History & Pricing Tools
Features
Included Packages & Options
Option
Original
MSRP ($)
HEATED SEATS
METALLIC PAINT
PREMIUM PKG
Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors
8-Way Pwr Front Seats W/3-Position Driver Seat Memory
Seatback Storage Nets
Passenger-Side Tunnel Net
Cruise Control
BMW Assist W/4-Year Subscription
Bluetooth
Premium Sound System
Total Added Value
$4,000Description
Finished in elegant Space Gray Metallic over Black Nappa Leather, and showing only 40,930 miles, this is BMW M from an era enthusiasts increasingly miss: a high-revving naturally aspirated inline-six, six individual throttle controls, hydraulic steering, a heavy-duty clutch, 6-speed manual transmission, mechanical M differential, rear-wheel drive, and a two-seat roadster body with nothing separating you from the sound of the engine but open air.
Its original specification was impressive as well, including Heated Seats, Navigation and the Premium Package, bringing the original retail price to $53,725.
But the options aren't what make this car unforgettable.
The engine does.
3.2L DOHC M Inline-Six
Under that aluminum hood sits one of the defining ingredients of this generation of BMW M:
3.2-Liter DOHC 24-Valve Naturally Aspirated Inline-Six
The factory specification confirms:
- 3.2L DOHC 24-Valve Inline-Six
- M Double-VANOS Stepless Variable Valve Timing
- Six Individual Drive-by-Wire Throttle Controls
- M Dynamic Driving Control
- Distributorless Electronic Ignition
- Semi-Dry-Sump Oil Lubrication
- 6-Speed Manual Transmission
- Heavy-Duty Clutch
- Rear-Wheel Drive
That list reads less like the specification of a luxury roadster and more like something engineered specifically for an enthusiast.
And that's because it was.
There is no turbocharger manufacturing a mountain of low-RPM torque.
No electric motor filling gaps in the powerband.
No automatic transmission deciding when the next gear should arrive.
You have an M engine, a throttle pedal, a clutch, six gears—and an open road.
Six Individual Throttle Controls
One technical detail deserves special attention.
The engine utilizes six individual drive-by-wire throttle controls with M Dynamic Driving Control.
Rather than relying on a single conventional throttle arrangement, BMW M engineered individual throttle control into the inline-six.
It's exactly the kind of engineering that represents what BMW M was pursuing during this era:
Response.
The connection between what your right foot asks for and what the engine delivers was treated as part of the performance experience.
In a roadster—with the roof down and that inline-six directly ahead of you—that responsiveness becomes even more memorable.
6-Speed Manual Heavy-Duty Clutch
And there's only one transmission that truly belongs behind an engine like this.
A 6-Speed Manual.
The factory specification confirms this Z4 M was equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and heavy-duty clutch.
There are no paddles pretending to give you control.
No automatic mode waiting in the background.
Every start requires clutch engagement.
Every downshift is yours.
Every perfect gear change feels satisfying because you actually made it happen.
In 2008, that was simply the way this M Roadster was built.
Today?
It feels increasingly precious.
Rear-Wheel Drive
The rest of the drivetrain is just as traditional.
Rear-Wheel Drive.
Engine in front.
Driver in the middle.
Power at the rear.
The front tires are free to concentrate on steering while the rear tires put the inline-six's power to the pavement.
There's an elegant simplicity to the formula.
And underneath that simplicity is some serious M engineering.
M Variable Differential Lock
This Z4 M features an M Variable Differential Lock, helping the rear axle manage power when the available traction differs between the two driven wheels.
BMW also fitted an acoustically decoupled final drive with a hydraulic mount.
That's what makes the Z4 M different from simply putting a powerful engine into a small roadster.
The drivetrain, steering, suspension, braking and differential were engineered as a complete package.
The M badge here isn't decoration.
Semi-Dry-Sump Lubrication
Then there's another wonderful technical detail:
Semi-Dry-Sump Oil Lubrication
BMW equipped the M inline-six with a semi-dry-sump lubrication system.
It's the kind of feature most drivers will never see—but enthusiasts appreciate because it demonstrates how seriously BMW approached the powertrain.
The Z4 M wasn't simply designed to cruise with the top down.
It was engineered to be driven.
Hydraulic M Steering
Modern performance cars have become extraordinarily capable, but one component enthusiasts frequently miss is traditional hydraulic steering.
This Z4 M has it.
The factory specification lists rack-and-pinion hydraulic power steering.
There's no need to electronically recreate steering character when there's still a hydraulic connection in the system.
Combined with the compact roadster proportions, rear-wheel drive and M suspension, it gives this Z4 M the kind of old-school mechanical personality that has become increasingly difficult to buy.
M-Specific Suspension
Underneath the body is a chassis designed to complement the powertrain.
Up front, BMW used a strut-type suspension with aluminum lower arms, hydraulic cushions, thrust plate and strut braces.
At the rear is a central-link suspension with cast-aluminum transverse links.
The system also incorporates:
- M Front & Rear Stabilizer Bars
- Twin-Tube Gas-Pressure Shock Absorbers
- Aluminum Suspension Components
- M-Specific Chassis Engineering
This wasn't meant to feel like a luxury convertible that happened to have a powerful engine.
It's an M car that happens to let you put the roof down.
Compound & Cross-Drilled M Brakes
BMW backed up the performance with serious braking hardware.
This Z4 M features four-wheel compound and cross-drilled vacuum disc brakes.
Look through the wheels and the cross-drilled hardware immediately hints at the engineering underneath.
The braking system works alongside the M chassis, performance tires and differential to create a sports car designed as a complete package—not merely an engine surrounded by bodywork.
Staggered 18-Inch Style 224M Wheels
And those wheels are proper M hardware.
The factory setup consists of:
18 x 8.0-inch Front M Double-Spoke Wheels
18 x 9.0-inch Rear M Double-Spoke Wheels
Style 224M
The original tire specification was equally purposeful:
225/45ZR18 Front
255/40ZR18 Rear Performance Tires
Notice the stagger.
The rear wheels and tires are wider than the fronts, giving the Z4 M both its purposeful stance and a tire configuration appropriate for a rear-wheel-drive performance roadster.
Twin Dual M Exhaust Tips
Then you walk around the back.
Four exhaust tips.
The factory specification describes them as twin dual M exhaust tips.
They're one of the visual signatures separating the Z4 M from an ordinary Z4—and with the roof down, the exhaust note becomes part of the cabin.
There's something uniquely emotional about hearing a naturally aspirated inline-six work through the gears without a roof separating you from the soundtrack.
Drop the top. Find the right road. Let the engine sing.
That's the experience this car was built around.
Space Gray Metallic
And this example has the perfect understated specification.
Space Gray Metallic over Black Nappa Leather.
Space Gray allows the muscular proportions of the M Roadster to speak for themselves.
Long hood.
Compact two-seat cockpit.
Short rear deck.
Wide rear tires.
Quad exhaust.
It doesn't need an outrageous color to demand attention.
Those who know what they're looking at already understand.
Xenon Automatic Headlights
The exterior specification also includes:
- Xenon Automatic Headlights
- Auto-Leveling
- Headlight Washers
- Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
- Heated Washer Jets
- Dual Power Heated Mirrors
- Adaptive Brake Lights
- White Turn-Signal Indicators
- Aluminum Hood
Even nearly two decades later, the combination of xenon lighting, clean roadster proportions and subtle M detailing gives the car a remarkably timeless appearance.
Black Nappa Leather & M Sport Seats
Inside, the Black Nappa Leather cabin keeps the focus exactly where it belongs:
On the driver.
The factory specification includes M Sport seats with pronounced side bolsters, helping hold the driver and passenger securely when the road becomes more interesting.
The interior also features:
- 3-Spoke Leather-Wrapped M Sport Steering Wheel
- Multifunction Steering-Wheel Audio Controls
- Brushed Aluminum Trim
- Automatic Climate Control
- Activated-Charcoal Micro-Filter
- Automatic Recirculation
- Power Windows
- Vehicle & Key Memory
- On-Board Computer
- Electronic Analog Instrumentation
- Tire Pressure Monitoring
- Coded Driveaway Protection
- Dual Cupholders
- Auxiliary Power Outlet
It's wonderfully different from today's screen-dominated interiors.
A steering wheel.
Analog instrumentation.
A manual shifter.
And an M engine waiting on the other side of the firewall.
$500 Heated Seats
This particular Z4 M was ordered with Heated Seats, a $500 factory option when new.
In a roadster, that's far more valuable than it sounds.
Cool morning?
Top down.
Crisp fall evening?
Top down.
Turn the heated seats on, let the cabin heater work, and extend the part of the year when you can enjoy the car exactly the way BMW intended.
Navigation System
This example was also factory equipped with the Navigation System, according to its original equipment sheet.
It's another desirable piece of its original specification and accompanies an audio system that was impressive for the era.
10-Speaker Carver Audio with Dual Subwoofers
BMW didn't forget about the soundtrack for the moments when you aren't listening to the engine.
The factory audio system features:
- 10 Speakers
- Two Subwoofers
- Carver Technology
- Upgraded Audio Power
- AM/FM Stereo
- CD Player
- MP3 Capability
- Radio Data System
- Auxiliary Input
Of course, in an M Roadster there will always be another audio source available.
Second gear and an open throttle.
Premium Package
The original equipment sheet also identifies this Z4 M as having the Premium Package.
The supplied sheet does not itemize the individual Premium Package contents, so rather than inventing features that aren't supported by the documentation, we'll simply highlight that this was a factory-equipped Premium Package car.
Combined with Navigation, heated seats and Black Nappa Leather, it makes for a particularly attractive original configuration.
Roadster Freedom
The Z4 M is a true two-seat roadster.
The cabin includes a variable soft-top storage compartment, allowing the car to retain useful storage while supporting its convertible design.
But practicality isn't really why you buy this car.
You buy it for that first warm spring evening when you lower the roof.
For the tunnel you suddenly hope has no traffic.
For the winding road you take instead of the highway.
For the sound of the inline-six climbing through the rev range with nothing above you but sky.
A coupe can be faster.
A luxury sedan can be quieter.
But neither can recreate this.
BMW M Safety Engineering
The Z4 M also includes an extensive collection of safety systems for its era:
- Rollover Protection
- Active Knee-Protection Airbags
- Side-Impact Airbags
- Dual-Stage Smart Front Airbags
- Passenger Airbag Disable Switch
- Seatbelt Pretensioners & Force Limiters
- Automatic Fuel Cutoff Following Severe Impact
- Battery Safety Terminal
- ISOFIX Child-Seat Attachment
- Emergency Trunk Release
In an open-top performance car, the factory rollover protection is an especially meaningful piece of engineering.
$53,725 Original Retail Price
When new, this Z4 M carried a substantial price:
Base MSRP: $52,400
Heated Seats: $500
Navigation System: Equipped
Premium Package: Equipped
Original Shipping Charge: $825
Original Retail Price: $53,725
And what's remarkable isn't simply what $53,725 bought in 2008.
It's how difficult this combination would be to recreate today.
From a Different Era of BMW M
Think about the ingredients.
Naturally aspirated 3.2-liter inline-six.
Individual throttle controls.
Double-VANOS.
Semi-dry-sump lubrication.
6-speed manual.
Heavy-duty clutch.
Hydraulic steering.
Rear-wheel drive.
M Variable Differential Lock.
Cross-drilled brakes.
A two-seat roadster body.
Modern performance cars are astonishingly capable.
They're faster.
More connected.
More technologically sophisticated.
But capability and character aren't always the same thing.
The Z4 M comes from an era when BMW M was still willing to build a small roadster whose entire purpose seemed to be putting the driver as close as possible to the mechanical experience.
And with only 40,930 miles, this one gives its next owner the opportunity to experience exactly why that era has become so celebrated.
40,930 Miles. Six Cylinders. Six Speeds. One Very Special M Roadster.
With only 40,930 miles, gorgeous Space Gray Metallic, Black Nappa Leather, a naturally aspirated 3.2-liter DOHC 24-valve M inline-six, M Double-VANOS, six individual throttle controls, semi-dry-sump lubrication, 6-speed manual transmission with heavy-duty clutch, rear-wheel drive, M Variable Differential Lock, hydraulic steering, M-specific suspension, cross-drilled compound brakes, staggered 18-inch Style 224M wheels, quad M exhaust tips, Xenon headlights, Navigation, Premium Package, heated seats, and an original retail price of $53,725, this 2008 BMW Z4 M Roadster represents a beautifully preserved example of one of BMW M's most emotionally engaging formulas.
All Payments exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charges, and any emission testing charges. The price for listed vehicles as equipped does not include charges such as: License, Title, Registration Fees, State or Local Taxes, Smog Fees, Credit Investigation, Optional Credit Insurance, Physical Damage of Liability Insurance, or Delivery Fees.
Specifications
Exterior
Disclaimer
The price for this vehicle as equipped does not include charges and fees such as License, Title, Registration Fees, State or Local Sales Tax, King County Business and Occupational Tax, pre-installed theft protection $1495, pre-installed 3-year windshield protection $1495, or a negotiable $200 Documentary Service Fees. While we work to ensure all prices posted here are accurate at all times, we cannot be responsible for typographical and other errors that may appear on the website. We make every effort to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-the-minute information; however, it is your responsibility to verify with the Dealer that all details listed are accurate. The dealership is not responsible for typographical, pricing, product information, advertising, or shipping errors. Advertised prices and available quantities are subject to change without notice. All rates and offers are dependent on bank approval, which varies based on the applicant's credit and the vehicle.
