Are Z3's tearing themselves apart?
- Thread starter Bear6360
- Start date
After reading that link, I am happy I have a 1.9 Z3. Also, it is making me think twice about modding my car with anything that will make it faster. I already drive it pretty hard. If I make it faster, I will only drive it harder.
Take note that the problem mentioned in the link only seems to be happening for the Z3's with I6's in them....and the M's of course. You might want to check your car.
Take note that the problem mentioned in the link only seems to be happening for the Z3's with I6's in them....and the M's of course. You might want to check your car.
any GOOD news? my car was reconstructed at about 55k, it got sandwiched between a drunk and the car in front of me. that's a major reason why i don't mind mod'ing/cutting it up, all the new is wore off! wonder how well it'll hold up? i've never been satisfied with the repair job. i think the gas tank is falling out now, the straps have air between them and the tank where some cushion material is coming out. does the rear subframe have to come out to get the tank down?
![[confused]](/images/smilies/confused.png "Confused [confused]")
That's EXACTLY what I was talking about when I posted that thread about my friend getting that M coupe (he did get it by the way, should arrive somewhere around mid-april). Some just randomly start cracking for no apparent reason, and BMW doesn't cover this with any recall, they don't plan to either.
We should try to organize some type of action to get BMW to address this issue and the SRS problems. Unless there is a cost driven reason, BMW will NEVER recall for these problems, yet clearly they are engineering defects (badly designed, not necessarily poor quality). These are both significant problems, fairly well documented, and affect a large number of vehicles.
I have filed a complaint with the NHTSA regarding my SRS problem, and have encouraged others to do so also.
I wonder if there is more influencial place to address these complaints. If I had access to accident records, and could dig up just a couple cases where an SRS failure led to injury or death, or the busted diff mount caused an accident, we would have some serious leverage.
I have filed a complaint with the NHTSA regarding my SRS problem, and have encouraged others to do so also.
I wonder if there is more influencial place to address these complaints. If I had access to accident records, and could dig up just a couple cases where an SRS failure led to injury or death, or the busted diff mount caused an accident, we would have some serious leverage.
What do you mean by SRS?? Don't know what that is...
I've heard that it's a quality issue though, because on some Ms and Z3s that are 90K miles have no sign of this, and some as young as 20k miles are starting to crack. Maybe it has something to do with the environment, but I strongly doubt it. In any case, BMW should take action against it.
I've heard that it's a quality issue though, because on some Ms and Z3s that are 90K miles have no sign of this, and some as young as 20k miles are starting to crack. Maybe it has something to do with the environment, but I strongly doubt it. In any case, BMW should take action against it.
Sorry, SRS (Suplemental Restraint System) also know as air bags. On many Z3's, it you adjust the seat, the air bag light will come on, and the air bags will not deply. Most often, the connectors under the seat are to blame, but he E36 seatbelt tensioner is also know to fail and cause this. The tensioner is fine, just a crappy switch that detects if the seatbelt is fastened or not. In some case, freqently moveing the seat has severed the wires. In all cases the airbags will not deploy until the problem is corrected. In almost all cases the problem is solved by reseting the light, $95 at my Dealer. I think out of priciple BMW should diagnose (read the fault code) for free and reset it if the problem is just a wire fault. In many cases BMW should replace the poorly designed wiring harness.
Seems clear to me that the single diff. mount is an engineering fault. If all Z3's are the same I will examine the part more closely, get the specs, and see if I can calculate the amount of stress the metal can take (I have some mechanical engineering experience). I bet that the 2.8 and larger engines can easily cause failure similar to that of aircraft metal fatigue.
Seems clear to me that the single diff. mount is an engineering fault. If all Z3's are the same I will examine the part more closely, get the specs, and see if I can calculate the amount of stress the metal can take (I have some mechanical engineering experience). I bet that the 2.8 and larger engines can easily cause failure similar to that of aircraft metal fatigue.
That's exactly what we were thinking, but it's not exactly what I'd expect from BMW, maybe during some periods of time a lower-grade metal was used and as soon as it cracks the least bit, eventually the entire thing goes. I just hope it doesn't happen to my friend's M coupe, it's his dream car and now that he's finally getting it we're hoping everything is gonna be alright...
The wonderful dealer I used charged me $390 to fix the SRS light!!!! I had not read about the cause until after I had it fixed. I know it was the same deal with moving the seat and the wires getting jarred. They charged the diagnostic fee then said it’s the seat belt latch on the driver seat which was only $85 for the part and the rest was all labor putting it in and I think a charge to reset the light to off. Think I have any recourse to recover some of that cost?
I’m planning to purchase a 2000 m roadster this weekend. I test drove the car and it was fantastic. I am taking the car to a local bmw dealership for a professional look over before I buy the car. The owner said seat belt light stays on but did not know why. This cracking issue has me vary concerned. Is this a condition that the dealership would look for in the course of an inspection? Can this condition be fixed if caught early?
i have a feeling that the cracking problem is mostly a driving style issue. a lot of hot dog vette owners know how easy it is to roll the center section out of the chassis. big difference in power output between the two cars, but that's the difference between tearing it out in one shot and developing stress cracks. the independent rear suspension just isn't a good choice for a drag racing type of power delivery. it's a touring set-up. i also feel that the Z3 should've been designed to stay together. a little beefier diff mount doesn't seem way out of line?
Resetting sensors
The dealer tried the same crap on me with the DSC sensor. It kept coming on and I wanted them to find the cause, not fix the symptom. Anyway, they reset the sensor and tried to charge me $50. I raised hell and they backed down.
Also, you can reset sensors for free by unplugging the battery for about 30 minutes. Just make sure you know the radio antitheft code.
The dealer tried the same crap on me with the DSC sensor. It kept coming on and I wanted them to find the cause, not fix the symptom. Anyway, they reset the sensor and tried to charge me $50. I raised hell and they backed down.
Also, you can reset sensors for free by unplugging the battery for about 30 minutes. Just make sure you know the radio antitheft code.
hey guys...I have been looking for a Mroadster for awhile . then I came across this thread and got cold feet.
well my feet are red hot!
I just stopped by Midwest motorsport in glenview IL and Leo the owner has a fix for these cars and its gonna be out in kit form real soon here.
the fix not only is for damaged/torn cars it is also a preventative measure.
I am now back in the market looking for my M and as soon as I find the one I will be installing the brace and stiffener to keep it togather.
Cheers
MM
well my feet are red hot!
I just stopped by Midwest motorsport in glenview IL and Leo the owner has a fix for these cars and its gonna be out in kit form real soon here.
the fix not only is for damaged/torn cars it is also a preventative measure.
I am now back in the market looking for my M and as soon as I find the one I will be installing the brace and stiffener to keep it togather.
Cheers
MM