1999 BMW M Roadster Owner Complaints

OVER SEVERAL MONTHS I HEARD INCREASING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS THE DIFFERENTIAL TO THE SUBFRAME HAD PULLED LOOSE FROM THE TRUNK. THE CAR COULD NOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN, MY BODYSHOP SUGGESTED I SEND IT TO THE BMW DEALER IN CHARLOTTE NC. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND FIXED IT. NOW 5 YEARS AND 10K MILES HAVE PASSED AND THE SUB-FRAME MOUNT IS PULLING LOOSE AGAIN, THE WELDS POP OUT AND THE NOISE HAS STARTED. IT MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL.

NHTSA ID

10764225

Incident

Jan 13, 2010

Mileage

90,019 mi

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ENGINE MAINTENANCE AND ASKED THEM TO ADDRESS SQUEAKS AND RATTLES. ON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR CROSSMEMBER HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE UNIBODY AND THE MOUNT HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL IN HAD ONLY 1/4 IN OF 4 INCHES HOLDING THE AFT END OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. COMPLETE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC CHAIN OF EVENTS CAUSING A CRASH AND POSSIBLE FATALITIES. LOOKING ON LINE I FOUND NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THE SAME KIND RESULTING FROM METAL FATIGUE BROUGHT ON BY FAULTY DESIGN. AT LEAST THIS WAS THE OPINION OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME FAILURE. ONE PERSON HAD A PHDS IN METALLURGY.

NHTSA ID

10744495

Incident

Jul 24, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE REAR END FAIL AND BEGAN TO DRAG. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP, IT WAS NOTED THE REAR END SUBFRAME WELDS CAME LOSE. AFTER CONTACTING THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY TOTALED THE CAR OUT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK AND MADE REPAIRS TO THE CAR THAT COST ME $4000.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451824

Incident

Mar 20, 2008

Mileage

67,000 mi

CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IT NOW HAS A BROKEN SUBFRAME. IT BEGAN AS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT NEEDED STRUTS. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER I SAW A TEAR IN THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP FIRST AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. SO I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A LOCAL DEALER. AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE $10,000 PLUS TO FIX IT. THE REAR END IS BASICALLY SITTING ON THE EXHAUST WHICH IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TO THE CAR. SEVERAL SPOT WELD HAVE FAILED THIS IS COMMON AMONG ALL BMW Z-3 CARS. MUCH LIKE THE 3 SERIES IN THE SAME YEARS ( 1999 - 2006 CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT) THEY ALL NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT. BMW IS NOT INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM AND BASICALLY OFFERED ME $2000 TO HAVE IT FIXED IN THEIR SHOP. IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK. LOOKING ON LINE THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10417535

Incident

May 1, 2011

Mileage

1,350,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FATIGUE. THE SHEET METAL WAS TOO THIN AND THE BOX BEAM WAS TOO SMALL. UPDATED 11/04/11

NHTSA ID

10416542

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FOR THE CAR HAS TORN LOOSE FROM THE TRUNK FLOOR IT IS WELDED TO. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I FOUND THIS DEFECT BEFORE ONE OCCURRED. HAD I NOT FOUND THIS DEFECT, THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE COULD HAVE COME LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290785

Incident

Nov 2, 2009

Mileage

98,010 mi

NOISE DEVELOPING UNDER REAR UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257952

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

Mileage

100,555 mi

DIFFERENTIAL SUBFRAME CAUSES WELD FAILURES APPEARING IN TRUNK AND OTHER BODY LOCATIONS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECT THAT GENERATES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THIS DEFECT IS BEING REPORTED BY AN INCREASING NUMBER OF Z3 OWNERS OVER TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257030

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

REAR SUBFRAME SEPARATION ON 1999 M ROADSTER (Z3). *TR

NHTSA ID

10206576

Incident

Oct 1, 2007

Mileage

109,000 mi

FAILURE OF THE TRUNK FLOOR SUPPORTING THE DIFFERENTIAL, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10187026

Incident

Mar 17, 2007

Mileage

62,221 mi

I OWN A 1999 BMW Z3 ROADSTER, PURCHASED IN NOV 1998. RECENTLY, THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT HAVE BEGUN TO SLIP FORE AND AFT, AS WELL AS ROCK SIDE-SIDE . BOTH SEATS ARE MOTORIZED. I HAVE HAD THE SEATS EXAMINED BY MY MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME THE WORM GEAR/CRADLE ASSEMBLIES FOR BOTH SEATS ARE EXCESSIVELY WORN AND THAT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH SEAT ASSEMBLIES. INTERESTINGLY, MY MECHANIC TELLS ME EVERY Z3 THEY HAVE SEEN HAS DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS STATEMENT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE BMW DEALER, ALTHOUGH NOT IN SO MANY WORDS. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS A 1999 IT HAS ONLY 29600 MILES ON IT. I AM ALSO UNLIKELY TO HAVE OVERLY-STRESS THE SEATS AS I AM 5'6" AND WEIGH 139 POUNDS. I AM WRITING TO ASK IF THE NHTSA HAS RECEIVED ANY OTHER REPORTS OF SEAT FAILURE IN Z3 AUTOMOBILES, SINCE BMW NORTH AMERICA TELLS ME THAT THEY CONSIDER THIS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME RONALD AIKAWA, MD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168927

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

29,000 mi

FOUR MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A STOCK EXCELLENT CONDITION 99 M ROADSTER (MY 4TH BMW IN 5 YEARS). 75000 MILES, NO TRACK TIME, NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRIVELINE. NORMAL DRIVING HAS CAUSED THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS TO FAIL - THE MOUNT IS RIVETS TO THE TRUNK BED AND THE RIVETS ARE POPPING OUT. IF I LAY ANY SIGNIFICANT POWER THROUGH THE DRIVELINE THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL TORQUE RIGHT OFF. MY DIFFERENTIAL IS FALLING OFF DUE TO NOTHING MORE THAN ILL-DESIGN. I WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO REBUILD AND SUPPORT THIS AREA BECAUSE THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND IT'S NOT REALLY DRIVABLE. I HEAR FROM LOCAL FOLKS AND READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND BMW'S ONLY REPAIR IS BACK TO FACTORY SPEC. CONSIDER THIS COMPLAINT OFFICIAL FROM ME TO BMW FOR THEIR INADEQUATE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT DESIGN ON THE Z3 BODY. TRUE REPAIR WILL BE VERY COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168630

Incident

Sep 18, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

I AM HAVING A SUBFRAME FAILURE ISSUE WITH MY 1999 BMW M ROADSTER. IT HAS 70,000 K OR ABOUT 43,000 MILES ON IT. NEVER BEEN WINTER DRIVEN. I HEARD A KNOCKING AND SQUEAKING SOUND FROM THE REAR, IT LOOKS LIKE THE SUBFRAME IS CRACKING ALSO ON ME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166750

Incident

Aug 24, 2006

Mileage

44,000 mi

I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT 10062088, AND KNOW OF OTHER M ROADSTER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE IN THE BMW AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS PERSON WAS TOLD BY BMW THAT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT RELIABLE, BUT THE BAGS SHOULD STILL WORK. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156557

Incident

Sep 9, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

1) FAILURE OCCURRED SUDDENLY DURING ACCELERATION 2) THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS AND SUBFRAME ON MY 1999 BMW M ROADSTER (MZ3) GAVE WAY, ALLOWING THE DIFFERENTIAL TO DROP TO THE ROAD MOMENTARILY AND CRACK THE HEAT SINK. THE DIFFERENTIAL THEN RESTED ON THE EXHAUST PIPES. THIS CAUSED THE CV JOINT BOLTS TO IMPACT THE EXHAUST PIPE UPON ROTATION, CREATING NOISE AND VIBRATION. 3) A TEMPORARY WELD WAS MADE ON DEC 19, 2005, UNTIL PERMANENT BODY WORK CAN BE COMPLETED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10145621

Incident

Dec 17, 2005

Mileage

82,302 mi

AFTER OTHERS TOLD ME OF THE DEFECTS IN THEIR Z3 CARS, I DECIDED TO CHECK MY OWN CAR. AFTER REMOVING THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK AND IT REVEALED MULTIPLE BROKEN SPOTWELDS OF THE CROSSMEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THE DIFFERENTIAL AND CONNECTS TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PAN. ALSO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOOR PAN IS PULLING LOOSE FROM THE BODY AND EXTENDS ALONG THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOOR PAN. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK HAS RECESSED BY ABOUT A HALF INCH. THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT THAT CONNECTS THE CROSSMEMBER TO THE DIFFERETIAL HAS A CRACK IN IT.

NHTSA ID

10133599

Incident

Aug 18, 2005

Mileage

74,000 mi

SRS LIGHT, AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT JUST TURNED ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062088

Incident

Mar 12, 2004

Mileage

37,800 mi

1998 & 1999 M ROADSTER AND M COUPE BMWS HAVE A HUGE REARVIEW MIRROR THAT IS POSITIONED LOW, AND IMPAIRS FRONT VISIBILITY. MIRROR CREATES A HUGE BLIND SPOT. REPORTED TROUBLE TO DEALER AND BMWNA REPRESENTATIVE, BUT THEY HAD NO RECOMMENDATION AND STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY ISSUES. MANY OWNERS DISAGREE. Z3 MESSAGE BOARD LISTS MANY OWNER COMPLAINTS. URL IS "HTTP://WWW.BIMMER.ORG/Z3/MESSAGES/SEARCH.HTML" SEARCH ON "REARVIEW MIRROR". I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALL INCIDENTS, PARTICULARLY AT A 4 WAY STOP. WILL PROBABLY HAVE MIRROR CHANGED AT MY OWN COST TO FIX SAFETY HAZZARD, BUT DO NOT FEEL THIS IS PROPER. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT DO NOT LIKE BEING TOLD THAT A PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST, PARTICULARLY WHEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF. THE FACT THAT OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE JUST PROVIDES CONFIRMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

717316