BMW Z3 Complaints (1998)

49 consumer complaints on file.

#11461944April 24, 2022
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
The BMW E36 Z3 1996-2002 (I have the 1998 1.9) are prone to having a separation of the Rear subframe from the differential causing the drivetrain to hang off the vehicle and/or rip out of the trunk's weak aluminum sheet subframe. BMW Germany has acknowledged the problem for a few individuals over the past decade and a half and kept it on the low for them to not spread it further. BMW North America fails to acknowledge the design flaw during their manufacturing process in the North American Plant during the late 90s. The Spot Welds' quality is subpar and worrisome as this catastrophic failure of the subframe to driveline structure has various ways of presenting it self which chiefly includes popped spot welds in the truck which comes hand in hand with a cracked differential ear bracket. * To simply understand why this happens: The issue is that the metal of the trunkfloor is too thin and not adequete at holding up to the forces of the differential tugging at it. There have been documented cases of similarly "repaired" Z3's that end up basically pulling out and/or deforming the entire trunkfloor panel. The metal panel the diff crossmember is structurally tied to (and the trunkfloor itself which is above it) is simply too weak for the forces being applied through it. Adding more welds simply changes where the failure occurs - from pulling out spotwelds, to deforming the trunk floor/crossmember itself if there are too many welds for them to be able to be pulled out. There are a few kits going around that other owners have addressed to their vehicles for a few thousand dollars which includes welding and a re-fabrication of the trunk floor's structure to the subframe/chasis. It has two "caps" that sit on the framerails at either side and a "crossmember" piece which is a strong piece of metal that spans between the two frame rails and sits on top of the "caps". When installed, the differential ends up tugging at the crossmember, which then distributes the forces.....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11257526September 23, 2019
SEATS
SEATS MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES OR DECELERATES, ITS A KNOWN ISSUE OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULD NOT FALL ON THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165993January 9, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 1998 Z3 M ROADSTER AND THE TRUNK WELDS HOLDING THE SUBFRAME IS FAILING. THIS IS A COMMONLY DOCUMENTED ISSUES. BMW DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT FIX IT. THIS IS A WELDING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN LEAD TO THE DIFFERENTIAL AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN THE REAR TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10995656June 17, 2017
SUSPENSION
A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM REAR END WAS NOTICED. UPON INSPECTION, BY BMW DEALERSHIP IT WAS DETERMINED THE REAR SUBFRAME HOLDING REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE (SPOT WELD FAILURE). I WAS TOLD IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND TO FIX IMMEDIATELY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. HIGHER DISPLACEMENT MODELS ARE A HIGHER OCCURRENCE DUE TO CREATING MORE TORQUE ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET. MINE IS THE M VERSION WHICH IS ALMOST A GUARANTEED FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10955460February 18, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FILLS WITH WATER WHEN TO RAINS AND DOES NOT EMPTY. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES RUST AND MOISTURE IN THE TRUNK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430357October 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN
AT 86K MILES ON MY 1998 BMW Z3, THE THIN SHEET METAL BRACKET HOLDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UP IN PLACE WELDED TO THE CHASSIS SPLIT IN HALF CAUSING THE REAR END TO HANG. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, ALSO AT 93,500 MILES, JUST 8 MONTHS LATER. THE CLUTCH IS STILL ORIGINAL AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, OR RACED. I ALWAYS BABY THE CAR BECAUSE GAS IS SO EXPENSIVE, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF OTHER Z3'S THAT I HAVE SEEN ONLINE. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING FLAW. BMW CLAIMS THE CAR MUST HAVE HAD SOME REAR END IMPACT, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY NOT THE CASE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM REPLACE THIS PART WITH THICKER, OR STRONGER METAL AS IT CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE DIFFERENTIAL FALLS OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415652July 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED A USED 1998 BMW Z3 WITH THE 1.9 LITER ENGINE ON 10/14/2010 WITH 90564 MILES. IN MID NOVEMBER I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH WAS SERVICED. THE MECHANIC INFORMS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH Z3'S ALONG WITH OTHER MODEL BMW'S WITH THE WAY THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS ATTACHED. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FLEXING IN THE SHEET METAL WHERE THE DIFFERENTIAL IS ATTACHED CAUSING FAILURE OF THE SPOT WELDS HOLDING THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER. HE SHOWED ME IN MY TRUNK WHERE TWO OF THE SIX SPOT WELDS HAD BROKEN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE DIFFERENT BMW FORUMS AND BMW IS CLAIMING THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO PERFORMANCE MODIFICATIONS OR CARS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO A TRACK OR AUTOCROSS. I DO NOT KNOW THE PREVIOUS HISTORY OF MY CAR BUT IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. ON 6/30/2011 I HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR SERVICE WORK AND MY MECHANIC FOUND TWO MORE BROKEN WELDS AND SOME SEPARATION IN THE REAR CHASSIS. THIS CAR IS PRETTY MUCH UN-DRIVABLE NOW DUE TO THIS CONDITION. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A COUPLE OF COMPANIES THAT MAKE A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN THE TRUNK AREA AND PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397393April 25, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW Z3M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH WHEN THE REAR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FRAME METAL WAS EXTREMELY WEAK AND CAUSED THE FRAME TO DROP AND THE REAR AXLE TO FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH IF HE WERE TRAVELING FASTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372319December 24, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1998 Z3 SUBFRAME FAILURE. I'M WORRIED MY DIFFERENTIAL OR REAR END WILL FAIL DURING DRIVING AND BMW REFUSES TO FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR EVERYONE ON THE ROAD. BMW HAS INSPECTED MY CAR, ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, AND BLAMED THE FAILURE ON THE MODIFICATIONS I MADE TO THE CAR, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF UN-MODIFIED Z3 VEHICLES AS WELL. THERE IS ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM ON E46 MODELS (Z3 IS NOT AN E46) AND BMW IS FIXING THE E46 BUT NOT THE Z3. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED EVENTUALLY B/C OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360392October 13, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:REAR
NORMAL DRIVING RESULTED IN FRAME FAILURE AT THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING POINT. THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME AND THE CROSS FRAME IS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES.. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS TRUNK FLOOR PAN SPOT WELDS BREAKING LOOSE. THE PROBLEMS RESULT IN A REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY THAT IS LOOSE AND STEERS THE CAR ERRATICALLY. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME DUE TO ERRATIC HANDLING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341018July 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN
Z3 SUBFRAME PROBLEM. POSSIBLE DETACHMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL FROM CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336091June 13, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 1998 BMW Z3 (WITH LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER), INDICATING THE AIRBAG (OR AIRBAGS) AND SEAT BELT TENSIONERS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS WAS "A COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THIS MODEL AND TOLD US EXACTLY WHAT MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO ANY DIAGNOSTICS'THAT THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE SEATBELT LATCH AND WIRING THAT CAUSED 'HIGH RESISTANCE'. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS $825. A GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS SAME PROBLEM IS ESSENTIALLY UBIQUITOUS. I SEARCHED FOR 'BMW Z3 AIRBAG LIGHT ON', AND I GOT NEARLY 40,000 HITS. LOOKING RANDOMLY AT SOME OF THESE HITS, I FIND EACH CONTAINS MULTIPLE ACTUAL INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRST RESULT RETURNED (HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T145936-Z3_AIRBAG_SENSORS.HTML) INDICATED AT LEAST 6 VEHICLES WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THUS, I WOULD ESTIMATE FROM THE GOOGLE SEARCH THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED 100,000+ VEHICLES JUST COUNTING THOSE POSTED ON THE INTERNET'PLUS ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT POSTED ON THE INTERNET. THE BMW Z3 WAS A LOW VOLUME VEHICLE, SO IT WOULD APPEAR THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT AFFECTS A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THESE VEHICLES. ASIDE FROM THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF OWNERS REPAIRING THIS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT, I SUSPECT MANY OWNERS SIMPLY CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY SAFETY DEFECT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THEIR DESIGN DEFECT AND REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE INCURRED PERHAPS $100,000,000 IN REPAIRS FOR THIS SEVERE AND DEADLY DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285850September 30, 2009
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW Z3. DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTOR RAIL FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE SEAT MOVED BACK AND FORTH WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 11/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BMW KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND THERFORE, THEY CHANGED MATERIAL USED IN THE ISOLATER PADS. UPDATED 11/09/09
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197346July 24, 2007
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW Z3. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197347July 24, 2007
SEATS
MARCH 2007 DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND UPON STOPPING AT RED LIGHT SEAT JOLTS FORWARD CAUSING FOOT TO SLIP OFF OF BRAKE AND NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY NOW ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT OF 1998 BMW Z-3. UPON TAKING CAR TO SHOP AFTER SHOP AND DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $470.00 A SEAT TO FIX. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PART WAS DETERMINED DEFECTIVE BY BMW AND CHANGED IN THE NEXT MODEL AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED TO SAVE THE PUBLIC FROM USELESS AND AVOIDABLE ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191028May 17, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH A KNOCKING SOUND ON THE REAR OF THE CAR, A BMW Z3 , AND I HAVE NOW FOUND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS DAMAGED. BMW ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH SOME UNITS WHEN PRODUCED, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THIS FOR ME ON WARRANTY, ITS APPAULING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163832July 28, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE SUBFRAME IS TEARING APART FROM THE FRAME ITSELF IN THE TRUNK. SPOT WELDS HAVE FAILED AND SEPARATION IS OBVIOUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138337October 3, 2005
SEATS
BOTH THE DRIVER SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT RAILS ARE DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE SEATS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH DURING STOPS ESPECIALLY DOWNHILL. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER AND AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION FOR THE PASSENGER. BMW SAYS THAT IT WILL NOT PROVIDE A REPAIR AT ITS COST OR AT A REDUCED COST BECAUSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND IT ON OTHER Z3S THAT I TEST DROVE. IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT COST BY BMW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135003August 31, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: 1998 BMW Z3 ROADSTER - THERE WAS A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS. WHILE DRIVING ON A DRY ROUGH ROAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH ANYTHING, AND WAS DRIVING ONLY ABOUT 5 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAY THAT AN IMPACT WITH A POT HOLE CAUSED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONSUMER CLAIMED HE DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THIS DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK THE SENSORS TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE AIR BAG DEFECT ON THIS MODEL. HOWEVER THERE WAS A RECALL ON AIR BAGS IN OTHER BMW MODELS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133488August 19, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I HEARD A CREAKING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR, I PUT IT ON JACKS TO CHECK IT OUT. TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR PAN MAINLY AROUND THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT. THE CAR IS CLAIMED TO BE UNDRIVABLE BY BMW, BUT YET THEY WILL NOT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATTER. I SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IF I DID NOT CHECK IT AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CRACKS AND TEARS IN THE BODY METAL THAT EXIST COULD HAVE CONTINUED EVEN FURTHER AND LED TO AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I WAS ESTIMATED AT A WHOPPING 5200 DOLLARS WHICH BMW SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY 3000 OF. I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, SO IT SHOULD BE PAID IN FULLY BY THE COMPANY, BUT THEY WILL NOT STAND UP THE THEIR FAULT. I HAVE AT THIS TIME NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE, I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO DOESNT HAVE THE LARGEST INCOME AROUND SO PICKING 2000 OR MORE DOLLARS OUT OF NOWHERE IS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE. AND I STILL HAVE TO GO TO WORK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME I AM HOME, AND SO WITHOUT A LOANER FROM BMW OR THEM TAKING FULL BLAME AND PAYING IN FULL I AM FORCED TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR, FOR HOWEVER LONG. I HOPE THIS SITUATION CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF AS THERE ARE CASES OF SIMILAR SUBFRAME PROBLEMS POPPING UP ALL OVER FORUMS ONLINE. ENTHUSIASTS OF THE Z3 WILL RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE IF THEY TEDIOUSLY AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THEIR CARS, HOWEVER THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO JUST BUYS THEIR CAR AND DRIVES IT AROUND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA OF THE PROBLEM AT HAND AND THE POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IT MAY LEAD UP TO IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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