CarRecallWatchThe 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 crash, 1 injury.
The most-reported problem area is Structure (7 reports).
0Recalls
19Owner complaints
1Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your Z3 Roadster?
1998 BMW Z3 Roadster recalls
No safety recalls on file for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster.
Most common 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster problems
Problem areas named in the 19 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Structure | 7 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
What owners report
A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM REAR END WAS NOTICED. UPON INSPECTION, BY BMW DEALERSHIP IT WAS DETERMINED THE REAR SUBFRAME HOLDING REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE (SPOT WELD FAILURE). I WAS TOLD IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND TO FIX IMMEDIATELY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. HIGHER DISPLACEMENT MODELS ARE A HIGHER OCCURRENCE DUE TO CREATING MORE TORQUE ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET. MINE IS THE M VERSION WHICH IS ALMOST A GUARANTEED FAILURE.
THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FILLS WITH WATER WHEN TO RAINS AND DOES NOT EMPTY. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES RUST AND MOISTURE IN THE TRUNK.
AT 86K MILES ON MY 1998 BMW Z3, THE THIN SHEET METAL BRACKET HOLDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UP IN PLACE WELDED TO THE CHASSIS SPLIT IN HALF CAUSING THE REAR END TO HANG. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, ALSO AT 93,500 MILES, JUST 8 MONTHS LATER. THE CLUTCH IS STILL ORIGINAL AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, OR RACED. I ALWAYS BABY THE CAR BECAUSE GAS IS SO EXPENSIVE, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF OTHER Z3'S THAT I HAVE SEEN ONLINE. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING FLAW. BMW CLAIMS THE CAR MUST HAVE HAD SOME REAR END IMPACT, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY NOT THE CASE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM REPLACE THIS PART WITH THICKER, OR STRONGER METAL AS IT CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW Z3M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH WHEN THE REAR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FRAME METAL WAS EXTREMELY WEAK AND CAUSED THE FRAME TO DROP AND THE REAR AXLE TO FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH IF HE WERE TRAVELING FASTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
1998 Z3 SUBFRAME FAILURE. I'M WORRIED MY DIFFERENTIAL OR REAR END WILL FAIL DURING DRIVING AND BMW REFUSES TO FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR EVERYONE ON THE ROAD. BMW HAS INSPECTED MY CAR, ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, AND BLAMED THE FAILURE ON THE MODIFICATIONS I MADE TO THE CAR, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF UN-MODIFIED Z3 VEHICLES AS WELL. THERE IS ALSO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM ON E46 MODELS (Z3 IS NOT AN E46) AND BMW IS FIXING THE E46 BUT NOT THE Z3. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED EVENTUALLY B/C OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
1998 BMW Z3 Roadster questions
Does the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls on file for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster at this time.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Structure (7), Air Bags (3), Tires (2).
How do I check if a recall on my 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.