1998 BMW M3 Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

SUSPENSION

2 complaints

1) NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION 2) LEFT REAR STRUT-TOWER FAILURE RESULTING IN PENETRATION OF STRUT AND SPRING AND FAILURE OF REAR SUSPENSION. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. 3) REPAIRS PENDING. KNOWN ISSUE W/ BMW E-36'S. *NM

Oct 11, 2006

THE SHOCK WELLS RUSTED AND CRACKED MAKING SHOCKS PROTRUDE OUT OF IT'S MOUNTS.

May 08, 2005

POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SHIFT GATE. TRANNY STICKS IN 5TH GEAR POSITION, CAUSING DANGEROUS SHIFT DELAYS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. SEE: HTTP://WWW.BRAZEAURACING.COM/TECH/TRANSMISSIONS.HTM FOR A PARTIAL LISTING OF THOSE AFFECTED. *JB

Nov 23, 2004

THE GEAR SHIFT IN MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 1998 BMW M3 (4 DOOR), STICKS UNDER FIFTH GEAR AND OFTEN I AM ALSO UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR. THE ISSUE WITH THIS IS WELL KNOWN BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. THE DANGER HERE IS THAT WHEN I WANT TO SHIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR I CANNOT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 4TH TO 3RD BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFT NATURALLY WANTS TO GO INTO FIFTH. THIS CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN GOING INTO A TURN OR NEEDING TO DOWNSHIFT TO CONTROL ENGINE SPEED RATHER THAN USING BRAKES WHEN CONDITIONS MAY BE TOO SLICK TO SAFELY APPLY THE BRAKES. *LA

Jan 23, 2004

VISIBILITY

2 complaints

PROBLEM1: REAR DEFOGGER NOT WORKING. CHECKED THE SYSTEM, FUSES OKAY, VOLTAGE CORRECTLY SUPPLIED TO REAR WINDOW HEATING CONTACTS. HEATING ELEMENTS IN THE WINDOW ITSELF ARE FAILING. AFETY ISSUE: NO VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW WHEN FOGGED.*AK PROBLEM2: AUTOMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS ARE QUITTING ERRATICALLY LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER, AIR BLOWER, HEATING OR AIR CONDITIONING. CAR HAS NO SAFETY DEFAULT OR MANUAL OVERRIDE OPTION. SAFETY ISSUES: OCCUPANTS CAN GET FROST BITES OR FREEZE TO DEATH IN HARSH WINTER CONDITIONS OR SUFFER FROM HEAT STROKE DURING HOT WEATHER. FOGGING OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WITH DISFUNCTIONAL BLOWER.

Nov 17, 2004

THE FACTORY INSTALLED REAR VIEW MIRROR BLOCKS A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW AND CREATES A VERY LARGE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE BLIND ZONE.

Jul 05, 1998

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

THE DEALER FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN TO RESET THE CODE AND SAY, "OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT." APPARENTLY ITS A SENSOR IN THE SEAT, AND LOTS OF BMW'S ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. SAFETY SYSTEM FAULTS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.*AK

Jul 07, 2001

CONSUMER RAN INTO A POLE AND SPLIT POLE IN HALF, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AUTOMOBILE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

Feb 12, 1999

Crash: 1

TIRES

1 complaint

ON OCTOBER 13TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1800HRS THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY 1998 BMW M3 "RAPIDLY DEFLATED" RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF THE INNER SIDEWALL WAS LEFT SHREDDED. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND WARM, WITH NO DEBRIS OR CONTAMINATION ON THE ROAD SURFACE(SR-62). THE TIRE WAS INSTALLED BY A BMW SERVICE CENTER 5/7/08 AT 68,814 MILES, ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 82,943 MILES. THE DUNLOP 8080E P245/40 ZR-17 DOT# DMC903Y1607 WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE GOOD TREAD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THREE DAYS PRIOR. *TR

Nov 10, 2008

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN UNRESLOVED. DEALERS CANNOT LOCATE FAULT AND CONTINUES TO REPLACE BULBS OR BEND CONNECTORS ON SOCKETS. ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN GASKETS ALL FAILING WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. INLET LEAKAGE ON FUEL VALVE FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. MAJOR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM FOR SECOND TIME. DESPITE REPEATED REPORTS OF ROUGH SHIFTING, WITH PROBLEMS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING GEARS, NO ANSWER OTHER THAN EVERYTHING IS FINE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH OTHER M3 VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ALL HAVE STATED AND EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. STEREO, TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILING. FRONT BUMBPER ASSEMBLY CONSISTENTLY LOSING PARTS. NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT VARIOUS DEALERS OVER 8 TIMES IN PAST YEAR WITH SIGNIFICANT OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL CAR EXPENSES.

Sep 19, 2001

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELLERATE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Sep 24, 2000

STRUCTURE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

HORN STOPPED WORKING ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMED PROBLEM. BUT, AFTER 3 MONTHS HORN WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. LAST TIME DEALER REPLACED THE CONTACT POINTS. ALSO, HALF OF THE SPOILER CAME OFF, BOLTS HAD FALLEN APART WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING SPOILER TO FALL OFF IMMEDIATELY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

Aug 11, 2000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 complaint

BRAKES DISC FAILED. YH

Feb 01, 1999

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

BATTERY FAILURE.

Feb 01, 1998

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4.2/5.0

101 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 1998 BMW M3 have?

The 1998 BMW M3 currently has 14 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 1998 BMW M3?

The most common problems reported for the 1998 BMW M3 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 1998 BMW M3 problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 1998 BMW M3 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.