BMW Z8 E52

The Z8 included an innovative use of neon exterior lighting. The tail lights and turn indicators are powered by neon tubes that offer quicker activation than standard lightbulbs and are expected to last for the life of the vehicle.

The BMW Z8 Alpina

For 2003, the final model year, the Z8 model was augmented by the Alpina V8 Roadster. The Alpina was a departure from the hard-edged sporting focus of the original car, and elements of the new grand touring intent were evident throughout this final edition. Instead of the original six speed manual and 4.9 liter (S62) engine featured in earlier Z8's, the Alpina came only as an automatic, using a 5-speed BMW Steptronic transmission allied to a downgraded 4.8L Alpina-tuned V8 motor from the Alpina E39 B10 V8 S. In order to complete the car's transition from sportscar to boulevardier, relaxed suspension tuning was used. The standard Z8's run-flat tires and 18 inch wheels were discarded in favor of conventional tires with softer sidewalls, and 20 inch wheels. A new, softer grade of Nappa leather replaced the Z8's less supple specification, and special Alpina gauges were featured on the dash cluster. An Alpina steering wheel with three solid spokes replaced the original, which could not be retrofitted with shift paddles for the automatic. Gear selection was displayed in an Alpina-specific display mounted in front of the wheel.

Performance of the Alpina Z8 differed from that of the standard car in that peak power was reduced to 375 bhp while peak torque was raised to 383 lb·ft (519 N·m); this torque was available at significantly lower rpm than the original in order to enable more relaxed cruising. Curiously, the electronically limited top speed was officially raised to 161 mph (259 km/h). Only 555 of these Alpinas were built, most of which were exported to the United States market. In the United States, this special edition of the Z8 was sold directly through BMW dealerships, marking a first for Alpina, whose cars had never been sold through retail channels in the USA.

Criticism and Flaws

The Z8 held BMW's production car performance records for several years, and many journalists praised the car, but some in the UK motoring press most notably Jeremy Clarkson, who while reviewing the Alpina edition of the Z8 on Top Gear (Series 2 Episode 3), described the standard Z8 as having terrible handling and being an example of a car that never knew what it was supposed to be, a supercar or a roadster.

The lack of a limited slip differential (LSD) was one of the Z8's odd characteristics: the car came with an open differential that allowed one wheel to break free under maximum acceleration. BMW's DSC traction and stability control prevented the absence of an LSD from becoming a safety concern, but owners and journalists agreed that this choice of differential represented poor judgment on the part of BMW. Many Z8 owners subsequently retrofitted Quaife LSDs to rectify the perceived shortcoming.

More generally, some journalists complained about airflow in the cabin at high speeds with and without the soft top in place, with tiresome wind noise and turbulence reported at speeds of over 85 miles per hour (137 km/h) . The detachable wind blocker that was supplied with the car mitigated but did not eliminate the problem. Some journalists noted the ergonomic issues that arose as a consequence of the interior's uncompromising aesthetics, such as the vintage-look spoked steering wheel which lacked auxiliary audio, cruise, or climate controls, or the basic dashboard layout with no navigation screens.

Reports that the front shock towers could deform from a severe pothole impact gained attention in early 2006. The very hard run flat tires are responsible for the problem. In response BMW AG engineered and released a strut tower brace kit to stabilize that area of the frame as part of the Performance Package by the end of the year.

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