1998 Bmw M ROADSTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
75,775 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 19 complaints (57.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 11 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 11; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Power Train: 1; Structure: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2004: 4; 2005: 6; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10055446 · 2004-01-20 (January 20, 2004)
CROSS MEMBER OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BROKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062316 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)
IN REGARD TO ALL MODEL YEAR Z3 BMW AUTOMOBILES. LATELY, INCLUDING WITH MY CAR, BMW Z3'S AS WELL AS ///M ROADSTERS AND COUPES (LIKE MY CAR), HAVE BEGUN EXPERIENCING HORRIFIC FAILURE IN THE REAR END DUE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CRACKING AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS. COUNTLESS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING LARGE CRACKS IN THEIR FRAME NEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL, CAUSE THE CAR TO BECOME LOOSE AND RESULT IN A POTENTIAL CRASH. MANY OWNERS HAVE EVEN SEEN THEIR ENTIRE TRUNK FLOORBOARDS BEGIN TO SEPARATE FROM THE CAR DUE TO WEAK WELDING. BMW HAS FOR THE MOST PART BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083684 · 2004-07-28 (July 28, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. IT ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091290 · 2004-09-19 (September 19, 2004)
THE CHASSIS IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE CRACKS, PULLED SPOTWELDS AND SEPARATION (DELAMINATION) OF UNIBODY IN THE TRUNK AREA. THE SEPARATION CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, AS THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CHASSIS.*AK THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW Z3 CARS. MORE DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.368S.COM/INDEX.PHP?P=23 PLEASE REQUIRE BMW TO FIX THIS DESIGN DEFECT BEFORE IT CLAIMS A LIFE. # OF FAILURES IS ESTIMATED. ACTUAL FIGURE IS PROBABLY HIGHER AND BELIEVED TO BE DOUBLE DIGIT PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133407 · 2005-08-18 (August 18, 2005)
1998 BMW M ROADSTER REAR SUB-FRAME FAILURE (1) NORMAL DRIVING (NON-RACING) LED TO A TORN REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT AND SUB-FRAME CRACK. (2) CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AS THE REAR AXLES WERE RUBBING ON THE EXHAUST AND THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS 5" FROM TOUCHING THE GROUND (3) I HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC DO THE REPAIR WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE WHOLE REAR SUB-FRAME AND PUTTING IN A NEW, REINFORCED ONE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 76,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133480 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
REAR SUBFRAME WELD FAILURE ALLOWING THE DIFFERENTIAL TO DROP TO THE POINT THAT THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT IN ARE THE HALFSHAFTS RESTING ON THE FRAME RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE
Owner-reported narrative. 28,470 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135539 · 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
CAR IS A 1998 BMW M ROADSTER. SPOT WELDS ATTACHING THE SUBFRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS TO THE CAR ARE SEPARATING, CAUSING AN UNSAFE STRUCTURAL SITUATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 29,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138744 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)
TEAR IN SUBFRAME OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL SUPPORT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138744 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.