BMW Z3 1996 reliability and quality

Production year from 1996 to 2003

According to yearly reports of vehicle inspection service BMW Z3 reliability is above average.

During regular inspections from 2004 to 2014 in average failures were found for approximately 13.6 percents of BMW Z3.
The most recent data available is for 2014, when the average defect rate for a 16-year-old BMW Z3 was 28.1 percent, the average for a car that age was 33.3 percent. So in terms of reliability, BMW Z3 has performed very well, or more reliable than 85% of the other cars tested.

Year of inspection Age of car Failures found %
/ average for same age cars
Place in rating
BMW Z3 2003
2014 11 years 28.1% / 33.30% 13. from 78
2012 9 years 19.2% / 22.20% 26. from 88
2008 5 years 9.3% / 8.90% 62. from 111
2006 3 years 6.6% / 6.60% 52. from 107
2005 2 years 7.8% / 6.50% 79. from 110
2004 1 years 7.7% / 5.60% 96. from 113
BMW Z3 2002
2014 12 years 28.1% / 33.30% 13. from 78
2013 11 years 23.3% / 27.60% 15. from 69
2012 10 years 19.2% / 22.20% 26. from 88
2011 9 years 17.7% / 21.40% 17. from 79
2009 7 years 14.1% / 14.00% 49. from 94
2008 6 years 9.3% / 8.90% 62. from 111
2007 5 years 10.5% / 10.70% 54. from 107
2006 4 years 6.6% / 6.60% 52. from 107
2005 3 years 7.8% / 6.50% 79. from 110
2004 2 years 7.7% / 5.60% 96. from 113
BMW Z3 2001
2013 12 years 23.3% / 27.60% 15. from 69
2012 11 years 21.6% / 26.80% 12. from 77
2011 10 years 17.7% / 21.40% 17. from 79
2010 9 years 17.7% / 19.20% 17. from 79
2009 8 years 14.1% / 14.00% 49. from 94
2008 7 years 13.2% / 13.30% 54. from 99
2007 6 years 10.5% / 10.70% 54. from 107
2006 5 years 12.0% / 11.20% 62. from 106
2005 4 years 7.8% / 6.50% 79. from 110
2004 3 years 7.7% / 5.60% 96. from 113
BMW Z3 2000
2012 12 years 21.6% / 26.80% 12. from 77
2011 11 years 21.7% / 26.00% 14. from 72
2010 10 years 17.7% / 19.20% 17. from 79
2009 9 years 16.8% / 18.30% 32. from 87
2008 8 years 13.2% / 13.30% 54. from 99
2007 7 years 12.1% / 15.80% 25. from 96
2006 6 years 12.0% / 11.20% 62. from 106
2005 5 years 10.6% / 11.30% 47. from 105
2004 4 years 7.7% / 5.60% 96. from 113
BMW Z3 1999
2011 12 years 21.7% / 26.00% 14. from 72
2010 11 years 16.3% / 24.10% 9. from 75
2009 10 years 16.8% / 18.30% 32. from 87
2008 9 years 11.6% / 18.10% 13. from 88
2007 8 years 12.1% / 15.80% 25. from 96
2006 7 years 11.2% / 17.20% 16. from 97
2005 6 years 10.6% / 11.30% 47. from 105
2004 5 years 6.8% / 10.90% 19. from 103
BMW Z3 1998
2010 12 years 16.3% / 24.10% 9. from 75
2009 11 years 15.2% / 23.30% 5. from 68
2008 10 years 11.6% / 18.10% 13. from 88
2007 9 years 12.3% / 21.40% 11. from 82
2006 8 years 11.2% / 17.20% 16. from 97
2005 7 years 11.3% / 17.00% 18. from 87
2004 6 years 6.8% / 10.90% 19. from 103
BMW Z3 1997
2009 12 years 15.2% / 23.30% 5. from 68
2008 11 years 14.5% / 22.50% 11. from 72
2007 10 years 12.3% / 21.40% 11. from 82
2006 9 years 14.0% / 22.70% 10. from 78
2005 8 years 11.3% / 17.00% 18. from 87
2004 7 years 10.1% / 16.70% 14. from 85
BMW Z3 1996
2008 12 years 14.5% / 22.50% 11. from 72
2006 10 years 14.0% / 22.70% 10. from 78
2004 8 years 10.1% / 16.70% 14. from 85