BMW Z3 Complaints

253 consumer complaints on file.

#10141850November 6, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS CAR, IT WAS ALWAYS GARAGED AND USED AS A WEEKEND PLEASURE VEHICLE. CLEAN CARFAX, NEVER RACED, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD PURCHASE. TWO SPOT WELDS IN THE TRUNK WERE NOT ACTUALLY HOLDING ANYTHING TOGETHER (ROBOT ERROR) AND THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK ON MY DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT. I PURCHASED A REINFORCEMENT KIT AND INSTALL FROM SPORTS CAR LLC, WHICH INCLUDES A NEW MOUNT (DUAL EAR FROM AN E36 M3) AND SEVERAL REINFORCING BRACKETS BEING WELDED INTO THE TRUNK AREA. THIS COST ME SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST TO ENSURE MY PERSONAL SAFETY AND KEEP MY CAR AT THE SAME TIME. *NM
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
#10136997September 19, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DT: 1996 BMW Z3. THE CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS AN INCORRECTLY MACHINED GUIDE SLEEVE IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT HE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NO RECALL. THE PROBLEM STARTED ON MAY 23, 2001. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND OCCURS ONLY IN FIRST GEAR. *AK
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
#10133930August 23, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE WELDS CONNECTING THE SUBFRAME TO THE FLOOR ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE REAR OF THE CAR HAVE BEGUN TO FAIL. THIS WAS FOUND AFTER THE AREA BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES WHEN SHIFTING THE CAR OR GOING OVER BUMPS.
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
#10128810July 14, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY BMW Z3 2000''INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILURE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, RATTLING NOISES IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE--THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH COMING ON DUE TO THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER BEING FAULTY. ON SERVICE DATES 8/22/03, 12/05/03, 12/18/03, 1/10/04, 3/20/04, 9/10/04, 1/24/05, I HAVE HAD THE SRS PROBLEM FIXED''AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE LAST TIME I CAME IN (1/24/05), I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE SRS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SRS LIGHT SHOULD BE FIXED AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I DON''T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I AM SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE WEEK OF JULY 11TH FOR THE SRS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER ACTUALLY HOLDS A PERSON IN PLACE--EVEN WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE HELD IN PLACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128530July 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
ON JUNE 3,2005, I HAD NEW BRAKES & TIRES PUT ON MY 2001 Z-3 BMW ROADSTER BY HENDRICKS BMW OF HICKORY,NC. ON JULY 8,2005 WHILE DECENDING MOUNTAIN RD IN CHEROKEE,NC, MY CLUTCH LOCKED-UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HENDRICK'S WHERE THEY CLAIM I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH FOR $875.00. THERE IS ONLY 35,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I FEEL THE BMW CENTER DIDN'T CHECK THE BRAKE FLUID WHEN MY BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THAT CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO LOCK-UP. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE IF ANY OTHER Z3 OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR CLUTCH BEFORE 36,000 MILES AS I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE GOING DOWN HILL LAST FRIDAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126214June 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT:CONSUMER SAYS THAT KEY SEEMS TO STICK IN THE IGNITION . CONSUMER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO JIGGLE KEY AND GET IT TO COME LOOSE. ON JUNE 21, 2005 CONSUMER DROVE TO STORE , WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER DROVE HOME AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE KEY. CONSUMER DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF STORE WITH ENGINE RUNNING. WHEN CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME HE PROCEEDED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY UNTIL HE FINALLY GOT IGNITION TO SHUT OFF AND KEY TO DISLODGE. CONSUMER SPOKE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENED, BUT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IT WAS NOT DEALER'S RESPONSIBILITY. DEALER SAID THAT TWO CYLINDERS COULD SOMETIMES LOCK, CAUSING KEY TO BE STUCK. ALSO, DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY $135 JUST FOR DEALER TO LOOK AT PROBLEM. IT CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME. PROBLEM HAPPENED FOR ABOUT A YEAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120737May 12, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE SEAM ON THE GAS TANK OF MY BMW Z3 HAS A DEFECT. IT HAS ONLY 86,000 MILES ON IT, HAS NEVER BEEN IN A SALT OR CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. IT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN LEAKING GAS FOR QUITE A WHILE. WITH THE LOW FLASHPOINT OF GAS AND THE PROPENSITY FOR INJURY IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT I AM OUTRAGED. I WANT TO PURSUE THIS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115415March 18, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
WHILE BRAKING AND SPEEDING THE DRIVER'S SEAT LURCHED FORWARD/BACKWARDS ON THE SEAT TRACKS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112682March 7, 2005
AIR BAGS
BMW Z3 SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAULT. BY READING ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAULT. SEAT BELT IS FINE, BUT FAULT CAUSES THE AIRBAG TO NOT DEPLOY. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107383February 16, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE REAR TRUNK SUB FRAME NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND WELDING. *NM *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110189February 9, 2005
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHICH CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD, I HAVE SEEN OTHER BMW Z3 WHILE AT A DEALER FOR SERVICE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. YET BMW HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THIS AS A FACTORY DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105645January 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE ON A TRIP I NOTICED AN ODD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE DURING ACCELLERATION WHILE IN 1ST GEAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE CAR'S SUB FRAME IN THE AREA SUPPORTING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FRACTURED AND BREAKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE THAT HAD POPPED OUT OF ITS RETENTION CLIP, DUE TO THE PHYSICAL MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL AROUND IT. IF THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED, I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED THE FAILURE UNTIL THE MOUNT HAD BROKEN AWAY ENTIRELY. SINCE THIS MOUNTS THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS TO FAIL AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH A HIGH POTENTIAL OF ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY. I AM HAVING THIS REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON TO THE "M" VERSION AND MANY OF THE STRAIGHT 6 CYLINDER VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE. MY VERSION IS A 2.8 LITER STANDARD ROADSTER. IT IS LIKELY A STRESS FAILURE DUE TO THE HIGHER TORQUE OF THESE ENGINES. TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE THE DAMAGED MATERIAL NEEDS TO BE REWELDED AND REINFORCED WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103979December 16, 2004
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN REAR OF CAR SLID LEFT DURING TURN WHILE DRIVING AT 30-40 MPH. AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL (ATC) DID NOT ENGAGE AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO, ALLOWING SLIDE TO CONTINUE. DRIVER PROPERLY CORRECTED STEERING. CAR OVERCORRECTED WITH THE REAR OF THE CAR SLIDING TO THE RIGHT. DRIVER PROPERLY CORRECTED AGAIN, BUT REAR OF CAR SLID AGAIN TO THE LEFT. DRIVER COULD NOT CORRECT IN TIME TO PREVENT SPIN, LEADING TO IMPACT WITH CONCRETE WALL. ATC IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO THIS TYPE OF POSITION BUT DID NOT. DRIVER INJURED. CAR DAMAGED, WITH FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IN DISARRAY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10100977December 3, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I OWN A 1999 BMW Z3 2.3 ROADSTER. THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAS TORN AWAY FROM THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR WHERE IT WAS WELDED WHEN DESIGNED. THIS IS THE THIRD COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT ON THIS WEBSITE BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE ON BIMMERFEST.COM. BMW NA SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND FORCED TO DO A RECALL ON ALL CARS THEY MADE WITH THIS FLAW. I WILL SEEK ALL NECESSARY LEGAL ACTION TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. YOU DON'T PAY $40,000 FOR A CAR THEY CLAIM AS THE BEST CAR ON THE ROAD TO HAVE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS EXIST. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101604November 23, 2004
AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON I-95 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO WORK. THE CONSUMER HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10095697October 13, 2004
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT RAIL IS DEFECTIVE AND IT MOVES BACK AND FORTH AS YOU STOP OR ACCELERATE POSING A DRIVER CONTROL SAFEY HAZARD. BMW WILL NOT FIX AT THEIR COST AND SAYS IT IS A CONSUMER REQUEST REPAIR. I DISAGREE THAT SEAT STRUCTURE FAILURE IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090578September 7, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE SUB FRAME IS SEPARATING. ALL THE SPOT WELDS ALONG THE EDGES OF THE SUBFRAME ARE COMING APART. THERE IS A CRACK IN THE SUBFRAME DUE TO FLEXING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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