1999 BMW Z3 Problems

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

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

Hello, NHTSA released a recall warning for BMWs made from 2000 to 2006, regarding Takata airbags. "The risk to vehicle occupants is dire," it said. My 1999 BMW Z3 was made one year before this, and is not included in the recall. I have been trying to determine whether my '99 BMW has Takata airbags as well, thus far with no success. As of today, BMW will only tell me that there are no outstanding recalls for my car - they have not been willing to tell me what type of airbags they originally installed in it. Do your records indicate what type of airbags I have?

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW Z3. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED INTO REVERSE, A CLANKING SOUND EMERGED FROM THE REAR END WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V272000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

SEATBELTS LOCK TIGHT, PINNING ME DOWN OR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. BOLT ON DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED BUT THE SEAT STILL MOVES. CONVERTIBLE TOP IS MISALIGNED CAUSING LEAKS, GAPS COULD BE SEEN 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE AND THEY ARE GROWING. DEALER ARGUES NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. CAR HESITATES BUT HASN'T STALLED YET.

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

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

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS SEPARATING FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR, UNDER OR NEAR THE TRUNK AREA. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE Z3 SERIES OF VEHICLES. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IF THE READ DIFFERENTIAL SEPARATES FROM THE SUBFRAME, AND COULD CAUSE A HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORIST. THIS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE FRAME WAS DESIGNED FOR A 1.9L ENGINE, AND BMW DID NOT REDESIGN THE SUBFRAME TO ALLOW FOR THE LARGER ENGINES IT LATER SOLD IN THE Z3 SERIES OF CARS. BMW ALSO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE ON 3XX SERIES OF VEHICLES, AND AGREED TO REPAIR THOSE CARS DUE TO A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE SETTLEMENT. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESIGN ISSUE, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

DRIVER SEAT BECAME LOOSE AND WOULD SLIDE FORWARD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND BACKWARD ON ACCELERATION. THE MOVEMENT WAS ABRUPT ENOUGH TO BE DISCONCERTING, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY MANEUVER. BMW DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND NOT DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS NOT AT RISK OF FULLY DETACHING. I HAVE LIVED WITH IT, BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS AND IT FEELS UNSAFE - AS IF THE SEAT MIGHT COME LOOSE. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO ANY DRIVER WHO IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO IT AND EVEN TO ME - A LIKELY CAUSE OF DRIVER ERROR OR LOSS OF CONTROL DURING ABRUPT MANEUVERS. RECENTLY AS I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR SOLUTIONS I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 M ROADSTER VERSION OF THE Z3. I THINK IT IS SUFFICIENT TO MERIT RECALL, BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU FOLKS DO FOR A LIVING... I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO IT CAREFULLY. PS: THE DATE THAT I ENTERED IS A VERY ROUGH ESTIMATE. I DO NOT RECALL PRECISELY WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED. THANK YOU *TR

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST HIM. NOW THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS THE SAME DEFECT, HE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER CAME OUT WITH A RETRO KIT AND THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE FOR THAT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DENIED HIS CLAIM FOR ANY ASSISTANCE. *JB (SEAT RAIL PROBLEM) *SC *JB

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

THE BATTERY HOLD-DOWN CLAMPS WERE NEVER INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY, A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

SEATBELTS LOCK TIGHT, PINNING ME DOWN OR DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. BOLT ON DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED BUT THE SEAT STILL MOVES. CONVERTIBLE TOP IS MISALIGNED CAUSING LEAKS, GAPS COULD BE SEEN 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE AND THEY ARE GROWING. DEALER ARGUES NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. CAR HESITATES BUT HASN'T STALLED YET.

MY 1999 BMW ROADSTER ENGINE BEGAN TORQUING FROM IDLE TO VERY FAST WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MECHANICS AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THEN. IT WILL STOP THIS WHEN I SHUT OFF ENGINE AND TURN IT BACK ON. I FEAR THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT TO DO. *TR

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

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