Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW Z3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure11
- Air bags10
- Power train9
- Seat belts7
- Suspension6
- Unknown or other2
- Seats2
- Electrical system2
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Engine1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1999 Z3 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 BMW Z3 failed the safety check 1.79% of the time — 2% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 78,348 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
74 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 97% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde43
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect31
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen23
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld13
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm12
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan7
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar6
- Lichtbeeld dimlicht onjuist6
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,561 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2,086 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,978 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 69% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.6% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 9.8% | 13.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.3% | 7.3% |
| Visibility | 6.3% | 6.9% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4.2% | 3.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
60 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 166,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
198 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 90% arrived as used imports, 6% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 11.6–12.1 L/100 km (about 19–20 mpg US), CO₂ 267–278 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z3 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| Z3 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 14.0 | 9.8 | 12.1 |
| Z3 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 13.9 | 9.9 | 12.1 |
| Z3 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 13.9 | 9.9 | 12.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL MAY CONTAIN RING GEAR BOLTS THAT WERE INCORRECTLY TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE BOLT OR BOLTS COULD LOOSEN LEADING TO NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE NUT THAT SECURES THE MAIN POSITIVE CABLE TO THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO LOOSEN OVER TIME. IF THIS OCCURRED, THE CABLE COULD ULTIMATELY LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY COULD BE INTERRUPTED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 1999 BMW Z3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 614294 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING VARIOUS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAULTS. *TT |
| 614292 | EXPERIENCING A BUZZING OR RATTLING NOISE HEARD COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 611241 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE DSC III TEST CABLE. *TT |
| 606628 | CONDITIONS WITH FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 WHEN TANK IS FULL. *TT |
| 606627 | CONCERNS WITH FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 WHEN TANK IS FULL. *TT |
| 606356 | SUBJECT ON FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 WHEN TAK IS FULL. *TT |
| 606353 | INFORMATION REGARDING VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 99E-A01. *TT |
| 606263 | CONCERNS WITH FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 WHEN TANK IS FULL. *TT |
| 604633 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH ON COLD START. *TT |
| 601927 | SUBJECT REGARDING 2.5 AND 2.8 LITER SIX CYLINDER ENGINES. *YC |
| 10037702 | BMW: WHEN AT LOWER SPEEDS OR STOPPING THE ENGINE IDLE DIPS TOO LOW BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *RM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)