music and culture, its wines don’t have the renown that those of other European countries have.  Austria has, however, 51,213 hectares of vineyards, mostly in the eastern part of the country.

I’m visiting  the province of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), which has over 31,000 hectares of vineyards, to be followed by a visit to Vienna (over 600 hectares but it’s the only capital city in the world to have its own wine region) and then I will visit the Burgenland, which has over 15,000 hectares.”

Trip Part 1

Next stop in his trip, the Austrian capital, Vienna, of course, a trip aboard the Z4.

“First order of business: top down. The top takes only 20 seconds to retract and it appears far more robust than earlier generation retractable hardtops, which seemed a bit fragile in construction. The interior features generous amounts of space; even with the top up, I never felt claustrophobic. With the top down, which is the way this car is meant to be driven, the cabin isn’t overly noisy or draft; with the top up, you would never know you were in a convertible.

The Z4 comes with a choice of two engines in the U.S., the naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six with 190 kW/258 hp at 6,600 rpm and 310 Nm/228 pound-feet of torque at 2,570, and the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with 225 kW/306 hp at 5,800 rpm and 400 Nm/295 pound-feet from 1,300-5,000 rpm. The NA engine does 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds; the twin-turbo does it in 5.2. My Z4 had a third power plant, offered in many European markets, a 2.5-liter inline six that produces 150 kW/204 hp at 6,200 rpm and 250 Nm/184 pound-feet of torque at 2,950 rpm, with 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds (manual transmission).”

You can read his second report here.

Manhart Racing, a German company known for “pumping up” the power in cars by replacing the original engine with a more powerful one, decided to give a present to the Z4 fans. Taking a stock Z4, Manhart managed to turn it into a powerful Z4 M featuring a V10 powerplant.

The 5.0 liter V10 engine from the M5 produces 550 horsepower and takes the tuned up Z4 M from 0 to 60 mph in JUST 3.9 seconds.

For stability, the Manhart Z4 M V10 uses the perfectly tuned Bilstein B16 PSS10 coilovers, the virtually unrestrained power of 550 HP can be brought under control to the tarmac. Black BBS Challenge wheels rotate in the wheel arches of the Manhart Z4 M V10 with 8.5Jx19 ET35 235/35ZR19 front tyres and 10Jx19 ET20 285/30ZR19 back tires.

More information in the press release below

PRESS RELEASE Manhart Racing – BMW Z4 V10

HEART TRANSPLANT – 550 HP in Z4

The M version of the BMW Z4 is famously known by nature for being anything but underpowered, since the chassis of the sports convertible already has a heck of a lot of work with the 343 HP and the forward thrust in the lower gears could last forever.

As is generally known however, the sport oriented motorist can never have enough power at his command. Sufficient cause for Günther Manhart, who by now has over 25 years experience in rebuilding BMW engines – a first for Europe – to transplant a brand new, much stronger heart into the Z4. The transplantation of the ten cylinder engine from the current M5 generation into the narrow engine bay of the roadster was anything but a walk in the park and it earned the Manhart Racing engineers quite a few grey hairs. Nevertheless: everything fitted in the end and now the fire of a 5.0 litre V10 engine with an impressive output of 550 HP blazes above the front axle of the Z4. A catalytic converter, a modified DME electronic control unit and the removal of the factory-set V-Max restriction up to 250 km/h are part of the rebuild. Consistent to the M5 V10 engine Manhart Racing has treated the Z4 to an original M5 E60 6 gear manual transmission which includes a Fichtel & Sachs clutch and a M5 E60 differential. An AC Schnitzer stainless steel exhaust system with four muffler tips which was fitted with HJS racing catalytic converters caters for a perfect V10 sound at the rear.

The Manhart Z4 M V10 goes like hell and thanks to the perfectly tuned Bilstein B16 PSS10 coilovers, the virtually unrestrained power of 550 HP can be brought under control to the tarmac. Black BBS Challenge wheels rotate in the wheel arches of the Manhart Z4 M V10 with 8.5Jx19 ET35 235/35ZR19 front tyres and 10Jx19 ET20 285/30ZR19 back tyres.

Conclusion: 550 HP ten cylinders, an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, kerb weight 1450kg, 2.6kg per HP… who could guess that these impressive figures belong to a Z4? Hardly anyone, however Manhart Racing turns dreams into reality and does this with 25 years experience.

[Source: Automotive Addicts ]

The defective connector may lead to increased electrical resistance of that connection which could cause the seat belt tensioner to fail deploying in a crash.

A similar recall was issued last month for some 2008 1 Series and 3 Series models. For more information on the recall and contact phone numbers, please see the text below:

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
BMW / Z4 2009
Manufacturer: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC Mfr’s Report Date: AUG 11, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V327000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Potential Number of Units Affected:
Summary:
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 Z4 30I AND 35I VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 10 AND MARCH 19, 2009. A DEFECTIVE CRIMP CONNECTOR IN A BELT TENSIONER WIRING PLUG MAY LEAD TO INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.
Consequence:
INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE IN THAT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE THE SAFETY BELT TENSIONER TO FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INCREASED INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy:
THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED THE AGENCY WITH A REMEDY OR NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV

Even at the beginning of his new review, he makes it clear that he absolutely didn’t like the old Z4, a statement that many BMW fans would disagree with, but that’s another story…..

So what made him change his mind this time around? “The best thing about this car is how it feels to drive….” and to make us smile a bit, “it’s sorta Uma Thurmanish……PERFECT!”

But one of his closing statements really nails it and BMW can only be happy they managed to satisfy even one of their biggest critic: “And today I would buy a Z4 over a Mercedes SLK in a heart beat…..”

As much as he praises the Z4, the Nissan 370Z takes a beat and settles this debate for now. We do wonder how the new Audi TTS will come against the Z4, knowing that he’s not a huge Audi fan either….

So, we’re less than two weeks away from getting our hands on the Z4 sDrive 35i and we’re hoping that the new Roadster will blow us away.

All good for now, but….we wonder what he will say about the new 5 Series GT.

The award is presented annually by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), based in Duelles in the state of Virginia. The BMW Z4 received the bronze award, thus continuing the success story of BMW Group vehicles in this competition. Since 2000, nine vehicles of the brands BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad have been recognised for their outstanding design.

The new BMW Z4 impressed the jury with a design which unmistakably and authentically reflects the driving pleasure characteristic of the roadster. With its long bonnet, long wheelbase, large wheels and short overhangs, the two-seater possesses classic roadster proportions which are interpreted in a modern way with a styling which is characteristic of the brand.

Its sophisticated surface design gives the BMW Z4 a fascinating elegance which can be seen from every perspective. Its appearance is that of a vehicle sculpture shaped as a single entity. An equally characteristic feature is the low seating position close to the rear axle. The resulting driving experience and the visual impression of the roadster thus provide a perfectly integrated and fascinating whole.

For the first time, a BMW Roadster is fitted with a retractable hard top. The dual-section roof in aluminium lightweight construction also contributes to the harmonious design of the BMW Z4. When closed, the hard top provides a flowing, coupé-like roof line which highlights the car’s elegant look. When open, it is discreetly and harmoniously integrated into the flat rear.

The success of the BMW Z4 at the 2009 International Design Excellent Awards builds on the outstanding showing of the BMW Group in this competition in past years. Three vehicles of the BMW Group have received a gold award: the motorcycle models BMW K 1200 LT in 2000 and BMW R 1200 GS (2004) and the MINI Cooper S (2003). Silver has gone to the BMW X5 (2000) and the MINI Convertible (2005), bronze to the motorcycle model BMW F 650 CS (2003). What is more, the BMW 3 Series Convertible and the motorcycle model BMW F 8090 GS achieved finalist status in last year’s competition.

The international jury of the International Design Excellence Awards presented awards in 17 categories this year. In addition to products from the fields of transport, office equipment, communication, household and consumer electronics, there was also assessment of design research projects and innovations in the field of environmental technology. The official award ceremony will be held on September 26th 2009 after the annual international design conference of the IDSA in Miami.

[Source: BMW ]

And not just any Z4, but our favorite painted one even: the Deep Sea Blue Z4. Ever since we have seen the first official BMW Z4 photos, the Deep Sea Blue was the color that we literally drooled after and made us instantly fall in love with the new Z4. Now add to this great combo, race track+Deep Sea Blue, the top model Z4 sDrive35i and we are stunned by it.

Equipped with a high-end camera and some amazing photo skills, Balasz Fenyo brings us some of the best photos we have seen in months….yes, we have said that before, but these new ones really take photography to a new level. Just take a look and see how the photographer was able to showcase all the body creases and flame surfacing found in the exterior design of this Z4.

With that being said, here is a preview of these photos and you can check the rest shots at Jalopnik.com

Now those of us that live in the U.S. might find that quite ridiculous since we’re used to seeing a large variety of TV ads that are at least morally questionable, but truth is that even after watching the Z4 “Expression of Joy” clip, we can’t see eye-to-eye with them. True, there is some spinning in the commercial, but it all revolves around slow paced circles that have a single purpose: to paint the surface underneath in order to create the art work envisioned by the artist Robin Rhode and director Jake Scott.

The interesting part is that the campaign is being used across the globe and it has been successfully running in the U.S or UK for quite some time now.

So the question is: are those people really that conservative? “The board noted that the advertisement does depict in a number of places the driver intentionally allowing the wheels of the car to lose traction and perform . . . a four-wheel drift”. Come on….seriously? Lose traction….drifting….this commercial is all about art and there is obviously no intention to promote any street racing, Tokyo drifting or whatever they want to call it…

Of course, BMW responded back and they were pretty much in line with what we just said: “It is a bit of a case of a piece of art and the freedom of art being thwarted by Victoria’s anti-hoon laws”. Keyword: ART.

BMW spokesman Toni Andreevski continued: “We believe the audience can distinguish between fantasy and reality.”

We honestly don’t even see how could someone confuse that commercial for something else, when we first saw it, we were focusing mostly on the painting part and that part only.

BMW decided to let this one go: “….Safety is important to us, and we have agreed not to appeal.”

We love our Aussies friends very much, but we couldn’t let this one slide without reporting it.

Here is the full commercial:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The sDrive23i is available for sale in Europe and it’s with the entry-level 2.5-liter straight-six engine which produces 201 horsepower and 184 lb-ft at 2,750 rpm. The car achieves a top speed of 151 mph and goes from 0 to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds.

In the U.K, the BMW Z4 sDrive23i has a base price of £28,645 or approximately$47,200.

So without any further ado, let’s enjoy these great photos, some of the best we have seen so far.

This year BMW has only one model on the list, but what vehicle that is…the Z4 has been very well received by everyone, from BMW owners and fans, to the online and offline media.

The contenders, that could be more than 30 by September, must be new models available in at least five European countries at the time of voting, with foreseeable minimum sales of 5,000 per year. Here are some of the vehicles nominated: Porsche Panamera, Lexus Rx450h, Volkswagen Polo, Mercedes E-Class, Nissan 370Z, Land Rover Discovery IV, Mazda 3, Ford Ka and many others.

The new Z4 comes equipped with the award-winning 3.0L twin turbo inline-6, which should keep all of the enthusiast crowd happy until BMW graces us with the M variant. The 300 horsepower engine can be coupled to not only a 6-speed manual but the new dual-clutch 7 speed automatic which shifts faster than the traditional manual transmission.   The twin turbo is also complimented by what many of the US BMW enthusiasts recognize as the E90 330i engine: the 3.0L 255 HP inline-6. While the twin turbo version with DCT weighs in just shy of 3,300 lbs.

In the U.S., the entry model, BMW Z4 sDrive30i has a base price of $46,575 and the twin-turbo powered sDrive35i jumps over the 50k mark, more specifically, $52, 475.

Even though the Z4 is facing some tough competitions, we’re hoping to see the new roadster being crowned as the 2010 European Car of the Year.

[Source: COTY ]

However, Top Gear wasn’t always so eccentric and unique. Back in the early 90s, Top Gear was basically a TV motoring magazine like any other, but several conflicts between the presenters have caused some of the original cast to leave the show.

Shortly after, the outcasts (including current presenters Tiff Nedeel and Vicki Butler-Henderson) started their own project, a show in similar fashion like Top Gear named Fifth Gear, as they moved from BBC to Channel 5. As both shows progressed, Top Gear developed a more offbeat style, focusing on humor and unusual reviews, while Fifth Gear remained a traditional motoring magazine.

Nowadays, both shows enjoy high ratings and have spawned several spin-offs, including Top Gear Russia and Top Gear Australia.

As mentioned, Top Gear rarely includes traditional road tests (and when they do, be sure that it is something utterly ridiculous) while Fifth Gear has popularized 1 on 1 track races, internally known as “dogfights”.

In one of these, BMW Z4 has won over a Porsche Boxster, which had started fierce rivalry between the two. When the second generation Boxster was released, Tiff Nedeel and Jason Plato raced both cars around the track, but have later concluded that the differences in speed and handling were so minuscule that it was impossible to decide which one is better.

Click here to view the embedded video.

And now, the Fifth Gear is trying to find out will the new generation of Z4 be able to conquer Boxter once and for all. Truth is that the new Z4 has became some 150 kgs heavier, but at the same time, the power has been increased. Some have also complained that the new version is softer and more forgiving than the old car, which has much to do with BMWs decision to release a smaller, more clinical roadster Z2 in 2010.

In the end, which one will be Germany’s fastest and sportiest roadster? For all these years, the battle was raging between the Boxster and Z4, while Audi TT and Mercedes-Benz SLK were never quick or tactile enough to compete in this category. However, with the release of TT RS and SLK 55 AMG, things might get interesting.

[Photo Source: Car And Driver ]

But this time, in our opinion, there were not many negative elements that could be found about the new Z4, a state of art roadster, both interior wise and also exterior.

We know that not many of you have been his fans anymore for quite some time now, and we agree that he’s mostly an entertainer these days, but he has his good moments where his reviews can be objective and informative.

Curious to see what he had to say about the Z4? Here is a preview:

I also liked the styling, the ride — provided you stay out of the sport settings — the engine’s urgency, the fluidity of the responses and the elegance of the interior. Though, that said, this is not a car you can drive in cuff links. Because the centre console is set up for left-hand drive, every time you change gear your silver dog turd, or whatever, will hit the iDrive knob, which in extreme circumstances can cause the cabin to be filled with rap noises.

However, I’ve thought quite hard about this and can confidently say that the Z4, with its folding metal roof and softer feel, is now the best of the medium-sized sports cars. Certainly, I prefer it to the Boxster and the Mercedes SLK.

Full Review

The G-Power upgrades for the BMW Z4 sDrive35i include a power kit, wheel upgrades and even sportier suspensions.

G-POWER offers the performance module BI-TRONIK which pushes the factory 306 hp/400 Nm to 345 hp/480 Nm, far more impressive than the upgraded N54 engine (326 hp) found in the new 7 Series.

The straight line performance has clearly improved and the G-Power BMW Z4 runs from o-100 km/h(0-62mph) in only 4.7 seconds, a half a second faster than the stock model.

A performance set of MICHELIN Pilot Sport tires are fitted on 20 inch G-Power Silverstone Diamon wheels, 255/30 ZR 20 and 295/25 ZR 20.

The Z4 also receives a new coil-over suspension and a stainless steel sport rear muffler featuring the legendary G-POWER “DEEPTONE” technology. According to G-Power, the 4-trim sport rear muffler with its 4 x 83 mm tailpipes gives the BMW Z4 a deep, throaty sound that turns heads.

No pricing has been announced at this time, but we expect the G-Power kits to be quite high.

[Source: G-Power]

We won’t spoil the conclusion, but at the same time, we haven’t really seen any negative reviews of the Z4 yet, so you can draw the conclusion yourself.

What Works:
Stout 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine; refined ride and handling; cockpit space and layout; gracefully executed retractable hardtop; revamped iDrive.

What Needs Work:
Flatulent engine note; long, heavy clutch throw; price is getting up there.
There’s this guy at work (let’s call him Dan) who never warmed up to BMW’s Z3 and Z4 roadsters. Something about them simply didn’t ring true.
Bottom Line:
The BMW Z4 has finally crystallized into a truly desirable roadster by fully departing from its über-Miata roots.

Full Review, Photos and Videos on Edmunds.com

There were a little more than 9,300 Z4s built last year at Spartanburg and over the seven years production, but the Z4 lines will be replaced by the new X3, due to launch in 2010. The older and fist BMW Z4 was a drastically more modern car than the Z3 it replaced, with an increased overall size and more mature design.

And while we initially believed that the first generation Z4 will look really outdated when placed side-by-side with the new E89 Z4, we were wrong this time. Looking at the photos below, we can still see a fresh, modern design on the “old” Z4 and in our opinion, still very appealing.

Now don’t get us wrong, the 2009 BMW Z4 is a beauty and the new roadster has impressed us from the first moment we laid eyes on it at the Detroit Auto Show. The E89 roadster has brought one of the best interior designs to date in a BMW and at the same time, a highly-acclaimed new design lines, the work of team formed only of females.

And the same as with the Z3 and the first Z4, the 2009 Roadster has grown in size and matured even more, putting its competitors on the spot and claiming the crown in the roadster segment. So, let’s enjoy the photos below, the great work of 2002ti, member of garaget.org.

[Source: More photos at garaget.org ]

Are you still debating which roadster to choose? Having a difficult time comparing all the specs? How about pricing with options? Well, C&D has done a great job analyzing these beautiful roadsters, so let’s see what they had to say.

The idea was to round up a group of 50-something-thousand-dollar roadsters, but like the TARP plan, we blew through that ceiling almost immediately. The most egregious example is the Boxster S, which Porsche sent loaded with almost $20,000 worth of options—including the automaker’s new $3420 PDK dual-clutch transmission—for an overindulged as-tested price of $76,625. For 2009, the Boxster S comes with a revised 3.4-liter flat-six engine and freshened front and rear styling. It’s mostly direct injection that boosts the output 15 horsepower, for a total of 310.

Our second-most-pricey car is the new BMW Z4. The 300-hp sDrive35i starts at a not unreasonable $52,475, but a Sport package (which includes an adjustable suspension), a premium stereo, and a navigation system catapulted the sticker price to $65,345.

Read Full Article

As a quick introduction, the new BMW Z4 uses the same technology as the one found in the new 3 Series Convertible which introduced the hardtop.

The Z4 features an aluminum retractable hardtop (20 seconds to deploy or retract) and the vehicle concept has been made larger to feature a new level of comfort, better storage space.

LEARNING how to do folding hard-top roofs with the 3 Series Convertible served BMW well.

It meant it could launch a folding hard top Z4 relatively easily – simply because it had acquired so much knowledge.

What’s more, the shift over to the folding tin top is another reason for the car’s production relocation to Germany.

The Regensburg plant where it’s built has now become BMW’s official ‘centre of excellence’ for folding hard-top roofs.

It’s so well geared up, the supplier is even located there on site, an engineer insider told me.

‘This gives us the best possible means of achieving high quality levels.’

Engineering a folding hard top isn’t the work of a moment. Even one such as the Z4’s, whose lower 2-panel count reduces the number of joins and joints to worry about.

The problem come in areas you probably don’t even think about. Such as?

2009 BMW Z4 has 3 Series Convertible to thank – Continued

The same roadster culture moved through time and the latest BMW Z4 describes, in my opinion, the perfect Roadster design. With this special occasion, BMW has issues a lengthy, but very information press release, along with one of the most comprehensive BMW Roadsters photo galleries I have ever seen.

Don’t be discouraged by the length of this press release, if you love Roadsters, then you will find it very interesting.

Download the Press Release in PDF format

The style has changed, but not the content: “Many German motorists see motoring not just as a comfortable and fast means of transport, but also as a sporting activity. These are people who, once they see an aerodynamic car body with a long and sleek engine compartment, as well as a speedometer extending all the way to 150 km/h, feel that strong yearning for wide open roads simply perfect for driving fast, for Alpine passes just begging to be conquered, and for ompetitors so easy to overtake.”

It was precisely with these words that BMW announced the Company’s first self-engineered roadster in 1934. And indeed, this concept with its six-cylinder power unit was destined to shape the future of the brand, extending all the way to the current BMW Z4.

The starting point for this development came at the Berlin Motor Show in May 1934. Here, together with the BMW 315 Saloon, BMW for the first time presented the prototype of a Sports Roadster with exceptionally attractive lines. Right behind the long and sleek engine compartment there were two sports seats tailored to the driver and front passenger protected by the low, raked windscreen and an mergency roof.

The rear end tapered out in an elegant sweep to the back of the car, adding a particular aerodynamic touch with excellent streamlining.

The radiator grille on this two-seater was inclined much further to the rear than on the Saloon, with mighty, sweeping front wheel arches extending on beneath the doors into the rear wheel arches. To reduce air drag to a minimum, the rear wheels were fully covered, while the body of the car itself rested on an electrically welded steel-pipe double frame with three crosswise box elements.

Front suspension was made up of the upper track spring, wishbones further down and hydraulic lever-type dampers. The rear wheels, in turn, were mounted on a live axle incorporating semi-elliptic springs and hydraulic lever-type dampers.

Small but hot: six-cylinder power unit displacing 1.2 litres.
Both the saloon and the sports car were powered by the same outstanding engine: a 1.5-litre straight-six developed out of the 1.2-litre originally featured in the former BMW 303. The crankcase and cylinder block of this outstanding engine were made of one single piece, the engine featured one camshaft beneath the block, with tappets operating the vertical hanging valves aligned in series via rocker arms. The intake and exhaust pipes, finally, were on the same side.

A feature quite unusual today is the different distances between the individual
cylinders, with the second and third and, respectively, the fourth and fifth cylinders being further apart, the space in between being used for the crankshaft and amshaft bearings.

The crankshaft without any counterweights therefore ran in four bearings, just like the camshaft.

This was however not the reason for this particular design and configuration, which was rather attributable to the assembly process at the time, with the crankshaft being completely pre-assembled together with the connecting rods and pistons. And since the pistons, as a result, had to be inserted from beneath, the main bearings for the crankshaft had to remain outside of the cylinders, not extending into their contour lines. As a result, the main bearings had to be accommodated between cylinders spaced out at a large distance.

While this power unit delivered maximum output of 34 hp on the saloon with its two carburettors, maximum output of the six-cylinder in the BMW 315/1 sports model was 40 hp. And the standard of efficiency offered was quite exceptional, BMW’s engineers proudly stating that “this beautiful and fast sports car consumes only 10–2 litres of fuel on 100 km, with oil consumption between 0.1 and 0.2 kg. So in terms of running costs, it is no more expensive than a small car far lower down in the market”.

With the public simply falling in love with the BMW 315/1, BMW decided to build the car in a small series – also because the Company wanted to make a more powerful entry into the prestigious world of motorsport. Starting in summer 1934, therefore, the very attractive BMW 315/1 was retailed at a substantial 5,200.– reichsmarks. The production model differed from the prototype primarily through the modified arrangement of the headlights and side ventilation grids taking the place of the bent openings originally featured on the first model.

Outstanding success in motorsport.
Reaching a top speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph, the BMW 315/1 Roadster was one of the really serious contenders in the sports car market at its time. Indeed, BMW’s story of success on the race track quickly took on even greater significance with this new model, the BMW 315/1 achieving its first significant success in the International 1934 Alpine Rally.

The starter grid for this rally in Nice was made up of 127 truly outstanding cars looking at daily race sections of 500–600 kilometres to be covered at a minimum speed. On the fourth day there was an additional speed test at Stilfser Joch.

After covering precisely 2,867 kilometres or 1,778 miles, 96 of the 127 cars which had originally entered the race reached the finish line in Munich – 66 thereof without having lost one point. The five cars entered by the BMW Works Team were the only cars in their class to complete the International Alpine Trophy without one single penalty point, the BMW 315/1 Team Richard Brenner/Albert Kandl/Ernst v. Delius finishing first in their category.

Only 230 units of the BMW 315/1 were completed by mid-1935, many of them going to private drivers. One of them was Ralph Roese, a BMW works driver for many years, who built himself a BMW 315/1 Special. This was a complete re-build of the 315/1, the highly modified engine ultimately developing no less than 136 hp in a brand-new race car body weighing just 380 kg or 838 lb.

Given qualities of this kind, it is no surprise that this racing car finished first in its very first race at Nürburgring in 1936, a staggering 17 kilometres ahead of the competition. Understandably, this special model remained a great success over the years until finally winning the German Road Racing Championship in 1939.