1998 BMW Z3 Problems & Recalls

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 t...

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 t...

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

Mileage: 32,000

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 RE...

Mileage: 139,000

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 RE...

Mileage: 139,000

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 RE...

Mileage: 139,000

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 ...

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 ...

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: 50,000

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.

Mileage: 80,000

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 $470.0...

Mileage: 82,000

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

Mileage: 19,000

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

Mileage: 17,000

SAFETY DEFECT 1998 Z3 BMW. *MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE CHECK INDICATED THAT THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS GETTING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE CONSUMER REFUSED REPAIR DUE TO T...

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY $400 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVES BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED...

Mileage: 47,000

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.*AK

THE DRIVER WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE FRONT AT 45 MPH. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *AK *CB *NLM

Mileage: 53,500

THE DRIVER WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE FRONT AT 45 MPH. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *AK *CB *NLM

Mileage: 53,500

I AM EXPERIENCING A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT UNLOCKING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, USING THE POWER-LOCK REMOTE (FOB), OR REACHING OUTSIDE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KE...

VEHICLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WILL LAUNCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

TRANSMISSION POPS OR JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR UPON TAKEOFF. *AK

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED 4 TIMES ... THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I LOSE ALL HEAD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHEN THIS HAPPENS .. INCLUDING MY TURN SIGNALS..

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED 4 TIMES ... THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I LOSE ALL HEAD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHEN THIS HAPPENS .. INCLUDING MY TURN SIGNALS..

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED 4 TIMES ... THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I LOSE ALL HEAD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHEN THIS HAPPENS .. INCLUDING MY TURN SIGNALS..

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED 4 TIMES ... THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I LOSE ALL HEAD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHEN THIS HAPPENS .. INCLUDING MY TURN SIGNALS..

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED AND NO ODOR OF RAW FUEL WAS APPARENT POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, CONSUMER IS SEEKING MONETARY COMPENSATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER.*YH

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING A FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED AND NO ODOR OF RAW FUEL WAS APPARENT. POWER TO THE VEHICLE ULTIMATLEY FAILED AS WELL AS THE BRAKES. WIFE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. WITHIN MINUTES THE MOTOR AND ACCOU...

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING A FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED AND NO ODOR OF RAW FUEL WAS APPARENT. POWER TO THE VEHICLE ULTIMATLEY FAILED AS WELL AS THE BRAKES. WIFE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. WITHIN MINUTES THE MOTOR AND ACCOU...

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. MANUFACTURER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

BMW Z3 IS A PIECE OF CRAP. DEALER NOW THINKS THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. 3 CD PLAYERS, 2 IGNITION SYSTEMS, 1 FUEL SENSOR, 1 ENGINE THAT WOULDN'T START DUE TO SOMETHING STUCK OPEN AND JUST GENERAL POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE FOR ANYONE.

BMW Z3 IS A PIECE OF CRAP. DEALER NOW THINKS THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. 3 CD PLAYERS, 2 IGNITION SYSTEMS, 1 FUEL SENSOR, 1 ENGINE THAT WOULDN'T START DUE TO SOMETHING STUCK OPEN AND JUST GENERAL POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE FOR ANYONE.

BMW Z3 IS A PIECE OF CRAP. DEALER NOW THINKS THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. 3 CD PLAYERS, 2 IGNITION SYSTEMS, 1 FUEL SENSOR, 1 ENGINE THAT WOULDN'T START DUE TO SOMETHING STUCK OPEN AND JUST GENERAL POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE FOR ANYONE.

BMW Z3 IS A PIECE OF CRAP. DEALER NOW THINKS THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. 3 CD PLAYERS, 2 IGNITION SYSTEMS, 1 FUEL SENSOR, 1 ENGINE THAT WOULDN'T START DUE TO SOMETHING STUCK OPEN AND JUST GENERAL POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE FOR ANYONE.

BMW Z3 IS A PIECE OF CRAP. DEALER NOW THINKS THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. 3 CD PLAYERS, 2 IGNITION SYSTEMS, 1 FUEL SENSOR, 1 ENGINE THAT WOULDN'T START DUE TO SOMETHING STUCK OPEN AND JUST GENERAL POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE FOR ANYONE.

REAR STABILIZER BAR REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THREE REPLACEMENTS. MJS

BLOWER KNOB LIGHT INOPERABLE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER SWITCH FAILURE. MJS

SEAT BELT--3 POINT BELT.

POWER SEAT SWITCH FAILED. YH

STEREO FAILED. YH

PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED. YH

HEAD LIGHT FAILED. YH

THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN (THE INTENDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP), IT CAUSES SEVERE CREASING OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS RESULTS IN THE REAR VIEW OUT THE WINDOW BEING SIGNIFICANTLY DISTORTED...

REARVIEW MIRROR CREATES HUGE BLIND SPOT AND IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD.

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL BUZ HEARD THROUGH THE RADIO. WHEN TURNING THE RADIO OFF AND ON THE LIGHT GOES OFF. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED IN APRIL AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. *AK

OWNERS MANUAL STATES WARNING TRIANGLE AND FIRST AID KIT ARE LOCATED ON VEHICLE, THIS IS NOT SO, ONLY OFFERED TO EUROPEAN VEHICLES.