2003 BMW 3 Series Complaint Log

ENGINE STALLS/ ROUGH IDLE WHEN RPMS ARE LOW. FIX NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES ON 2003 BMW 330 CI.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD A DAMAGED MICHELIN TIRE REPLACED BUT ONLY FOUR MONTHS LATER THE NEW TIRE IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE OLD TIRE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE TIRES BECAME TOO HOT THEREFORE CREATING 3-4 INCH BUBBLES AROUND THE WALL WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR. *NM

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE/ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL MODULE. WHENEVER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD, THEN STOPS AND GOES INTO A CYCLE WHERE IT DOES THIS "BUCKING" ACTION A FEW TIMES. THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD, BUT HAS ONLY DONE THIS FOR THE PAST YEAR. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED BY BMW- HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR THE LAST EIGHT (8) MONTHS WITH NO RESULT. MY FAMILY REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE JERKING MOTION MAKES THEM SICK. A BMW FIELD REPRESENTATIVE KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I HIRED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT WAS ABLE TO TRACE THE PROBLEM TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, BUT DOES NOT POSSESS THE BMW SOFTWARE OR EQUIPMENT TO REPAIR IT. NOW IT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IT'S IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS SINCE THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AND STOPS. A FEW TIMES I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC DUE TO THIS.

I HAVE A BMW 325I WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOV. '02. IN MARCH '03, WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJTPK AT 60-65MPH IN THE LEFT LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ITS ACCELERATION. THE CLOCKS ALSO WENT OFF AND THEN RESET ITSELF TO 12:00. BEING THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE NJ TURNPIKE, I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO CROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COME TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER (THERE WAS NO LEFT SHOULDER). I WAITED FOR A WHILE, RESTARTED THE CAR, RESET THE CLOCK AND HIT THE ROAD AGAIN. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR STARTING ACTING UP... AT ONE OCCASION, I WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR USING THE REMOTE. AT ANOTHER, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP UPON PULLING ON THE KNOB. THE LIGHT BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT COME ON. MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS WOULD GO AWAY AFTER I WOULD SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND RESTART IT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO PRINCETON BMW WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A FULL DAY AND DID EXTENSIVE TESTING ON IT. AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR STILL DOES NOT WORK FINE. IF I TURN THE RIGHT LIGHT ON, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. WELL, THIS PAST WEAKENED (MARCH 14TH '04) I HAD AN ANOTHER EXPERIENCE, ON RT. 1, WHERE THE CAR TOTALLY LOST ITS ACCELERATION AGAIN. I AM GOING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH PRINCETON BMW AGAIN. I ALSO CALLED BMW OF NA AND INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE. *NM

CAR STALLS. *AK

ERRATIC ENGINE IDLE AND STALL.AT IDLE ENGINE RPMS WILL DROP CAUSING A STALL/STUTTER. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS EFFECTS ALL 330I ZHP (PERFORMANCE PKG) MODEL.*AK

2003 BMW 325I 4 DOOR OWNED BY ME FOR 3 1/2 MONTHS DESTROYED IN FIRE. BMW HAD SENT LETTER TO ME REGARDING MANUFACTURING PROBLEM & TO BRING INTO DEALERSHIP FOR CORRECTION. PRIOR TO PROBLEM, I DID HAVE HAVE SLOW STARTING/CRANKING PROBLEMS. CAR BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP ON 2/21/04. ON 2/23/04, DRIVING FIRE STARTED IN RIGHT REAR AREA OF MY TRUNK, NEAR BATTERY. CAR TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED TRUNK WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS "AUTO" POSITION CAUSES WIPERS TO FAIL TO SUDDENLY FAIL TO OPERATE DURING RAIN CONDITIONS. ALSO, CAN CAUSE DISTRACTING SWEEPS OF THE WIPERS WITH NO RAIN OR WATER, ANYWHERE NEAR THE CAR OR WINDSHIELD SENSOR. ODDLY, DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR; SERVICE WRITERS REFUSED TO WRITE IT UP AS "NORMAL" OPERATION. BMW FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER NOTED THE WINDSHIELD SENSOR (WHICH ALSO CONTAINS CONTROLS FOR AUTOMATIC LIGHTS) WAS MASSIVELY DELAMINATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THUS REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD FOR THIS SMALL PART. ISSUES: 1. NORMAL "ERRATIC" OPERATION OF WIPERS (AND AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS) IS ACCEPTABLE TO BMW SERVICE WRITERS. 2. WIPERS ARE A CRITICAL SAFETY FUNCTION, YET WITH BMW'S SYSTEM THEY CAN APPARENTLY OPERATE ERRATICALLY DUE TO A BAD SENSOR "BOND" WITH THE WINDSHIELD. 3. THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS HIGH--OUT OF WARRANTY MANY DRIVERS MAY NOT BOTHER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE GIVEN THE MASSIVE COST (AND ABSURDITY) OF REPLACING AN OTHERWISE PERFECT WINDSHIELD. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER WERE TO BE IN THE "AUTO" WIPER FUNCTION WITH A FAILED SYSTEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MARK PETERS PYLT@COMCAST.NET

INTERMITTENT SEVERE ENGINE MISS. ENGINE HESITATION/FAILURE TO ACCELERATE. ENGINE SURGES AND HAS VERY ROUGH IDLE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO UP SHIFT (MAXIMUM SPEED IS APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH). SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES, BUT NOT ALWAYS (INTERMITTENT). WITH LESS THAN 9,000 MILES THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN THREE TIMES FOR THIS AND OTHER FAILURES WHICH HAVE LEFT THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. BMW DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS, WITHOUT SUCCESS, AS FAR AS WE KNOW (MORE LATER). THESE ENGINE EVENTS CAN OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY, AND ARE NOT ALWAYS INDICATED BY A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ARE WHEN IT OCCURS AS ONE COMES TO A STOP BEFORE ENTERING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC OR WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY, IF THE ENGINE WERE TO STALL OR BEGIN TO RUN ON LESS THAN ITS FULL COMPLEMENT OF CYLINDERS, IT COULD LEAVE ONE EXPOSED TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO WAY TO ACCELERATE. VERY DANGEROUS. INTERNET SEACHING AFTER THE LATEST "REPAIR" ATTEMPT HAS EXPOSED A "SECRET" BMW BULLETIN REGARDING BREMI IGNITION COILS. (APPARENTLY, THIS IS THE SAME COIL BRAND USED IN THE VW/AUDI CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS TWO YEARS AGO.) ALL SIX IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUGS, AND A HOST OF OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THUS FAR. UNKNOWN IF THESE ATTEMPTS WERE SUCCESSFUL AS THIS CAR IS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN--IT'S FATE AWAITS A POSSIBLE LAW SUIT AGAINST BMW. I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO RECALL EVERY BMW WITH THESE COILS, IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING BMW'S EFFORTS TO NOT PUBLICIZE THIS INFORMATION MORE READILY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. MARK PETERS PYLT@COMCAST.NET

REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RIPPED COMPLETELY APART WHILE TRAVELING 20-25 MPH. *PH *MR

I BOUGHT MY 2003 BMW 325I NEW. SHORTLY AFTER THE SALE I NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS XENON LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHT BACK ON, IS TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS WORKS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IS A FALSE INDICATION THAT MY TAILLIGHTS ARE OUT. THIS IS VERY SPORRATIC AND ANNOYING. A THIRD ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING IS VERY DANGEROUS RELATING TO MY DRIVERS SEATBELT. THE SEATBELT MAY SEAM LOCKED, BUT IF YOU PULL WITH A BIT OF FORCE, THE SEATBELT WILL COME OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION.

I WAS BLINDED TONIGHT BY THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS ON A CAR 100 OR MORE FEET FROM ME THAT WAS COMING OUT OF A GAS STATION. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE GAS STATION AND BECUASE O BEING BLINDED I DIDN'T SEE A ROAD DIVIDER. MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT IT A A LOW SPEED AND BLEW THE TIRE AND BENT THE RIM. OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER DRIVER DIDN'T KNOW I EXISTED OR HAD BEEN FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IMPACTED BY HIS HEADLIGHTS BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN SOME UNEXPLAINED FATAL ACCIDENT WILL HAVE THE SAME ROOTS. THANK YOU, DAN STERNBERG

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 BMW 325 IN JULY, 2003 FROM PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL, NC. THE IGNITION COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED TODAY ON THE #2 CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 8,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BY MEL, THE SERVICE TECH AT PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL, NC, THAT BMW HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION COILS ON THE 2003 AND 2004 MODELS AND THAT BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS BMW HAS SWITCHED VENDORS FOR THESE IGNITION COILS AND NO LONGER USES THE VENDOR THAT SUPPLIED THE PARTS FOR MY CAR. SINCE THERE A 6 IGNITION COILS IN MY CAR, THAT MEANS THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME ANY ONE OF THE OTHER 5 IGNITION COILS COULD FAIL AND LEAVE ME STRANDED AS HAPPENED TODAY. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REPLACE ALL THE IGNITON COILS IN MY CAR THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY THIS VENDOR SEEING AS I AM A FEMALE WHO TRAVELS FREQUENCTLY FOR BUSINESS THROUGH RURAL AREAS WHERE IT WOULD BE EASY FOR ME TO BE STRANDED. THE DEALER REFUSED SAYING THAT THE OTHER COILS HAVE NOT YET FAILED SO THEY CANNOT REPLACE THEM. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS PRODUCT, FOR WHICH BMW IS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT.*AK

I AM EXPERIENCING A STALLING PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 BMW 330I. AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE AND HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING ON ALMOST EVERY 330I, AS EVIDENCED ON NUMEROUS INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS (INCLUDING BIMMERFEST.COM AND BIMMERFORUMS.COM) BUT BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE STALLING AS LEFT ME STRANDED AT AN INTERSECTION IN THE PAST WITH TRAFFIC FLOWING AROUND ME AS I ATTEMPT TO RESTART. *AK

2003 BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE IN THE MORNINGS. AFTER PARKING CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE CAR IS PUT WENT INTO REVERSE AND BACKED OUT WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS (DRIVEWAY IS SLOPED). AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE CAR LAGS ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE THERE IS ANY POWER TO DRIVE. THIS IS SPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS TRAFFIC.*AK

THE LOW BEAM REFLECTORS ON 2003-2004 ZKW HID HEADLIGHTS WERE MADE OF SOME MATERIAL THAT DEGRADED WHEN SUBJECTED TO THE HEAT PRODUCED BY OEM XENON BULBS. THIS RESULTS IN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN LIGHT OUTPUT AS THE REFLECTOR BECAME SCORCHED. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT INS AND OUTS, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT BMW AND ZKW WERE AND ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AS THE NEWER, REDESIGNED HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM.

ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC; HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. WOULD NOT RE-START, DESPITE STRONG CRANKING. COMPUTER READ "38 MILES TO EMPTY" AND GAUGE READ APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TO 1/8 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING. CAR WAS TOWED IN AND SEVERAL FAULTS WERE FOUND: 240, 243. DEALER TECH (VISTA BMW, FL) STATED IN SERVICE RECEIPT: FUEL SENDING UNITS. CHECKED FUEL PRESSURE . . . PRESSURE WAS 3.5 BAR. CHECKED RETURN FUEL PRESSURE AT FUEL TANK . . . PRESSURE WAS 1.0 BAR. REMOVED BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS & PERFORMED RESISTANCE SWEEP OF BOTH RESISTANCE CARS . . . BOTH LEFT & RIGHT SENDING UNITS HAD AN OPEN. REPLACED LEFT & RIGHT FUEL SENDING UNITS. PARTS REPLACED: FUEL SENSOR, SUCTION UNIT. SAFETY CONSIDERATION: SUDDEN ENGINE STOPAGE CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, YET THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT. INTERNET WEB SITES RELATE OTHER BMW'S WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY TROUBLESOME IS THE COMPLETE LACK OF WARNING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MARK PETERS BEDFORD, TX PYLT@COMCAST.NET

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BMW 3.0L ENGINE WHERE IDLING ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARMED-UP IS USUALLY VERY ROUGH IN THE RANGE OF 500-700 RPM. THERE IS ALSO A TENDENCY TO DIP BELOW 500 RPM AND STALL OUT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 700 MILES ON IT. I CONSIDER THE STALL A FAILURE.

2003 BMW 325I STALLS FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF INSTABILITY. *KB THE VEHICLE STALLED ABOUT SEVEN TIMES AFTER BEING DRIVEN OFF THE LOT ON THE DATE IF PURCHASE. FROM DEC 2003 TO JUNE 2005 THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVE 11,000 BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ALLEVIATE THE STALLING CONDITION. THE DEALER BELIEVED THE STALLING WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE STALLING IS DUE TO INSTABILITY AND THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE EASY FIXED BY UPDATING SOFTWARE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DOWNLOADED THE UPDATE FROM THE BMW-SIEMENS WEBSITE IN THE U.K. AND INSTALLED IT. SINCE THE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN UPDATED THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY STALLED TWICE SINCE UPDATED, ONCE WHEN IN THE WRONG GEAR, AND ONCE WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET. *NM

BMW DID NOT PROPERLY DESIGN THE REAR FLOOR OF THE CAR BODY WHERE IT SUPPORTS THE REAR SUBFRAME. AS A RESULT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING, MANY OF THE BMW E46 3-SERIES CARS (325, 323, 330, IN THE I, CI, OR CIC TRIMS, EXAMPLE 325CI OR 330I) SUFFER FROM TORN SHEET METAL WHERE THE REAR SUBFRAME ATTACHES TO THE BODY. THIS EVENTUALLY CAUSES A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS THE REAR SUBFRAME AND ASSOCIATED SUSPENSION CAN SEPARATELY ENTIRELY FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND SEVERE CRASH. THIS CAN AFFECT ANY E46 3-SERIES CAR BUT IS MOST COMMON IN MODELS BUILT FROM 1999-2001 AND MORE COMMON IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS. THE REPAIR COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $800 (PRE-EMPTIVE STRENGTHENING OF SHEET METAL IF IT HAS NOT TORN ALREADY) TO $5,000 (REPLACEMENT OF REAR BODY SUBFLOOR). BMW SETTLED A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN 2009 ALLOWING 3-SERIES OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR CARS INSPECTED AND IN SOME CASES REPAIRED BY BMW BUT THIS DID NOT COVER ALL AFFECTED CARS AND EXPIRED IN DECEMBER 2010 SO NOT ALL OWNERS WERE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR CARS INSPECTED OR REPAIRED BY THAT DATE. IN ADDITION MANY CARS HAVE EXPERIENCED SUBFRAME MOUNTING FAILURES AFTER DEC 2010. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND REINFORCE ALL E46 (1999-2005) 3-SERIES BODIES WHERE THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2003 325I JERKS WHEN DOWNSHIFTS WHILE BRAKING. A LAUD THUD CAN BE HEARD ON LOWER SPEEDS.

THE COMPUTER FIRST FAILED ON MY 2003 BMW 325I ON JUNE 15, 2003, (THREE WEEKS AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BMW OF MANHATTAN), CAUSING ME TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE HAPPENED TO BE A VERY SMALL SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT; PARTICULARLY, BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD NO WAY TO DETECT THAT MY CAR WAS ONLY COASTING. THE NJ STATE TROOPERS HAD TO SHUT DOWN NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC IN ALL 4 LANES OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN ORDER TO REMOVE MY CAR FROM THE PARKWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER, SO THEY SENT IT TO MONTVALE, NJ TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON JUNE 20, 2003. ON JUNE 25, 2003, THE COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS TIME, I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE AND ANOTHER CAR NEARLY SLAMMED INTO ME ON THE EXIT RAMP. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE TOP OF THE RAMP AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, (NOT AN EASY TASK DURING RUSH HOUR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN!), BUT THE CAR LURCHED REPEATEDLY AND WAS UNABLE TO GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BMW OF MANHATTAN HAS NOT OFFERED ME A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION OR SOLUTION. THE CAR CLEARLY HAS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT, WHICH COULD EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES; YET, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INSISTS THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO FAIL.

THE COMPUTER FIRST FAILED ON MY 2003 BMW 325I ON JUNE 15, 2003, (THREE WEEKS AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BMW OF MANHATTAN), CAUSING ME TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE HAPPENED TO BE A VERY SMALL SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT; PARTICULARLY, BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD NO WAY TO DETECT THAT MY CAR WAS ONLY COASTING. THE NJ STATE TROOPERS HAD TO SHUT DOWN NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC IN ALL 4 LANES OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN ORDER TO REMOVE MY CAR FROM THE PARKWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER, SO THEY SENT IT TO MONTVALE, NJ TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON JUNE 20, 2003. ON JUNE 25, 2003, THE COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS TIME, I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE AND ANOTHER CAR NEARLY SLAMMED INTO ME ON THE EXIT RAMP. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE TOP OF THE RAMP AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, (NOT AN EASY TASK DURING RUSH HOUR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN!), BUT THE CAR LURCHED REPEATEDLY AND WAS UNABLE TO GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.BMW OF MANHATTAN HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY TELEPHONE CALLS. THE CAR CLEARLY HAS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT, WHICH COULD EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES.*AK

BMW 325I PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2003. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. MY CAR WOULD JERK VERY HARD WHEN APPROACHING TO A STOP. MY CAR STARTED TO STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR SOMETIMES IT DID NOT EVEN START. IN JUNE 2003 A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AFTER I INITIALLY PURCHASE IT, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT REGISTER ANY FAULTS IN THE COMPUTER. A MONTH LATER TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ANOTHER MONTH PASSD TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE JERKING PROBLEM. BMW TECH SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO UPGRADE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WHICH THEY DID AND THE JERKING STOPPED. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IS MY CAR STALLING. SINCE PURCHASED DATE MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND MY CAR CONTINUES TO DIE OUT ON ME. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN START, I HAD TO TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALER ONCE. SUMMARIZE CURRENT PROBLEMS: RANDOMLY DOES NOT WANT TO START AND SOMETIMES MY DOORS DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE KEY REMOTE. *AK

1. TRANSMISSION: AFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIR, CONSTANT HARD DOWNSHIFTING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN D AND S D MODES. VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD WHEN DECELERATING BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 42 TO 35 MPH (USUALLY WHEN DRIVEN BEFORE WITH SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR). ALSO, AFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIR, CONSTANT LOUD THUMPING NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP 2. ENGINE:INTERMITTENT LOUD ENGINE REVVING AND IMMEDIATE TORQUE LOSS OCCURRING WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP.INTERMITTENT DELAYED ENGINE START OF UP TO 3 SECONDS AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION .INTERMITTENT PRM IDLE FLUCTUATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE SHUDDERING 3. BRAKES:LOUD BREAK SQUEAKING WHEN COMING TO A STOP 4. FUEL TANK / FUEL PUMP:AFTER DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK/PUMP REPLACEMENT, RECURRENCE OF LOUD WHINING NOISE ( CONFIRMED WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA) 5. CD PLAYER: INTERMITTENT BUILT-IN BUSINESS CD PLAYER SKIPPING 6.STEERING WHEEL: STEERING WHEEL CREAKING WHEN TURNING.*AK

LEFT/REAR AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES HAD DEVELOPED A LARGE "BUBBLE" IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. BRIDGESTONE TURANZA, ER30 225/45ZR17, DOT NO. K9701ER3OU2, ORIGINAL TIRES. *AK *JB

FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN EARLY 2003, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON INDEFINITELY. THE BMW DEALER TURNED THE ALERT LIGHT OFF SEVERAL TIMES, AND DID NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM, INDICATING THAT IT WAS ONLY THE SENSOR AND THAT THE AIRBAG WAS WORKING. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO MURRAY BMW IN DENVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED AND THE DEALERSHIP MERELY TURNED THE ALERT LIGHT OFF INDICATING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AND NOT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE REPAIR WAS NEVER MADE. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE SENSOR. WHEN THE AIRBAG RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL REMAINED ON, AND THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG WAS NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WHEN PURCHASING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE!

CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE IDLES IT SHUTS OFF. DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT INTO THE STREET WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ON. PH

2003 BMW 325I. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM REGARDING THE REAR LAMPS. THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE SEVERAL OF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE PRIOR TO THE TIME FRAME ESTABLISHED BY THE RECALL, SHE WAS ONLY REIMBURSED PARTIALLY. RECALL# 11V438000. *JB

THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED VERY HARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND JUMPED FORWARD WHEN DECELERATING.*JB

JUNE 9, 2003 DEAR BMW, I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2003 BMW 325CI ON NOVEMBER 8, 2002 FROM ASSAEL BMW DEALER IN MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA. AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING IT, THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. WHEN I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR/ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER, AND IT?S AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION! THIS REALLY FRIGHTENED ME BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. A NEW CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH PASSENGERS, AND THIS TIME NOT ONLY DID THE SAME SPUTTERING PROBLEM OCCUR WHEN I BRAKED AT A STOP, BUT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THE IGNITION. THE SAME INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES, WITH THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF. THE SPUTTERING INCIDENT WITHOUT THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES FROM DECEMBER UNTIL THE DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, WHICH WAS MAY 14, 2003. I DIDN?T TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICING IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT DIDN?T SEEM LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. BUT THE PROBLEM GOT CONSISTENTLY WORSE, AND AFTER RECEIVING THE BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN LETTER NO. 03V-124: 3-SERIES DME IDLE CONTROL LETTER IN APRIL, 2003 (SEE ATTACHED), I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE ASSAEL BMW DEALER FOR SERVICING. THE RECALL LETTER STATES THAT THE REPAIR RELATED TO THE RECALL WILL CONSIST OF A ?REPROGRAMMING OF THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT AND WILL REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. I TOOK MY CAR IN ON MAY 14, 2003. ON JUNE 13, ONE MONTH WILL HAVE PASSED SINCE MY CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE, AND AS OF NOW MY CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED! I AM VERY UPSET AND DISSATISFIED WITH ASSAEL BMW SERVICE. EVERY TIME I ASK THE THEM WHY MY CAR IS NOT FIXED YET, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT, AND THAT IT COMES FROM GERMANY, THUS THE LONG WAIT TIME. I DON?T KNOW IF THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THE TRUTH OR NOT.

I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER WITH OVER 1 MIL ACIDENT FREE MILES. EVERY YEAR THE HEADLIGHTS GET AIMED WORSE, THE TECHNOLOGY GETS BRIGHTER AND SOMETIMES WIDER DISPERSION (BLINDING) AND MORE DRIVERS DRIVE FULLTIME WITH FOG LIGHTS (NON-LENTICULAR LENS). MANUFACTURERS ARE ENCOURAGING THIS PROCESS WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF AUTOS WITH BIG FOG LIGHTS AND FAILING TO LABEL THEM WITH RESTRICTIVE USE WARNINGS. IN ADDITION, THEIR ADVERTISING ALWAYS SHOWS VEHICLES WITH THESE LIGHTS ON IN THEIR ADVERTISMENTS. BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY I AM FORCED TO BLOCK OUT THEIR LIGHTS (AT THE RATE OF ABOUT ONE IN TWENTY-FIVE) WITH MY HAND, AND THEREFORE WILL HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT IF THEY CROSS THE CENTER LINE SINCE I CANNOT SEE THEM. POLICE IN EVERY STATE MUST BE TOLD TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AGAINST FULL-TIME FOG LIGHTS AND MUST REGULATE THE BRIGHTNESS AND AIM OF HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME EPIDEMIC.

DELAY IN TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT (20-30 SECONDS) WHEN COLD. HAZARD ON HILL AND ENTERING TRAFFIC. *TR

LTR FM (MA) CONCERNED ABOUT THE STALLING TENDENCES IN MODEL YEARS 2001-2004 BMW 325I AND 323I PASSENGER CARS. *TS THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS ELEMINATED BY INSTALLING AN UPDATE RELEASED ABOUT JULY 2004 BY BMW AG HEADQUARTERS IN MUNICH. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DOWNLOADED THE UPDATE FROM THE BMW-SIEMENS WEBSITE IN THE U.K. AND INSTALLED IT IN THE CONSUMER'S BMW. SINCE THE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN UPDATED THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY STALLED TWICE SINCE UPDATED, ONCE WHEN IN THE WRONG GEAR, AND ONCE WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET. *NM

ON COLD DAYS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE FOR APPROX. 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE DRIVING. *PH ON VERY COLD DAYS, LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR ONLY 4 HOURS WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE IT TO SLIP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER ORDERED AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AT NO COST. *NM

WHEN PULLING OUT THE DIP STICK AFTER VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR A WHILE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE DIP STICK. OIL SPREAD IN VARIOUS PLACES ON THE DIP STICK. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK