How much is auto insurance for a BMW Z4?

Although U.S. News and World Report only ranks the BMW Z4 convertible at #6 out of eight vehicles in the Luxury Sports Car category, its reviewers acknowledge that drivers who prioritize luxury over performance will undoubtedly consider it one of their first choices.

Top-ranked vehicles in this category like the Lotus Elise can easily outdo the BMW Z4 on the track, but they lack the interior comfort that makes the Z4 livable on a daily basis.

Drivers who need more cargo space might consider the Porsche Boxster instead, but they should be warned that it does not come standard with a retractable hardtop, like the Z4 does.

Read on to learn how auto insurance rates and ownership costs for the Z4 compare to those of other luxury sports cars or enter your zip code above for personalized auto insurance quotes online.

Auto Insurance Rates for the BMW Z4

Although auto insurance rates for the BMW Z4 are not as high as the $16,366 Edmunds estimates that Chevrolet Corvette owners will pay over five years, they are higher than the rates that Porsche owners can expect to pay.

Edmunds predicts that 2011 Z4 owners will pay $12,645 for car insurance over five years, or $2,529 annually.

The Porsche Cayman is a bit less costly to insure, with estimated five year rates of $11,647, and estimated 5-year rates for the Porsche Boxster are far lower, at $9,684.

BMW Z4 Repair Costs

The 2011 Z4 comes with BMW’s standard 4-year/50,000 mile warranty, which is inclusive of scheduled maintenance. Its Predicted Reliability score, as calculated by J.D. Power and Associates, is 7.0 out of 10. This is better than the competing Audi TT’s score of 6.0, but the Corvette, Boxster and Mercedes SLK all earned scores of 8.0.

Edmunds estimates that owners will pay approximately $2,611 in repair costs for the Z4 during the initial five years that this sports car is on the road. This compares well to the estimates of just over $3,300 for the Porsche Boxster and the Cayman.

However, it’s much higher than Edmunds’ $1,547 repair cost estimate for the Chevy Corvette.

Maintenance Costs for the Z4

Due to the fact that its scheduled maintenance is free while the car is under warranty, the Z4’s maintenance costs are significantly lower than its competitors’. Edmunds estimates that Z4 owners will pay just $3,637 to maintain their vehicles during the first five years they own them.

By way of comparison, Edmunds estimates that the Boxster will cost $5,767 to maintain over five years, and the Cayman will have repair bills of nearly $6,000. The 2011 Corvette is a bit more affordable in this regard, with an estimated 5-year repair bill of $4,537.

BMW Z4 Fuel Costs

Although fuel economy is not usually foremost in the minds of luxury sports car drivers, it can be an important factor if you plan to use the vehicle for your daily commute. The Z4’s 18 city mpg is not impressive compared to the 21 city mpg that the Audi TT and the Lotus Elise offer.

However, only the Audi TT’s 29 highway mpg beats the Z4’s 28 mpg fuel efficiency in highway driving.

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Depreciation for the BMW Z4

The Z4, Corvette, Boxster and Cayman all depreciate by roughly 20 percent during the first year of ownership. Their retained value is also comparable after they are on the road for five years, assuming they are kept in good condition, but they show a bit more variation in this statistic.

The Porsche Cayman and Boxster are expected to lose 52 and 55 percent of their initial value, respectively, after five years. The BMW Z4 is expected to lose nearly 60 percent of its initial value after five years, and the Corvette is expected to lose 49 percent of its value, based on Edmunds’ data.

These figures only apply to the base models, where applicable.

BMW Z4 Safety Features

As is the case with most luxury vehicles, the Z4 has not received crash test scores from the federal government. However, reviewers like Edmunds and Left Lane News say that the Z4 has improved visibility compared to previous models, and it also has advanced standard safety features like electronic stability control and emergency brake assist.

Other safety features that are standard on the BMW Z4 include the following:

• Tire pressure monitoring
• Brake drying
• Traction control
• Anti-lock brakes

Reviews for the BMW Z4

Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book agree that in terms of driving thrills, the Porsche Boxster still wears the crown. However, the Z4 packs a punch that will satisfy most drivers, and it features a luxury feel that the Boxster can’t match.

The base model Z4 sDrive30i features a 3.0 liter I6 power plant that delivers 255 horsepower. Buyers can also upgrade to the sDrive35i, which features a turbocharged version of this engine that produces an additional 45 horsepower.

The base model Z4 can accelerate to 60 mph from a dead stop in 5.6 seconds, while the sDrive35i beats the sDrive30i by half a second. There’s also a third trim available, the sDrive35is, which makes it to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds.

According to U.S. News, the Z4’s handling is exceptional, but the steering is not as responsive as that of other BMWs.

Edmunds describes the 2011 Z4’s interior as “undeniably premium.” It features increased leg and headroom compared to previous models, and Car and Driver says that the notoriously complicated iDrive infotainment system is simpler than it was in past iterations.

The Z4 also has an innovative feature that keeps the leather seats from retaining heat in the hot sun.

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