BMW Z4 2007 Review

For every equivalent to "Phwoar, that's all right," there was a "****, that's horrible!"

You can groove on the Z4's endless bonnet and plethora of planes and creases. Or, like me, you can find the construct vaguely nauseating.

In which case, the 3.0si model really does deliver on its looks. If ever there was a single case against BMW's fitment of runflat tyres to almost all its models, here it be.

Picture the reaction of a big cockroach when narrowly missed by a tightly furled and vigorously wielded newspaper. This image came to mind when driving, with no particular intent or enthusiasm, on one of western Sydney's standard, coarse-chip roads.

When not tramlining along ruts in a way that any less stiff sidewalls wouldn't, the 3.0si skittered and skipped at the merest patchwork. That Lotus Europa S we featured a fortnight ago was more forgiving.

And the latter is a mildly constrained version of Lotus's road warriors, not an allegedly luxury coupe.

Given that the fat majority of 3.0si models are bought by soft cogs who stipulate the automatic transmission — rather than the notchy, short throw manual of our car — Bimmer is missing its market by the width of its rubber.

Of course, you could always emulate several BMW owners we know of — rip off the runflats and replace 'em with conventional low-profile tyres. If you have a serious flat any distance from the metropolis at least you'll have a chance of replacing it locally and at perhaps half the cost.

And unless your daily drive is over the beaut blacktops of rural Tasmania, you'll find the going much less maddening.

Such a street legal modification might even enhance the anodyne electro-mechanical rack and pinion steering, which is not a patch on the hydraulic set up afforded the hot Z4 M (which eschews runflats, incidentally).

While pushing the Sport button sharpens throttle response, somehow it also serves to further denude the wheel of feel, dissipating the fun factor of a nicely balanced rear-wheel-drive coupe.

Buzzing about results in more within. Not for the first time in one of BMW's US-built sporters we've had cause to suspect fit and finish. There may be only a bit of clicking and vibration, but there's too much of it too often for anything like this money.

To continue in that universal language, if you can't find the means — or the will — to live with the uncompromised M version, save heaps and buy a Nissan 350Z. If that's too common, look at Mazda's high-revving rotary RX-8.

Of course, what neither of these have is BMW's superb 3-litre inline six, with 195kW/315Nm that can be enjoyed to its utmost in the 1320kg 3.0si.

Strapped in with your rear end somewhere near the rear axle, trying to stir the 3.0si to its claimed 5.7second 0-100km/h sprint time is a sure-fire smile.

If all-round vision is more restricted than even the aforementioned Lotus, it's no chore to clamber in and out of the Z4's cockpit. Nor, when opening the doors, do you risk disabling bystanders on the other side of the street, a la Alfa's Brera.

The 3.0si's dash design and instrument cluster is lean, clean and easy to read with the sat-nav unafflicted by i-Drive. Bold aluminium accents and beige leather are tasteful contrasts to the particular shade of metallic grey that's the most pleasing of BMW's current hues.

These are aesthetic points upon which even observers polarised by the Z4's shape can agree. Just as they would likely arrive at the same verdict after driving it home.