z4 2009 interior

[cruisingdog]

Is it just me or do you guys think the interior is waaaay too busy ?

IMO, the new Z4 is more like an exercise in distraction opposed to driving. I mean, how many buttons can you fit in a car ?

[Erhan]

i agree with you. only usefull button among all is the suspension setting buttun. i love my MC. very plain, very easy controls.

[EdCT]

Classic British sports cars have always had busy dashes - this one makes the new Z4's look positively spartan:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/jaguar-sports-cars-12.jpg

[TMQ]

There aren't that many buttons to push. The interior is the best in a BMW in quite some time - great use of the CS concept.

[RedBread]

I find it really well done. It's a little busy, especially around the climate control area, but it's nicer to my eyes than any other recent BMW design. The heavy use of leather on the doors and dash are a nice touch, I wonder how much that will cost as an option? The much lighter M Roadster and M Coupe leather upgrade was already rather spendy.

[cruisingdog]

I must admit I'm really growing to liking the exterior. However the interior is not 'pure' enough for me. Maybe if a lot of the options aren't chosen it wouldn't look so busy (such as GPS and other accessories).

It's still a beautiful car!! (even with negative comments) :)

[MVF4Rider]

BMWs historically (and I appreciate that) have very symmetrical interiors. This one with its odd and different shaped vents, confusingly layered dash, silly center dials turns me off completely. It's way overdone. Looks like it was borrowed from a X3 dash concept that didn't make the cut?

[supremeart]

Strange though, that will all the pics online that I have seen of the interior, not one public shot appears to be circulating with a 6 speed manual. This IS a sports car.... right? Guess they are really trying to publicize the Sdrive system and fancy new beer tap style manual lever that has been on several other BMW models for a year or so already...

[EdCT]

Strange though, that will all the pics online that I have seen of the interior, not one public shot appears to be circulating with a 6 speed manual. And in the spec sheet sheet that was posted on another thread, there appears not to be a manual option on the base model which would be a huge disappointment seeing as this IS a sports car...

Yes, there's a manual for the base model.

That's how I'd get this car - 6 speed stick and sport package on the 3.0.

Simple and effective (and the lightest curb weight).

The over-gizmo'd models will have I drive, fancy automatics and 300 plus hp - all unnecessary and a distraction from the pure pleasure of driving a sports car, IMO.

Ed

[westwest888]

Maybe just skip the iDrive and it will look like there is less going on, even though there will be more buttons.

[dmz]

I think the amount of button on the Z is just right. Not too many not too little. If you think this is too many button you should look at a new Lexus or Acura.:yikes:

[supremeart]

Yes, there's a manual for the base model.

That's how I'd get this car - 6 speed stick and sport package on the 3.0.

Simple and effective (and the lightest curb weight).

The over-gizmo'd models will have I drive, fancy automatics and 300 plus hp - all unnecessary and a distraction from the pure pleasure of driving a sports car, IMO.

Ed


I couldn't agree more....

[fxhomie]

I totally dig the new interior. BMW TV has an interview with the interior designer, who explains what she was trying to accomplish in her design. I say she succeeded.

:thumbup:

[z3power]

I like it more than the current Z4...sorry guys and gals...to me it feels more driver orientated than the current Z4.

[iwanna330cic]

I like it more than the current Z4...sorry guys and gals...to me it feels more driver orientated than the current Z4.
I'll have to see it in person while sitting in the driver's seat before I know, but I tend to agree with you!

Doug

[The HACK]

BMWs historically (and I appreciate that) have very symmetrical interiors. This one with its odd and different shaped vents, confusingly layered dash, silly center dials turns me off completely. It's way overdone. Looks like it was borrowed from a X3 dash concept that didn't make the cut?

Historically? :confused:

http://www.bmwheritage.com/images/e46/e46_m3_interior_lrg.jpg

That doesn't look symmetrical to me...

http://www.babym3.com/%7Ebabym3c/breytoninterior.jpg

This doesn't look symmetrical to me either...

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/faq/E30_M3_dash_late.jpg

I would hardly call this symmetrical...

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/autoreview/400x266/1996-2002-BMW-Z3-96602131000113.jpg

I guess there's a driver's and a passenger's side, if you call that symmetrical. This is a BMW Z roadster, by the way...

About the only BMWs that has "symmetrical" interiors are the LAST generation BMWs, like the E9X:

http://www.car4view.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/148665614_ec4bbbd793.jpg

E60:

http://www.cecwheels.com/images/medialibrary/acs_acs5_m5_innen_tgif.gif

E65:

http://www.parkovka.info/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/E65_3.jpg

Notice a trend? Historically BMW dash and interior design is DRIVER CENTRIC, not symmetrical. Only recent designs have symmetrical dash.

[caylan]

thoughtfully done.

[e60lover]

Still looks less busy to me than the Audi TT/MB SLK.

[cruisingdog]

Hmm, some really good comments here. Maybe the Auto industry is going for the gizmos opposed to the sleek 'classic' look. After looking at some of the old sports cars (vintage) I notice that they are very pure and really a driver's car. Not overdone with GPS's, MP3 Players, Heaters & A/C and the like. I know that we like our creature comforts but I still feel that the manufacturers are suffering from feature creep and just add the gizmos so that they can add bullets to their sales fliers and marketing blurb.

Eventually we'll be driving a computer and the car part of it will be an accessory!! I think BMW is less of a victim to this trend but still is sucked into the competitive nightmare that the industry is going through.

Please BMW, if your listening, please keep the interior simple (maybe one touch screen console for everything which can be hidden). Have all the accessories hidden in the trunk for safe keeping. That kind of thing.

BTW, a pure car for me is a Caterham 7 (with a 2.3 Cosworth Engine!). And yes, I would love to own one! Uber geek car, yes. But what the heck!

[gmlav8r]

So why does the Z4 need dual climate controls? It is a freakn' two seat roadster. :dunno: :tsk:

[nowonder]

So why does the Z4 need dual climate controls? It is a freakn' two seat roadster. :dunno: :tsk:

Agreed, it's just goofy.

If they were really going for comfort, they should offer something as simple as a heated steering wheel, or something useful like the vented seats offered on the M5/7 series.

--nw

[100$ GUY]

there aren't that many buttons to push. The interior is the best in a bmw in quite some time - great use of the cs concept.

+100

[tturedraider]

So why does the Z4 need dual climate controls? It is a freakn' two seat roadster. :dunno: :tsk:

Things that cars need and things that the market that buys them demands are two completely different things.


I'll have to see it in person while sitting in the driver's seat before I know, but I tend to agree with you!

Doug

I done seen it in person while sitting in the driver's seat. Went to the Dallas auto show this weekend. It looks absolutely great from the driver's seat. :thumbup: Much, much better up close and personal than it does in the pics. All the proportions are virtually perfect. All the swoops flow together just great when you're looking at them from the driver's seat (and the passenger's seat). :D

[M3Mike]

Is it just me or do you guys think the interior is waaaay too busy ?

IMO, the new Z4 is more like an exercise in distraction opposed to driving. I mean, how many buttons can you fit in a car ?


Sophisticated & classy !!

The new Z4 is much prettier than the old model.

imo :)

[BMWE46///M3]

I think it looks fine and the seats look good on the new Z4.

[calys003]

Is it just me or do you guys think the interior is waaaay too busy ?

IMO, the new Z4 is more like an exercise in distraction opposed to driving. I mean, how many buttons can you fit in a car ?

yes

[MedicChoi]

+1 :thumbup:

[Beemerup]

Perhaps those of you who are comparing to Audi or any other brand should compare to this? Or...just stop your whining. it's really does not have any more buttons than this!