1999 Bmw M ROADSTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
74,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 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 7 of 18 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 7 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 7; Suspension: 4; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 3; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Driveline: 1; Seats: 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 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2009: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2015: 2
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 10062088 · 2004-03-13 (March 13, 2004)
SRS LIGHT, AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT JUST TURNED ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 37,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133599 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
AFTER OTHERS TOLD ME OF THE DEFECTS IN THEIR Z3 CARS, I DECIDED TO CHECK MY OWN CAR. AFTER REMOVING THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK AND IT REVEALED MULTIPLE BROKEN SPOTWELDS OF THE CROSSMEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THE DIFFERENTIAL AND CONNECTS TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PAN. ALSO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOOR PAN IS PULLING LOOSE FROM THE BODY AND EXTENDS ALONG THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOOR PAN. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK HAS RECESSED BY ABOUT A HALF INCH. THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT THAT CONNECTS THE CROSSMEMBER TO THE DIFFERETIAL HAS A CRACK IN IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145621 · 2005-12-19 (December 19, 2005)
1) FAILURE OCCURRED SUDDENLY DURING ACCELERATION 2) THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS AND SUBFRAME ON MY 1999 BMW M ROADSTER (MZ3) GAVE WAY, ALLOWING THE DIFFERENTIAL TO DROP TO THE ROAD MOMENTARILY AND CRACK THE HEAT SINK. THE DIFFERENTIAL THEN RESTED ON THE EXHAUST PIPES. THIS CAUSED THE CV JOINT BOLTS TO IMPACT THE EXHAUST PIPE UPON ROTATION, CREATING NOISE AND VIBRATION. 3) A TEMPORARY WELD WAS MADE ON DEC 19, 2005, UNTIL PERMANENT BODY WORK CAN BE COMPLETED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 82,302 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156557 · 2006-05-01 (May 1, 2006)
I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT 10062088, AND KNOW OF OTHER M ROADSTER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE IN THE BMW AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS PERSON WAS TOLD BY BMW THAT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT RELIABLE, BUT THE BAGS SHOULD STILL WORK. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166750 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
I AM HAVING A SUBFRAME FAILURE ISSUE WITH MY 1999 BMW M ROADSTER. IT HAS 70,000 K OR ABOUT 43,000 MILES ON IT. NEVER BEEN WINTER DRIVEN. I HEARD A KNOCKING AND SQUEAKING SOUND FROM THE REAR, IT LOOKS LIKE THE SUBFRAME IS CRACKING ALSO ON ME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168630 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)
FOUR MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A STOCK EXCELLENT CONDITION 99 M ROADSTER (MY 4TH BMW IN 5 YEARS). 75000 MILES, NO TRACK TIME, NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRIVELINE. NORMAL DRIVING HAS CAUSED THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS TO FAIL - THE MOUNT IS RIVETS TO THE TRUNK BED AND THE RIVETS ARE POPPING OUT. IF I LAY ANY SIGNIFICANT POWER THROUGH THE DRIVELINE THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL TORQUE RIGHT OFF. MY DIFFERENTIAL IS FALLING OFF DUE TO NOTHING MORE THAN ILL-DESIGN. I WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO REBUILD AND SUPPORT THIS AREA BECAUSE THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND IT'S NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168927 · 2006-09-22 (September 22, 2006)
I OWN A 1999 BMW Z3 ROADSTER, PURCHASED IN NOV 1998. RECENTLY, THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT HAVE BEGUN TO SLIP FORE AND AFT, AS WELL AS ROCK SIDE-SIDE . BOTH SEATS ARE MOTORIZED. I HAVE HAD THE SEATS EXAMINED BY MY MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME THE WORM GEAR/CRADLE ASSEMBLIES FOR BOTH SEATS ARE EXCESSIVELY WORN AND THAT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH SEAT ASSEMBLIES. INTERESTINGLY, MY MECHANIC TELLS ME EVERY Z3 THEY HAVE SEEN HAS DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS STATEMENT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE BMW DEALER, ALTHOUGH NOT IN SO MANY WOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187026 · 2007-04-04 (April 4, 2007)
FAILURE OF THE TRUNK FLOOR SUPPORTING THE DIFFERENTIAL, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 62,221 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187026 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.