BMW Z4 M40i (G29)

The BMW Z4 M40i makes a clear decision before any number is considered: inline-6 power, turbocharged delivery, and rear-wheel drive in a two-seat convertible. In a catalogue of 600 cars, only 23 pair an inline-6 with RWD, and only 11 combine turbocharging with an inline-6. That combination is the defining choice here. It gives the Z4 M40i a place built around a specific mechanical layout rather than simply chasing the largest figures.

The trade-off is visible when the car is measured against the full collection. Its 335 bhp places it 475th of 600 for power, while its 0-100 km/h time of 4.6 seconds ranks 414th, faster than 186 cars in the catalogue. The 250 km/h top speed sits at the same 414th position. These are not numbers that dominate the entire garage, but they describe a car positioned around balance and a distinctive specification. The 3.0-litre engine produces 500 Nm, with rear-wheel drive connecting that inline-6 character to a two-seater format.

That focus also appears in the car’s place among the catalogue’s pricing. At a used price of £42,000, the Z4 M40i ranks 475th of 600 for cost, more expensive than 125 cars in the collection. Its cost per bhp is £125, placing the emphasis on the complete package rather than a single headline metric. BMW contributes 48 cars to the catalogue, and the Z4 M40i sits within a manufacturer presence that represents part of the wider German contribution of 197 cars.

The choice of an inline-6 with RWD separates the Z4 M40i from many other possible garage selections. Only 33 cars in the catalogue use an inline-6 layout, making this configuration a notable thread within a 600-car universe. The result is a sports car that earns attention through the combination it keeps: a 3.0-litre turbocharged engine, open-top two-seat design, and rear-driven layout.

For a collector building a garage, the Z4 M40i introduces a different kind of decision. It is not defined by being the strongest number on the page, but by the unusual alignment of features behind those numbers.

The Z4 M40i brings balance.