Z4 2.0L engine?

[Alan W]

A nice facelift 2.0L Z4 has come up for sale but looking at the photos it appears to be a 4 cyl engine? I don't have an issue with that as its cheaper to tax and my speed days are long gone.. all I want to know is how reliable these engines are and any known issues? Its done 50k miles

 

[GazHyde]

Yeah, 4 pot 2 litre - It's the N46B20 if you want to do some more in depth research on it..

@EnthuZiaZT's had one for a while. For my mind too small for a car that's bigger than the Z3. There are a few known issues, one being the exhaust manifold cracking.

What you do get in consolation for lack of grunt is usually a very high spec, but it's a engine for touring rather than a driving one in my opinion.

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

If it's a 2ltr then it has a 6 cylinder engine producing 150 BHP. The 4 pot motors are badged as 1.9 or 1.8, of these, the 1.9 twin cam engine is the one to go for.

Mike

 

[GazHyde]

If it's a 2ltr then it has a 6 cylinder engine producing 150 BHP

This is the Z4 Mike.

Which Z4 do you mean by facelift @Alan W? A facelift E85, or the new shape E89? The E89 has the N20B20 4 pot engine.

 

[Alan W]

Gaz its a facelift (clear indicators) E85..

 

[GazHyde]

Gaz its a facelift (clear indicators) E85..

My first answer stands then, it's the N46B20!

 

[t-tony]

I know 2 people who run this car Alan. One is happy with it and one is thinking maybe he might have liked a bigger engine? Depends what you want. I had a 2.0 Z3 which was a great car but ultimately not quite enough under the bonnet.

Tony.

 

[billz]

Regarding the 2.0 there has been a few debates on the Z4 forum about the failures. They are rated not to be the most reliable of the Z4 range

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

I had a 2ltr Z4 E85, the major issue was the cracked exhaust manifold, which eventually got sorted. With M sport suspension and the weight distribution of the car, it was an awesome car to drive on the bendy bits. These engines can be remapped to 184bhp a cheap way of increasing the power. As with all small engined cars you have to use the gears to keep the engine cooking to get the maximum speed and enjoyment out of it.
Mike

 

[Dino D]

Just google 'N46B20 bmw engine reliabilty'
You'd think your were reading about a French engine..

 

[Alan W]

Cheers @Dino D thats a real eye opener.. der wont be getting one of those then!!

 

[NZ00Z3]

I asked a similar question on a N.Z. BMW forum about the 4 pot N engines, the best comment was just one word, "run". Seems the 4 pot N engines have more than a few issues and like leaking oil from most places at one time or another.