2003 BMW 3 Series Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW 325XI WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SUDDENLY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I HIT ANYTHING AND I DID NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I INSPECTED THE CAR AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT. BMW INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND SOME DAMAGE UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND CLAIMED THAT THIS DAMAGE CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, I AM ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THIS DAMAGE DID NOT OCCUR AT THE TIME OF THE DEPLOYMENT. BMW WAS NOT INTERESTED IN FURTHER INVESTIGATING MY CASE AND STUCK WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT THE MINOR DAMAGE FOUND UNDERNEATH THE CAR CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE HYDRO-PLANED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR CAUSE OF AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

WENT TO GO INTO REVERSE AFTER COMING HOME FROM A SHOPPING SPREE AND THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT REVERSE. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT FINALLY WENT INTO REVERSE. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THERE ARE TRANSMISSION CODES ON THE INDICATOR FROM THIS. CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON THE 325 I BMW. *TR

LENS COVER FOR HEAD LIGHTS ON BMW 325 I WITH ONLY 65K IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE SEVERELY OXIDIZED LIMITING VISION AT NIGHT. CALLED BMW AND BASICALLY STATED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR

CENTRAL LOCKING WONT WORK, THE KEY DOES NOT OPEN THE DOORS LIGHT COMES ON TO SAY DOOR OPEN BUT THEY DON'T AND ALSO DRIVER DOOR OPENS WITH KEY THE INTERNAL BUTTON ALSO DOES NOT OPEN THE DOORS, INTERMITTENT FAULT. *TR

2003 BMW 325I REAR TAIL LIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY AND REPEATEDLY QUIT WORKING. LIGHT BULBS REPLACED AND WORK WELL. IT APPEARS TO BE A WIRING ISSUE. *TR

ABOUT 2 OR SO YEARS AGO I STARTED TO NOTICE MY NIGHT DRIVING WAS BECOMING UNPLEASANT AND UNSAFE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE LOSING OUTPUT. AFTER REPLACING THE PLASTIC LENSES NEW FROM BMW I THEN WENT ON TO BUYING NEW BULBS THINKING THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFF. IT DIDN'T. 10-12-12 TODAY MY LIGHTS ARE YELLOW/FOGGY ON THE INSIDE LIKE SMOKE HAS MADE THE LENSES OPAQUE AND MY OUTPUT IS BARELY SEEN, I LOOKED ON THE BACK WHERE THE BULB IS INSERTED AND IT SURE LOOKS BROWN IN THERE, I GET MORE LIGHT REFLECTED ON THE GROUND WHEN I TURN MY TURN SIGNALS THAN I DO ON THE HEADLIGHTS. AFTER GOING ONLINE AND SEARCHING, MY CAR CAME FROM FACTORY WITH A DEFECT ZKW XENON HEADLIGHT SYSTEM, WHICH 99% OF THE ZKW HEADLIGHT OWNERS OF E46 SEDANS FOUND ONLINE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE "E46 ZKW BURNT BOWLS" . I HAVE A 4 MONTH OLD LITTLE GIRL, I CANNOT IMAGINE DRIVING WITH HER IN THE CAR ON A RAINY NIGHT AND MY CONCERN IS NOW MY BABY. I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES IF NEEDED PLEASE, THANK YOU FOR READING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. *TR

DOORS WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK. KEY FOB BUTTON WILL NOT UNLOCK ANY DOORS 90% OF THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN ONLY GET IN CAR ON DRIVERS SIDE WITH MANUAL OPERATION OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK (STICKING KEY IN LOCK AND TURNING). ONCE IN CAR, 90% OF TIME I STILL CANNOT UNLOCK ANY OTHER DOORS, EVEN BY PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE (WHICH WOULD ORDINARILY UNLOCK THE DOOR). THE INTERIOR BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WILL NOT WORK. ON FRIDAY, 12/9/11, I COULD NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. (CAR IS SET TO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE ALL LOCKS ONCE I START DRIVING) I HAD TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN AND REACH OUT AND UNLOCK DOOR WITH KEY. WHEN MY SON AND DAUGHTER DRIVE WITH ME, THEY HAVE TO GET IN AND OUT OF CAR EITHER BY CRAWLING ACROSS DRIVER'S SEAT OR GO THROUGH A WINDOW OPENING. MY WIFE CANNOT RIDE IN THIS CAR NOW BECAUSE SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. DUE TO THIS DEFECT, PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN CAR. ALSO, ENTRY INTO VEHICLE IS DELAYED (BECAUSE FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK DOORS) WHICH ALSO POSES SAFETY RISKS WHEN PARKED AT NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGES. THERE ARE FIVE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE ON THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED. *TR

MY 2003 325I BMW HAS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED IT TO, WITHOUT WARNING, LOSE ITS ABILITY TO GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS RETURNING TO PHILADELPHIA FROM NYC SEVERAL DAYS AGO. I PULLED OVER FOR GAS. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION ACTED LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 70K MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD IN OWNERS OF EARLY 2000 BMWS AND RESULTS FROM A REVERSE DRUM THAT IS POORLY MANUFACTURED AND NOT SUFFICIENTLY THICK AROUND THE EDGES. APPARENTLY, BMW CORRECTED THE MANUFACTURING PROBLEM IN 2003. IT NEVER SHARED INFO ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH PROSPECTIVE OWNERS, IN EFFECT SELLING CARS UNDER FALSE PRETENSE. PLEASE VISIT WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG AND YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DRIVER MAY BE IN A DANGEROUS POSITION AND NEED TO REVERSE FOR GET OUT OF HARM'S WAY. BMW SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THE CAR AND SO IT IS SIMPLY SITTING ON MY STREET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

PASSENGER DOORS WON'T UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE CARS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN OUR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT FAILS TO WORK AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT OF FAILURE IS SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD. THE LIGHT WILL WORK THEN STOP WORKING IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH SOME SUCCESS WHILE OTHER TIMES NOTHING HELPS. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

BMW E46 3 SERIES - ZKW HEADLIGHTS- VERY LOW LIGHT OUTPUT THE ZKW HEADLIGHTS HAVE A DESIGN FLAW IN WHICH AFTER 2-3 YEARS OF USE, THEY DIM TO AROUND 20% OF THE ORIGINAL LIGHT OUTPUT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT COMES TO NIGHT DRIVING. SOMEONE DRIVING WITH THIS ISSUE IS NEARLY COMPLETELY BLIND DRIVING AROUND AT NIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO THE PROJECTOR REFLECTOR BOWL BEING MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, AND MELTING FROM THE HEAT. THIS CAUSES THE LIGHT TO BLEED OUT FROM THE BACKSIDE OF THE LIGHT INTO THE HOUSING, INSTEAD OF FORWARD ONTO THE ROAD. BMW NOTED THIS FLAW BY REPLACED THE ZKW HEADLAMPS WITH AL BRANDED HEADLAMPS IN ALL THE NEWER BMWS IN 2005 AND ON. THE AL BRANDED HEADLIGHTS REPLACED THE PLASTIC BOWL WITH METAL BOWLS. HOWEVER, ALL E46 3 SERIES SEDANS FROM 2003-2004 STILL HAVE THESE FAULTY ZKW HEADLAMPS. THERE IS NO EASY FIX TO THIS PROBLEM, AS BMW DOES NOT SELL THE BOWLS SEPARATELY. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS, WHICH COSTS AROUND $2000. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT NEARLY EVERY 2003-2004 3 SERIES SEDAN WITH OEM XENON HEADLAMPS FACES THIS ISSUE. OWNERS DO NOT FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO THE HEAVY COSTS. *TR

REAR SPRINGS ON 2003 BMW 325X1 BOTH BROKEN--YET SHOCKS FULLY OPERATIONAL. MECHANIC AT LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP SAID THIS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING(CAR HAS 47,000 MILES) BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD FAIL INTERMITTINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY GROUND WIRE CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

INTERMITTENT FUNCTION OF LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, DESPITE FUNCTIONAL LIGHT BULBS. ASSEMBLY REMOVED AND 7 PIN CONNECTOR NOTED TO HAVE OVERHEATED AT PIN 2, MELTING SURROUNDING PLASTIC. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER WITH THE KEYLESS REMOTE OR BY PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLE INSIDE THE CAR (THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN SO I COULD REACH INSIDE) I HAD TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR AND CLIMB ACROSS THE SEAT TO GET INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE BUTTON BETWEEN THE SEATS TO UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS ALSO FAILED TO OPEN ANY OF THE LOCKS. THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH BESIDE IT STILL WORKED, SO I KNOW THE PROBLEM ISN'T DUE TO THAT FAULTY SWITCH. THIS DOOR LOCKS RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND IT HASN'T YET RETURNED IN THE FIVE DAYS SINCE. *TR

OUR 2003 BMW 325I HAS HAD REPEATED STALLING EVENTS OCCURRING AT INCREASING FREQUENCY. WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS OR AT HIGHWAY SPEED WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD (EML, HAZARD AND BRAKE) LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER, AND RPM'S DROP. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE BMW WAS TAKEN TO ADVANTAGE MIDTOWN BMW IN HOUSTON, TX FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR. BMW REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROLLER WHICH THEY SAID WAS DEFECTIVE. 1-2 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS/SYMPTOMS. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ADVANTAGE BMW AND LEFT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. INITIALLY THE SERVICE STAFF AT ADVANTAGE BMW TOLD US THAT THE COMPUTER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BMW CORPORATE OFFICE, ADVANTAGE BMW DID NOT REPLACE THE COMPUTER INSTEAD STATING THE THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE IN THE SYSTEM. I ASKED THEM WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS SINCE I DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT INTERMITTENTLY COULD STALL. ADVANTAGE KEPT THE CAR A FEW MORE DAYS AND THEN RETURNED IT TO US WITH THE EXPLANATION THAT THE LOW VOLTAGE WAS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CHARGE ON THE BATTERY. I WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE A FLOAT CHARGER. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN KEPT FULLY CHARGED VIA A CTEK FLOAT CHARGER. HOWEVER LAST WEEKEND THE ENGINE STALLED REPEATEDLY WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS FORCED ME TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVE WITH REDUCED POWER. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND RESTARTING, THE ENGINE RESET AND FUNCTIONED AGAIN FOR A WHILE. SINCE THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAS REPEATED ITSELF 5 TIMES IN 1 WEEK. I FEEL THAT BMW RETURNING THE CAR TO ME IN THE CONDITION WHERE INTERMITTENT STALLING IS OCCURRING IS UNSAFE - I STATED THIS TO ADVANTAGE BMW WHEN I HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE DURING THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE SERVICE SCHEDULED AGAIN AT ADVANTAGE BMW FOR AUGUST 14, 2010. *TR

IN 2010 THE SUNROOF WENT BAD I TALKED TO A BMW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEM, IN AUGUST OF 2011 I NOTICED THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND BLINKERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPER,NOR WAS MY HORN,AND THE DRIVERS WINDOW REGULATORS ARE BINDING UP, ALSO A BRAKE HOSE FROM MY BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE ENGINE IS COLLAPSED IN TWO SPOTS. ??*TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 BMW 325CI THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSES: 1. POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIOINING 2. I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE 3. BRAKING TAKES EXCESSIVELY LONG WITH ENGINE OFF 4. DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP. *TR

2003 BMW 325I 4-DOOR SEDAN. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IF I CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED SINCE BOTH LIGHTS FAILED. TSB ACTION NUMBER 10025585 WAS RELATED TO THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING A RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER ESCALATION PROCESS TO FOLLOW REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE TAIL LIGHTS SINCE A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,578. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED 10/21/10*JB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO RECALL 11V438000 BEING ISSUED. UPDATED 05/17/12

RIGHT TAILLAMP FAILURE AND LEFT TAILLAMP INTERMITTENT OPERATION. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIR: RIGHT REAR TAILLAMP CONNECTOR AND BULB CARRIER CORRODED. DEALER REPLACED PIGTAIL HARNESS AND BULB CARRIER WITH UPDATED DESIGN: SOCKET HOUSING, TERMINAL, CONTACT, CABLE CONNECTOR, HOSE, INSULATION HOUSING, FLAT CONTACT, CABLE SOCKET AND BULB SOCKET. *TR

I OWN A 2003 BMW 330I SEDAN THAT CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH XENON HEADLIGHTS. THESE HEADLIGHTS WERE MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. OVER TIME, THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNS AND DEGRADES. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT ZKW USED A PLASTIC REFLECTOR HOUSING WHICH CANNOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT OF THE XENON BULB. WHEN BURNED, THE HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE SUGGESTED RESOLUTION PER BMW IS TO PURCHASE NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT $1200 PER SIDE. NOTE: BMW USED ANOTHER MANUFACTURER (AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING, AL) FOR LATER MODELS AND THOSE VEHICLES WITH AL LIGHTS DON'T SUFFER FROM THIS FAILURE DUE TO THE FACT THAT AL USED METAL REFLECTORS NOT PLASTIC LIKE ZKW. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASE A 2003 BMW 330I WITH FACTORY XENON LIGHTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE LIGHT OUTPUT OF THESE HEADLAMPS IS THE WORST BY FAR I HAVE EVER SEEN FROM A MODERN VEHICLE. XENON HEADLAMPS NORMALLY HAVE SUPERIOR BRIGHTNESS OVER HALOGEN HEADLAMPS. MY FOG LIGHTS PUT OFF MORE LIGHT THAN THE ZKW HEADLAMPS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A BULB ISSUE, BECAUSE THEY BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE BOWLS THAT REFLECT THE LIGHT TURN BROWN BECAUSE OF THE HEAT AND LIGHT OUTPUT GOES WAY DOWN OVER TIME, FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW ONLY SELLS THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT JUST THE BOWL THAT BURNS AND DISCOLORS. THE HEADLAMPS FROM BMW ARE OVER $1,000 EACH AND I REALLY CAN'T JUSTIFY SPENDING THAT RIGHT NOW. HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT A WEARABLE ITEM AND I NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE TO REP. *TR

FAULTY PIN CONNECTORS IN REAR BRAKELIGHT ASSEMBLIES, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTING HARNESS, VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

1. ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING ROUGHLY ON START UP (FOR A FEW SECONDS) FOR A FEW DAYS. ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT, WHILE STARTING CAR TO HEAD BACK HOME, CAR STARTED VERY ROUGHLY (FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME). CAR THEN CLEARED UP. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 55-60 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD TO STEER THE CAR FROM THE LEFT-HAND LANE ONTO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC (DIFFICULT TO STEER). 2. THE ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE ENGINE DIED WHILE I DROVE THE CAR. 3. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK, THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. *TR

WE OWN A BMW 325I SERIES 2003 SEDAN. WHILE MY DAUGHTER STARTED THE CAR SHE NOTED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. SHE WAS ONLY AROUND 4 BLOCKS AWAY SO PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME AND DURING THE DRIVE SHE EXPERIENCED HER BRAKES GRABBING AND STEERING DIFFICULTIES. ALL THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WE TOOK THE CAR THAT NIGHT TO BMW TO DROP OFF FOR EVALUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE XENON HEADLIGHT FAILED AND TOOK AT THE STEERING SYSTEM PANEL AND HAD TO BE ALL REWIRED. HE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE WIRING OF THE XENON HEADLIGHT TO EFFECT A STEERING PANEL WHEN THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. THE EFFECT ON THE STEERING PANEL IS IMMEDIATE AND GIVES NO TIME TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS 1800.00. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. 2 MONTHS LATER THE BLINKER HEADLIGHT NEXT TO THE XENON HEADLIGHT FELL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE CAR HELD BY A WIRE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BMW 325I SERIES HEADLIGHTS THAT TO ME IS A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN FOR THOSE DRIVING. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR FOLLOW UP TO THE MAKE AND MODEL. I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE MY NAME FOR YOU TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE SERVICE RECORDS ON THESE EVENTS FROM OUR BMW DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU. *TR

3/26/2010 - OLNEY, MD - 2003 325XI RIGHT AND LEFT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY SYSTEM FAILING AT TIMES, (TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENLY). BMW ACKNOWLEDGED "GROUND" PROBLEM IN ASSEMLY IN TBS:630306, FEBRUARY 1 2007 LOCAL DEALER IN SILVER SPRING MD, TISHER BMW CORRECT THE PROBLEM ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND COMPLETELY IGNORE MULTIPPLE OFFICE VISIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES AND REFUSE TO CORRECT PROBLEM ON THE LEFT ASSEMBLY. AT THE SAME TIME BMW CORPORATE OFFICE CUSTOMER SUPORT REFUSED TO OFFER OUT OF WARRANTY FREE REPAIR OR TO INITIATE RECALL ON PREVIOSLY ACKNOWLEDGED "GROUND" PROBLEM. I BELIVE THIS ISSUE IS THE SAFTY HAZARD BECAUSE THE "GROUND" RED WIRE IS BURNING IN THE CONNECTOR OF TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. ALSO PEOPLE AND OTHER DRIVERS CAN'T SEE WHEN YOU "BRAKING"

MULTIPLE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LOCKS FAILING TO OPEN EITHER BY KEY FOB, DEPRESSING BUTTON INSIDE CAR, OR BY PULLING INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. TO EXIT CAR, MUST LOWER WINDOWS AND INSERT KEY INTO OUTSIDE KEYHOLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD! PROBLEM ARISES WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE, THEN WILL DISAPPEAR A FEW DAYS LATER WITH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BMW REPLACED ACTUATOR (?) AND THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE DISAPPEARED, BUT IT COST ME $1400. OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS WITH AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON AFTER CAR SITS UNDRIVEN FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WAS TOLD THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK WITH LIGHT ON. NO REASON FOUND. BATTERY CHECKS OUT FULLY CHARGED. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58000.

THE CAR HAD NO SYMPTOMS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. CAR WAS IDLING IN PARKING LOT TO WARM UP AND RANDOMLY TURNED OFF. WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP. FOUND OUT THAT THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM FROZE CAUSING OIL PRESENT IN ALL SIX CYLINDERS. SYSTEM WAS REPLACED ONCE THE MECHANIC HAD ACCESS TO THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. MECHANIC WAS SURPRISED TO SEE BMW HAD NO RECALLS FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW SINCE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN MOVING WITH 2500-3500 RPMS, MUCH MORE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED WITH ANYWHERE FROM PISTON RINGS TO ENGINE BLOCK IN ADDITION TO AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATH OR INJURY. *TR

ENGINE VAPOR SEPARATOR, HOSES, DIPSTICK, AND VANOS LINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PART SEPARATES THE WATER VAPOR FROM THE OIL TO REMOVE CONDENSATION SO IT DOESN'T CIRCULATE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH A FAULTY VAPOR SEPARATOR AND CAN CAUSE ENGINE VAPOR LOCK IF IT FAILS. THE REPAIR WAS ABOUT $1,400. *TR

MODEL 2003 BMW 330I E46 (3 SERIES) SEDAN SITUATION ONE OF THE REAR LIGHTS IS INOPERATIVE. CAUSE MINOR CORROSION AT THE 8-PIN REAR LAMP CONNECTOR CREATES HIGH RESISTANCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTOR HOUSING (IT ACTUALLY BURNED THROUGH THE PLASTIC HOUSING POTENTIAL FOR FIRE) CORRECTION REPAIR THE DAMAGED WIRE(S) AND REPLACE DAMAGED CONNECTOR HOUSING. INSTALL ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRES TO BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LAMPS. *TR

1-AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER START UP. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL BMW DEALER. WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SO AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY PROPERLY ON PASSENGER SEAT . WAS TOLD THIS IS A 'COMMON' PROBLEM ON E46 MODELS! VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR..NOT TO MENTION THAT THE PARTS THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT ARE WELL STOCKED AT ALL BMW DEALERS THAT I CALLED..VERY RARELY HAS ANYONE SAT ON PASSENGER SEAT..THE DEFECT IN THE SEAT SENSOR IS DISCUSSED IN INTERNET WEB SITES AS FAR BACK TO THE E39 SERIES MODELS AS WELL AS THE E90 SERIES MODELS. 2- RADIATOR EXPANSION TANK FAILS TOO OFTEN ON THIS SERIES MODEL. I DEVELOPED A ANTI-FREEZE LEAK ON A RETURN VACATION TRIP. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN.. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE IN THE EVENING, NOTICED A FAIR AMOUNT OF ANTI-FREEZE ON GROUND. AGAIN, WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON ON THIS SERIES E46 MODEL.. SINCE WHEN IS EQUIPMENT FAILURE A STANDARD FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF ANY MOTOR VEHICLE? THE PARTS THAT FAIL IN THIS VEHICLE CAN CAUSE GREAT INJURY TO ITS OCCUPANTS ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGER IN THE CASE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THE CASE OF THE RADIATOR EXPANSION TANK,FOR THIS PART TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING CAN BE CATASTROPHIC TO THE ENGINE, WHICH WILL CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE. IF ENGINE IS NOT OPERATIONAL, ONE CAN LOSE POWER STEERING OR BRAKE CAPABILITY, OR BOTH. *TR

ON 2003-2004 BMW 3 SERIES E46 SEDANS WITH OEM ZKW MANUFACTURED XENON (HID) HEADLIGHTS, THE REFLECTIVE BOWL FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME DISCOLORED AND NON-REFLECTIVE AFTER NORMAL USE WITH OEM BULBS. OVER TIME, THE HEAT FROM THE OEM BULB WILL SCORCH THE REFLECTIVE BOWL AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCE LIGHT OUTPUT TO UNSAFE LEVELS FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING. BMW HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE DESIGN FLAW, AND NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE OTHER THAN THE ENTIRE EXPENSIVE, NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT WILL SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THOUGH BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AN ISSUE EXISTS, BMW CHANGED THE XENON HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DESIGN FOR LATER MODEL YEARS TO A METAL REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY THAT DOES NOT DEGRADE WHEN EXPOSED TO THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES OF THE OEM XENON BULBS. THESE NEWER DESIGNED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES TO NOT SUFFER FROM ANY REDUCTION IN LIGHT OUTPUT WITH USE. *TT

THE ZKW BRAND HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) / XENON HEADLIGHTS INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY IN TO MY 2003 BMW 330I DEGRADED TO A POINT WHERE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT WAS ALMOST ZERO UNLESS I DROVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS AND/OR FOG LIGHTS ON. REPLACING THE BULBS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS BURNT "REFLECTOR BOWLS" WHICH ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AT $1000-1300 PER SIDE. I HAD THE HEADLIGHTS REPAIRED BY A SPECIALIST (AT A COST OF NEARLY $700) AS I WAS NOT READY TO PAY $2600 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS WITH ANOTHER SET OF ZKW ASSEMBLIES WHICH WOULD NO DOUBT FAIL LIKE EVERY SET OF ZKW HEADLAMPS INSTALLED IN 2003-2004 330I SEDANS. I DO NOT FEEL THAT HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE A 'WEAR AND TEAR' ITEM. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT. THE DETERIORATION OF LIGHT OUTPUT IS SLOW AND TAKES TIME, SO PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS UNTIL THEY ARE DRIVING WITH ALMOST NO OUTPUT ON THE ROAD. *TR

THE BMW E46 (3 SERIES BMW) THAT WAS MADE FROM 1999 TO 2006. IN SOME CASES DURING THESE YEARS THEY USED A LIGHTING MANUFACTURER "ZKW" FOR THEIR XENON HEADLIGHTS. UNFORTUNATELY THESE LIGHTS HAVE A COMMON FAILURE ISSUE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A "BURNT REFLECTOR" ON THE INTERNET AND ON BMW FORUMS. THIS IS A NON-CONSUMER REPLACEABLE PART. WHEN THIS PART FAILS IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO NOT HAVE EFFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD TIMES WHERE MY FIELD OF VISION COULD NOT SEE ITEMS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE DIM LIGHTS. THE ONLY REMEDY APPEARS TO BE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO THE TUNE OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS (WELL OVER A THOUSAND IF YOU DO BOTH SIDES). IN MY OPINION BMW SHOULD CORRECT THIS ISSUE FOR THE CONSUMER. HEADLIGHTS ARE AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM. TO HAVE A PART FAIL THAT IS NOT CONSUMER REPLACEABLE IS UNACCEPTABLE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT HAVE NO WAY TO REMEDY IT. JUST GOOGLE IT OR CHECK E46FANATICS.COM. YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT REALIZE THIS IS AN ISSUE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND BOTH REAR DOORS FAILED TO OPEN. ALL THREE DOORS REMAINED LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE OPEN FROM INSIDE BY USING THE MECHANICAL HANDLES. NEITHER THE REMOTE KEY NOR THE REGULAR KEY WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. *TR

BMW 325I REAR BLINKERS SHORTED OUT CAUSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO BURN. WHILE DRIVING MY BMW A WARNING LIGHT ON MY CONSOLE TURNED ON INDICATING THE LEFT REAR BRAKE/BLINKER LIGHT(S) WENT OUT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME I SMELLED WIRING BURNING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND ALL MY LIGHTS SEEMED OK, SO I PRESUMED IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR. A SHORT WHILE LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY I PULLED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND REALLY PISSED THE DRIVER OFF BEHIND ME AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS MOMENT I NOTICED MY LEFT BLINKER WAS MAKING A FAST NOISE AS THOUGH THE LEFT BLINKER BULB(S) WAS OUT. I PULLED OVER A SECOND TIME TO CHECK MY BLINKERS, FEARING I WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ALL MY FLASHERS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKERS WERE WORKING FINE. THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE WENT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I PURCHASED A NEW BULB HOPING THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED OK AND FUNCTIONAL. WHEN I RETURNED FROM MY TRIP, I WAS TOLD BY TWO EUROPEAN AUTO SHOPS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER OF A BMW DEALERSHIP THAT BMW IS AWARE OF A GROUND PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER. WHEN I UNSNAPPED THE PLASTIC CONNECTION FROM THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER, THE METAL PRONGS AND PLASTIC WERE MELTED AWAY. THE HEAT APPARENTLY WAS SO HOT, THE SOLID METAL PRONGS 1/4" LONG COMPLETELY MELTED INCLUDING THE PLASTIC CASING. A BMW DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS COMMON WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY WHEN ONE IS USING THE BRAKES AND BLINKERS INCESSANTLY, PARTICULARLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. "THE GROUNDING WIRE ISN'T HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY REQUIRED BY THE BRAKE AND BLINKER LIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY". THIS IS A KNOWN BMW DEFECT AND THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AS IN MY CASE, NOT TO MENTION A LOT OF DRIVERS REALLY PISSED OFF WHEN I CUT IN FRONT OF THEM THINKING MY BLINKERS ARE WORKING. THIS IS AN ISSUE BMW SHOULD REPAIR! *TR

GM5 LOCKING MODULE FOR 2003 BMW E46. ALL FOUR LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK ON THE REMOTE OR SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. I HAD TO EITHER WAIT IN THE HEAT OR COLD OUTSIDE WHILE WAITING FOR THE LOCKING SYSTEM TO RESPOND. IF THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND YOU CANNOT GET TO IN TIME BECAUSE OF THE LOCK/UNLOCK ISSUE, IT CAN BE FATAL FOR OTHERS. *TR

I PURCHASED MY BMW 325I IN AUGUST OF 2006. SINCE THAT PURCHASE I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT APPROXIMATELY 9-12 MONTHS COLLECTIVELY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH 37500 MILES AND NOW HAS 70,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF AND ON WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST 9 MONTHS BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD IT TO NUMEROUS BMW DEALERSHIPS, THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ALL THE ISSUES SEEM TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND ARE VERY HARD TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I AM CHARGED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE CAR BUT CAR IS STILL NOT SAFE. THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT AND THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AT WILL. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN DEC 2009 WHEN THE CAR LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE (THE ONLY TIME ALL OF THE LIGHTS WORKED.) HOWEVER, WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AGAIN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED UNTIL JANUARY 2010. I WAS CHARGED $2700 AND STILL CAN'T GET THIS BEAST INSPECTED. THIS HAS GONE BEYOND THE POINT OF LUDICROUS. I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH THE "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE". IN ESSENCE I AM PAYING 650 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR NOTHING. THE LAST MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT THE CAR RECOMMENDED THAT WE SHOULD REPLACE THE FRONT LIGHTING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT IS FAULTY IS NOT MEANT TO BE REPLACED, SO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. IN THEORY THE LIGHTS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH MY CAR AND TO REPLACE THE XENON LIGHTS WITH THE MORE COMMON HALOGEN LIGHTS IT WILL COST AN ESTIMATED 2,000 DOLLARS. THIS IS NOT FEASIBLE WITH A CAR PAYMENT AND UNTIL THE CAR IS PAID OFF IN 2012. IT WILL SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY, A WASTE OF A PERFECT CAR, MY RETIREMENT CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE WIRING CONNECTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO PERFORMING THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE WIRING CONNECTOR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RECALL HAD DAMAGED THE WIRING CONNECTOR AND HE FELT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

2003 BMW 325I 4-DOOR SEDAN - PROBLEM: ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB. PERSISTENT WITH COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (LESS THAN 65 DEGREES F). I CAN UNLOCK DRIVERS DOOR WITH KEY, BUT NO OTHER DOORS UNLOCK. ISSUE: THE DOOR LOCKS DOUBLE-LOCK MEANING WHEN DOORS ARE LOCKED, THEY CAN'T BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE (BY PULLING ON HANDLE). THE ONLY DOOR THAT UNLOCKS WITH INTERIOR HANDLE PULL IS DRIVERS DOOR. IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT MY PASSENGERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UNLOCK THEIR DOORS TO EXIT VEHICLE! THEY ARE BASICALLY LOCKED INSIDE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A DANGER OF FIRE OR SOME OTHER EVENT THAT NECESSITATES QUICKLY EXITING THE CAR. MY RESEARCH: I'VE BASICALLY NARROWED IT TO THE GM5 MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE DOOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. THIS MODULE CONTROLS SOME OTHER VEHICLE FUNCTIONS AS WELL. THE DOOR LOCKING FUNCTION WORKS GREAT, BUT UNLOCKING IS SPORADIC WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS. OPINION: THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION OPENED ON THIS ISSUE. READING SEVERAL BMW USER FORUMS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS MANY VEHICLE YEARS. THE DOUBLE-LOCKING DOOR LOCKS ARE A NICE ANTI-THEFT FEATURE, BUT ARE DANGEROUS IF THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. BMW MUST ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECT IS PRESENT IN THE GM5 MODULE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. *TR

THE CAR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *TR

MULTIPLE BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHTS PERIODICALLY MALFUNCTION ON MY 2003 BMW 325I. I UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN INVOLVING THE GROUNDING OF THE LIGHT FIXTURES. FURTHERMORE, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD PAY TO HAVE REPAIRED. *TR

AROUND NOVEMBER 2009 I STARTED TO NOTICE THE UNMODIFIED FACTORY XENON HEADLAMPS IN OUR CAR SEEMED DIM. OVER THE NEXT YEAR THEY SEEMED TO DIM CONSIDERABLY AND AFTER THE RECENT END OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MY NIGHT-TIME DRIVING, I HAVE FOUND THE HEADLAMPS TO PROVIDE NEARLY NO PROJECTED LIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT BMW BUILT THESE HEADLAMPS USING A CHROME-COATED PLASTIC REFLECTOR TO DIRECT THE LIGHT FORWARD TO THE ROAD. IT APPEARS THE DESIGN USED PLACED THE BULB TOO NEAR THE REFLECTOR OR USED PLASTIC WITH INADEQUATE TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE AND THE BOWL ITSELF HAS GRADUALLY BURNT TO THE POINT WHERE IT NO LONGER REFLECTS LIGHT. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FIRE AT THIS POINT BUT THE PLASTIC APPEARS TO BE FAILING STRUCTURALLY NOW (BURN THROUGH) AND I FEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I ALLOWED IT TO PROGRESS FURTHER. THE LIGHT PROJECTED WITH LOW BEAMS ON NOW IS SO INADEQUATE THE CAR CANNOT BE SAFELY USED FOR NIGHT DRIVING. BMW DOES NOT SELL REPLACEMENT REFLECTOR BOWLS TO ALLOW REPAIR OF THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY AND THE ONLY OPTION TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE IS TO PURCHASE A PAIR OF NEW HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES AT APPROXIMATELY $1,200 EACH. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND BMW CARS NORTH AMERICA AND NEITHER HAS OFFERED AN ENGINEERING OR CUSTOMER SERVICE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330-I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR BAGS SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER UPON EACH RECURRENCE BUT THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE AT EVERY VISIT TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS TOLD A DIFFERENT COMPONENT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF EACH COMPONENT THAT SHE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE REPAIRED. THE DEALER LATER DENIED ANY FURTHER SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

THE REAR STOPLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE FAILED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. *TR

I'M CONTACTING YOU TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE QUALITY OF THE BMW XENON HEADLIGHT. THE XENON LOW BEAMS STARTED TO DIM AND ARE NOW USELESS. THROUGH GOOGLE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM SINCE THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR/PROJECTOR BOWLS JUST BURN OUT. THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS NOW TOO LOW TO BE SAFE AT NIGHT. HTTP://WWW.ZHPMAFIA.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?3625-ZKW-REFLECTOR-RECALL-OPEN-NTHSA-INVESTIGATION&S=B19D0DF67F3AFE70AC7AD8205496E414. *TR