2004 BMW X3 Complaint Log

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AND HEAVY BANG CAUSING YOU TO JERK FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE REAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS NEW IN 2004. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AT EACH SERVICE CALL BUT NOT BEEN FIXED. *JB

MY WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SITS WHEN THE WIPERS ARE NOT BEING USED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEREFORE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY WHO SAID THAT WAS NORMAL USE AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE COVERED. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER BACK THEY STATED THAT THEY LOOKED HARDER AND IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING FALLING ON IT. IT IS IN A LOCATION WHERE NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON IT UNLESS THE WIPERS WHERE REMOVED FROM THE CAR WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. THEY REFUSED TO FIX OR REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

DRIVING @ 60-65 MPH ON HWY, FLAT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ON INSPECTION OF WHEEL THERE WAS SMALL PUNCTURE IN TIRE AND A LARGE, SILVER DOLLAR SIZE "BLOW OUT" OF WHEEL MID PORTION OF WHEEL REMOTE SITE FROM TIRE PUNCTURE. TIRE WAS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD. DENY DRIVING OVER ANY LARGE OBJECT TO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF WHEEL FAILURE. BROUGHT TIRE/WHEEL TO NTB (WHERE I BOUGHT TIRE). THEY BELIEVE THERE WAS A WHEEL FAILURE BASED UPON INSPECTION. SEVERAL PERSONS AT NTB LOOKED AT WHEEL THAT HAD SEEN FAILURES BEFORE AND ARE CONVINCED THAT THE WHEEL FAILED BASED UPON TRAJECTORY OF SMALL PUNCTURE AND THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF WHEEL BLOWOUT. REGARDLESS, TIRE IS COVERED BY ROAD HAZARD AND IS BEING REPLACED. WHEEL WAS BROUGHT TO BMW WHO DISASSEMBLED TIRE FROM WHEEL. THEY STATE THAT ONLY THING THAT COULD OF CASED THAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IS RUNNING OVER LARGE OBJECT SUCH AS REBAR. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE. IF RAN OVER ANY OBJECT ON HIGHWAY IT MUST HAVE BEEN SMALL SINCE THERE WAS NO SENSATION FELT, NO NOISE HEARD. ONLY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A FLAT WAS THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW HAS OFFERED TO INSPECT WHEEL HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT WHEEL IS DEFECTIVE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHERS WITH SAME DEFECT AND MAY NOT GET HONEST EVALUATION. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT TO DO WITH WHEEL. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT TURNED THE DEFOGGER ON TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IN VEHICLE. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND REALIZED THE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE REAR WINDOW. *AK

AIR BAG WARNINGS IN 2004 BMW. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE TWICE AND WAS INGORNED. THEN, HAD ACCIDENT AND COMPLAINED AGAIN TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. RESULT-THEY COULD CARE LESS. SENT AT LEAST THREE EMAILS-NO ACTION, LITTLE RESPONSE . *AK

DT: 2004 BMW 300 SERIES. THE CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. SHE WAS DRIVING 10-15 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED. THE SENSOR STRIP BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOWS AN AREA OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN IMPACT; THE CONSUMER HAS ALWAYS HAD THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS OCCURRED ON A FLAT RESIDENTIAL ROAD. SHE WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN SHE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

MOTORCYCLE: 2004 BMW R1150R, VIN ENDING IN ZF49715 DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM PART: FUEL LINE QUICK RELEASE "CONNECTORS", PART NO. 13317659119. PLASTIC FUEL LINE CONNECTOR SPONTANEOUSLY FRACTURED, SPRAYING FUEL ON HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPE. HAD THERE BEEN A SPARK THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BURNED UP IN THE STREET. BMW TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER A YEAR OR SO, THE MATERIAL, WHEN EXPOSED TO FUEL, BECAME BRITTLE. HE WAS SURPRISED THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL. I SUSPECT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF UNREPORTED INCIDENTS WITH THIS PART, SOME OF WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I WAS STRANDED FOR QUITE A WHILE, BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THE SPONTANEOUS RUPTURE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF AND THE MOTORCYCLE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. *NM

DT: 2004 BMW MOTORCYCLE 1150R VIN ZF49715 DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM PART, FUEL LINE QUICK RELEASE; CONNECTOR "S",BMW PART #13317659119. PLASTIC FUEL LINE CONNECTOR SPONTANEOUSLY FRACTURED, SPRAYING FUEL ON HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPE. HAD THERE BEEN A SPARK THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BURNED UP IN THE STREET. A BMW TECHNICIAN SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER A YEAR OR SO THE MATERIAL WHEN EXPOSED TO FUEL BECAME BRITTLE. MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK

BLOW OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO CROSS OVER LANES AND ALMOST HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. TIRE,CONTINENTAL SIZE & NAME CONTI TOURING 205/50 R 17. *JB

ON JULY 25TH, 2005 AT 12:30 PM MY DAUGHTER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF OUR 2004 MINI COOPER (18,000 TOTAL MILES OF TRAVEL), APPROXIMATELY 1.5 BLOCKS FROM OUR HOUSE AND SLIGHTLY SIDE SWIPED A PARKED CAR GOING AT VERY LOW SPEED BECAUSE OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE TIE ROD OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED. THE DAMAGE WAS FAR BELOW THE THRESHOLD THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BREAK A TIE ROD. WHEN PROMPTED, MY DAUGHTER RECALLED BUMPING THE CURB WHEN SHE PARKED THE CAR AND HOUR OR SO BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT TO THE CURB WAS AT 1-4 MPH AND CONSISTED OF A SLIGHT BUMP AND A SCRAPE AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT BY MY DAUGHTER. THE TIE ROD HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED AND IS IN OUR POSSESSION. THE DAMAGE TIE ROD IS COMPLETED SEVERED AND APPARENTLY SNAPPED WHERE A THREADED AREA OF THE ROD IS INSERTED IN A BOLT. ALL OF THE BREAKAGE AND DAMAGE TO THE ROD IS LIMITED TO A 3/4 CM THREADED AREA OF THIS ROD WHERE THE BREAKAGE OCCURRED, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO BENDING OR WORN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THIS PORTION OF THE ROD. BECAUSE THIS BREAKAGE OCCURRED AT THE WEAKEST POSITION OF THE TIE ROD AND RESULTED FROM A TYPICAL PARKING MANEUVER, I AM VERY CONCERN THAT THIS BREAKAGE RESULTED FROM EITHER A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD OR IS RELATED TO A SYSTEMATIC STRUCTURAL-DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE AN ALTERNATIVE IS THAT BUMPING A CURB DURING CARELESS LOW SPEED PARKING CREATES A SUFFICIENT FORCE TO BREAK A TIE ROD AND MAKE THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE THEREAFTER. THIS LATE EXPLANATION WAS PROPOSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. ALTHOUGH MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED AND THE COST OF REPAIR WAS LESS THAN $500 DOLLARS, I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL NATURE AND THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN A MORTAL ACCIDENT. *JB

ON JULY 25TH, 2005 AT 12:30 PM MY DAUGHTER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF OUR 2004 MINI COOPER (18,000 TOTAL MILES OF TRAVEL), APPROXIMATELY 1.5 BLOCKS FROM OUR HOUSE AND SLIGHTLY SIDE SWIPED A PARKED CAR GOING AT VERY LOW SPEED BECAUSE OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE TIE ROD OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED. THE DAMAGE WAS FAR BELOW THE THRESHOLD THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BREAK A TIE ROD. WHEN PROMPTED, MY DAUGHTER RECALLED BUMPING THE CURB WHEN SHE PARKED THE CAR AND HOUR OR SO BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT TO THE CURB WAS AT 1-4 MPH AND CONSISTED OF A SLIGHT BUMP AND A SCRAPE AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT BY MY DAUGHTER. THE TIE ROD HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED AND IS IN OUR POSSESSION. THE DAMAGE TIE ROD IS COMPLETED SEVERED AND APPARENTLY SNAPPED WHERE A THREADED AREA OF THE ROD IS INSERTED IN A BOLT. ALL OF THE BREAKAGE AND DAMAGE TO THE ROD IS LIMITED TO A 3/4 CM THREADED AREA OF THIS ROD WHERE THE BREAKAGE OCCURRED, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO BENDING OR WORN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THIS PORTION OF THE ROD. BECAUSE THIS BREAKAGE OCCURRED AT THE WEAKEST POSITION OF THE TIE ROD AND RESULTED FROM A TYPICAL PARKING MANEUVER, I AM VERY CONCERN THAT THIS BREAKAGE RESULTED FROM EITHER A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD OR IS RELATED TO A SYSTEMATIC STRUCTURAL-DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE AN ALTERNATIVE IS THAT BUMPING A CURB DURING CARELESS LOW SPEED PARKING CREATES A SUFFICIENT FORCE TO BREAK A TIE ROD AND MAKE THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE THEREAFTER. THIS LATE EXPLANATION WAS PROPOSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. ALTHOUGH MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED AND THE COST OF REPAIR WAS LESS THAN $500 DOLLARS, I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL NATURE AND THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN A MORTAL ACCIDENT. *JB

DT: BMW MOTORCYCLE R1200CL, 2004 PURCHASED NEW, SIDE STAND IS BENDING THE FRAME, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO BEND OVER FURTHER AND FURTHER. MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE FRAME. THIS MOTORCYCLE MODEL HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. *AK *JB

HI, I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS HEARD OF 3SERIES SPONTANEOUSLY CATCHING FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY LADY AND I WERE DRIVING IN HOUSTON MAY 1ST WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE AIR DUCTS.THEN THE GAUGES STARTED TO GO UP AND DOWN, AS SOON AS I SAW THAT I PULLED OVER AND STARTED TO GET MY VALUABLES OUT. WITHIN 9-13 MIN THE CAR WAS FULLY INVOLVED WITH FIRE. I WAS IN AWE STANDING THERE WATCHING MY 2004 BMW AS IT WNT UP IN SMOKE. THE NEXT DAY BMW OF HOUSTON NORTH, MY LOCAL DEALER, WENT AND PICKED IT UP FROM THE TOW YARD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID A TEAM IS COMING DOWN AND IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAD ANY ADVICE, COMMENTS OR JUST TO SAY "SORRY TO HEAR THAT".I FINALLY TALKED TO MY CONTACT AT BMW NA . HIS NAME IS [XXX] AND HE STATED TO ME THAT THE INVESTIGATION TEAM COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE FIRE. SINCE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE, THAT I FILE THE UNDER MY INSURANCE. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY TOLD ME THIS. I ASKED FOR HIS SUPERVISORS NAME AND # AND SAID, THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME AND I WILL CONTACT HIM. I GOT OFF THE PHONE JUST SO MAD, BUT I KEPT MY COOL ON THE PHONE. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND STATED TO THEM WHAT CUSTOMER RELATIONS TOLD TO ME. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TOLD HIM HE NEEDS TO START CONTACTING SOMEONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, VERY QUICKLY. BMW NA THEY SAID THEY ARE STANDING WITH"WE CANT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND WE CANT HELP AT ALL" END QUOTE. THEY ALSO SAID YOUR OPTIONS ARE TO GET WITH YOUR COUNCIL AND SEND A CERTIFIED LETTER. EVERYONE THAT I TALK TO ABOUT THIS, IS AMAZED THAT BMW HAS DROPPED ME IN THE GREASE AND IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. ALLSTATE CALLED ME THUR AND TOLD ME THAT THERE TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF MY CAR ON MAY 1. THEY SAID THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS THE "CORRECT ME IF I SAY THIS WRONG" B CABLE GOING TO THE STARTER WAS PINCHED AND CAUSED THE IGNITION. P.S. MAKE OF MY CAR IS 325CI, NOT A X3 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT: CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPUTER FAILURE, THAT INCLUDED ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD I.E., FUEL, TEMPERATURE, ELECTRONIC SPEED). THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED, BRAKE LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD A ELECTRONIC MESSAGE STATING THAT THERE WAS AN AIRBAG FAILURE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE AIRBAG FAILURE MESSAGE. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED DOOR LOCK FAILURE. THE LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK. THE LOCKS WOULD WORK MOST OF THE TIME WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE RADIO NEVER WORKED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON CONTINUOUSLY. CONSUMER STATES SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 8 TO 10 TIMES. THE DEALER WOULD TAKE THE CAR IN THE BACK AND ADJUST SOMETHING AND THEN RETURN IT TO THE CONSUMER AND TELL HER IT WAS FIXED. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE TO EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILING AND AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT. CONSUMER DOES NOT OWN THE CAR ANY LONGER. DEALER CONTACTED HIM TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN AND HE WOULD GIVE HIS MONEY BACK. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PASSED ON TO ANOTHER CONSUMER WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS. *JB *NM

ENGINE POWER FAILURE ON A 2004 BMW 330CI. REPEATED FAILURE OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (5 TIMES IN AN INTERSECTION). BMW REPLACED ENG. COMPUTER, THEN INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE AFTER SECOND INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY BMW REQUESTED THAT I START USING REGULAR GAS INSTEAD OF PREMIUM. THE ISSUE WENT AWAY AFTER THAT. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR CHANGING BY THE OWNER. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REMOVED TO CHANGE THE LOW BEAM LIGHT.

04 MINI COOPER S CRACKED WINDSHIELD. I WASHED THE WINDSHIELD AT THE GAS STATION 10 MINUTES EARLIER THERE WAS NO CRACK. I WAS CHECKING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NOTICED A CRACK STARTING AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE VIN# IT WAS ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG. OVER NIGHT IT GREW TO SIX INCHES. I KNOW OF MANY MINI WINDSHIELDS THAT DEVELOPE CRACK FOR NO REASON. THIS MAY BE DUE TO STRESS. I WILL TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER LATER TODAY.*AK

2004 BMW WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMITION, NO ENGAGEMENT OF THE D RIVE AFTER THE CAR IS SET FOR 12-24 HOURS.*AK

BMW X3 IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON CERTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS. IT WILL SWERVE AND COME CLOSE TO PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT IS SUDDEN AND AT TIMES I HAVE JUST AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. BMW SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THIS AND CLAIMS IT IS HOW THE CAR IS MEANT TO DRIVE. I FEEL THAT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS AND WANT THIS CORRECTED OR RECALLED. *JB

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COMES ON VERY OCCASIONALLY (3-4 TIMES IN 13 MONTHS) WHEN A PASSENGER IS PROPERLY SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND TYPICALLY GOES OUT AND THEN COMES BACK ON AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, IT WILL NOT OCCUR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SIMPLY SAY THEY CANNOT FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY CAN'T FIND. THE HAVE OPENED A "CASE" TO COLLECT INFORMATION BUT HAVE NOT RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT BMW IS COLLECTING INFORMATION. THEY CANNOT DEFINITIVELY TELL ME HOW THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL PERFORM IF THE LIGHT HAPPENS TO BE ON WHEN A VEHICLE CRASH OCCURS. THEY DO INSIST THAT THE FRONT AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT SAYS THE AIRBAG IS OFF BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE SIDE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. MY PRIMARY COMPLAINT IS THAT THEY SEEM TO TREAT THIS ISSUE VERY LIGHTLY, BOTH AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND AT THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICES. *JB

HEATED DRIVER'S SEAT IN BMW 745I HAD ELECTRICAL SHORT AND CAUSED SMALL FIRE, BURNING HOLE IN THE SEAT. DEALER REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS BUT DID NOT ISSUE RECEIPT IDENTIFYING SOURCE OF DEFECT AND WORK PERFORMED.*AK

I WAS HELPING ONE OF OUR CONSUMERS RESOLVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS MFG. WHEN I LOOKED AT THEIR STREET LEGAL MOTORCYCLES, I DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAVE NO EMISSION CONTROL EQUIPMENT AT ALL, YET THEY CLAIM THEY ARE C.A.R.B., D.O.T. AND E.P.A. CERTIFIED. HERE IS A LINK TO THE IMPOSTERS WEB PAGE. HTTP://WWW.BI-TANK.COM/ IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME OR CONTACT ME BY PHONE. RANDY CASTLEMAN PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE II'S (949) 320-2041 *NOTE* I PUT IN VEHICLE INFORMATION FOR A MOTORCYCLE MFG. THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MFG THAT THE COMPLAINT IS ABOUT. YOUR WEB COMPLAINT FORM WOULD NEED AN "OTHER" OPTION WHEN SELECTING VEHICLE MFG INFO. *NM

SINCE BUYING MY CAR, I HAD ISSUES WITH THE FLAT TIRE MONITOR INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON. I CONTINUALLY CHECKED THE PRESSURE OF ALL 4 TIRES AND VENTUALLY, THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, AFTER ONLY 1,845 MILES, HAD TO HAVE A TIRE REPAIRED (COST $15). THE DIAGNOSIS WAS SIMPLY A LEAKING BEAD. AT 2,651 MILES, ANOTHER TIRE SUFFERED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE CAUSED. ALSO, FROM A LEAKING BEAD. A REPLACEMENT TIRE WILL NEED TO BE ORDERED ($217+), AND SINCE THERE'S NO SPARE WITH MY MINI, I NEED TO MAKE OTHER TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT LEAKING BEADS, A VERY RARE PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR BUT THIS ONE, CONTINUE TO BE PROBLEMATIC WITH MY MINI BEING SO YOUNG.*AK I HAVE CHECKED THE MINI OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE DISTANCE AND SPEED DRIVEN WITH THE RUN FLAT PIRELLI TIRES WERE WELL BELOW BOTH THE SPEED AND DISTANCE LIMITS INDICATED. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT BOTH MINI AND PIRELLI ARE SERIOUSLY DEFICIENT IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE. THE ACTUAL MOUNTING OF THESE TIRES WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT DONE VERY WELL, NOR DOES THE ADVERTISED CAPABILITIES OF THE RUN FLAT PIRELLI EUFORI TIRE SEEM TO BE REASONABLE.

PLEASE FIND MY EMAIL TRANSACTIONS IN REGARDS TO MY 2004 BMW 525I BREAK PROBLEM WITH BMW USA/ASSAEL BMW (MONROVIA, CA), AND THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU COMPLAINT NO.:10434046. IT IS REGARDS TO PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKING SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THIS HAS ALMOST COST ME AND MY WIFE'S LIFE WHEN THE VEHICLE CAN NOT PERFORM EMERGENCY STOP WHICH ALMOST RESULTS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT: DEAR ALLISON, I HAVE CALLED MR. LYTTON TODAY AT 1:30PM AND SPOKE TO HIM WHICH HE STATES " I WILL HAVE SOMEONE SCHEDULE THE SERVICE WITH YOU SHORTLY" THEN I HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM ANYONE AGAIN? LIKE I HAVE STATED BEFORE, THIS IS THE KIND OF TREATMENTS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED MANY TIMES FROM ASSAEL BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH THEY HAVE FAILED TO KEEP THEIR PROMISE AND SERVICE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO BE TREAT IT THIS WAY WITH NO RESPECT AT ALL? WHY DOES BMW STILL REFER ME TO A SERVICE CENTER THAT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING? I HAVE BEEN SUFFERED OVER 3 MONTHS FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT OCCURS ON MY BMW 525I WITH BREAK SQUEAKING PROBLEM (BEEN SERVICE TWICE WITHOUT SOLUTION) AND GLOVE BOX LATCH BROKEN BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT ASSAEL BMW SERVICE CENTER. I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH THE POOR AND BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM BMW. I WILL NOT CALL ANYONE AT ASSAEL BMW SINCE THEY DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO CALL ME BACK WHEN THEY PROMISE ME THAT THEY WILL. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF SOMEONE CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY FOR THESE PROBLEMS AND POOR SERVICES WHICH I STILL PREFER TO GO TO OTHER SERVICE CENTERS FOR THE PROBLEMS. *JB

BLINDED BY HIGH INTENSITY HEADLAMPS. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FIRST, LET ME THANK YOU FOR CLOSING DOWN THE DISTRIBUTION OF AFTER-MARKET HI DEVICES MADE BY AMTEX IN DAYTON, TX. THE AFTER-MARKET ONES ARE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY ARE PLACED IN HEADLIGHTS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE HI INTENSITY LAMPS. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE A CONTINUING PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY THE BLUE-WHITE LAMPS. SOME ARE SO INTENSE AS TO CAUSE PAIN - LIKE LOOKING INTO A WELDER'S ELECTRIC ARC. THESE LAMPS MAY BE OK ON THE AUTOBAHN, BUT THEY HAVE NO PLACE IN URBAN CROWDED FREEWAYS. NOT ONLY ARE THE DIRECT BEAMS DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS, BUT EVEN REFLECTED (FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND WET ROADWAYS) LIGHT CAUSES PROBLEMS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND ONE THAT IS ADMITEDLY HARD TO QUANTIFY - WHO CAN SAY HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVERS BLINDED BY THESE LIGHTS. NOTABLE OFFENDERS ARE BMW-LATE MODELS, HONDA - ESPECIALLY ACCORD & ACURA, LEXUS, AND AUDI. MANY OF THE HIGH-END, EXPENSIVE FOREIGN-MADE VEHICLES TEND TO HAVE THESE OBNOXIOUS LAMPS AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! IT'S TIME TO GET THESE DANGEROUS IRRITANTS OFF THE ROAD!*AK

CAR WAS IN PARK WHILE RUNNING. I PUT IN DRIVE (NOT COLD START) HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS(STOPPED AT STORE). I PUT IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE REVVED LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED. I TRIED TO MAKE IT STOP BY PUTTING IN PARK. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CUT OFF THE ENGINE TO MAKE IT STOP. I AM GLAD NO ONE WAS NEAR THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. IT JUMPED FORWARD VERY HARD AND I WAS HOLDIING DOWN THE BRAKE. IT LURCHED FORWARD AND MADE A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AND I SHUT THE CAR OFF. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANS. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR NEW 4 DAYS AGO AND THE DEALER AND BMW SAID THIS HAD BEEN FIXED THOUGH A SOFTWARE FIX . I HAD READ ABOUT THE STEPTRONIC PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NO LONGER AN ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE.*AK

2004 BMW - FRONT AIR BAG DISABLE ENABLED BY IT'S SELF. HAS BEEN REPAIR TWICE ALREADY. NOW HAPPENING FOR A THIRD TIME

THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IS ABLE TO BE MOVED FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT HAVING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND SAFETY. THIS CAN BE DONE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING. *AK

UPON ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING THERE IS NO VISUAL OR AUDIBLE INDICATORS LETTING ONE KNOW THAT DOORS ARE OPEN OR SHUT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT INCLUDE A WARNING INDICATOR FOR DOORS BEING OPEN OR PARTIALLY OPEN. *TC

I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 325XI IN MARCH OF 2004 FROM HUNTERDON BMW IN LEBANON, NEW JERSEY. AT 10,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, LIGHT KEPT COMING ON SO THEY REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME HUNTERDON BMW HAD MY CAR IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER 2 WEEKS AND REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED MY NEW TRANSMISSION WITH A USED TRANSMISSION, WHICH I TRIED TO FIGHT BECAUSE I BOUGHT A NEW CAR, NOT A USED CAR, BUT THEY KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS THEIR "POLICY". THEY ALSO REFUSED TO TELL ME HOW MANY MILES THIS TRANSMISSION HAD ON IT, THEY REFUSED TO TELL ME IF IT WAS EVEN A BMW TRANSMISSION, AND THEY REFUSED TO EXTEND MY WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO REFLECT THE AMOUNT OF MILES THAT WAS ON THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, AFTER THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE CAR JUMPED/JERKED AT INTERMITTENT TIMES WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK ON IT, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ? AND TALKED TO ME AS IF IT WAS NOT HAPPENING. THIS LEAVES MY SAFETY AT STAKE WHEN I DRIVE. NOW, A FEW MONTHS LATER, I HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN: THE CAR SQUEAKS WHEN IT STARTS, THE SQUEAKING TURNED OUT TO BE THE AC & DRIVE BELT - SO THEY REPLACED IT. I PICKED UP THE CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT THE CAR IS STILL SQUEAKINGIT IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO BE IN. FURTHERMORE THE LOANER CAR, WHICH WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE, DROVE 100 TIMES SMOOTHER THAN MINE. HUNTERDON BMW SOLD ME A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.*AK

MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS FROM DAY OF PURCHASE. FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS/AIR CONDITIONING SHUT DOWN AND SLOWING/DASHBOARD MALFUNCTIONED, CUMULATING IN FAILURE OF IGNITION. 3 DAYS LATER, BATTERY INDICATED A GREEN SENSOR, THEREFORE ASSUMPTION ELECTRONIC FAILURE OCCURRED ELSEWHERE. *AK

2004 MINI COOPER: FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACK BEGAN AFTER CAR WAS THREE MONTHS OLD. *JB

JUNE 6, 2004, WE PURCHASED THE BMW 545I FROM IRVINE BMW. WHILE DRIVING IN JULY, IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, I SHUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE STEERING RESET ITSELF. THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS. UPON RECEIPT, THE STEERING FAILED AGAIN IN OCTOBER, THE CAR WAS IN SERVICE 4 WEEKS. UPON RECEIPT, THE CAR AGAIN FAILED IN NOVEMBER, THE CAR WAS IN SERVICE 4 WEEKS. UPON RECEIPT THE ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2005. THE DEALER OFFERED US A REPLACEMENT OR A REFUND. THE ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE STEERING TO LOCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. TWO TIMES I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND NEARLY ESCAPED A COLLISION. THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR IS ABSENT. *NM

WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PARK VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. VEHICLE SELF ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY AND CRASHED THROUGH THE WALL.MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WAS CONTACTED THE NEXT MORNING, MANUFACTURER PROMISED TO INVESTIGATE.MESSAGE LEFT WITH DEALER'S ASS'T SHOP MANAGER FOR INSTRUCTION, STILL WAITING FOR CALL BACK.*AK

SIDESTAND FOR MOTORCYCLE IS BENT SO FAR THAT YOU CAN'T GET THE BIKE OFF OF THE STAND IT LEANS OVER SO FAR. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT.

I PURCHASED A BMW X3 LAST APRIL. I DID NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNING DISPLAYS WHEN THE CAR OR BACK HATCH IS OPEN OR AJAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. I NOTICED IT RIGHT AFTER THE PURCHASE AND REPORTED IT TO THE ENGINEER WHO SAID HE WOULD PASS ON THE INFO. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME AND ULTIMATELY ESCALATED TO BMW CORPORATE. BMW INDICATES THERE IS NO SAFETY REGULATION THAT REQUIRES THAT THE CAR HAVE A WARNING SYSTEM WHEN THE CAR DOOR IS OPEN OR AJAR. THE CAR WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT THAT FEATURE. I FIND THIS STRANGE SINCE ALL THEIR OTHER CARS, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER CARS MADE TODAY, COME STANDARD WITH THIS SAFETY FEATURE. MY QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ANY TYPE OF REGULATION CONCERNING THIS BECAUSE I NEED FURTHER ESCALATE THE ISSUE WITH THE BMW IF THIS IS A REQUIREMENT.*AK

DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING TODAY TO TELL YOU MY PERSONAL EPXERIENCE WITH MY CAR. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW 330CI ON JULY 18, 2003. ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED TO ENGAGE WHEN I START UP THE CAR. AFTER I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A FIX, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO NEED REPLACEMENT. IN DECEMBER 2003, THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED AFTER A FEW MONTH'S WAITING FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION. IN MAY 2004, THE CAR'S ENGINE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. AND BMW TOLD ME IT CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED. FROM MAY 2004 TO MARCH 2005, THE ENGINE STALL-IN-TRAFFIC PROBLEM HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. NO CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WAS EVER MADE. ON OCT 4, 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AGAIN IN THE MORNING. AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS LISTED HERE ARE JUST MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SMALL PROBLEMS SUCH AS DOOR GUARD COMPLETELY FALLS OFF. AT THIS POINT, AFTER THE PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR BECOMES CHRONICLE, I FEEL THAT MY SAFETY IS COMPROMISED, AND BWM WILL NOT HELP ME TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME! SINCERELY, JINWEN XIAO. *JB

COPY OF EMAIL SENT TO BMW USA RE: X3 I LEARNED TODAY THAT MY NEW X3 HAS NO DISPLAY PANEL WARNING LIGHT OR SOUND TO WARN WHEN DOORS ARE UNLATCHED OR AJAR. THIS TYPE OF WARNING -- OFTEN USING BOTH PANEL LIGHTS AND SOUND -- HAS BEEN STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN MOST CARS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS TO PROTECT PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, FROM ACCIDENTALLY FALLING OUT OF VEHICLES. MY OWN BMW DEALER REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT MY X3 HAD NO SUCH WARNING DEVICE UNTIL HE FINALLY CHECKED HIS INVENTORY AND FOUND NO X3'S WITH ANY DOOR WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS. HE SAID THERE IS NO APPLICABLE REPAIR OR UPGRADE KIT. THIS EXCLUSION IS SHOCKING IN VIEW OF BMW'S PLEDGE OF SAFETY. YOUR US HEADQUARTERS ADMITTED THE EXCLUSION AND SAID THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR IT, ADDING THAT IT MUST BE INTENTIONAL SINCE "BMW ENGINEERS DON'T DO THINGS ACIDENTALLY." IN THE EVENT AN OCCUPANT IS INJURED OR KILLED IN A LOOSE LATCH DOOR RELEASE ACCIDENT, THIS EXCLUSION COULD ESTABLISH LIABILITY. AS SUCH, IN BMW'S OWN INTEREST, I URGE YOU TO CONTACT ALL OWNERS AND IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF ALL X3'S TO INSTALL A DOOR/TAILGATE LOOSE LATCH WARNING DEVICE ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY PANEL. NO NEED TO CONTACT ME. TO AVOID RETALIATION, I HAVE ELECTED NOT TO DISCLOSE MY NAME. THANK YOU. COPIES TO US NHTSA, CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY AND CONSUMER UNION