2002 BMW 3 Series Complaint Log

BMW 325 2002 UNDER 100K MILES WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. JMK SPRINGFIELD BMW SAID HEY COULD FIX FOR $500 I AGREED TO GO AHEAD. AFTER THE WORK COMPLETION THEY CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME PROBLEM STILL EXISTS BUT THEY STILL CHARGED ME $540. THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY ANOTHER $700 TO TRY THE NEXT 'GEAR SELECTION SWITCH CHANGE' SUGGESTION. AND IF THAT FAILS THEY'LL CHANGE THE GEAR BOX FOR $5K. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. GEARBOX SHOULD NOT FAIL ON ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE UNDER 100K MILES. *TR

2002 BMW 325 XI HAVING NEW WATER PUMP AND FAN CLUTCH REPLACED AND OIL CHANGE (4/27/09). AFTER 15 MINUTES DRIVE ON I-90 (4/28/09) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF I-90 NEAR EXIT 11A. NEAR COLLISION WITH A BIG TRUCK THAT CAUSE TRAFFIC STOP. MANAGE TO GET INTO THE MASPIKE TOLL PLAZA, THE ENGINE DAMAGE AND OVERHEATED. CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAVE THE OLD PUMP, NEW PUMP, FAN CLUTCHES (OLD AND NEW). THE CAR NEARLY GOT HIT BY A TRUCK THAT MAY CAUSE FATAL. THE ENGINE THAT HAVE THE PARTS REPLACE TO PREVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEAT OVERHEATED. NO REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED UP AND IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOUSING AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FIRES AND/OR WRECKS TO OCCUR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO THE BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR

REAR LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE CONNECTORS SHORTING OUT. I READ ONLINE THAT IT IS A BMW DESIGN DEFECT AND IS GROUND WIRE PROBLEM COMMON TO E46 MODEL BMWS. *TR

2002 BMW 325 XI THE WARNING LIGHT FOR A BULB-OUT OR THE FAST BLINK FOR THE TURN SIGNALS COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE GROUNDING OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE WIRING HARNESS MELTS. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX OUTSIDE WARRANTY. CHARGE TO REPAIR - $450. BMW SERVICE BULLETIN: SI B 63 03 06 PARTS NEEDED: 12 52 7 519 956 8-PIN CONNECTOR HOUSING 12 52 0 007 171 BLADE CONTACT SLK 2.8 WITH A WIRE LENGTH OF 500 MM, 1.0 MM 12 52 1 433 217 BLADE CONTACT SLK 2.8 WITHOUT WIRE FOR A CABLE CROSS SECTION OF 1.5 MM 61 13 8 353 747 CRIMP CONNECTOR 1.0 MM 61 13 1 379 833 SHRINK SLEEVE 61 13 1 393 718 COMB-TYPE CONNECTOR (HOUSING) 3-PIN 61 13 1 387 150 COMB-TYPE CONNECTOR (CONTACT STRIP) 61 13 1 387 144 FLAT CONTACT FOR COMB-TYPE CONNECTORS 07 11 9 975 531 FLAT PLUG-IN SLEEVE 4.8-2.5 SOURCE LOCALLY BROWN WIRE, 1.5 MM, LENGTH APPROXIMATELY 120 MM. *TR

BMW 2002 325XI AT LOW TEMPERATURES LIKE 5 OR 6 F. THE CRANKCASE VENT VALVE FROZE AND THE HIGH PRESSURE BUILT UP CAUSED THE VALVE TO BLOW AND COUPLE OF GASKETS BURNT. OIL SPILLED OVER TO THE EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF DRIVEN COUPLE OF MORE MILES THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE. THE CAR JUST HAS 67000 MILES WHICH IS FAIRLY LOW MILES AND NEW CAR. ALL THE MECHANICS I TALKED TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND ASKED ME NOT TO DRIVE AT ALL. THEY SAID IT CAN CATCH FIRE IF DRIVEN LITTLE MORE. ITS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST OF THE MECHANICS RECOGNIZE AND FREQUENCY IS HIGH BUT IN COLD STATES NOT IN WARMER STATES. *TR

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT QUIT RETRACTING. *TR

FAILURE OF THE GENERAL MODULE 5 WHICH RESULTS IN FAILING TO OPENING THE DOOR VIA THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE CENTER CONSOLE AND KEY REMOTE. THIS WILL ALSO RESULT IN THE DOUBLE LOCKING MECHANISM TO ACTIVATE TO WHICH PASSENGERS ARE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE PROPERLY EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR MECHANICALLY (MANUAL LOCKS DO NOT WORK) FORCED TO LEAVE EITHER THROUGH THE WINDOW, TRUNK THROUGH REAR SEAT IF THE CAR HAS THIS FEATURE OR POSSIBLY ONLY THROUGH DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IF THE LOCKS FAIL ELECTRONICALLY THE PASSENGERS INSIDE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRIGGER A MECHANICAL WAY OF EXITING THE VEHICLE.

BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAVE CRACKED/BROKEN AT APPROX 55,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. BMW WILL NOT WARRANTY A REPLACEMENT SET OF SPRINGS. *TR

THE REARVIEW MIRROR LEAKED AND IT IS BLURRY NOW IN MY 2002 BMW M3. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF BMW'S. DEALER WON'T REPLACE AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MIRROR IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ITEM AND OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNING THROUGH LEATHER SEAT COVER INTO MY PANTS AND BURNING THE UNDERSIDE OF MY THIGH. THERE WAS VISIBLE SMOKE AND A VERY STRONG BURNING SMELL. *TR

PROBLEM SUMMARY: WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEY FAILURE. ON OR ABOUT MAY 2008, DEPRESSED SWITCH TO LET DRIVERS FRONT WINDOW DOWN. UPON DEPRESSING, A LOUD CRACKING NOISE OCCURRED. SEEING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, I DEPRESSED THE SWITCH AGAIN TO GET THE WINDOW UP. THE WINDOW WOULD NOT COME UP, ONLY THE LOUD NOISE COULD BE HEARD.. THE WINDOW WAS PULLED UP MANUALLY AND STAYED IN THIS POSITION UNTIL REPAIR. THIS ISSUE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON JUNE 6, 2008 AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS (QUOTE) "'LEFT WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEYS FAILED. REPLACED LF WINDOW REGULATOR AND NUTS'". ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2008, WHILE RIDING ON A CALM WEATHER DAY, I CHOSE TO LET ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN. WHEN THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS DEPRESSED, I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AS IF THE WINDOW HAD CRACKED. WHEN I STOPPED TO EXAMINE, I TRIED TO LET IT UP AND REALIZED IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. I REALIZED I HAD THE SAME ISSUE THAT OCCURRED IN LATE MAY08 WITH THE FRONT WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS MANUALLY PULLED UP. TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. ON OCTOBER 10, 2008 WHILE RIDING OUT, I CHOSE TO LET THE 3 WORKING WINDOWS DOWN TO ENJOY THE AIR. AROUND 5:30PM, OCT. 10, 08 I PRESSED THE REAR PASSENGER LEFT WINDOW AND ALL I GOT WAS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AS IF THE WINDOW HAD CRACKED. I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REALIZE THAT I NOW HAVE A 3RD WINDOW THAT HAS NOT HELD UP IN DURABILITY. MY PARENTS HAVE HAD A CAR FOR 20 YEARS WITH POWER WINDOWS AND NEVER HAD SUCH AN ISSUE. I PERSONALLY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR 11 YEARS THAT HAD POWER WINDOWS AND NEVER HAD SUCH AN ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEY USED FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE AS THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD UP TO NORMAL WINDOW USAGE. THIS LEFT REAR WINDOW HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REVERSE GEAR DOESN'T WORK. *TR

FOR SEVERAL YEARS PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF WITH THE BMW E46 ('99-'05 3 SERIES) HAVE COMPLAINED OF INTERMITTENTLY DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN. THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES DOCUMENT A MERE FRACTION OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS LIKELY TO AFFECT WARM STATES MORE THAN COOLER AREAS. IN MY CASE, IN HOT WEATHER THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT CLUSTER WILL FAIL TO ILLUMINATE--NO TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT OR TAIL LIGHTS ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. THE REASON: BMW USED A GROUNDING WIRE WHICH WAS FAR TOO SMALL TO CARRY THE CURRENT, THUS RESULTING IN MELTED WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS ON BOTH TAIL LAMP CLUSTERS. FOR DETAILS, PLEASE SEE THE MANY PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT AT THESE WEB SITES: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=244598&HIGHLIGHT=TAILLIGHT+WIRING AND HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=533309&HIGHLIGHT=MELTED+TAIL+LIGHT AND HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=0FEDAEF77A3622F393734BA4B57ADD7C&T=512469&PAGE=2 BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT INCLUDES A WIRING MODIFICATION: HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM DESPITE AT LEAST 4 VISITS TO VARIOUS BMW DEALERS WHILE UNDER MY CAR'S FOUR YEAR WARRANTY, THEIR SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM NEVER LASTED LONG. FURTHERMORE, NO BMW DEALER EVER INSTALLED THIS SPECIAL WIRING KIT FROM BMW. NOW THAT I'M OUT OF WARRANTY A LOCAL BMW DEALER IS MORE THAN WILLING TO CHARGE ME $600 TO INSTALL THIS SPECIAL WIRING KIT SO THAT REAR LIGHTS WILL CONSISTENTLY WORK. FMVSS 108 IS PRETTY CLEAR: FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES CARS TO HAVE WORKING LIGHTS. WHEN THERE ARE SYSTEMIC FAILURES OF A SAFETY SYSTEM SUCH AS BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC., AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A VOLUNTARY RECALL, IT THEN BECOMES TIME FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET INVOLVED. FOR DETAILS ON FMVSS 108, PLEASE REFER TO THE VARIOUS LINKS HERE: HTTP://FMVSS108.TRIPOD.COM/ *TR

BMW 2002 325 I WITH 92,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE, SAME SITUATION MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH 99-2004 MODELS. *TR

TODAY, AFTER FILLING UP GAS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2 MONTHS, SINCE I PURCHASED THIS NEW USED 2002 BMW 325CI, MODEL WITH NOW 45,000+ MILEAGES. I LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF RED LIGHT STOP. AS I STOPPED TODAY, AT AROUND 9AM, AFTER THE GAS STATION, MY BREAK NOISE SQUEAK, AND THEN IT WOULD NOT STOP. AS I DRIVE AND STOP ON THE RED LIGHT, MY CAR WOULD JUMP, " BOUNCE FORWARD THEN STOP" BEFORE IT CAN IT FULLY STOP. AS I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN I COME TO A STOP, IT WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY, THE CAR JUMPS COUPLE INCHES THEN STOPS. I AM FEARING FOR MY SAFETY, AND MY 30DAYS WARRANTY CONTRACT EXPIRES, HOWEVER THE " DEALERSHIP" HAS NEGLECT AND MIS INFORM ME THAT THE CAR HAS SOME MINOR PROBLEMS. IT IS A DISHONEST, AND I HAVE TOLD THEM FROM THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT, THAT, THE BACK WHEELS MAKES NOISE, " SHOCKS, SPRINGS NEEDS TO CHANGE" BUT THE MANAGER, AND SALES MANAGER DISAGREE, AND SAID, "I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING". AS WELL AS " YOU REMEMBER IT IS A USE CAR"... TOTALLY IGNORE MY REQUEST. I CALLED MANY TIMES AND SPOKE TO THEIR ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK AS THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK SOON, WHEN THE MANAGER IS IN, ITS BEEN HOURS BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK AND I CALLED TWICE. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AT " MIKEHONDAHARVEY.COM" IN BURLINGAME CA. *TR

SUNROOF TABS BROKE, LEAVING THE SHADE TO GET STUCK ALMOST ALWAYS LEADING TO THE WINDOW TO JAM. I KNOW THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A 325I HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS I. *TR

THIS IS FOR A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR POSSIBLE REAR END ACCIDENT DUE TO A KNOWN FAILURE IN THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE TAIL LIGHTS. *TR

BATTERY WAS REPLACED A FEW WEEKS AGO BUT IT WENT DEAD AGAIN. TOOK THAT CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN ALTERNATOR. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. *TR

HEADLIGHTS CAME ON FOR BRAKE, ABS, TRACTION, ETC. AND CAR WENT DEAD. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN PERFORMED BATTERY AND DRAW TEST. NO DRAWS WERE FOUND SO BATTERY WAS DEEMED FAILED. REPLACED BATTERY. *TR

NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE BELTS. BLEEDER SCREW WAS STRIPPED IN EXPANSION TANK. REPLACED THE WATER PUMPAND FILLED SYSTEM UPON BLEEDING THE SYSTEM FOUND THE BLEEDER SCREW STRIPPED OUT. REPLACED COOLANT EXPANSION TANK AND BLEEDER SCREW. *TR

THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT OPERATE THE SUNSHADE ON MY 2002 325I HAVE BROKEN FOUR TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2003 REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE DEALER COVERED IN FULL UNDER THE CPO WARRANTY, WHICH RAN OUT IN MARCH 2008. OUT OF WARRANTY COSTS ARE $350 TO REPAIR. TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO COVER THIS LAST REPAIR, WHICH I REPORTED JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT THEY REFUSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

SAW OIL ON THE ASPHALT SO TOOK CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. TECHNICIAN LOOKED OVER THE CAR AND FOUND VANOS PROFILE GASKET IS LEAKING OIL. VALVE COVER GASKET IS LEAKING. REPLACED VANOS PROFILE GASKETS AND VALVE COVER GASKET. *TR

FOUND LEAK ON FLOOR. TECHNICIAN AT DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT POWER STEERING LINE FROM PUMP TO RACK LEAKING FLUID. REPLACED POWER STEERING LINE FROM PUMP TO RACK. FILLED AND BLED SYSTEM. *TR

NOTICED FAN BELT IS MAKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP FOUND FAULTY MECHANICAL STYLE ALTERNATOR BELT TENSIONER. REPLACED ALTERNATOR BELT TENSIONER WITH HYDRAULIC TENSIONER AND NEW BELT. *TR

LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT, AND THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I FIXED IT WITH ELECTRICIAN'S TAPE. TODAY, WENT IN TO HAVE THE FIX PRESCRIBED BY RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-438000, WHICH EXACTLY ADDRESSED MY ISSUE. BMW'S RECALL LETTER DATED DECEMBER, 2011 INCLUDES "THE LAMPS WILL ALSO BE CHECKED FOR PROPER FUNCTIONALITY. IF THEY ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THEN THEY WILL BE REPAIRED WHICH COULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THE LAMP'S 8-PIN CONNECTOR HOUSING, IF NECESSARY". THUS, BMW IS COGNIZANT OF THE INESCAPABLE NEXUS BETWEEN A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE CONNECTOR AND DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING. WELL, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, ONLY THE FIXING OF THE GROUND CONNECTION IS COVERED BY THE RECALL AND BMW WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPLACING THE RUINED HOUSING (AND WITH THE WARRANTY "FIX", MY LIGHTS WOULD NO LONGER WORK BECAUSE MY REPAIR HAD BEEN ELIMINATED, PRESUMABLY BY THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW CONNECTOR WHICH WOULD NO LONGER INTERFACE WITH THE DAMAGED HOUSING). WHILE AT THE DEALER, CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND ULTIMATELY SPOKE TO "BOBBY". SHE VERIFIED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE HAD GONE UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AS APPROPRIATE, GOTTEN THE DENIAL, AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF RECOURSE WITH RESPECT TO BMW: BMW WOULD NOT BE LIABLE. HAVING GIVEN THEM THEIR SHOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AM NOW TAKING THE NEXT STEP (NOTIFYING YOU). SINCE I COULDN'T DRIVE AROUND W/O PROPER FUNCTIONING REAR SIGNAL LIGHTS, I PAID FOR THE NEW HOUSING. THE DEALER ATE SOME OF THE COST SO ONLY CHARGED ME $39.32, FOR $41.68 WITH TAX. UPON GETTING HOME, GOOGLED THE PART # AND GOT A PRICE OF ~$28. SO, THIS IS NOT HUGE DOLLARS (AND FOR ME ITS JUST A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE) BUT BMW SHOULD BE TOLD TO BEHAVE LOGICALLY AND FAIRLY, ADHERE TO THEIR OWN WORDS IN THEIR LETTER, AND REPLACE ANY HOUSINGS DAMAGED BY THE ISSUE CAUSING THE RECALL. *TR

I HAVE HAD AN EMISSION-RELATED AIR PUMP AND VALVE REPLACED ON MY 2002 BMW 325I FIVE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN JUNE OF 2002. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES IT FAILED WERE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND THE MOST RECENT TIME IT FAILED WAS IN DECEMBER, WHEN THE CAR HAD 77,000 MILES ON IT. EACH TIME IT FAILED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THESE COMPONENTS IS TO PROVIDE FRESH OXYGEN TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UPON STARTUP IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE PREMATURE DEMISE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DESPITE THIS, BMWNA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS AN EMISSIONS RELATED COMPONENT COVERED UNDER US LAW UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE LAST TIME THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED IT COST ME $700 AFTER THE DEALER REDUCED THE BILL. ADDITIONALLY, BMW TOLD ME TWO WEEKS AGO THAT I WOULD BE RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL CHECK FOR HALF THE REMAINING COST OF THE REPAIR. THEY HAVE ALSO PROMISED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME AND EXPLAIN WHY IT ISN'T AN EMISSIONS RELATED PART COVERED UNDER US LAW. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CHECK OR AN EXPLANATION. MY CONTENTION IS THAT: - IT IS AN EMISSIONS-RELATED PART AND SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED TO 80,000 MILES - THE FACT THAT FIVE HAVE FAILED ON MY AUTOMOBILE INDICATE THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN - THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE TO AT BMW ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THIS COMPONENT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER (ALL MY FAILURES OCCURRED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN MINNESOTA). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. HE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO FUNCTION UNTIL HE REMOVED THE REAR LIGHTING COVER IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE WIRES. HE ALSO INTERMITTENTLY RECEIVED A MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS WERE BLOWN OUT. WHEN HE EXAMINED THE BULBS HE WOULD NOTICED THAT THEY WERE FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR PARKING LAMPS OF THE 1999-2005 BMW 3 SERIES ("E46"). ALSO NOTED ARE FORWARD TURN SIGNAL LIGHTING FAILURES. THE PROBLEM MAY INVOLVE TWO UNRELATED COMPONENT FAILURES: CHRONICALLY OVERHEATING/PARTIALLY MELTED 7-PIN WIRING CONNECTORS (AT THE REAR LAMP CLUSTER) AND CORRODED BULB SOCKETS (AT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS). (THE FIRST PROBLEM MAY BE MORE COMMON IN WARM WEATHER STATES.) BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I HAVE OWNED THREE E46 MODEL BMW'S, ALL PURCHASED NEW. ALL HAVE HAD REPEATED, YET INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEMS. MOST RECENTLY I NOTED ANOTHER INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE LEFT REAR LAMP CLUSTER OF MY 2002 BMW 330I WITH ~48,000 MILES. AFTER ANOTHER CAREFUL INSPECTION, TO INCLUDE REMOVING EACH BULB AND CHECKING ITS FILAMENT, RESISTANCE AND CONNECTION CLEANLINESS, I FOUND SOMETHING I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY NOTED--THE 7-PIN WIRING CONNECTOR WAS MELTED AT TERMINAL #2, THE TERMINAL THAT APPEARS TO BE THE COMMON GROUND FOR ALL THE LAMPS IN THE CLUSTER. THE CAR'S WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR (FEMALE) AND THE MALE PIN (#2) BOTH SHOW EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE/HEAT DAMAGE. I HAVE REMOVED IT FROM MY CAR AND TAKEN SOME PHOTOGRAPHS FOR SUBMISSION VIA AN EMAIL ACCOUNT TO MR. AJIT ALKONDON AT DOT. THE PART AS INSTALLED IN MY CAR HAS THE FOLLOWING IDENTIFICATION: 63.21-6 907 935 DATE CODE: 19.9.01 (FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2001) TIME CODE: 15:54 AS AN ASIDE, A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP HAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE REAR BULB CARRIER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. WHILE IT HAS HELPED, I AM STILL LEFT WITH CHRONIC, YET HIGHLY INTERMITTENT, LAMP FAILURES, (AS INDICATED BY THE CAR'S WARNING SYSTEM) FOR _BOTH_ REAR LAMP ASSEMBLIES. AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR, ALL THREE E46'S I OWNED HAVE HAD FORWARD TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS REPLACED FOR CORROSION, USUALLY WITHIN THE FIRST FEW YEARS OR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY APPROX. 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR STALLED. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED CAR. I COULD ONLY DRIVE 30 MPH AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1700.00 BUT THE WARRANTY WAS UP LAST YEAR. THERE WAS TSB ISSUED IN 2003. WHY WEREN'T THE OWNERS TOLD ABOUT THIS? *JB

DASH INDICATED TAILLIGHT WAS OUT WHEN IT WASN'T, THIS WAS RANDOM ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE DASH PANEL INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. AS I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I STOPPED, AND NOTICED THE MELTED WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS. AS I LOOKED AT THEM I COULD SEE THEM SPARKING WHEN CERTAIN MOVEMENTS OCCURRED., VERY DANGEROUSLY AND ERRATIC. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SIDES MELTED. I HAVE NOTICED THE OTHER SIDE WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS, RANDOM INDICATIONS OF A TAIL LIGHT OUT WHEN THERE WAS NONE. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION , SAVAGE BMW, AS WELL AS BMWNA. I BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO, AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT, AND DIDNT TAKE MUCH CONCERN INTO THE MATTER. THEY WERE E CHARGING ME $400+ TO FIX JUST THE ONE SIDE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT CALLED IN REFERENCE TO A 2002 BMW 330I. AS THE INSURANCE ESTIMATOR WAS ESTIMATING DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PUSHED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FORWARD BY PRESSING THE ELECTRIC BUTTON. THE ESTIMATOR WAS SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT AS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BEGAN TO SLIDE BACKWARDS. THE ESTIMATOR'S TWISTED BODY WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S AND REAR SEAT. HE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO HIS NECK, LIVER, RIBS, AND LOWER BACK. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT PURCHASE OR OWN THE VEHICLE, THEREFORE THERE IS NO PURCHASE DATE OR DEALER INFORMATION AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,579. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ

I AM LEASING A 2002 BMW 745LI . I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS GONE TO THE BMW SERVICE CENTER A TOTAL OF 33 TIMES FOR SERVICE MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. A FEW TIMES CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THIS VEHICLE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA VIA PHONE, EMAILS, AND LETTERS, THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE? THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER SHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS BMW MODEL YEAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT HEADACHES AND PROBLEMS FOR THEM. I FEAR FOR THE WELL BEING OF MY FAMILY WHEN THEY ENTER THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS MODEL HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR FROM ITS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I AM PAYING FOR A PIECE OF METAL! THIS VEHICLE IS ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I DEMAND THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM ME. THE MANUFACTURER (BMW OF NORTH OF AMERICA) BUILT A PRODUCT THAT HAS DEFECTS. THEIR OWN TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIX THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT BMW SERVICE CENTERS. I HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS. AGAIN I DEMAND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO RELIEVE ME FROM THIS VEHICLE! *TR

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND WINDOW WAS REPAIRED AT DEALER. OPPOSITE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. FRONT WINDOW OPERATORS MOVE THE WINDOW SLOWLY AND WINDOWS NEED MANUAL ASSISTANCE (PUSH ON GLASS) TO CLOSE. INVESTIGATED WHETHER NEW WINDOW REGULATOR DESIGN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. DETERMINED THAT REPLACEMENT WINDOW REGULATORS ARE IDENTICAL TO ORIGINAL. THE DESIGN PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE ATTACHMENT OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR CABLE ENDS INTO PLASTIC RETAINERS. OBVIOUSLY, DURING THE CYCLES OF WINDOW OPERATION, THE PLASTIC IS OVER-STRESSED AND FAILS. PLACED WRITTEN COMPLAINT WITH BMW USA TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FIRST WINDOW FAILURE WAS AROUND 50K MILES. REMAINING WINDOW FAILURES WERE AROUND 90K MILES. *TR

OIL LEVEL SENSOR KEEPS TRIPPING ALL THE TIME. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR TO BE FAULTY. FOUND FAULT 11 THERMAL OIL SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR. *TR

AFTER 100,000+ MILES OF NORMAL OPERATION THE 2002, BMW X5 4.4 BEGAN EXHIBITING UNUSUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATION. AT RANDOM TIMES, DURING START UP, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV VERY HIGH, THEN ENGAGE IN 1ST, CAUSING AN ABRUPT LURCH FORWARD. ALSO, IT WILL EXPERIENCE THIS DISENGAGEMENT SOMETIMES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO PASSING GEAR, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV, AND A LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION, AND THEN AN ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT, RESULTING IN A MAJOR LURCH FORWARD. THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AS YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR PERFORMING PASSING MANEUVERS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ,AND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED NOW FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. IT IS RELATED TO ZF SUPPLIED TRANSMISSIONS ON BMW AND JAGUAR VEHICLES, AND IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONTROLLING SOFTWARE THE BMW DEALER SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $7,600 , AND HAS NOT INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS OR ADMIT ANY COMMON PROBLEM EXISTED. REPORTS ON THE INTERNET INDICATED THAT SOMETIMES A SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL CURE THIS PROBLEM, AND SOMETIMES NOT, AS IT OCCURRED IN BOTH OLD AND NEW VEHICLES. AS AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD, I AM STILL CONDUCTING MY OWN ANALYSIS, BUT AM COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A BMW AND ZF PROBLEM THAT NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AS A CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *AK

I NOTICED A CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN NOTICED NOISE ON RIGHT/FRONT SIDE. CHECKED THE FRONT END AND FOUND RIGHT/FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNT IS LOOSE. RETIGHTENED RIGHT/FRONT SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY AND CHECKED LEFT/FRONT SWAY BAR. RETIGHTENED. *TR

HEARD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND DRIVING SLOW, ALSO WHEN MAKING TURNS. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE FRONT END AFTER ROAD TESTING THE VEHICLE. FOUND THAT BOTH DRIVE AXLES LOST ALL LUBRICANT; RIGHT/FRONT INNER AND OUTER C/V JOINT WAS CONTAMINATED. REMOVED BOTH FRONT STRUT HUB ASSEMBLY AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS FROM AXLES, REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT COMPLETE AXLE ASSEMBLY. REINSTALLED FRONT END COMPONENTS WHICH WERE REMOVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT A TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS MELTED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,626 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

BMW 325XI 2002 BOUGHT USED IN MINT CONDITION WITH 60000 MILES DRIVETRAIN VIBRATION RELATED TO TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT BEARING. BMW INTERNATIONAL SAID THAT WAS TOO BAD, BUT NOT CONCERND AT THE FAILURE. EXPECTED AS THAT YEAR HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS. *AK

AFTER DRIVING MY 2002 BMW X 5 FIVE BLOCKS FROM MY HOME, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PARKED THE CAR. FROM THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO GET OUT AND WALK TO THE REAR OF THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND IN SHORT ORDER THE CAR BURNED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND HIRED AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN VEHICLE FIRES AND CAUSATION. THE CONCLUSSION OF THE REPORT WAS THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, ORIGINATING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THIS SITUATION WITH BMW FIRES ON DIFFERENT WEB SIGHTS, INCLUDING ROADFLY, AND HAVE FOUND TO MY SHOCK, THERE ARE WAY TO MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS OUT THERE WITH A SIMULAR SITUATION. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE SOMEONES LIFE. IF MY GRANDCHILD OR ELDERLY MOTHER HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WITH ME, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT IN TIME! I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU, HOPE PESSIS. *NM

ON 12/21/06, I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-LANE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK, HIS BACKEND SLID OFF THE ROAD AND WHEN THE BACK TIRES GAINED TRACTION, IT SHOT HIS TRUCK ACROSS HIS LANE AND INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR WITH THE FRONT OF HIS TRUCK. HIS TRUCK ENDED UP DAMAGING MY CAR DOWN THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE (FRONT TO REAR). MY SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SIDE MIRROR CAME THROUGH MY WINDOW AND STRUCK ME IN THE ARM WITH GLASS IMPACTING MY LEFT EAR, EYE AND CHEEK AS WELL AS MY MOUTH. THE COLLISION CENTER CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE COLLISION CENTER WITH $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 5 MPH, HE NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT WOULD INFORM HIM THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER FOR THE WIRING IN THE TAIL LIGHTS.THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN A FIVE YEAR TIME SPAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART, TOWED TO SHOP, WAS TOLD I CHANGED FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM CAUSING VALVE TO BEND. I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND THERE WAS NO REASON TO CHANGE FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY A NEW ENGINE/VALVE/HEAD JOB. I HAD TO PAY FROM POCKET. *JB

I WAS HEARING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR TOOK IT INTO BMW, AND THEY SAID THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS CRACKING. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO! ALSO THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING ARE BAD WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR OR IN REVERSE! *NM

STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN I TRIED TO STOP IN THE RAIN. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DID NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE BUT MY CAR HAD OVER $5700 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM

I AM TAKING MY 2002 BMW 325I INTO THE SHOP AGAIN TOMORROW TO FIX THE 4TH POWER WINDOW REGULATOR TO BREAK ON THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT LAST YEAR. THESE HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH THIS FAILURE IS OCCURRING SUGGESTS A DEFECT. EACH TIME, THE SAME SYMPTOMS WERE PRESENT: A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE FROM THE WINDOW AND IT GETS STUCK HALF WAY AND NO LONGER MOVES. THIS TIME, I HAD DAMAGE TO MY WINDOW TINT. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT WITH THE WINDOW DOWN WHICH IS RISKY. THE POWER REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER EACH TIME. *JB

OWN A 325CI COUPE THAT HAS HAD SEPARATION TIRE SEPARATION ON 3 TIRES BF GOODRICH 225/45R17. ONE TIRE SEPARATED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN YESTERDAY TWO MORE TIRE SEPARATED. WHEN I REPLACED THIS TWO TIRES THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE OTHER REMAINING TIRE ON THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALL OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TIRE. *NM

THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING UP AND THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REINSTALL THE MOLDING. PRETTY BIZARRE FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR. *TR