Model year guide

2001 BMW Z8

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2001 BMW Z8 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

2001 BMW Z8 — representative photo
Representative photo

2001 BMW Z8 at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints4
Combined15 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2001 BMW Z8 recalls 2

Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan NHTSA Campaign #02V138000 · 16/05/2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A RECALL THAT BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 2001 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V206). OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN …

Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan NHTSA Campaign #01V206000 · 21/06/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2001 BMW Z8 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

2001 BMW Z8 MPG & running costs

Combined15 mpg
City12 mpg
Highway19 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$5,500
EPA size classTwo Seaters
TransmissionManual 6-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$15,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2001 BMW Z8 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$27,500
Fuel only$27,500
Per mile$0.37

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
173.2 in
Width
72.0 in
Height
52.0 in
Wheelbase
98.8 in
Curb weight
3,561 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2001 BMW Z8. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 7

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM

Bulletin SIB-63-02-01 · Exterior Lighting · Aug 2010

BMW: WHEN AT LOWER SPEEDS OR STOPPING THE ENGINE IDLE DIPS TOO LOW BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *RM

Bulletin SI B12 12 10 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2010

BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL PROCESS HAS BEEN CREATED FOR BMW TO IDENTIFY CAUSES OF STEERING COMPLAINTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MODELS. *RM

Bulletin SIB-32-04-07 · Steering · Jun 2010

BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC…

Bulletin SIB-16-02-09 · Fuel System, Gasoline · Dec 2009

SUBJECT REGARDING NEW VEHICLE PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. *TT

Bulletin 000200 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 2001

SUBJECT REGARDING NEW VEHICLE PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. *TT

Bulletin 000200 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 2000

STARTING WITH MY 2000 PRODUCTION, THE NEW DIGITAL CPT 7000 CELLULAR PHONE IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT

Bulletin 841000 · Equipment · Oct 2000

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the Z8. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the BMW Z8

The BMW Z8 is a roadster produced by German automotive manufacturer BMW from 1998 to 2003. The Z8 was developed under the codename "E52" between 1993 and 1999, through the efforts of a design team led by Chris Bangle from 1993 to 1995. The exterior was designed by Henrik Fisker and the interior by Scott Lempert.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2001 BMW Z8 vehicles on record

2001 BMW Z8 2001 BMW Z8WBAEJ11020AF79381 2001 BMW Z8 2001 BMW Z8WBAEJ11080AF78946 2001 BMW Z8 2001 BMW Z8WBAEJ13421AH60868

Other BMW Z8 model years

2003 2002 2000

2001 BMW Z8 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2001 BMW Z8 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2001 BMW Z8. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW Z8?

Across all 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are fuel/propulsion system, exterior lighting, structure.

What gas mileage does the 2001 BMW Z8 get?

The 2001 BMW Z8 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 15 mpg combined (12 city / 19 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.