42 of the 88 complaints filed about the BMW M Roadster are about the body and structure — 48% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
42
Complaints
48%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW M ROADSTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME EXHIBITED SEVERAL CRACKS AND WAS SLIGHTLY SEPARATED. THE DEFECT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #10484839 — 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:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE REAR END FAIL AND BEGAN TO DRAG. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP, IT WAS NOTED THE REAR END SUBFRAME WELDS CAME LOSE. AFTER CONTACTING THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY TOTALED THE CAR OUT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK AND MADE REPAIRS TO THE CAR THAT COST ME $4000.00.
NHTSA complaint #10451824 — 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.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW M ROADSTER. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FATIGUE. THE SHEET METAL WAS TOO THIN AND THE BOX BEAM WAS TOO SMALL. UPDATED 11/04/11
NHTSA complaint #10416542 — 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
RATTLING NOISE FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. LOCAL SHOP REPLACED WORN EXHAUST BRACKET; DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SHOP LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AT CAR AND SAW CRACKS IN DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET AND CRACKS IN REAR SUBFRAME. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL FRAME SHOP AND THEY ALSO SAW POPPED TACK WELDS. QUOTED $1800 TO FIX. ADVISED CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. I SAW THE CRACKS AND I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THEM. CAR CREAKS, GROANS, AND RATTLES A LOT WHEN BEING DRIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #10296871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FOR THE CAR HAS TORN LOOSE FROM THE TRUNK FLOOR IT IS WELDED TO. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I FOUND THIS DEFECT BEFORE ONE OCCURRED. HAD I NOT FOUND THIS DEFECT, THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE COULD HAVE COME LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10290785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
NOISE DEVELOPING UNDER REAR UNDERCARRIAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10257952 — 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY
DIFFERENTIAL SUBFRAME CAUSES WELD FAILURES APPEARING IN TRUNK AND OTHER BODY LOCATIONS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECT THAT GENERATES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THIS DEFECT IS BEING REPORTED BY AN INCREASING NUMBER OF Z3 OWNERS OVER TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10257030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MY 1998 BMW M ROADSTER, WITH UNDER 71,000 MILES, IS SHOWING SIGNS OF REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE. I AM AWARE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OF THEM THAT WERE DRIVEN HARD ON TRACKS, BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO/FROM WORK AND BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA AND ATLANTA. AFTER RECENTLY HEARING SOME MORE RATTLING FROM THE REAR, I'VE LIFTED THE TRUNK MAT AND FOUND THE TELL-TALE SIGN: POPPING SPOT-WELDS. I'M NOT SURE HOW SEVERE IT IS AT THIS POINT, AND AS A STUDENT, I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP OR OTHER SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED YET, BUT IT WILL BECOME A SEVERE PROBLEM, AND I HAVE HEARD THAT BMW IS UNLIKELY TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. I WOULD LIKE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER.
NHTSA complaint #10233822 — 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
MY BMW M ROADSTER HAS SUSTAINED A MASSIVE CHASSIS AND SUBFRAME FAILURE MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10217438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2 MONTHS AGO MY EXHAUST SYSTEM DROPPED ON MY CAR, AND WAS RUBBING ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I TOOK IT INTO A SHOP, AND THE EXHAUST BRACKET WAS MODIFIED TO CLEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL. I WENT IN TO HAVE MY BELTS REPLACED YESTERDAY, AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE REAR SUBFRAME OF MY CAR HAD TORN AWAY FROM THE BODY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10211084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
REAR SUBFRAME SEPARATION ON 1999 M ROADSTER (Z3).
NHTSA complaint #10206576 — 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.