2003 BMW Z4 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CANNOT INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE WOULD PREVENT HIM FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

12-31-08 MY CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 55-65 MILES PE HOUR. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE MIDDLE LANE BUT WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO THE OUTER LAND BUT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. TAFTER 10 =15 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED, AND THE FLORIDA STATE TROOPER ASSIST ME TO THE NEXT EXIT. AFTER I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY HOME 45 MILES AWAY.... IT COST ME $197.00 BUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID 70 DOLLARS OF THE FULL COST..... BMW HAVE A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2003 Z4 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT HAS REFUSED TO RECALL MY CAR AFTER IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH HIS VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. IT BECAME WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED THERE WAS A BUBBLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA THAT LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES. NO PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. HE WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $152 FOR A DIAGNOSIC CHECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

I OWN A 2003 BMW Z4 AND HAVE HAD TWO FUEL PUMPS AND FILTER REPLACEMENTS. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 21,500 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS JUNE 2008. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN 1,000 MILES OF THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. BMW DEALER MAINTAINS IT IS ETHANOL IN THE PREMIUM GAS I BUY, WHICH IS FROM CHERVRON. THE FUEL PUMP IS SUPPOSEDLY SUBJECT TO FAILURE IF THE ETHANOL CONTENT EXCEEDS 10% OR MORE. I HAD THE CHEVRON FUEL TESTED AND IT FALLS WITHIN THE 10% LIMIT. ALL FUELS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONTAIN UP TO 10% ETHANOL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BMW CANNOT DESIGN A FUEL PUMP TO HANDLE THE FUELS SOLD IN THE U.S. I SUPECT THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN IS FAULTY. ANYWAY I AM OUT ABOUT $2000 AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR VERY FAR FROM TOWN. *TR

THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON, BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR THAT FAILED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN HOT WEATHER, THE STEERING BINDED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SWITCH LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE CONTACT COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE HAD TO MAKE SUDDEN MANEUVERS TO AVOID POTENTIALLY LOSING CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF UPDATED 10/23/08. *JB

VEHICLE HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. INTERMITTENTLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, POWER ASSIST UNIT FAILS. CONSEQUENTLY, DRIVER MUST USE A FIRM GRIP AND SUBSTANTIAL FORCE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. UNIT FAILS EITHER AT ENGINE START OR WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 45,000 MILES. STEERING TORQUE FAULT WAS CLEARED DURING DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BY INDEPENDENT BMW TECHNICIAN BUT FAULT HAS SINCE RECURRED. NEAREST AUTHORIZED BMW SERVICE CENTER ALSO HAS CHECKED VEHICLE. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT FIX WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF UPPER STEERING COLUMN AT COST TO OWNER OF $2,360 PLUS DIAGNOSTIC FEE. BMW NORTH AMERICAN CONTACTED FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY, IN CONCERT WITH THE DEALER, DECLINED TO OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OWNER TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS. PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED. OWNER FEELS THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH CREATES A SIGNIFICANT HIGHWAY SAFETY RISK, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE UNSUSPECTING OF THE POTENTIAL FAULT. DATE OF INCIDENT BELOW IS FIRST OCCURRENCE OF PROBLEM, WHILE OWNER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE 'EPS' ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BIND ON HOT DAYS. THIS COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION AND TO DATE BMW IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. *TR

STICKY, GRABBY, TIGHT STEERING. NO CORRECTION TO CENTER. HEAVY FEEL AND NOTCHY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON HOT DAYS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CAR SITS IN THE HOT SUN FOR A COUPLE HOURS. MOST NOTICEABLE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COOL, THE STEERING IS FINE. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATED ON IS OWN. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE IT TO AUTOMATIC. THE DEALER HAD TO RE-SET USING THE FACTORY COMPUTER. *TR

2003 BMW Z4 WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY BUT THE DEALER DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM. NOW THE POWER STEERING ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. *KB

BMW Z4 ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

STEERING LOCKS, RESIST, JERKS, AND STIFFENS UP ON HOT DAYS. THIS DAY MY STEERING ALMOST COMPLETELY LOCKED WHILE CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ACROSS TWO EXTRA LANES BEFORE IT LET GO. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER. AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROADS, A VIBRATION WAS HEARD IN THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE SIDE OF THE TIRE CLOSEST TO THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE RUBBED AGAINST THE SHOCK ABSORBER, AND THE CORDS WERE VISIBLE WHERE THE TREAD MET THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.

DURING HOT WEATHER (90 DEGREES AND ABOVE) THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HEAVY A STICKY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE FACTORY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DETERMINED A SOLUTION EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR OVER A YEAR. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE CAR IS ENTIRELY SAFE TO OPERATE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS AND THE DEALER A FACTORY HAVE BEEN NON RESPONSIVE IN CORRECTING IT. *JB

THE STEERING IS "STICKY" WHEN DRIVING WITH INTERIOR HEATER ON FULL/HOT. IF CAR INTERIOR TEMPS COOL DOWN THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. I HAVE TO OVER STEER TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION I WANT AND THIS CAUSES A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE CAR WILL MOVE TOO FAR IN THAT DIRECTION. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO BMW AND OTHER OWNERS. *JB

AUTO WAS EXHIBITING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN APPROACHING A FULL LOCK POSITION. DEALER UPON SECOND COMPLAINT REPLACED THE "LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT ASSEMBLY PART # 32-30-6-769-265". AFTER THE PARTS REPLACEMENT THE STEERING OF THE CAR HAS BEEN NOTICEABLY IMPAIRED AND EXHIBITS STEERING THAT IS VERY VAGUE AND EXHIBITS A LOOSENESS ON ROUGH ROADS OR DURING SHARP TURNS SUCH AS PARKING OR A U-TURN. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THERE ARE APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL BULLETINS BUT CHOSE NOT TO RELEASE INFORMATION IN THEM. *JB CAR IS PARKED AWAITING BMW REGIONAL TECHNICAL SERVICE INSPECTION. *JB

2003 BMW Z-8. A NUMBER OF OWNERS HAVE REPORTED DAMAGE TO THE ALUMINUM FRAME AT THE SHOCK TOWERS. AS THIS AFFECTS THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM THIS DAMAGE. BMW HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE AND IS NOT RESPONDING WITH A FIX NOR IS IT NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THIS CONDITION. I BELIEVE BMW HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS. NOTE THAT THE Z8 MODEL IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR DATABASE SO I CHOSE Z4 FROM THE PULL DOWN LIST. *NM

THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SHOCK TOWER SUPPORTS AND FRONT CHASSIS ASSEMBLY ON THE BMW Z8. IT IS PRONE TO DEFORMATION OF THE SHOCK TOWERS AND FLEXING OF THE FRONT CHASSIS ASSEMBLY, LEADING TO STEERING PROBLEMS AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN BY BMW AG IN GERMANY SINCE AT LEAST NOVEMBER 2005, BUT AS OF TODAY, THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM BMW AG OR BMW IN THE USA TO THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FRAME / CHASSIS OF THE BMW Z8 IS MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND AS SUCH, CAN UNDERGO A GREATER DEGREE OF FATIGUE. FAILURE SHOULD THERE BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN, MATERIALS OR BOTH. THIS DEFECT COULD LEAD OR HAS ALREADY LEAD TO THE FRONT STRUT / SHOCK TOWER ASSEMBLY DEFORMING AT ITS ATTACHMENT POINTS, AND WILL OR COULD LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE ATTACHMENT, CAUSING A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. THUS FAR, BMW HAS NOT RESPONDED TO COMPLAINTS. THIS WAS A LIMITED PRODUCTION LUXURY SPORTS CAR OF WHICH 5,550 WERE PRODUCED AND ABOUT 2,550 WERE SOLD HERE IN THE USA. BASED ON PRELIMINARY DATA FROM OUR ON-LINE CLUB MEMBERSHIP IT APPEARED THAT AT LEAST 1 IN 3 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT. WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS OR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE? BMW IS SILENT AS FAR AS THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE CONSIDERED, AND WE NEED HELP TO INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN THE SUN AND HEATS UP THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CORRECT ALIGNMENT ON ROADWAY. OVER STEERING OCCURS AND GIVES IMPRESSION OF WEAVING WHILE CROSSING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NEAR MISS OF OTHER VEHICLE OCCURRED. THIS STICKING HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EACH SUMMER IN WARM TO HOT WEATHER.*AK

I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE PAST TWO SUMMERS REGARDING THE STEERING WHEN THE CAR SETS IN THE HEAT ALL DAY (EXCEPT THAT IT WAS WORST THIS PAST SUMMER, IT NOW HAPPENS AT ABOUT 85 F, INSTEAD OF 90 F). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR RESISTS TURNING FROM CENTER AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER ON ITS OWN; YOU MUST TURN IT BACK. THIS IS A FAIRLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF IT AND DO NOT PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. *NM

GROWING STEERING DIFFICULTIES WITH 2003 BMW Z4 PURCHASED NEW. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS BMW IS TRYING TO DETERMINE A FIX (THIS WAS MONTHS AGO). BMW SAYS SORRY - REFER TO DEALERSHIP, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHICH SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RE-CALL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON I-70 NEAR EXIT 218 (ELEV 10,300', WEST OF DENVER) MY 2003 BMW Z4 STALLED. AFTER NUMEROUS RESTARTS, I WAS ABLE TO GET IF OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE EXIT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE HAULED TO THE BMW DEALER IN DENVER. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT A SCREEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL PUMP HAD COLLAPSED, CUTTING OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY. THE REPLACED THE PUMP. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD ABOUT 5000 MILES ON IT. IN EARLY AUGUST 2005 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WEST ON US 6, CROSSING SOLDIER SUMMIT (ELEV. 7400'), WEST OF PRICE, UT. AGAIN THE CAR STALLED, ACTING LIKE IT WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. AFTER SPENDING ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH THE SALT LAKE CITY BMW DEALERSHIP, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE CAR AT MURRAY MOTORS, THEY THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE HIGH ALTITUDE AND HIGH TEMPERATURE (IT AS ABOUT 75 DEGREES ON SOLDIER SUMMIT.) SINCE THE CAR HAD NOT HAD PROBLEMS THE PREVIOUS WEEK AT HOME (ELEV. 8050', TEMPERATURES UP TO 90), I QUESTIONED THAT DIAGNOSIS THEY SAID THAT BMW HAD DESIGNED A NEW FUEL PUMP FOR THE CAR, AND BMW AGREED TO INSTALL A NEW ONE, BUT THERE WERE NONE IN SLC. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE ON TO PORTLAND, OR, WHERE A NEW ONE WOULD BE INSTALLED. I DROVE TO PORTLAND AND IT WAS INSTALLED. DOES BMW HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE Z4 FUEL PUMP? WE GOT NO RECALL NOTICE. MY WIFE IS HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IN CASE IT SHOULD STALL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR TO REPLACE THE

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE BEVERLY HILLS BMW REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 04V247000 AND ASKED THAT THE DEALER/SERVICE CENTER CHECK OUT MY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT PROCESSORS AS MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE OF 2003 AND APPEARS TO BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE SERVICE SAYING THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE RECALL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. I THEN TELEPHONED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL. I SPOKE WITH "JASON" AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE RECALL ANYWHERE AND THAT BMW WOULD NOT CHECK OUT MY CAR OR THE AIR BAG PROCESSORS. *NM

I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT WITH CONFIRMATION NUMBER 10135197. SINCE SUBMITTING THAT COMPLAINT, I HAVE BEEN ON BMW RELATED MESSAGE BOARDS AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE "STICKING" STEERING ON 2003 BMW Z-4 ROADSTERS IS NOT ONLY WELL KNOWN TO BMW, BUT THEY HAVE COME UP WITH A REPAIR. UNFORTUNATELY, BMW IS NOT RECALLING, NOT NOTIFYING AND THEY ARE INSISTING THAT A CAR OWNER WAIT UNTIL A COMPLETE PART FAILURE THAT CAN BE VERIFIED AT THE DEALER TO TAKE ANY ACTION UNDER THE CAR WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES WITH OUTSIDE HEAT. A DEALERSHIP IS NOT ALWAYS AROUND TO VERIFY THE ISSUE. I HAVE TALKED WITH BMW USA HEADQUARTERS IN NEW JERSEY AND THEY THROW ME BACK TO THE DEALER. IF YOU TOOK WHAT BMW USA SAYS AT FACE VALUE, THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS ISSUE. THAT IS NOT TURNING OUT TO BE THE CASE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT ACT WITHOUT BMW AUTHORIZATION AND THAT REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF A VERIFIABLE FAILED PART. THE DEALER IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT DOUBLE TALK FROM THE PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY AT BMW HEADQUARTERS. THE INTERNET POSTINGS ON THIS PROBLEM INDICATE HOW SEVERE THE ISSUE IS. THE PROBLEM IS WORLD WIDE ON 2003 Z-4'S. IT OCCURS IN HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES AND CAN, ACCORDING TO SOME POSTINGS, COME ON WITH NO NOTICE AT HIGH SPEEDS. ONE DRIVER DESCRIBED HOW HE NARROWLY AVERTED PUTTING HIS CAR INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER OF A HIGHWAY. FEEL FREE TO CHECK THESE BOARDS, ONE OF THEM IS "ROADFLY.COM" WHERE A WHOLE THREAD

CAR SAT IN HOT SUN ALL DAY. ENTERED CAR TO DRIVE HOME AND NOTICED STEERING WAS HARD AS SPEED INCREASED UPWARDS TO 30 MPH. AS SPEED INCREASED STEERING BECAME VERY HARD, REQUIRING TORQUE ON STEERING WHEEL. AT A STOP THE STEERING WAS NORMAL, WHEEL COULD TURN AS ALWAYS. AT HIGHER SPEEDS UP TO 55 MPH, WHEN CAR WHEELS TURNED, THE ACTION WAS "CHOPPY" OR IN INCREMENTS RATHER THAN SMOOTH AND WITH THE PRECISION CAR NORMALLY HAD. IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE HEAVY WEIGHT ON FRONT OF CAR. CHECKED RUN FLAT TIRES. NO PROBLEM. PARKED CAR AT HOME. TWO DAYS LATER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND STEERING WAS NORMAL. DEALER RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM. HAD SAME YEAR AND MODEL WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRING DAILY. COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TOLD ME FACTORY SERVICE BULLETINS SAID DO NOT REPLACE PARTS UNLESS PROBLEM DUPLICATED! DEALER SUGGESTED I DRIVE CAR UNTIL PROBLEM RETURNED AND THEN BRING IT IN. THEY WOULD DO NOTHING UNTIL THEY COULD DUPLICATE PROBLEM TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER NOT OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, OTHER CARS AT SAME DEALERSHIP WITH PROBLEM. CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN PROBLEM RECURRED. ACCORDING TO DEALER, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, HAS TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT, BUT NO PARTS REPLACED UNTIL FAILURE OCCURS AT DEALERSHIP. CAR BEING PARKED IN SUN BY DEALER TO SEE IF PROBLEM WILL DUPLICATE. CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE!!! OTHER CARS THERE, SAME MODEL AND YEAR WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK

CAR WAS PARKED UNCOVERED FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS EACH DAY DURING A ONE WEEK PERIOD AND UPON RETRIEVAL OF THE VEHICLE STEERING WAS NOTICEABLY MALFUNCTIONING. IT WAS STIFF AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO TURN. A COUPLE OF DAYS IT HAD MORE OF A NOTCHY FEEL AND WOULD TURN IN INCREMENTS WITH ADDITIONAL PRESSURE. *JB

DT: CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 04V182000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; DELIVERY; FUEL PUMP. HE SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT LED TO ENGINE SHUT DOWN. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE DIED. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS CAR SHOULD FALL WITHIN THE RECALL, BUT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM CAR DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED 2003 BMW Z4 SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ON JULY 7, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. THE SECOND TIME SHE HAD BEEN IN THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JULY 18, 2005, WHILE GOING 65-70 MPH. SHE CONTACTED A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS. SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED BMW. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR WHEN ITSHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. SHE PULLED OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE GOT SCRATCHED WHILE ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY.*AK

IN THE HEAT THE STEERING ON MY 2003 BMW 4 BECOMES ERRATIC AND I LOSE PROPER CONTROL OF THE VECHILE

2003 BMW Z4. THE STEERING BINDS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN I HAVE TO OVERCORRECT TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM, BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE IS NOT A FIX AVAILABLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.

STEERING STICKS AND RESISTS TURNING BRIEFLY IN HOT TEMPERATURE. 90F+

WE HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4, 3.0L, AUTO. EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW, IT HAS EXHIBITED AN IRREGULARITY IN THE (ELECTRIC) STEERING. IT ONLY MANIFESTS ITSELF WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMERATURE IS FAIRLY HOT, SAY OVER 85 DEGREES. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE STEERING EXHIBITS A "STICKING" OR "NOTCHINESS" THAT MAY BE OR BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS IF THE CAR NO LONGER RESPONDS TO STEERING INPUTS IN THE SAME MANNER IT DOES WHEN THIS ISSUE IS NOT PRESENT. TO-DATE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED AND DOCUMENTED BY OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ON AN OWNERS FORUM AT HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.COM/BMW/FORUMS/E85/. AFTER 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, WHERE THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION,WE'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT BMWNA HAS NOT RECOGNNIZED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO "FIX' IN THE WORKS.

1. HOT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (ROUGHLY PLUS 85 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) WITH THE CAR OUTSIDE IN THE SUN ALL DAY PRECEDING MY DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 5 OCCASIONS. THE LAST OCCASION, PRIOR TO FILING THIS REPORT, IS THE DATE USED BELOW AS THE INCIDENT DATE. THE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WERE EACH OF THE PRECEDING 4 BUSINESS DAYS. 2. STEERING CONTROL IS DIFFICULT AND UNEVEN CAUSING PROBLEMS KEEPING CAR ON INTENDED COURSE OF TRAVEL. 3. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH DEALER FOR 7/11/05.

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES BULGED WHILE PARKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT BOTH INSIDE SIDEWALLS WERE BULGING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *SB *NM

WHEN SUBJECT TO HEAT OF A HOT DAY, STEERING BECOMES LESS RESPONSIVE, SLUGGISH, AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD POP OPEN INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CLOSE THE DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT ID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP (THIRD BRAKE LIGHT) EASILY CHIPS/BREAKS THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER FROM RAIN OR WASHING TO SIP INTO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE BATTERY AND OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ARE LOCATED. WATER COULD SHORT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CAUSE A FIRE, OR STALL THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS IN MOTION, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. BROKEN THIRD BRAKE LIGHT INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND DISCUSSED IN BWM INTERNET FORUMS. *NM

THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FIXED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V-182000, BUT THE RECALL FAILED. *JB

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS PARKED IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING ROUGHLY 85 DEGREES, FOR PERIODS OF AN HOUR OR MORE, THE CAR'S POWER STEERING BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION. THE STEERING TAKES ON AN EXTREMELY HEAVY FEEL, AND IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, IN A GENTLE TURN, THE WHEEL DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION WHEN IT IS RELEASED. THE CAR CONTIUNES TO TURN INDEFINITELY. AS LONG AS TEMPERATURES REMAIN HIGH, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.*AK

STEERING PROBLEM - STEERING BINDS AND LOCKS REQUIRING EXCESS EFFORT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION RESULTING IN OVERCORRECTION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

1. STEERING DEFECT OCCURS DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. 2. STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HEAVY TO TURN AND HAS A "LOCKED ON CENTER" FEEL. 3. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK

DURING EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 1990'S FARENHEIT THE STEERING BECOMES STIFF, UNRESPONSIVE WITH A TENDENCY TO "STICK" WHERE IT IS SET. ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER VEHICLE HAS SAT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT ON HOT DAYS.*AK

WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS SAT OUT IN THE 90F+ TEMPERATURE FOR A FEW HOURS, THE STEERING BECOMES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE IN THAT THE STEERING "STICKS" AND IS NO LONGER SMOOTH IN ITS ROTATION. TO GET THE STEERING TO GO THE OTHER WAY AFTER TURNING OR CHANGING LANES, YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE FOR IT TO HAPPEN. MY ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN/ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I'VE CONFIRMED THIS ISSUE WITH Z4 OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AM BEGINNING TO FEEL THIS IS AN OVERALL DESIGN ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS A TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT ISSUE AS THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY AGAIN AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT'S NOT OVER 85 F.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 BMW Z4 2.5I ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 9, 2004 THE AMBIENT TEMP IN CT WAS IN THE MID 90'S WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS BINDING, WAS STIFF TO TURN AND DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETURN TO A CENTER POSITION. THE STEERING LOST THE SMOOTH GRADUAL ROTATION AS I TURNED THE WHEEL THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COOLER THE PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT ITSELF. *AK

2003 BMW Z-4 COMPUTER GLITCH THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND KILL THE ENGINE RPM'S CREATTING A VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUATIONS FOR DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS.*AK

MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD GOING FIFTY MILES AN HOUR ON UNIVERSITY CITY BLVD. IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT LUCKILY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT SCARED IN MY LIFE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN IN NINE MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME BEING MAY 27, 2003. THE SECOND BEING OCTOBER 25, 2003. AND THE THIRD TIME BEING JANUARY 16, 2004 (THIS IS THE TIME IT STALLED GOING 50 MILES ON THE ROAD). THE DEALERSHIP, BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THE MANAGERS AT HENDRICK IMPORTS WERE ALL AWARE THAT MY CAR HAD STALLED ON THE ROAD! BEING THAT MY LIFE WAS AT ISSUE I WAS UPSET AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I EVEN LET THEM KEEP THE CAR AN EXTRA FEW DAYS TO MAKE IT SURE THE PORBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THIS IS WHY I DID NOT TAKE ANY PREVIOUS ACTION. NOW ON MARCH 5, 2004 ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST THREE TIMES. THIS TIME IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN MY APARTMENT WHICH IS NOT A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRAFFIC!! WHAT IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT STALLED AGAIN, I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU I WOULD BE IN THE GROUND! THEY JUST WANT TO FIX IT AND PUT ME ON THE ROAD AGAIN, BUT I KNOW THE CAR IS UNSAFE BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO CARE. I JUST WANTED TO LET THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE!! THANK GOD I AM STILL ALIVE TO WRITE THIS LETTER TO YOU!*AK

ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

SEAT BELT LOCKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE. *JB