The Z4 (E89) was officially announced on 13 December 2008 and was unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, alongside the MINI Convertible. The Z4 (E89) was then launched in markets in May 2009.
A total of €130 million was spent from 2007 to 2009 in expansion of the Regensburg plant for production of the Z4 (E89). Although its predecessor was produced in the Spartanburg plant in the United States, the E89 was produced in the BMW's Regensburg plant alongside the E93 3 Series convertible making it the third Z series car to be manufactured in Germany since the Z1 and Z8.
The E89 Z4 was offered with the base level sDrive or optional M Sport trim. The M Sport trim included 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, sports seats, redesigned front and rear bumpers, sports steering wheel and sports suspension. An optional Design Pure Impulse package was also offered, having colour matching Alcantara or Nappa leather, and BMW Individual anthracite roof lining.
The 2013 facelift also introduced the Design Pure Traction and Pure Fusion Design package, which had the choice of the exclusive Valencia Orange and Sparkling Brown metallic paintwork respectively (alongside regular colours), and colour matching interior design elements. The Design Pure Traction package also featured a black hardtop roof.
The E89 Z4 came standard with BMW EfficientDynamics technologies, such as regenerative braking and electric power steering. Models also feature an electric parking brake, engine start-stop system, directional headlights, and a driving mode selector with Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes which adjust throttle and gearbox behavior, power steering weighting, and the adjustable dampers (with the optional 'Electronic Damper Control'). The models could also be ordered with the iDrive infotainment system with BMWConnected services and keyless entry.
