1998 BMW Z3 Roadster Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Z3 Roadster years
- Not enough data 1st of 3 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster. That is the most of any Z3 Roadster model year in the database (3 years). The most reported problem area is structure (7 complaints, 37%), typically at around 75,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 19owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 7 | 37% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 16% | 15,725 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 11% | 88,451 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 11% | 39,230 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 11% | 97,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 5% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 5% | 68,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 BMW Z3 Roadster recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other BMW Z3 Roadster years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Z3 Roadster | 8 | 0 |
| 2000 Z3 Roadster | 17 | 0 |
| 1998 | 19 | 0 |
See all BMW Z3 Roadster problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster?
Owners most often report structure, air bags, power train problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Z3 Roadster model years, the 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.