BMW Z3 RoadsterModel year report

1998 BMW Z3 Roadster Problems

Complaints: 19filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 72,800miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating: —overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy: 23 mpgcombined, 1.9L 4-cyl RWD · 20 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 19 consumer complaints for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster. The part named most often is body and structure, with 7 complaints (37% of the total), followed by air bags (3) and seats (2). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 23% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,800 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Body and structure: “1998 z3 subframe failure. I'm worried my differential or rear end will fail during driving and Bmw refuses to fix it. This is a safety concern for everyone on the road. Bmw has inspected my car, acknowledged the problem, and blamed the failure on the modifications I made to the car, however, the problem is occurring in a very high number of un-modified z3 vehicles as well. There is also a class action lawsuit for the same exact problem on e46 models (z3 is not an e46) and Bmw is fixing the e46 but not the z3. …”

NHTSA complaint #10372319, filed 2010-12, 90,000 miles

Air bags: “The airbag fault light came on in our 1998 Bmw z3 (with less than 16,000 miles on the odometer), indicating the airbag (or airbags) and seat belt tensioners were no longer functioning. The dealer service representative said this was a common problem with this model and told us exactly what most likely cause of the problem prior to any diagnostics'that there was a fault in the seatbelt latch and wiring that caused 'high resistance'. The cost of repairs was $825. A google search shows this same problem is essentially ubiquitous. …”

NHTSA complaint #10336091, filed 2010-06, 15,725 miles

Suspension: “A loud clunking sound coming from rear end was noticed. Upon inspection, by Bmw dealership it was determined the rear subframe holding rear differential has separated from the body of the vehicle (spot weld failure). I was told it is extremely dangerous to drive and to fix immediately. Upon further research, this appears to be a very common problem with these vehicles. Higher displacement models are a higher occurrence due to creating more torque on the rear differential bracket. Mine is the m version which is almost a guaranteed failure.”

NHTSA complaint #10995656, filed 2017-06, 120,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

23% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 86,902 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 72,800 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
Z3 Roadster RWD	1.9L 4-cyl	5-speed manual	20	29	24	$2,800
Z3 Roadster RWD	1.9L 4-cyl	4-speed automatic	20	28	23	$2,900
Z3 Roadster RWD	2.8L 6-cyl	5-speed manual	17	24	19	$3,550
Z3 Roadster RWD	2.8L 6-cyl	4-speed automatic	16	22	18	$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.

10037702Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: when at lower speeds or stopping the engine idle dips too low because of a software problem.

Other model years of the BMW Z3 Roadster

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2001	8	65,872	—	20	—	Not enough data
2000	17	61,900	—	19	—	Falling
1998	19	72,800	—	23	—	Stable

All BMW Z3 Roadster model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster have?

NHTSA recorded 19 consumer complaints for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 7 complaints (37% of the total), followed by air bags with 3.

Has the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster get?

The EPA rates the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster (Z3 Roadster, 1.9L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,800 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 86,902 miles; 23% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.