Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Oct 6, 2017
VERY WELL KNOWN FAILURE, JUST SEARCH FOR "BMW Z3 SUBFRAME FAILURE". IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BY BMW THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF Z3'S THROUGH ALL MODEL YEARS. MINE STARTED TO POP ONE WELD AT 88K MILES. IT CAN CAUSE THE REAR ALIGNMENT TO BE OFF, IN WORST CASE THE TRUNK FLOOR IS TORN OUT AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FALLS TO THE GROUND. CLUNKING FROM THE BACK WHILE SHIFTING IN THE FIRST TWO GEARS IS ONE INDICATOR THIS DAMAGE IS NOT FAR AWAY. THIS IS ONE FORUM THREAD THAT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE WELL: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?1979601-SUBFRAME-TRUNK-FLOOR-DIFFERENTIAL-MOUNT-FAILURE
- NHTSA ID
- 11032127
- Incident
- Oct 6, 2017
- Mileage
- 88,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 27, 2012
I HAVE SUBFRAME DAMAGE, IN THE TRUNK IT'S MOST VISIBLE WITH THE CARPET OUT, I CAN SEE THE SPOT WELDS HAVE POPPED, CRACKED, BROKE FREE, WHATEVER. THUS CAN CAUSE A MASSIVE RISK TO AS IF ANYMORE POP THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD POSSIBLE TEAR NEXT THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS IT UP. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10477242
- Incident
- Sep 14, 2012
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 9, 2011
REAR SUBFRAME ON VEHICLE HAS TORN FROM THE REAR UNDER PANEL ON VEHICLE. THE TRUNK FLOOR ON VEHICLE IS FALLING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH, THIS POSES A MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE. WAS TOLD BY TECHNICIAN VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10389650
- Incident
- Mar 6, 2011
- Mileage
- 175,556 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 22, 2011
MY 1999 BMW Z3 ROADSTER BEGAN DRIVING FUNNY AND MAKING SQUEAKING NOISES, IN THE REAR. THEN I NOTICED THE BACK TIRES, WERE STARTING TO KICK OUT AND LOOK STRANGE. THEN MY CAR BEGAN MAKING A BAD VIBRATING SOUND, COMING FROM THE BACK TIRES, WHEN I WAS IN FIRST GEAR. I TOOK IT TO SHOP. THEY JACKED IT UP, AND FOUND, THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, HAS SEPARATED FROM THE SUB-FRAME. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10378233
- Incident
- Jan 17, 2011
- Mileage
- 105,341 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Nov 17, 2007
I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 1999 BMW Z3 COUPE. WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED I FOUND IT WAS A SMALL CRACK WHERE THE SUBFRAME HAD BEEN FACTORY REINFORCED. THE REINFORCEMENTS WERE FAILING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR NEAR THE TRUNK FLOORING AND THE SWAYBAR. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WOULD COST $6500 TO REPLACE THE CRACKING FRAME, OR I COULD GO TO ANOTHER SHOP AND HAVE IT SPOT WELDED TO REINFORCE AND STOP THE CRACK FROM GETTING LARGER. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10209219
- Incident
- Nov 16, 2007
- Mileage
- 111,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 22, 2007
1999 Z3 M COUPE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT TRUNK FLOOR SUPPORT FAILURE. I TOOK IN MY CAR FOR MY 90 THOUSAND MILE SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED BY THE SHOP (WWW.THEMSHOP.COM) LOCATED IN GLENDALE, CA. THAT MY SUBFLOOR WAS CRACKED AND UNLESS I FIXED IT MY CAR WOULD BE USELESS, AND NOT DRIVABLE. I HAD TO SPEND OVER $2,800 TO FIX MY CAR WHICH IS VERY DISAPPOINTING ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A WEEKEND CAR NOW AND WHEN YOU PAY $46,000 FOR A BMW YOU DO NOT EXPECT THE FRAME TO FAIL.... *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10188514
- Incident
- Apr 1, 2007
- Mileage
- 84,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+3 more
Filed Oct 25, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DURING CLEAR CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS OR POTHOLES PRESENT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CUTS, BRUISING AND SCARING TO THE LEFT ARM. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AND INJURIES. UPDATED 11/16/2006 -THE GAS GAUGE AND ODOMETER WERE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE DRIVER'S DOOR GRAB HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE REAR SHOCKS AND MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE RES TO PUMP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FLEX COUPLER ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10171793
- Incident
- Sep 6, 2006
- Mileage
- 87,950 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 6, 2005
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10141850
- Incident
- Oct 31, 2005
- Mileage
- 50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 23, 2005
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 10133930
- Incident
- Aug 20, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Jun 9, 2004
I HAVE 1999 BMW Z3 HATCHBACK "COUPE" , AFTER GETTING A LOUD SHUTER IN THE REAR OF MY CAR, I INVESTIGATED THE AREA AND FOUND THAT MY BODY IS TEARING AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR IN THE DRIVERS REAR SIDE OF THE CAR. ALSO THE SINGLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ALSO HAS A TEAR INTHE METAL THAT EEQUALS TO ONE AND HALF INCH ON THE MOUNT CONSISTING THAT 33% OF THE MOUNT HAS FAILED AND IS GETTING WORSE. ALSO THE TEARING FROTHE INTERIOR IS ALL THE WAS THOUGH THE CAR ALLOWING EXAUST FUMES INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10075106
- Incident
- May 1, 2004
- Mileage
- 49,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesSeat belts
Filed Jul 3, 2003
THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DID NOT CLOSE. *PH *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10026595
- Incident
- Apr 20, 2003
- Mileage
- 59,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.