Recalls: BMW E36/7 Z3 Roadster
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: BMW E36/7 Z3 Roadster
No recall information is available for the BMW E36/7 Z3 Roadster. To search for recalls of BMW models, please visit Product Safety Recalls Australia: BMW.
Problems and faults: BMW E36/7 Z3 Roadster
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
BMW E36/7 Z3 Roadster: rear floor cracks at sub-frame mount area
For the BMW E36 3-Series and E36/7 Z3 Roadster, the rear floor was susceptible to cracks in the area of the rear sub-frame mounts. Due to bending of the rear chassis and movement that was allowed by rubber bushings, the chassis mounting points for the sub-frame would flex, weaken and, eventually, tear from the chassis.
The original, standard mounts were a flat plate that had an internally threaded tube and were welded to the chassis. The flex of the rear sub-frame caused this threaded tube and mounting bolt to act as a lever arm where the plate was welded to the chassis – this weakened the surrounding sheet metal. Due to the torque applied by the drivetrain on the sub-frame, the right side front mount would fail first, followed by the left side rear mount.
For the E36 M3, BMW developed a chassis reinforcement kit – which consisted of four reinforcement plates – that were welded to the underside of the chassis and significantly stiffened the mounts. To prevent cracks, these reinforcement plates can be fitted to the E36 3-Series and E36/7 Z3 Roadster.
To weld the reinforcement plates, the rear suspension, rear sub-frame, exhaust and driveshaft had to be removed. It is was also recommended that the back seat, rear interior, boot interior and fuel tank were also removed and all fuel lines were capped to prevent a fire hazard.
Z3 2.2i and 3.0i: M54 VANOS failure
For the M54 engine, the VANOS units may fail due to deterioration of the VANOS piston seal O-rings which are made from Buna (a material with limited temperature resistance). Over time, the O-rings harden and shrink, causing them to lose their functional characteristics – this can cause symptoms such as a loss of power below 3000 rpm, surging around 3000 rpm, a louder idle and rough running.
The piston O-rings lies under and provides support to a Teflon piston seal ring. Replacing the O-rings requires the Teflon seals to be removed for access. Since the Teflon seals cannot be removed from the piston seal groove without damaging it, the Teflon and O-ring seals must be replaced simultaneously. For greater longevity, the Buna O-rings can be replaced with O-rings made from Viton.
The VANOS unit had two piston seals with O-rings, while each piston had two O-ring sizes to provide hydraulic sealing in two VANOS cylinders of different sizes and an additional, smaller O-ring that was used to seal off a piston bearing. It is understood that the O-ring for this cap was also made from Buna and deteriorated in the same manner as the piston seal O-rings.
For more information about the M54 engine, please see BMW M54 and S54 engines.
E36/7 Z3 2.8, 3.0 and M: manual shift lever sticks in 5th and reverse
In January 2005, BMW issued technical service bulletin SI B04 04 02 for E36 Z3 2.8. 3.0 and M Roadsters with manual transmissions. In these vehicles, the manual gearshift lever:
- May be difficult to move into and out of 5th gear and reverse;
- May not automatically move from the 5th and reverse gears back to the centre/neutral position; and,
- May have a loose shift feel (i.e. lack of guidance).
The service bulletin attributed this condition to the fifth gear and reverse gear selector shaft pin sticking due to a defective bushing that was mounted in the selector shaft bore of the transmission. To fix, the fifth and reverse gear selector shaft pin bushing needed to be replaced.
Z3 M Roadster: S50 VANOS
Failure of the VANOS unit in the S50 engine can produce symptoms such as a loss of power below 3000 rpm, surging around 3000 rpm, a louder idle and rough running. For the S50B30 engine, VANOS problems include:
- Failure of the VANOS intake rod seal;
- Uneven wear of the VANOS intake piston seal; and,
- Failure of the VANOS solenoid O-rings.
For more information about the S50 engine, please see BMW M50 and S50 engines.
Problems and faults: BMW E36/7 Z3 Roadster
- The air conditioning condenser may rub against the transmission cooler, causing the refrigerant to leak and the air conditioning to stop working.
- A rattling noise from the rear of the vehicle may be due to the fuel tank rattling – this could occur when the tank was full and is attributable to a loose mounting strap. The problem can be fixed by installing additional foam pads or securing the mounting strap.
- Installation of the wrong suspension mount can cause rattling from the rear suspension.
- Water leaks may develop between: 1) the fabric roof and the plastic seal that holds the rear window; and, 2) the roof and door windows.
