462bhp air-ride 2019 BMW Z4 M40i G29

The G29 Z4 might not be a common sight on the modded BMW scene, but this slick air-ride example makes up for that in a big way.

Words: Elizabeth de Latour

Photos: 24Seven

Photography Graffiti: SNUB23, My Dog Sighs

Modding Warfare

We don’t see many modded G29 Z4s, but this air-ride M40i makes up for that in a big way.

The G29 Z4 is not a car we’ve seen much of on the modded BM scene. Indeed, the Z4 has never been a big hitter among the modifying crowd, but it feels like the G29 has really been ignored. And that feels like a shame because it’s a great car. The styling is clean and aggressive, and the grille is a reasonable size… It’s loaded with tech, it’s good to drive, and in M40i form, with the B58 under the bonnet, it’s a seriously quick car. Honestly, it feels like people are missing out, but perhaps Roval Waithe (@lreckz) and his Z4 can show people the true potential of the G29.

Roval is a content creator and competitive Call of Duty player/ streamer, quite possibly the firstever pro gamer owner we’ve featured, and alongside his love for gaming, he has a love for cars. “I have owned eight cars since passing my test, and five of them have been on air suspension or modified to some extent. I love standard cars, however, adding my own personal aftermarket taste is my favourite,” he grins, and that’s especially true when it comes to BMWs. “BMW has always been the driver’s car: sporty-looking, rear-wheel drive and an experience every time you enter. BMW’s new platform is a masterpiece, so as soon as the interior got upgraded, I knew it was time to own my dream car,” he enthuses.

And Roval kicked off BMW ownership in style. “My first BMW was an M2 Competition, it was an amazing entry-level M car and gave me the whole experience I was looking for, from style to power and elegance. I loved owning that car and enjoyed everything about it,” he tells us with a huge smile plastered across his face.

The thing is, for a lot of people the M2 would have been the goal, but Roval had his sights set elsewhere. “The BMW Z4 has always been a goal, and I wanted a car that would not only replace the M2 but still give me the same sort of enjoyment. The Z4 ticked all the boxes and allowed me to have a unique project and enable me to have power, presence and practicality,” he enthuses. “I bought this car basically brand new; the car was on 5000 miles upon being purchased, and now it’s closing in on 20k,” so it’s clear he’s been enjoying himself.

B58 has been treated to a selection of upgrades and is now making 462hp

It would seem that great minds do indeed think alike because Roval also had the lack of Z4s on the modded scene on his mind. “I knew I hadn’t seen any G29s modified, and for that reason, I wanted to be the first to do it,” he grins. “This car has turned so many heads, and I get compliments daily. I knew from day one I wanted to put the car on Air Lift suspension and get some custom wheels. I was just worried about the cost and driving experience, but honestly, it’s the best thing I’ve done to the car,” he enthuses, and the whole package is a killer one.

Roval’s first plan of action was to lower the car on some H&R springs, but that was only ever going to be a temporary mod before he could make the move to get his fix of full-on lows. “Air Lift Performance has always been amazing and I have it used on many of my cars; I love the idea of riding low and parking lower,” he grins. “This has been an amazing addition to the car as it’s added the element of surprise for anyone that doesn’t know it even exists.

I love that I can drive the car low, park lower and never have an issue with speed bumps.” Air-ride suits the Z4 so well, and this car looks absolutely awesome aired out, delivering heaps of visual drama, further aided by Roval’s excellent choice of wheels.

“I have always loved Rotiform, and my dream wheel has always been the OZT,” he explains. “Luckily my friend TJ from ESPTR gave me the opportunity to have them and I jumped at the chance, my favourite wheel on my favourite car,” enthuses Roval. The OZT splits look fantastic on the Z4 – these 20s work so well on the G29, and the low offsets ensure they fill the arches to perfection. The fitment is on point, too – up front, the arches just slide over the sidewalls to kiss the lips, while at the rear, the wheels just tuck under the arches with a hair’s breadth to spare. It just looks so good.

Adding further drama is Roval’s choice of styling enhancements. He’s not gone overboard, but just a few tasteful tweaks have given this Z4 some additional presence and a welcome boost in the looks department. This G29 wears a Maxton Design front splitter, side blades, and rear side splitters, all finished in gloss black. They are subtle, which is exactly what Roval wanted, and just give the roadster a bit more aggression. As for the cabin, Roval has only added the tiniest touch of personalisation. “The interior was perfect. The red leather Sport seats complemented the car so well, but I just had to add some carbon to the steering wheel and middle section. BMW created a masterpiece when designing this car,” he smiles.

Now, if that was the end of things, this would be a very tidy Z4, but Roval is a keen modder, and that meant it would have been a sin to leave the engine untouched when it has so much potential. “With the B58 already being an amazing starting point, I didn’t want to do too much,” reasons Roval. “Firstly, I had the downpipe, turbo intake elbow pipe and Stage 2 remap added, which emphasised the car perfectly. Then I had carbon added to complement the sound when I was showcasing the bay,” he says, and all that has resulted in a serious performance boost. This Z4 is now making a very healthy 462hp, and it’s got the soundtrack to match thanks to the Deutsch Tech valved exhaust, while the carbon additions make the engine bay that much sexier.

While it took just three months to get all the mods done, Roval spent a year panning everything, and it was time very well spent. This Z4 is such a tidy build, and he’s done an awesome job. The combo of those subtle styling enhancements, the air and the wheels give it some serious visual drama, while the upgrades to the B58 make this more than just a show car. And, naturally, Roval is far from finished with his G29.

“My plans now are to get a wrap and new wheels, maybe some more carbon around the exterior/interior,” he muses, and we like the sound of where this Z4 is going. There might not be many modded G29s on the scene, but someone’s got to go first, and Roval’s M40i might just be the car to wake enthusiasts up to the appeal and potential of this Z4. He’s a trailblazer and he’s got taste, and that’s exactly what we love to see.

I have always loved Rotiform, and my dream wheel has always been the OZT. Luckily my friend TJ from ESPTR gave me the opportunity to have them and I jumped at the chance, my favourite wheel on my favourite car

TECHNICAL DATA 2019 BMW Z4 M40i G29

• ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION: 3.0-litre turbo straight-six B58B30, MST performance 4.5” downpipe, MST Performance intake elbow pipe, Eventuri intake and carbon engine cover, Deutsch Tech valved exhaust and Stage 2+ map. ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox
• MAX POWER: 462hp
• CHASSIS: 9.5x20” ET15 (front) and 9.5x20” ET2 (rear) Rotiform OZT three-piece wheels with Nankang 235/35 tyres, Air Lift Performance 3P air suspension
• EXTERIOR: Maxton Design gloss black front splitter, side blades and rear side splitters
• INTERIOR: AutoID custom carbon steering wheel and dashboard trim

Air Lift Performance has always been amazing and I have it used on many of my cars; I love the idea of riding low and parking lower

A few custom carbon elements enhance the interior; red leather really pops and serves up some serious flair.

The BMW Z4 has always been a goal, and I wanted a car that would not only replace the M2 but still give me the same sort of enjoyment