NHTSA Complaint #10417535 — 1999 BMW M ROADSTER

CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IT NOW HAS A BROKEN SUBFRAME. IT BEGAN AS A THUMPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT NEEDED STRUTS. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER I SAW A TEAR IN THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP FIRST AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. SO I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A LOCAL DEALER. AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE $10,000 PLUS TO FIX IT. THE REAR END IS BASICALLY SITTING ON THE EXHAUST WHICH IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TO THE CAR. SEVERAL SPOT WELD HAVE FAILED THIS IS COMMON AMONG ALL BMW Z-3 CARS. MUCH LIKE THE 3 SERIES IN THE SAME YEARS ( 1999 - 2006 CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT) THEY ALL NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT. BMW IS NOT INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM AND BASICALLY OFFERED ME $2000 TO HAVE IT FIXED IN THEIR SHOP. IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK. LOOKING ON LINE THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED.