1998 Bmw M3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Suspension:Rear: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. 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 10054719 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
THE GEAR SHIFT IN MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 1998 BMW M3 (4 DOOR), STICKS UNDER FIFTH GEAR AND OFTEN I AM ALSO UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR. THE ISSUE WITH THIS IS WELL KNOWN BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. THE DANGER HERE IS THAT WHEN I WANT TO SHIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR I CANNOT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 4TH TO 3RD BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFT NATURALLY WANTS TO GO INTO FIFTH. THIS CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN GOING INTO A TURN OR NEEDING TO DOWNSHIFT TO CONTROL ENGINE SPEED RATHER THAN USING BRAKES WHEN CONDIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100076 · 2004-11-17 (November 17, 2004)
PROBLEM1: REAR DEFOGGER NOT WORKING. CHECKED THE SYSTEM, FUSES OKAY, VOLTAGE CORRECTLY SUPPLIED TO REAR WINDOW HEATING CONTACTS. HEATING ELEMENTS IN THE WINDOW ITSELF ARE FAILING. AFETY ISSUE: NO VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW WHEN FOGGED.*AK PROBLEM2: AUTOMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS ARE QUITTING ERRATICALLY LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER, AIR BLOWER, HEATING OR AIR CONDITIONING. CAR HAS NO SAFETY DEFAULT OR MANUAL OVERRIDE OPTION. SAFETY ISSUES: OCCUPANTS CAN GET FROST BITES OR FREEZE TO DEATH IN HARSH WINTER CONDITIONS OR S…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100387 · 2004-11-23 (November 23, 2004)
REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SHIFT GATE. TRANNY STICKS IN 5TH GEAR POSITION, CAUSING DANGEROUS SHIFT DELAYS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. SEE: HTTP://WWW.BRAZEAURACING.COM/TECH/TRANSMISSIONS.HTM FOR A PARTIAL LISTING OF THOSE AFFECTED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120195 · 2005-05-08 (May 8, 2005)
THE SHOCK WELLS RUSTED AND CRACKED MAKING SHOCKS PROTRUDE OUT OF IT'S MOUNTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170545 · 2006-10-11 (October 11, 2006)
1) NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION 2) LEFT REAR STRUT-TOWER FAILURE RESULTING IN PENETRATION OF STRUT AND SPRING AND FAILURE OF REAR SUSPENSION. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. 3) REPAIRS PENDING. KNOWN ISSUE W/ BMW E-36'S. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 66,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248328 · 2008-11-10 (November 10, 2008)
ON OCTOBER 13TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1800HRS THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY 1998 BMW M3 "RAPIDLY DEFLATED" RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF THE INNER SIDEWALL WAS LEFT SHREDDED. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND WARM, WITH NO DEBRIS OR CONTAMINATION ON THE ROAD SURFACE(SR-62). THE TIRE WAS INSTALLED BY A BMW SERVICE CENTER 5/7/08 AT 68,814 MILES, ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 82,943 MILES. THE DUNLOP 8080E P245/40 ZR-17 DOT# DMC903Y1607 WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE GOOD TREAD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE TIRE PRESSURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 82,943 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748051 · 2001-07-07 (July 7, 2001)
THE DEALER FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN TO RESET THE CODE AND SAY, "OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT." APPARENTLY ITS A SENSOR IN THE SEAT, AND LOTS OF BMW'S ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. SAFETY SYSTEM FAULTS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 752387 · 2001-09-19 (September 19, 2001)
VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN UNRESLOVED. DEALERS CANNOT LOCATE FAULT AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE BULBS OR BEND CONNECTORS ON SOCKETS. ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN GASKETS ALL FAILING WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. INLET LEAKAGE ON FUEL VALVE FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. MAJOR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM FOR SECOND TIME. DESPITE REPEATED REPORTS OF ROUGH SHIFTING, WITH PROBLEMS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING GEARS, NO ANSWER OTHER THAN EVERYTHING IS FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 752387 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V063001 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 1999-11-15 (November 15, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH A SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM CONSISTING OF DOOR-MOUNTED THORAX AIR BAGS (REAR DOOR AIR BAGS ARE OPTIONAL), A CENTRAL ELECTRONIC SENSOR AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, LEFT AND RIGHT SATELLITE IMPACT SENSORS, AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS SYSTEM IS UNDULY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEED.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL (BST) COULD ALSO ACTIVATE, DISCONNECTING THE STARTER CABLE FROM THE BATTERY. IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN, BUT AFTER STOPPING, COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT REGULATES THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗