[edge350]

Same powerplant in a new package. Not sure if that's enough to draw much interest. I'd definitely wait for the M version, especially you're already driving a 135i or 335i.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...0_bmw_z4_spied

[imported_MPower]

Originally Posted by edge350

Same powerplant in a new package.

The current Z4 range does not include the N54, so there would be "new" engines. But I don't think anyone has been complaining about the engines on the Z4 anyway... It will be really interesting to see where BMW goes with the styling on the new one.

[kobezklutch]

i read the article but i cant tell if they meant if the car will have the n54 or not. im hoping it does, but bmw is really whoring this beautiful engine out!

oh n if they do put it in, what would be the point of an M1? i mean the new Z would have to be significantly lighter and you can only have so many M cars before the idea starts becoming dilluted right? theres already an M3, M5, M6, maybe the CS in the future, and the the future z4M! how many different sizes can they put out and still be profitable?

[ScottyGams]

well an engine of the year award will make a company more likely to use it.

and bmw historically does not change the engine for the first model year of a car. look for the engine choices in year 2

[kobezklutch]

Originally Posted by ScottyGams

well an engine of the year award will make a company more likely to use it.

and bmw historically does not change the engine for the first model year of a car. look for the engine choices in year 2

so true. again im not saying its bad, just not as exclusive as it was early on with the 335

[edge350]

I can't see myself spending Z4 money with an engine that's available up and down the BMW range. That just seems lame.
And why would you wait until the second model year after such an extensive re-design? What purpose would that serve except screwing your true fans who lined up first?

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by ScottyGams

and bmw historically does not change the engine for the first model year of a car. look for the engine choices in year 2

That's an interesting comment. Can you give me some examples? I think you may be right, at least that's what happened with the introduction of N54 into the 3 series, but it also left a lot of sour first year 330i buyers. I did not know BMW had a habit of doing this though.

[imported_MPower]

Originally Posted by spinzero

That's an interesting comment. Can you give me some examples? I think you may be right, at least that's what happened with the introduction of N54 into the 3 series, but it also left a lot of sour first year 330i buyers. I did not know BMW had a habit of doing this though.

When BMW launched the E65, the important thing that BMW stated again and again was how rare it was to have BMW release a brand new engine alongside a brand new model (the 4.4 Valvetronic V8, in this case). It is not quite as rare as BMW claim but look at the fact that the E60 first came with the same straight-sixes as before, the E46 came with the same 2.5 and 2.8 liter engines, the X5, the Z4, X3, etc.

[ScottyGams]

Originally Posted by spinzero

That's an interesting comment. Can you give me some examples? I think you may be right, at least that's what happened with the introduction of N54 into the 3 series, but it also left a lot of sour first year 330i buyers. I did not know BMW had a habit of doing this though.

haha, by history, i mean the last iterations i have been paying attention to in the 3...

the 335i is known by you, but the same thing happened when they went from 325/328 to 328/335...

also the X3/Z4 when it was introduced had just a 215hp 3.0 engine. only in the last couple of years has BMW added the multi-stage intake and ECU management to bring the SI to 260hp.