2000 BMW Z3 Roadster

I PURCHASED CAR 6-4-12 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED A SQUEAK AND A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM TRUNK, AFTER REMOVING TRUNK LINING THE SPOT WELDS [4] WERE BROKE LOOSE IN TRUNK FLOOR FROM CROSS MEMBER WHERE REAR END IS SUPPORTED.. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT HOPING THE DEALER HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN ON CAR I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPAIR CAR AT MY EXPENSE I ASKED IF THAT WAS AN ENGINEERED REPAIR OR JUST A TEMPORARY REPAIR THERE RESPONSE WAS ITS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD EVER HAPPENED.. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME WELDS HAD COME LOOSE IN THE SUB FRAME AND IF NOT REPAIRED WOULD CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE CONTROL ISSUES. THIS CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE NO RUST ISSUES AT ALL WAS ALWAYS GARAGED NEVER DRIVEN IN WINTER I BELIEVE THE SUBFRAME AND REAR AXLE MOUNTING IS UNDER DESIGNED FOR THIS CAR. *TR

WHILE ON A TRIP I NOTICED AN ODD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE DURING ACCELLERATION WHILE IN 1ST GEAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE CAR'S SUB FRAME IN THE AREA SUPPORTING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT FRACTURED AND BREAKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE THAT HAD POPPED OUT OF ITS RETENTION CLIP, DUE TO THE PHYSICAL MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL AROUND IT. IF THIS HAD NOT HAPPENED, I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED THE FAILURE UNTIL THE MOUNT HAD BROKEN AWAY ENTIRELY. SINCE THIS MOUNTS THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS TO FAIL AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH A HIGH POTENTIAL OF ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY. I AM HAVING THIS REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON TO THE "M" VERSION AND MANY OF THE STRAIGHT 6 CYLINDER VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE. MY VERSION IS A 2.8 LITER STANDARD ROADSTER. IT IS LIKELY A STRESS FAILURE DUE TO THE HIGHER TORQUE OF THESE ENGINES. TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE THE DAMAGED MATERIAL NEEDS TO BE REWELDED AND REINFORCED WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.*AK