2000 BMW M Roadster problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

SUB FRAME HAS CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING.DURING REGULAR COMMUTES AND DRIVES ON RESIDENTAL ROADS I BEGAN TO HEAR NOISES FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND I TOOK A LOOK UNDERNEATH CAR, THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING EAR. I ALSO CHECKED INSIDE OF THE HATCH AREA AND REMOVED THE SOUND DEADENING REVEALING A SMALL SEPARATION OF THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #11139007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE SUB-FRAME HAS SEVERAL FAILED WELDS THAT HAVE CAUSED A SAGGING OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE BROKEN WELDS HAVE CAUSED SEVERAL, SEVERE CRACKS AND SEPARATIONS IN THE SUB-FRAME AS WELL AS ALMOST COMPLETE FAILURE AND SEPARATION IN THE TRUNK FLOOR. THIS HAS CAUSED THE CV AXLE TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE AND HAS CAUSED HOLES AND RIPS IN THE RUBBER BOOT, LEADING TO THE IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THAT COMPONENT AS WELL. THIS RENDERS THE CAR IMMOBILE AND WILL REQUIRE AT THE LEAST 3,500$ IN REPAIRS. THIS IS IN NO WAY AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE COMPONENTS OF A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10465293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND FELL ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE; AS A RESULT OF THE BUSHINGS AND TRUNK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA complaint #10447907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A LOCAL MECHANIC. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACING THE SUB-FRAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,800.

NHTSA complaint #10439825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FAILURE. SUBFRAME SEPARATES FROM TRUNK FLOOR. COMMON IN THE Z3M ROADSTERS. SUBFRAME IS JUST SPOT WELDED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR AND NEEDS TO BE RE-ENFORCED. THE RE-ENFORCEMENT KITS ARE SOLD BY FURTHER CONFIRMING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. DROPPING YOUR DIFFERENTIAL WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10417817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

SEPARATION OF REAR SUBFRAME MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND RESULTING IN $12,000 OF REPAIRS. ALTHOUGH EVIDENTLY A WELL KNOWN AND UDERSTOOD FAILURE, IT NEVER RESULTED IN A RECALL, AND I WAS NEVER ADVISED OF THE ISSUE BY BMW, UNTIL TH SUBFRAME WAS ALREADY SEPARATING, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10394184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

MY ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE IS SPLITTING FROM THE SEEMS!!! I HAVE A 2000 BMW M ROADSTER (Z3) AND RECENTLY I NOTICE A CREAKING IN THE REAR. THEN ONE DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A TEAR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SHEET METAL UNI-BODY CONSTRUCTION. THE CARS DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS PRACTICALLY DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TO THE CAR WERE THE SHOCKS AND SPRINGS. THE TRUCK FLOOR THAT THE MOUNT WAS SPOT WELDED TO HAS SEPARATED FROM THE CAR. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW! THE CAR AT THIS MOMENT IS NOT DRIVABLE! MY CAR IS NOW AT A DINAN SHOP. DINAN IS A COMPANY THAT MAKES HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR BMW'S. WHEN DINAN PARTS ARE USED AND INSTALLED AT AN AUTHORIZED DINAN DEALER A BMW WOULD STILL BE ENTIRELY WARRANTED BY BMW. DINAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO AND HAVE CREATED A DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT REINFORCEMENT KIT TO ADDRESS THIS. SO OBVIOUSLY BMW IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. IT COSTS $299 HOWEVER REQUIRES 16 HOURS OF WORK BY A HIGHLY SKILLED TECHNICIAN WITH FABRICATION AND WELDING SKILLS. I SEE THIS HAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SCENARIO IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE WELL ENGINEERED BMW VEHICLE! I HOPE THIS IS ADDRESSED BEFORE A FATALITY ACTUALLY OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #10257963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

MY ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE IS SPLITTING FROM THE SEEMS!!! I HAVE A 2000 BMW M ROADSTER (Z3) AND RECENTLY I NOTICE A CREAKING IN THE REAR. THEN ONE DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A TEAR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SHEET METAL UNI-BODY CONSTRUCTION. THE CARS DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS PRACTICALLY DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TO THE CAR WERE THE SHOCKS AND SPRINGS. THE TRUCK FLOOR THAT THE MOUNT WAS SPOT WELDED TO HAS SEPARATED FROM THE CAR. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW! THE CAR AT THIS MOMENT IS NOT DRIVABLE! MY CAR IS NOW AT A DINAN SHOP. DINAN IS A COMPANY THAT MAKES HIGH PERFORMANCE PARTS FOR BMW'S. WHEN DINAN PARTS ARE USED AND INSTALLED AT AN AUTHORIZED DINAN DEALER A BMW WOULD STILL BE ENTIRELY WARRANTED BY BMW. DINAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO AND HAVE CREATED A DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT REINFORCEMENT KIT TO ADDRESS THIS. SO OBVIOUSLY BMW IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. IT COSTS $299 HOWEVER REQUIRES 16 HOURS OF WORK BY A HIGHLY SKILLED TECHNICIAN WITH FABRICATION AND WELDING SKILLS. I SEE THIS HAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SCENARIO IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE WELL ENGINEERED BMW VEHICLE! I HOPE THIS IS ADDRESSED BEFORE A FATALITY ACTUALLY OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #10257963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I BOUGHT A YEAR 2000 M ROADSTER (BMW), AND TWO MONTHS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE BOTTOM REAR UNDERFRAME HAD CRACKED TO THE POINT WHERE THE TAIL PIPE AND DIFFERENTIAL AREA WERE READY TO DROP TO THE GROUND. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP (WHO HAD SOLD ME THE CAR WITH ONLY A 30 DAY LIMITED WARRANTY), AND THEY HAVE OFFERED TO EITHER REPAIR FOR FREE OR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK, MY CHOICE.

NHTSA complaint #10228828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

SUBFRAME FAILURE. THE REAR SUBFRAME SUPPORT WAS RIPPING THE WELDS OUT FROM THE CROSS MEMBER AND TRUNK. I PURCHASED A REPAIR/SUPPORT KIT FROM RANDY FORBES. HAD THE KIT INSTALLED. I NOTICED A CREAKING AND CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR UNDER ACCELERATION. WHEN I CHECKED OUT THE SUBFRAME MOUNT AND THE TRUNK I NOTICED THREE BAD WELDS IN THE TRUNK.

NHTSA complaint #10187613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

2000 BMW M ROADSTER. REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE IN IT'S EARLY STAGES. HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ONLINE FORUM COMPLAINTS EXTENSIVELY AND NOTICED DESCRIBED PROBLEMS IN MY OWN CAR. THE SUBFRAME IS BEING PULLED OUT OF PLACE AND TEARING IT'S SPOT WELDS BY THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT.

NHTSA complaint #10184393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE REAR SUBFRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS HAVE BEGUN SEPARATING FROM THE TRUNK FLOOR. THIS WAS NOTICED AS A RESULT OF ABNORMAL REAR TIRE WEAR. REPAIR OF THIS FAILURE IS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $2,500 BY A BODY SHOP FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL CAR. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS HAZARDOUS UNTIL THE REPAIR IS MADE.

NHTSA complaint #10152359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I TOOK A LOOK AT THE SUBFRAME OF MY CAR AROUND THE REAR DIFF MOUNT AND I HAVE 4 POPPED SPOT WELDS. THEN I TOOK ALL OF THE TRUNK CARPET OUT AND I HAVE 8 POPPED WELDS AND THE LEFT SEAM IS SEPARATED. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY BMW Z3 FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TOO. NHTSA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR HAS THERE REAR DIFF FALL OFF WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10147758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

SUBFRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT TEARS. SPOT WELD TEARS IN FLOOR PAN WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURES ALONG SEAMS. THE DIFFERENTIAL IS READY TO FALL TO THE HIGHWAY WITH ANY HARD BUMP OR JOLT SUCH AS EXPANSION JOINTS.

NHTSA complaint #10137326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

SUBFRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT TEARS. SPOT WELD TEARS IN FLOOR PAN WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURES ALONG SEAMS. THE DIFFERENTIAL IS READY TO FALL TO THE HIGHWAY WITH ANY HARD BUMP OR JOLT SUCH AS EXPANSION JOINTS.

NHTSA complaint #10137326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I HAVE A 2000 BMW MZ3 ROADSTER. IN APRIL I NOTICED THAT THE SPOT WELDS IN THE TRUNK AREA HAD STARTED TO PULL APART AND RUSTED. I SEARCH THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THESE CARS. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS IT. SOME OWNERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET BMW TO REPLACE THE TRUNK, HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. ONCE THE TRUNK IS REPLACE, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD. BECAUSE BMW IS NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE BUT JUST COVERING IT UP I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A POSSIBLE FIX BY A RACE CAR COMPANY THAT DEALS WITH RE-ENFORCING CARS.

NHTSA complaint #10130164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

IN SEPT. 2003, I PURCHASED A USED CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2000 BMW M ROADSTER FROM AN AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER. IN LATE 2003, I NOTICED NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR WHICH THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED TO A LOOSE GAS TANK HOLDER, WHICH THEY REPLACED. SOON AFTER, THE NOISE RETURNED. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK 2 MORE TIMES AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER REASEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE DISCOVERED THE SUBFRAMES OF THEIR CARS WERE COMING UNWELDED FROM THE BODY. AFTER HAVING MY CAR INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE, WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS THE CASE FOR MY CAR AS WELL. THE FLOOR OF THE TRUNK IS SPOT WELDED TO THE REAR SUBFRAME USING A DOZEN SPOT WELDS. OVER TIME MERELY DRIVING THE CAR WITH ITS HIGH TORQUE ENGINE CAUSES THESE TACK WELDS TO BREAK CAUSING GREATER DAMAGE TO THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE CAR (DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS, SUBFRAME,& FLOOR PAN CRACKS). IN MY CASE, 7 WELDS HAVE BROKEN & 4 MORE ARE FAILING. I HAVE ONLY PUT 6000 MILES ON THE CAR (TOTAL MILEAGE IS 56,000). BACK AT BMW, I SHOWED THEM WHAT I HAD FOUND AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT IS CAUSED BY AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. NATIONWIDE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER CASES INVOLVING THIS SAME BUILD DEFECT AND THE RELATED PROBLEMS. IF BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS SEEN IT BEFORE, WOULDN'T THEY CHECK FOR THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE BEFORE THEY GIVE A CAR THEIR CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED SEAL OF APPROVAL? ALSO, WHY WOULD THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE, HIGH TORQUE CAR BE ATTACHED TO THE BODY USING SMALL TEMPORARY-LOOKING SPOT WELDS? IN MY CASE, THIS DEFECT HAS CAUSED ANY INJURY OR SAFETY-ISSUES YET, BUT I CAUGHT MY PROBLEM EARLY. AS THE REAR ENDS OF THESE CARS FAIL, THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES PUT THEMSELVES AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADS AT RISK. I HAVE SEEN CASES WHERE CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE ISSUED RECALLS FOR FAR LESS THREATENING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10124033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ON '00 BMW M ROADSTER CRACKED AT APPROXIMATELY. 31000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10082371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG (SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT ON MY CAR'S DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS COMING ON. INFORMATION ON THE Z-3 ROADSTER INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD (HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.ORG/BMW/FORUMS/Z3/) INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A COMMON FAULT ON THE BMW Z-3/M ROADSTER MODELS, DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS UNDER THE SEAT OR FAULTY SENSORS IN THE SEAT BELT LATCHES. SINCE THIS COMMON FAULT AFFECTS THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM, BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10061976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.