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1998 BMW Z3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 BMW Z3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 9 of 30 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.

  • Seats. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Visibility complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 1999
Visibility

THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN (THE INTENDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP), IT CAUSES SEVERE CREASING OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS RESULTS IN THE REAR VIEW OUT THE WINDOW BEING SIGNIFICANTLY DISTORTED AND IMPAIRED, WHICH I THINK I…

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THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN (THE INTENDED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP), IT CAUSES SEVERE CREASING OF THE REAR WINDOW. THIS RESULTS IN THE REAR VIEW OUT THE WINDOW BEING SIGNIFICANTLY DISTORTED AND IMPAIRED, WHICH I THINK IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND BMW ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT "THEY ALL DO THIS" AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THERE IS NOTHING THE OWNER CAN DO TO REMOVE THE CREASES. THE ONLY RESPONSE THE DEALER HAS PFFERED IS TO HEAT-TREAT THE WINDOW AND MELT AWAY THE CREASES. HOWEVER, THE NEXT TIME THE TOP IS LOWERED AND THEN RAISED AGAIN, THE WINDOW HAS THE SAME DEEP CREASES. THIS CONCERNS ME, BECAUSE THE DISTORTED REAR VIEW IS DISTRACTING AND A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE ONE CANNOT SEE CLEARLY TO THE REAR OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #702345

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1998
Visibility

REARVIEW MIRROR CREATES HUGE BLIND SPOT AND IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #537768

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.