2009 BMW Z4 Problems & Complaints

WHEELS DEVELOPED CRACKS AND AIR WAS LEAKING.

REAR WHEELS ON BMW Z4 CRACKED DURING NORMAL ROAD USAGE. BOTH CRACKED WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. THESE ARE 19" WHEELS WITH RUN FLAT TIRES AND 296 WHEEL DESIGN. THESE WHEELS DON'T SEEM TO BE DESIGNED FOR PUBLIC ROAD USAGE BUT ARE ADVERTISED AS SUCH. THEY CANNOT WITHSTAND EVEN MINOR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS. BMW REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY AND DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE WHEEL DESIGN AS DEFECTIVE DESPITE NUMEROUS REPORTS WITH THIS EXACT WHEEL. THEY NO LONGER SELL THE WHEEL ON NEW VEHICLES AND IN FACT EVEN REDESIGNED THE WHEEL IN 2012. *TR

WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR ONE MORNING THE SENSOR WENT OFF LETTING ME KNOW THAT I HAD A LOW TIRE PRESSURE. I WENT AND FILLED THE TIRE TO THE PROPER LEVEL; I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, THEN THE NEXT FOLLOWING MORNING THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY FOUND THAT THE RIM WAS CRACKED IN 4 PLACES. I WAS WONDERING HOW THE RIM COULD HAVE GOTTEN CRACKED CAUSE I BARELY DRIVE THE CAR, SITS IN THE GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME, I DRIVE ON EVEN ROADS WHEN I DO, BUT I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS, PURCHASED IT FROM CAR MAX. I WENT TO VARIOUS POSTS AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RIMS THAT BMW PUT ON THE Z4 35I BECAUSE THEY ARE RUN FLAT TIRES (WHICH MY CAR INITIALLY HAD ON THEM). WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, RUN FLATS WASN'T ON THIS CAR. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE WHEELS (RIMS) BECAUSE IF THE RIM FAILED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY...IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. *TR

ALUMINUM WHEEL (STYLE 296) CRACK ON THE INSIDE BEAD. CAR HAS 22,000 MILES ON 1/23/14 AND 3 WHEELS CURRENTLY HAVE CRACKS. THE CRACKS PREVENT THE TIRES FROM MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE AND LOWERS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE RIM, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. BMW IS ONLY OFFERING TO REPAIR ONE WHEEL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE RUNOUT ON THE OTHER 2 WHEELS WAS 0.059" WHICH THEY ARE CLAIMING INDICATES THAT THE WHEELS ARE DAMAGED DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD BUT OFFERED NO VISUAL EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THERE IS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE OF THE 296 STYLE WHEEL AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE THE DESIGN OF THE 19" WHEEL, THE USE OF 30 SERIES (REAR) OR 35 SERIES (FRONT) RUN-FLAT-TIRES AND THE NEGATIVE CAMBER. THE NEGATIVE CAMBER PUTS THE MAJORITY OF THE FORCES AND LOAD FROM THE ROAD ONTO THE INSIDE BEAD OF THE RIM. THE RUN-FLAT-TIRES HAVE EXTREMELY STIFF AND SHORT SIDEWALLS TO ALLOW THE TIRES TO BE DRIVEN WITH NO AIR, WHICH TRANSMITS THE FORCES FROM THE ROAD DIRECTLY TO THE RIM WITHOUT THE NORMAL CUSHION OF A STANDARD TIRE. THE DESIGN OF THE RIM DOES NOT ADD ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO THE INSIDE BEAD TO MAKE UP FOR THE ADDITIONAL LOADS CAUSED BY THE CAMBER AND RUN-FLAT-TIRES. *TR

I HAD A SLOW TIRE LEAK SO I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET CHECKED. TURNS OUT MY 2 REAR WHEELS ARE CRACKED.THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR OWNERS WITH THE 296 WHEEL ON THE Z4. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MCKENNA BMW AT (562) 219-4570 (LOCATED AT 10900 FIRESTONE BLVD, NORWALK, CA 90650) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE CAR HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIME WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IN SOME INSTANCES I DID NOT HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP SUCH AS CROSSING A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, JUST SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY. AS I WENT TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THE ENGINE HAD STALLED AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER. CAR STARTS RIGHT BACK UP EACH TIME BUT YOU MUST STOP TO PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). NEARLY HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE, SOLD ME A $400 BATTERY AS THE FIX. CAR STALLED ON THE WAY HOME FROM DEALERSHIP. RETURNED THE CAR BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE AND SINCE THE INSTANCES DID NOT PRODUCE A FAULT CODE THEY COULD DO NOTHING. CAR CONTINUES TO STALL WHICH MAKES IT A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE 100'S OF POST ON BMW FORUMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT BMW CLAIMS TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE THEM ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THIS IS NOT THE KNOWN BATTERY CABLE ISSUE, THAT WAS REPLACED PER RECALL. *TR

Drivers side seat belt frayed at the point where it comes out of the vehicle when I am seated and buckled in. This is nearly impossible for me to see and I only saw it by chance pulling the seat belt out for some incidental reason. I am unclear how long it had been like this. Otherwise this defect is completely hidden as it disappears into the vehicle when I unbuckle.

THE SEAT BELT IS FRAYING AT THE POINT WHERE IT MOST COMMONLY RESTS AGAINST THE CHASSIS WHILE I AM WEARING IT. IT SEEMS TO BE RUBBING AGAINST THE CAR CAUSING IT TO FRAY. I ONLY NOTICED IT BY CHANCE, AS IT IS NOT A COMMON SPOT TO LOOK AT WHILE SEATED IN THE VEHICLE.

The airbag sensor in my passenger seat has failed. I have been quoted approximately $2000 to repair this. However researching online I see BMW Service Bulletin SB-[XXX] which indicates this may be a widespread problem? [XXX] I am concerned to take passengers in the vehicle as I do not know if the airbags will deploy, or deploy at the wrong "rate" based on my understanding of how the sensors work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

EBRAKE FAILURE. I WENT ON THE Z4 FORUM AND MANY PEOPLE REPORT THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE / EMERGENCY BRAKE SIMPLY FAILING TO WORK.

ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND SHUTDOWN WHILE IN MOVEMENT WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE CANNOT BE TURNED ON UNTIL FULL STOP IS ACHIEVED AND TRANSMISSION PLACED IN "P." IDLE ENGINE RPM CONTINUES TO VARY DRASTICALLY UP AND DOWN WITH INDICATION A PROBLEM PERSISTS AND IS LIKELY POSE THE SAME SAFETY RISK. I BOUGHT VEHICLE USED ON 2012 AND HAD THE ISSUE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE TWICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP TOOK MONTHS TO APPARENTLY RESOLVE. I AM BACK AT RISK.

MY REAR RIMS HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN QUICK LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE AND IN SOME CASES DESTROYING TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES, HOWEVER THUS FAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ISOLATED TO THE REAR (MODEL 296 19") RIMS. IN THE 16 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING ON 5/11/2012, 9/9/12, 4/12/13 AND 5/23/13. EACH TIME I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW RIM OR HAD THE EXISTING RIM REPAIRED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEALER. IN NONE OF THESE CASES HAS THERE BEEN ANY IMPACT OR DRIVING CONDITION THAT EXPLAINS THE FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW Z4 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11, 200.

I AM LEASING A 2009 Z4 BMW, THE ENGINE CAR STALL WHILE DRIVING THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN A PERIOD OF 2 WEEKS, I ALMOST HAVE A CAR CRASH BEHIND IN BOTH OPPORTUNITIES, THANKS THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY SLOW, THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO GO OUT THE ROAD. I BROUGHT THE CAR THE FOR SERVICE, THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE, AFTER ONE WEEK AT THE SHOP THEY SAY IT WAS A COMPUTER FAILURE, THEY REPLACE THE COMPUTER HOWEVER AFTER 2 WEEKS THE CAR STILL IN THE SHOP I HAVE CALL SEVERAL TIMES TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE SERVICE SHOP BUT I DON'T GET ANY SPECIFIC ANSWER OF WHAT IS GOING ON, I FEEL I DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER AND IN THE OTHER HAND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY SINCE THEY SAID THEY DON'T GUARANTEE THIS WON'T HAVEN AGAIN EVEN IF THE CAR IS FIXED. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER OR I HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS SITUATION. *TR

MY 2009 BMW Z4 WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT A 65 ANGLE TO THE REAR OF MY TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK. I GOT INTO THE BMW INTENDING MOVE IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE CAR HAS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND WAS IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND STARTED THE ENGINE. AN INSTANT AFTER THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASED, THE RUBBER CLUTCH PEDAL COVER SLIPPED OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL TAKING MY FOOT WITH IT. THE BMW SHOT FORWARD. THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER OF THE BMW STRUCK THE LEFT REAR BUMPER OF THE TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK STALLING THE ENGINE OF THE BMW. THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE BMW IS APPROXIMATELY $5000.00 AND THE DAMAGE TO THE TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK IS APPROXIMATELY $550.00. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009, I TOOK THE BMW INTO THE AUSTIN BMW DEALER. THE RUBBER PEDAL COVER WAS REATTACHED WITH 'SUPERGLUE' AND I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. TWO DAYS LATER I TOOK THE BMW TO A BODY SHOP. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I FELT THE RUBBER CLUTCH PEDAL COVER BEGIN TO 'SLIP' AS I DROVE UP MY DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT DAY I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR INTO THE BMW DEALER. THE RUBBER PEDAL COVER WAS 'LOOSE' BUT DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SCHEDULED A CONFERENCE WITH THE BMW FACTORY REP AT HIS NEXT VISIT. ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR EXAMINATION BY THE FACTORY REP. WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD BEEN REATTACHED. I WAS TOLD THE FACTORY REP WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH ME WITHIN TWO WEEKS. 'SCOTT' FROM BMW HEADQUARTERS (NEW JERSEY?) CALLED ME ON NOVEMBER 4, 2009 AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD MANUFACTURED 10,000 OF THIS MODEL AND HAD RECEIVED NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF CLUTCH PEDAL COVERS COMING OFF. I BELIEVE THE RUBBER CLUTCH PEDAL CURRENTLY IN THE VEHICLE IS THE ORIGINAL. THE DEALER PROVIDED ME WITH A CUSTOMER COPY OF THE WORK ORDER ON MY FIRST VISIT. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION ON MY SUBSEQUENT TWO VISITS. *TR