SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1998 BMW E36 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
1998
Compare all E36 Series years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Structure
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

1 reports
145,000 miles · Dec 20, 2010
Electrical SystemStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW E36. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT RAINS THE WATER LEAKED INTO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO MALFUNCTION. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW E36. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT RAINS THE WATER LEAKED INTO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO MALFUNCTION. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND OUT HOW THE WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155000.

NHTSA ODI #10371816

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.