| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Expensive BMW Z3 repairs by problem area
Engine (48%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (14%)
Brakes and Traction Control (10%)
Suspension and Steering (12%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (10%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (0%)
Other (6%)
Chart based on 50 repairs.
BMW Z3 repair cost distribution
$2500+ (29%)
$1000 - $2499 (71%)
$500 - $999 (0%)
$100 - $499 (0%)
< $100 (0%)
Chart based on 34 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2001 BMW Z3 2dr Hatch
315-horsepower 3.2L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 34700 mi US $250 |
Idler pulleys (2) were worn out. |
| 38200 mi US $10000 |
New motor in total |
| 46000 mi US $700 |
Alternator replaced |
| 86000 mi US $1200 |
Replaced AC hoses due to leak |
| 73000 mi US $5675 |
Connecting rod bearings, rear sub frame reinforcement, engine mounts, fuel filter, oil pump, control arm bushings, extend O2 sensors and EGT, install euro headers and section 1 exhaust with cats, oil change, transmission and diff fluid |
2001 BMW Z3 2dr Hatch
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 42000 mi US $700 |
worn wheel bearing, right rear interior lights fail to go on when door is opened/unlocked |
| 42000 mi US $700 |
airbag light went on; code referring to seat belt anchor driver's seat as well as a code relevant to driver's seat pressure switch was retrieved, as well as "Problem currently not present." Light was switched off. |
| 44000 mi US $2000 |
body control module shorted--which then fried both window motors. R&R module, tear down doors, R&R motors. Also replaced leaking valve cover gasket. |
| 47600 mi US $200 |
yellow "brake" light on. Trouble readout indicates a short to ground on he brakepad wear indicator. Not able to fix problem |
| 59000 mi US $250 |
Check engine light: air intake hose cracked and lean fuel mi xture error code |
| 61000 mi US $400 |
Stability control dashboard light on- cleaning of wheel speed rings. Also replacement of dashboard lighting switch and repair of shorted wire |
| 86000 mi US $2500 |
Head gasket and radiator |
2001 BMW Z3 2dr Hatch
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 106000 mi US $1200 |
Oil separator and related problems |
| 106000 mi US $840 |
Key could not be withdrawn from ignition switch when car shut off. Cylinder replaced. |
| 113000 mi US $219 |
Rear hatch fell on my head, replaced the supports/pistons. Rear hatch chrome handle gasket was cracking so I replaced it, damaged the handle in the process and replaced that as well. Replaced supposed faulty windscreen washer pump. |
| 135000 mi US $300 |
Left door handle intermittent and keyhole unlocking was inoperable. Purchased a coded door handle with key cylinder (no CCA discount) from dealer and replaced. |
| 139400 mi US $757 |
Tie rods bolts were seized from previous alignment. Tech oxy torched to adjust but then welded them to the tie rod ends. |
| 151000 mi US $100 |
Left window slider replacement. |
| 153100 mi US $205 |
Replaced left control arm and bushing. |
| 155000 mi US $100 |
Replaced left window regulator and secured loose sheet metal to door. Discovered broken weld to door structure which prevents window from sliding down smoothly. |
| 160000 mi US $1284 |
DISA valve replaced Fan clutch replaced |
| 174915 mi US $249 |
Oil pan gasket, oil filter housing gasket, engine oil service, power steering reservoir, radiator replaced |
| 104000 mi US $250 |
replace rear shocks and shock mounts |
| 105000 mi US $195 |
failure of alternator/battery discharge. Replace alternator and recharge battery. |
| 107000 mi US $2200 |
Flex coupling replaced. Transmission seal replaced. lower control arm and bushings/ball joints |
| 109000 mi US $120 |
failure of thermostat housing w/ total loss of coolant. Replaced housing, thermostat, upper coolant hose, coolant |
| 115000 mi US $1800 |
Vacuum leaks (multiple)--vacuum brake booster hose, air filter box seals. Heater hoses replaced. |
| 122400 mi US $1200 |
replace compressor and drier for AC |
| 124400 mi US $700 |
heater tubes leaking at engine |
| 136000 mi US $1000 |
Clutch replacement. The lining got thin and then cracked. |
| 143500 mi US $950 |
Unjointed replacement, drive shaft support bearing, return driveshaft |
| 158000 mi US $300 |
shock absorber broke through metal at top of tower |
| 155000 mi US $1700 |
Failure of left driveshaft joint at junction with differential. Had to find used part for repair. total replacement of left driveshaft, cv joint, all components and bearings. |
| 161 mi US $3200 |
failure of heater hose connector/total loss of coolant Replaces all heating/cooling system components: connectors, hoses, water pump. etc. Except radiator. |
| 50000 mi US $1000 |
Replaced leaking radiator, hoses, upgraded water pump, and replaced idler belt pullies. |
2001 BMW Z3 2dr Convertible
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 80772 mi US $854 |
Door locks were not functioning, traction control had become disabled and a hard start was present. Fuse replaced, steering angle sensor replaced, cam shaft sensor replaced. |
| 81004 mi US $328 |
Replaced intake cam shaft sensor, due to car having a hard start |
| 87873 mi US $677 |
fuel pressure/filter regulator was replaced, window regulators were replaced in both windows parts replaced |
| 90406 mi US $966 |
fuse replaced for central locking, recoded vehicle for steering angle fault, lubricated doors and latches, replaced drive belt tensioner and drive belt. |
| 95024 mi US $2845 |
several attempts made to replace dme with one programmed by third party dealer, eventually replaced with oem dme. |
| 83080 mi C $1300 |
change cv joint right side bushings on the rear beam Change valve cover gasket. Change the 2 belts bender. |
| 83700 mi C $250 |
Expansion tank craked |
| 84940 mi C $105 |
PCode P0344, intake camshaft position sensor, change it. ABS and ASC light was on, clean the ABS sensor tips after it was OK. |
| 60300 mi US $1200 |
CEL was for torn intake plumbing; replaced. Valve cover gasket replaced. Illuminated DSC/brake indicator required acceleration sensor replacement. Rear brake pads replaced. Airbag light required sensor clean, re-set. |
| 64000 mi US $220 |
CEL illuminated. Codes indicated lean mixture, misfire. Plastic tube (split) between MAF and throttle body had been replaced previously. This time replaced intake airflow adjuster, which varies runner length. |
| 60200 mi US $650 |
thermostat stuck partially open, causing car to run cold. Recommendation for this car at this mileage is to replace all cooling system components before failure, so I did: radiator, thermostat, water pump, exp. tank, hoses and belts |
| 71000 mi US $150 |
intake camshaft position sensor failed |
| 72300 mi US $100 |
exhaust camshaft position sensor failed and was replaed |
2001 BMW Z3 2dr Convertible
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 84300 mi US $1120 |
Accessory belts and tensioners, ideler pulley replaced to end squeaking noise from engine, particularly when cold. |
| 86000 mi US $1770 |
Replacement of the water pump and thermostat as they were leaking. Also replaced hoses as they were original in the car Replaced the original struts with new Bilstein struts. |
| 75000 mi US $6000 |
lean codes- wouldn't pass CA smog check- |
2000 BMW Z3 2dr Hatch
240-horsepower 3.2L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 89880 mi C $1500 |
replaced torn flexdisk Replaced TC Kline SA coil-overs in the front and shocks in the rear. The shocks were blown. |
2000 BMW Z3 2dr Hatch
193-horsepower 2.8L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 151964 mi C $1500 |
Leaking front Struts, cracked rear tire, caked air filter, worn wipers |
2000 BMW Z3 2dr Convertible
240-horsepower 3.2L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 95000 mi US $553 |
driver's window motor and regulator |
| 102000 mi US $690 |
airbag warning light on, driver's seatbelt pretensioner replaced leaking power steering feed line, part replaced |
| 105000 mi US $1395 |
Belts and some pulleys also replaced because of noise/wear. |
| 105000 mi US $150 |
electrochromic mirror repaired by outside service, my mechanic removed and reinstalled the mirror. |
| 105000 mi US $700 |
driver window mechanism repair, requiring new regulator, etc. |
| 106200 mi US $400 |
seat bushings replaced (wobbly seats) |
| 107200 mi US $455 |
passenger seatbelt replacement |
| 108200 mi US $380 |
oil filter housing replaced (leaking) |
| 121000 mi US $200 |
AC blower resistor |
| 130913 mi US $1678 |
Shifter repair (shift pin bushings replaced) Flex disc replaced driver's seatbelt latch & pretensioner replaced |
| 131869 mi US $132 |
trunk lid struts replaced |
| 132356 mi US $310 |
thermostat & connection flange replaced |
| 134286 mi US $688 |
Coolant leak, radiator replaced |
| 47000 mi US $200 |
State Inspection, Diagnose oil leak |
| 48000 mi US $100 |
Rebuild slave cylinder and add spacer. Car was lurching forward when trying to place it in 1st or 2nd gear |
| 48000 mi US $850 |
Oil pan gasket. oil separator valve, replace all oil lines for supercharger, flush brake fluid(clutch not working properly), spark plugs |
| 49000 mi US $100 |
Replaced a/c pulley and tensioner |
| 51000 mi US $120 |
Idle control valve was diagonised as being bad. CEL came on 1 week later |
| 52000 mi US $250 |
Crank keyway sheared off |
| 52000 mi US $4000 |
Rear subframe failure. Trunk pan and floor pan welds have separated and seam welds are cracked. Subframe fixed with Randy Forbes Subframe fix. Dual ear differential. |
| 56000 mi US $155 |
Sheared crank pulley bolt and snapped the crank keyway |
| 142000 mi US $200 |
Alternator failure, replaced with re-manufactured Duralast unit myself. |
| 144000 mi US $1000 |
Water pump was leaking and engine belts beginning to fray. Had them replaced. Power steering reservoir was leaking slightly. |
| 122000 mi US $400 |
Rear axle boot torn and needed replaced. New axle sourced |
2000 BMW Z3 2dr Convertible
193-horsepower 2.8L I6 4-speed automatic RWD
| 156000 mi US $278 |
Had to replace lower control arms, right and Left plus bushings Replaced left tail light assembly, red lense fell out. |
| 165000 mi US $200 |
Check engine light came on replaced o2 sensors and valve cover |
| 167000 mi US $157 |
OB2 code 1477 LDP relay not openning. Removed LDP tested and ordered replacment. |
| 168000 mi US $2500 |
Bad vac leak had to replace oil separator, and manifold runner valve |
| 168000 mi US $750 |
Check engine light, misses, hard hot starts. BAD PLUG and COIL PACK |
| 124000 mi US $280 |
ABS light came on. replaced ABS Electronic brake control module replaced radiator |
| 128000 mi US $300 |
oil pan gasket replaced |
| 132000 mi US $150 |
replaced alternator |
2000 BMW Z3 2dr Convertible
170-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 126000 mi US $1826 |
Clutch replaced, camshaft position sensor, oil and filter change, new wiper blades, new diff. oil, overall check -up, 4 new tires, new belts, new power steering hoses, new transmission oil, |
2000 BMW Z3 2dr Convertible
170-horsepower 2.5L I6 4-speed automatic RWD
| 86000 mi US $200 |
Leaking oil filter housing. Worn air intake tubes and drive belts replaced. Worn hoses and thermostat replaced. |
| 102000 mi US $500 |
Replaced alternator after troubleshootint. Vanos system failure - replaced seals. 2 ignition coils failed - misfire codes |
| 103000 mi US $100 |
coolant expansion tank leaking - expansion tank replaced |
| 110300 mi US $250 |
replaced purge control vlave Both wheel sensors failed causing dsc light to illuminate. |
| 117500 mi US $600 |
rear window separating from trim |
| 120000 mi US $2500 |
replaced wheel sensors,replaced purge control valve,replaced front calipers,replaced shocks & struts and abs relay. ABS still not functional. Replaced rear window & repairing some roof titching. |
| 44000 mi US $400 |
Rear swaybar mounting tab sheared off of trailing arm. |
| 45000 mi US $835 |
ABS/DSC Lights came on and stayed on, electrical module failed. Parts on order, should be in next week. |
| 46000 mi US $1769 |
Replaced ABS/DSC module, repair complete. |
| 46200 mi US $320 |
PCV Valve diaphragm failed. Installed Oil separator kit and crankcase vent hose. |
| 47200 mi US $1054 |
Transmission rear seal Drivers side seat motor failed |
| 51000 mi US $500 |
MAF failed |
| 51000 mi US $700 |
Passenger side seatbelt would not release from retracted position. |
| 54200 mi US $3000 |
Steering angle sensor |
| 74447 mi US $200 |
Replaced both front ABS sensors. |
2000 BMW Z3 2-door
6-cylinder manual 2WD
| 92000 mi US $250 |
VANOS unit failed, as did cam sensor. Both parts were replaced. Also, clutch was replaced SRS light comes on, often showing fault code due to out of acceptable resistance on right rear seat occupancy sensor or tensioner. Tensioners have been replaced, sensor replaced, wiring harness checked/repaired, etc. Now, bad SRS module code is showing. |
| 95000 mi US $300 |
Replaced main instrument cluster with second-hand part due to flickering e-brake light (optional repair, but clearly the cluster was defective). I supplied the part, purchased for $150. Shop cost was ~$150 to install and recode. |
1999 BMW Z3 2-door
6-cylinder manual 2WD
| 61854 mi US $1005 |
replaced malfunctioning abs hydraulic control unit |
| 127000 mi US $100 |
Blown brake light fuse led to finding major break in wiring harness where it enters the coupe rear hatch. Brake lights restored but don't have rear wiper, defroster, 3rd brake light. Known coupe issue & will require some moderate rewiring. |
| 130000 mi US $200 |
valve cover gasket, belts |
| 134000 mi US $200 |
Gasket leak where oil filter housing enters block. Have to remove a lot of things to address it. |
| 178000 mi US $500 |
Window regulator |
| 207000 mi US $1150 |
ignition coils and spark plugs |
| 210000 mi US $576 |
radiator core and expansion tank |
1997 BMW Z3 2-door
4-cylinder manual 2WD
| 55000 mi US $300 |
Secondary air fan and check valve were replaced. |
| 56000 mi US $250 |
Replace water pump and thermostat. Water pump failed |
| 57000 mi US $1300 |
O2 sensor CEL - was a vacuum leak from a worn gasket in the air intake manifold, coupled with faulty O2 sensor. Also cleared out degraded insulation in air box. Lots of diagnosis time/smoking the car to find the vacuum leak. |
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