IllustrationBMW Z3 IS A PIECE OF CRAP. DEALER NOW THINKS THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. 3 CD PLAYERS, 2 IGNITION SYSTEMS, 1 FUEL SENSOR, 1 ENGINE THAT WOULDN'T START DUE TO SOMETHING STUCK OPEN AND JUST GENERAL POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE FOR ANYONE.
1998 BMW Z3
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 BMW Z3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Z3 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 30 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seats. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
30 reportsREAR STABILIZER BAR REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THREE REPLACEMENTS. MJS
SEAT BELT--3 POINT BELT.
STEREO FAILED. YH
PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED. YH
POWER SEAT SWITCH FAILED. YH
THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN (THE INTENDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP), IT CAUSES SEVERE CREASING OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS RESULTS IN THE REAR VIEW OUT THE WINDOW BEING SIGNIFICANTLY DISTORTED AND IMPAIRED, WHICH I THINK I…
Read full complaint
THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN (THE INTENDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP), IT CAUSES SEVERE CREASING OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS RESULTS IN THE REAR VIEW OUT THE WINDOW BEING SIGNIFICANTLY DISTORTED AND IMPAIRED, WHICH I THINK IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND BMW ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT "THEY ALL DO THIS" AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THERE IS NOTHING THE OWNER CAN DO TO REMOVE THE CREASES. THE ONLY RESPONSE THE DEALER HAS PFFERED IS TO HEAT-TREAT THE WINDOW AND MELT AWAY THE CREASES. HOWEVER, THE NEXT TIME THE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN, THE WINDOW HAS THE SAME DEEP CREASES. THIS CONCERNS ME, BECAUSE THE DISTORTED REAR VIEW IS DISTRACTING AND A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE ONE CANNOT SEE CLEARLY TO THE REAR OF THE CAR.
REARVIEW MIRROR CREATES HUGE BLIND SPOT AND IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD.
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL BUZ HEARD THROUGH THE RADIO. WHEN TURNING THE RADIO OFF AND ON THE LIGHT GOES OFF. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED IN APRIL AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. *AK
OWNERS MANUAL STATES WARNING TRIANGLE AND FIRST AID KIT ARE LOCATED ON VEHICLE, THIS IS NOT SO, ONLY OFFERED TO EUROPEAN VEHICLES.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.