2003 BMW Z4 engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2003 BMW Z4. The contact stated that the coolant warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that she noticed smoke underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, she noticed a leak on the ground located near the rear passenger’s side tire. Additionally, the contact then stated that while operating the convertible drop top, she heard an abnormal sound in the motor. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

NHTSA complaint #11523426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. STALLS AT OR IN TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH INTERSECTIONS

NHTSA complaint #11064993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED ON THE CAR MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY IT FAILED WHILE ON A STRAIGHT PART OF AN INTERSTATE AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THIS SEVERELY FRIGHTENED HER. SHE DID NOT OVERREACT AND WE TOOK APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA IN 2010 BUT CAN NOT FIND ANY INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL RECALL IS IN PLACE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE WITH A LOT OF WINDING ROADS (TENNESSEE). I PURCHASED THE CAR USED LAST YEAR AND ALSO HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE. I WISH THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED ALSO AS I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES READING INCORRECTLY. I READ THAT ONE OWNER WAS CONTACTED BY BMW NORTH AMERICA AFTER THEY FILED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE POWER STEERING WITH NHTSA AND BMW VOLUNTARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE OWNER. I HOPE I HAVE THE SAME LUCK AFTER POSTING THIS COMPLAINT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10445000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2003 BMW, Z4-CAR STARTED FINE, THEN IT SHUT OFF, TRIED TO RESTART AND WOULDN'T. HAD VEHICLE TOWED, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10384169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HIS VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. IT BECAME WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED THERE WAS A BUBBLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA THAT LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES. NO PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $152 FOR A DIAGNOSIC CHECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA complaint #10252705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BMW Z4 ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10217874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER. AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10167375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2003 BMW Z-4 COMPUTER GLITCH THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND KILL THE ENGINE RPM'S CREATTING A VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUATIONS FOR DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS.

NHTSA complaint #10066211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10058340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED ENGINE "EML" MEANING ENGINE ELECTRONIC PROBLEM, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT REGISTERED IN THE CAR COMPUTER. THEREFORE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10039907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN MY JUNE 2003 PRODUCTION BMW Z4 3.0I ROADSTER. THE CAR SUDDENLY DIES AT 65 MPH. THE "EML" LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, RPM NEEDLE SURGES, THROTTLE IS UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE FOOT BRAKES ARE FROZEN AND CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO SWERVE OFF THE INTERSTATE, ACROSS THE SERVICE ROAD, AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO STOP COMPLETELY.

NHTSA complaint #10033253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10032374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.