2003 BMW 3 Series Electrical System Problems

On June 28,2024, after parking and turning off the ignition switch, the dash started smoking and within minutes the whole dash and front of car were on fire. The car almost completely burned to the ground before the fire department could get there. The car was recently serviced at a BMW for an air bag recall. Heater ducts were loose when returned. There are also recalls for the 2006 325i for similar dash fires. The cause could be either dealer work or a factory issue.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ARSONIST INVESTIGATOR FILED A REPORT AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

BOTH BACK WINDOWS ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WILL NOT GO UP. GARAGE SAYS BOTH REGULATORS AND ACTUATORS MUST BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL AND IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD.

DRIVERS WINDOW IS STUCK IN UP POSITION. WHEN RAISE/LOWER SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, I HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT WINDOW DOES NOT MOVE DOWN. THE LOCAL BMW REPAIR CENTER SAID IT WILL BE $150 TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM AND THEN $$$ TO REPAIR. THE MALFUNCTION OF THE WINDOW HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING

ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, AND NOW THE CAR STAYS ON WHEN THE KEY OUT OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE RECALL WAS FIXED BEFORE ABOUT THE LIGHTS BUT THEY STARTED BACK AGAIN I JUST GOT THE CAR AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT WITHOUT THE BATTERY DYING IF I GO TO WORK OR EVEN THE STORE

MY REAR WINDOW AND THE ROOFTOP DONT WORK I CAN HEAR THE MOTORS BUT NOTHING HAPPENS A TECHNICIAN EXPLAIN THAT THE REGULATOR AND LINES ARE BROKEN ITS A COMMON THING ON MY MODEL HE SPECIFIED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CERTAIN LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE OTHER LIGHTS WERE NOT. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

DANGEROUS DEATH TRAP!!! I GOT STUCK IN MY CAR BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IF THE UNLOCK MECHANISM FAILS. THERE ARE MANY COMPAINTS OF THE SAME FOR THE E46 BMW MODELS. WE HAD TO CRAWL OF WINDOWS AND LUCKILY THOSE WORKED. AS DESIGNED, YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOORS IF ITHE MODULE FAILS AND THERE IS NOT MECHANICAL OVERRIDE TO UNLOCK. THERE IS NOT DOOR KEY FOR PASSENGER DOORS AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, I AM LOOKING TO GET IT FIXED BUT IT WORKS SOMETIMES.

ALL PASSENGER DOORS EXCEPT DRIVER DOOR CANNOT BE UNLOCKED OR OPENED USING ANY METHOD--THE KEY OR ANY UNLOCK BUTTON, OR USING EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THIS LEAVES ONLY THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR OPENABLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY--I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY KIDS OUT OF THE BACK SEAT. IT HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS RUNNING OR NOT, AND MOVING OR NOT.

TRANSMISSION WILL DROP OUT OF GEAR AND SHUT CAR DOWN, WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION DURING NORMAL USE. VEHICLE WILL ONLY WORK WHEN COLD, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF BADLY DESIGNED SMG TEMP SENSOR AND NEGLIGENTLY DESIGNED COMPUTER LOGIC THAT SHIFTS TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL AND SHUTS CAR DOWN.

TAKATA RECALL: AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED ON 11/23/16. THE AIR BAG RED LIGHT INDICATOR REMAINED ON AND WAS NEVER RESET BY THE DEALER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE. TO THIS DAY THE LIGHT IS UNRESOLVED, STILL ON

I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS NOW BUT NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES AS CAN BE FOUND WHEN DOING SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET. THIS PROBLEM INVOLVES THE DOOR NOT UNLOCKING AFTER BEING LOCKED VIA THE CENTER CONSOLE, KEY FOB, OR AUTO LOCK FEATURE WHEN VEHICLE IS MOBILE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ACROSS MULTIPLE BUILD TYPES DURING THE EARLY 2000'S. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IN AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE WHEN OCCUPANTS CANNOT SAFELY AND QUICKLY EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT HAVING THE BREAK THE WINDOW AND CLIMB OUT BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT EVEN UNLOCK WHEN YOU PULL THE LATCH WHICH SHOULD DISENGAGE THE "LOCKED" STATE. I HAD GO TEND TO A PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL TODAY FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW, THEN USE MY KEY TO UNLOCK MY DOOR FROM THE LOCK CYLINDER ON THE OUTSIDE. HOWEVER I WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY CAR AND HAD TO DO SO FROM THE DRIVER DOOR ONLY. THIS CAN BE LIFE THREATENING IN THE WRONG SITUATIONS. THIS INVOLVES THE GENERAL MODULE 5 OR "GM5" AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A POTENTIAL SAFETY RECALL AS IT IS INTERMITTENT.

Power windows Power windows broke on 3 windows. Sometimes the glass has shattered. Sometimes the glass just slides down and becomes non operational. Glass shattering has been scary and dangerous. This has occurred while driving. I live in a state with lots of weather. Thunderstorms. Has occurred with child in car seat during a thunderstorm. At highway speed. I have had them repaired at dealerships and at independent bmw repair shops. Cost has been approx $600. This began as early as 2010 and continues to this day.

CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM NEAR TOTAL FAILURE WITH POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. ALSO, ON A MINOR NOTE, WINDSHIELD WASHER DOESN'T WORK. THE LOCK, WINDOW, WIPER, AND MAYBE OTHER RELAYS ARE LOCATED ON A CIRCUIT BOARD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE SWAPPED OUT BY THE AVERAGE PERSON. THIS MEANS A HIGH REPAIR COST WHICH MEANS THAT AS THESE VEHICLES COME ONTO THE USED MARKET AND BEING THE AMAZING VALUE THAT THEY ARE, CURRENT OWNERS MAY BE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO HAVE THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY AND SIMPLY NOT USE THE LOCKS OR WHATEVER ELSE HAS A RELAY FAILURE. DUE TO THE SECURITY FEATURES AND SUCH ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR, IT BECOMES EASY FOR THE LOCKS TO BE ENGAGED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK AS THE PROBLEM IN THE RELAYS GETS WORSE. THE RELAYS NEED TO BE RELOCATED TO SOCKETS THAT ALLOW THEM TO BE INDIVIDUALLY REPLACED LIKE FUSES THE WAY MOST CARS HAVE THEM SO THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET WORSE AND RENDER CAR NEARLY UNUSABLE OR TRAP SOMEBODY INSIDE BEFORE A REPAIR IS POSSIBLE. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND THE LOCKS WERE IMPERFECT AT THAT TIME, IT IS ALSO KNOWN TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN MOST VEHICLES' CASES. IN MY TIME WITH THE CAR IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, BUT SINCE I STILL HAVE LIFE LEFT IN MY BATTERY AND RECENTLY PURCHASED A WORKING REMOTE KEY, AND AM AN ABLE BODIED YOUNG PERSON, I WAS ABLE TO GET CREATIVE USING THE WINDOWS AND CARGO DOOR FOR ENTRY AND EXIT AND PLAN ON ATTEMPTING A TEMPORARY FIX, MAYBE JUST DISABLING LOCK SYSTEM, UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE REPAIR WHICH I'VE HEARD CAN COST HALF THE BOOK VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE!!! INSANITY!!! A TYPICAL RELAY REPLACEMENT IS AS SIMPLE AS BUYING A NEW ONE FOR WHAT MAYBE $5 AND PUTTING IT IN? JUST ADD A RELAY PANEL ON TOP OF THE FUSE PANEL. I DO LOVE THIS CAR YOU'VE MADE, BUT RELAYS FAIL, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE THEM LIKE FUSES, JUST LIKE OTHER CARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325XI. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

REMOTE UNLOCKING/LOCKING WILL NOT FUNCTION. DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED OR UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE WITH CENTRAL LOCK SWITCH OR WITH DOOR HANDLE, TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE. THE DRIVERS WINDOW MUST BE ROLLED DOWN AND KEY USED TO UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE. CLIMBING OUT OF WINDOWS OR CLIMBING TO DRIVERS SEAT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF CAR, BMW STATES "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". *TR

PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. ALL PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLES DID NOT OPEN OR UNLOCK THE DOORS. INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB DID NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. 4 PASSENGERS HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE DRIVER DOOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB AND KEY FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK THE DOORS BY USING THE KEY FOB AND KEY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE FIVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. MA 09/22

TRAVELING SOUTH ON 75,DRIVER DOOR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. APPLIED BRAKES AND RAN OFF SIDE OFF ROAD TO KEEP FROM HAVING A CAR REAR END ME AND THEN RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO DROP OFF. CAR SHUT DOWN BY ITSELF. AIR BAGS DID NOT COMPLETELY DEPLOY. OVER HEAD STRAP HIT HEAD AND NECK AREA CAUSING SORENESS AND HEADACHE. DOOR AIR BAG CAUSED FRAGMENTS TO HIT HAND AND TORE OFF SKIN.I THOUGHT CAR WAS ON FIRE DUE TO SMOKE SMELL OF WIRES BURNING,REMOVED STRAP OFF NECK AND GOT OUT OF CAR. IF TRAFFIC HAD BEEN HEAVY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR WRECK. IF I HAD BEEN ON 2 LANE HIGHWAY I WOULD HAVE HIT HEAD ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. MONDAY CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK. I CALLED EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK AND WAS TOLD TO LEAVE MSG WITH CASE MGR WHICH I DID. 10 DAYS LATER CASE MGR CALLED AND SAID BAGS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO FULLY DEFLATE AND SHE WOULD HAVE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER FOR ENGINEER TO LOOK AT AND ONCE THEY HAVE CAR IT COULD BE ANOTHER 2-3 WEEKS BEFORE HE LOOKS AT CAR AND NOT TO EXPECT ANY REPAIRS. SHE ALSO SAID SHE DOES NOT FIND ANY RECALLS FOR THIS CAR. I TOLD HER I FOUND INFO ON INTERNET.NOW I AM OUT OF CAR AND WAITING ON BMW TO LOOK INTO. BMW CASE #[XXX]. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V172000. + USA TODAY MAY 7,2013. + SUIT CLAIMS AIR BAGS DEFECTIVE (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/BMW.HTML). + LOS ANGLES TIMES-BMW RECALL AIR BAGS THAT COULD SPRAY SHRAPNEL DEC 16,2013. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

GM5 ELECTRIC MODULE STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH REMOTE CONTROL. VARIOUS INTERMITTENT ACTIVITY FOR DRIVER DOOR UNLOCK MECHANISM AND PASSENGER UNLOCK MECHANISM BY ANY AVAILABLE INTERNAL HARD-WIRED OR REMOTE BUTTON. 100% FAILURE OF FOOTWELL TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON. *TR