1998 BMW Z3 Roadster Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 11%of 19 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 88,451miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster, 11% of the 19 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 88,451 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“At 86k miles on my 1998 Bmw z3, the thin sheet metal bracket holding the rear differential up in place welded to the chassis split in half causing the rear end to hang. This is the second time it has happened, also at 93,500 miles, just 8 months later. The clutch is still original and the car has never been abused, or raced. I always baby the car because gas is so expensive, and this seems to be a problem with alot of other z3's that I have seen online. This is clearly a manufacturing flaw. Bmw claims the car must have had some rear end impact, even though this is clearly not the case. …”
NHTSA complaint #10430357, filed 2011-10, 86,902 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster
7 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology