2007 BMW X3 Complaint Log

OUR BMW X3 CURRENTLY HAS A LITTLE UNDER 60,000 MILES ON IT. BACK IN APRIL WE BEGAN HAVING A SIGNAL ON OUR DASH DISPLAY INDICATING THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED WHEN IN FACT MY WIFE WAS SITTING THERE. SHE COULD MOVE AROUND A BIT AND IT WOULD GO OUT. OVER TIME THE LIGHT HAS DEFAULTED TO ALWAYS ON. WE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT IS FOR A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FEATURE WOULD CAST ABOUT $1000.00, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE THAT HAS NOW BECOME A LIABILITY. BMW HAS HAD A RECALL ON PRIOR MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT I ASSUME NOW IT IS NOT CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT. THIS SHOULD BE MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL EVENT AND ANY INFLUENCE THE NHTSA MAY HAVE ON THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IN THIS CAR WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN MY OPINION. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME LETTING ME VENT. I HOPE THAT YOU SEE FIT TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

SHEARED ENGINE BOLTS, MOTOR MOUNTS! NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE...HEARD THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO OTHER X3 DRIVERS. HOW CAN THIS WELL KNOWN VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CAN LET SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. I HAVE TWO KIDS, AND LUCKY I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING WORST HAPPENED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLES FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE CONNECTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

DRIVING THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AREA I FELL A LITTLE PAIN ON MY BUTTOCKS, PULL OVER AND THERE IS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PEA ON THE SEAT AND SIMILAR HOLE ON MY PANTS. GOT A MILD BURN TOO SINCE I AM HEAVY AND WAS SITTING HEAVILY ON THE AFFECTED BURN AREA OF THE SEAT. *TR

MY CARS IS BOUGHT IN USA FROM HTTP://WWW.SELECTAUTOIMPORTS.COM/ AND EXPORTED TO BELARUS VIA LITHUANIA (PORT OF KLAIPEDA). LET ME REPORT THE FOLLOWING CASE AND ASK YOUR ASSISTANCE. A HOLE OF ALMOST 1 CM WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE DRIVER SEAT HEATING HAD BEEN SWITCHED ON A BMW X3 E83 2007 (A DRIVER COAT WAS ALSO DAMAGED). THE CAR IS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE HOLE IS LOCATED IN THE LEFT WAIST SUPPORT CUSHION. IT CAN BE NOTICED THAT THE HEATER IS GLOWING, SPARKLING AND OVERHEATING IN THIS PARTICULAR PLACE. AS I KNOW, SUCH MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS RATHER A COMMON CASE AND IS DEALT WITH BY LOCAL BMW DEALERS INDEPENDENTLY OF WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. PLEASE HELP ME SOLVING THE ABOVE ISSUE WHICH IS MORE ANNOYING AS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEVERE WINTER AND ONE DOES NOT FEEL LIKE GETTING BURNED OR SET THE CAR ON FIRE. PICTURES IS HERE HTTPS://PICASAWEB.GOOGLE.COM/101022534625221094019/X3?AUTHKEY=GV1SRGCLULLSUBJNL3PG# THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER PLEASE CONTACT WITH ME BY E-MAIL. *TR

THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP DESPITE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE HESITATION RANGES FROM 1-3 SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE HESITATION IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE DYNAMIC TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATION LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OR MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE LETTING MY FAMILY DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN A BURNING SMELL WAS EXHIBITED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE CONTACT'S COAT CAUGHT ON FIRE BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ELECTRIC HEATER FAILED AND THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,655.

PROBLEM 1: WHEN IN SLOW AND SPEED TURNING / TURNING TO STOP / STOP TO TURNING, A SHUDDER AND HESITATION OCCURS. FEELS THE CAR IS "JUMPING" MORE AND MORE OBVIOUSLY. PROBLEM 2: REARVIEW MIRRORS ON BOTH DOORS HAD FAILED TO OPERATE. IT FOLDED ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE MIRROR FELL OFF MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CAR WAS NEVER UNDER IMPACT OR IN ACCIDENT.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS BURNT THE LEATHER AND CAUSED DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING. HEAVY BURNT SMELL IN THE CABIN RESULTED FROM USING THE SEAT HEATER. *TR

WHILE INSPECTING FOR AN OIL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE, A BOLT FELL OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. INSPECTING THE BOLT, IT WAS SHEARED OFF. INSPECTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE, IT WAS FOUND THE BOLT CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT WHERE THE MOUNT BOLTS TO THE BLOCK. AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS FOUND A SECOND BOLT HAD ALSO SHEARED OFF WITH A PORTION OF BOTH BOLTS STILL IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE TWO OTHER BOLTS OF THE ENGINE MOUNT WERE/ARE STILL IN PLACE. EVIDENCE OF CORROSION WAS FOUND AROUND THE BOLT HOLES OF THE MISSING BOLTS AND AROUND THE LOWER BOLT THAT IS STILL IN PLACE. INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET REVEALED OTHER OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR INCIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. SEE THE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTP://RECALLBMWMOTORMOUNTBOLTS.BLOGSPOT.COM/ HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.EF15778/4161. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER GOT WAY TOO HOT. NEED TO TURN OFF TO AVOID BURN OF BOTH SEAT AND DRIVER'S LEG. *TR

IN ACCELERATION THE CAR WILL HANG AND HESITATE, AND LUNGE. IN A SLOW DOWN SITUATION THE CAR WILL VIOLENT LERCH FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT, AND CAN NOT THINGS OUT OF THE SEATS. *TR

THERE IS A DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE THROUGH THE 1-2, 2-3 UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP; THERE IS A LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION WHEN REAPPLYING THROTTLE, DURING EITHER A 4-3 OR 3-2 TIP-IN DOWNSHIFT. THIS MAY OCCUR AFTER SLOWING AND COMING TO A STOP ON A HILL AND THEN CONTINUING INTO A TURN; HARSH DOWNSHIFTS WHEN SLOWING ON A ROADWAY WITH HILLS; DOWNSHIFTS BECOME VIOLENT. BMW DEALER HAS LOOKED AT VEHICLE TWICE FOR SAME CONCERN BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THIS ALL HAPPENS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS ALMOST STALLED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS, ONCE MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION WITH NO LIGHT, AND THE OTHER TWO TIMES WHILE ENTERING A ROUNDABOUT. BMW NA SAYS SEE A DEALER AND THE DEALER DOES NOTHING. *TR

TRANSMISSION ON MY 07 BMW X3 IS NOT HANDLING PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND YET AGAIN FOR REDLINING AND STALLING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER EXPECTED THIS FROM A BMW. WAITING FOR SERVICE DEPT. TO CALL BACK WITH A CRAZY PRICE THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AROUND 2000 RPM UPHILL. THE SHUDDER GETS WORSE AND WORSE AS MILES ADD UP. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR TWO WEEKS THIS TIME AND STILL NOT FIXED. *TR

TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER HAS SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS. WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL FROM LOW SPEEDS THERE IS BARELY ANY ACCELERATION IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR UNDER 2,000 RPMS, BUT WHEN 3RD GEAR GOES IN CAR ACCELERATES MORE THAN DESIRED MOST OF THE TIME. THIS IS MOST APPARENT WHEN CAR IS COLD, BUT NEVER GOES AWAY COMPLETELY. THIS REALLY BOTHERS ME AS THIS USUALLY HAPPENS DURING TURNS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN AND WHEN YOU WANT TO ACCELERATE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD TO PRESS ON THE PEDAL, IF YOU PRESS TOO MUCH CAR JUMPS AHEAD, IF NOT ENOUGH YOU BARELY MOVE. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS YOU CAN HEAR A FAINT THUMP OF EVERY DOWNSHIFT SOMEWHERE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A LITTLE SURGE FORWARD. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER AS THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 39 MPH THE BRAKES BEGAN TO INVOLUNTARILY ENGAGE. THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE MOMENTARILY BEFORE TURNING OFF WHEN THE BRAKES DISENGAGED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS DESTINATION WHILE DRIVING DOWN A WINDING ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT A FEW MONTHS PRIOR A PASSENGER WAS BURNED WHILE SEATED IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT WITH THE HEATED SEAT FEATURE TURNED ON. A HOLE WAS ALSO IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND THE PASSENGERS CLOTHING WERE ALSO BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,500.

2007 BMW X3 TRANSMISSION ISSUES. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE (4TH GEAR) AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ON DASH APPEARED. BMW DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION AND HAD A BULLETIN THAT RECOMMENDED A SOFTWARE FIX. THIS IS APPARENTLY A FAR REACHING MALFUNCTION AND QUITE COMMON ON THIS MODEL. THE NHTSA SHOULD MAINTAIN METRICS FROM DEALERS TO SEE IF THE FIX WORKS BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T THEN THIS CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS TO THE OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO HESITATE @ LOW GEARS, ESPECIALLY AT INITIAL ACCELERATIONS WHILE STOPPED @ A STOP SIGN OR SIGNAL LIGHT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATES,CAR JOLTS TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT GEAR. THE CAR THEN JUMPS INTO A HIGHER GEAR AND DANGEROUSLY ACCELERATES RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING ON A STEEP DOWNHILL DECLINE, THE CAR ADJUSTS WELL; HOWEVER, WHEN TRANSITIONING TO A LEVEL SURFACE STREET AFTER A STEEP DOWNHILL, THE GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR (I.E., WAS STUCK IN PREVIOUS GEAR). ON 6/14/2010, TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THEY "PERFORMED BMW DIAGNOSIS CONTROL UNIT FUNCTION, THERE IS NO FAULT RECORD IN CONTROL UNIT, AND AT TEST DRIVE I9 COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME." NO FIX WAS PROVIDED. AFTER YEARS OF MINOR JOLTS WHEN ACCELERATING (I BELIEVE IN 1ST AND 2ND) & THEN A RAPID KICK ACCELERATION TO 3RD, NO MAJOR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED BUT SAFETY ON ROAD HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I HAVE LEARNED TO EASE INTO ACCELERATIONS WITH THIS CAR AND DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF UNEXPECTED HESITATIONS/ACCEL. ON 1/14/2012, I HAD A CLOSE CALL ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AFTER I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. AS I PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION TO TURN LEFT, THE CAR HESITATED & STALLED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION, THEN JERKED FORWARD AND YELLOW TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. I PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN "P" & TURNED ENGINE OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON AND TRANNY LIGHT REMAINED ON AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN "D"; HOWEVER, IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO "REVERSE." IT TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS (ON/OFF ENGINE) AND THE CAR WENT INTO "D" WITH HESITATION. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME AND CAR STALLED AT THE NEXT LIGHT. WAS STUCK IN MIDDLE OF ROAD FOR 2 MINUTES TRYING TO GET IT IN GEAR. "D" FINALLY WORKED. I PARKED IN A LOT, TURNED ENGINE OFF FOR 15 MINUTES. CAR HAS BEEN WORKING OK REST OF DAY BUT IT IS NOT SAFE! THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS!!!!! *TR

2007 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW X3 NEEDED AN ENTIRE NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 30,000 MILES. *TR

AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, BMW HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER AND MOST RECENTLY "LIMP-HOME" MODE OCCURRENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVETRAIN ON THE 2007 BMW X3. THE SYMPTOMS 1ST PRESENTED ITSELF AS A LOSS OF POWER FROM A START. UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND THEN RESPONDED WITH A SURGE OR LURCHING FORWARD. THIS MAKES FOR UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUSLY ERRATIC VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS (+4) AND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ALONG WITH THE SOUND OF GEAR OR DIFFERENTIAL NOISE, THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY DID SOME TYPE OF ECU UPDATE THAT APPEARED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE NEVER SUBSIDED AND RECENTLY THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE FORCING A TOW AFTER UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE WENT INTO TRANSMISSION LIMP-MODE. AS USUAL, THE SYMPTOMS "CAN'T BE DUPLICATED" ONCE CODES ARE CLEARED YET THE ECU IS THROWING MULTIPLE CODES FOR TRANSMISSION LIMP-MODE AND CODE 56BE FOR CLUTCH GEARS 2 AND 6. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO EITHER PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND FOR IT TO BE NON-RESPONSIVE THEN HAVE A DELAYED VEHICLE SURGE NOT PROPORTIONAL TO THE INPUT AND TIMING OF THE ACCELERATOR DEPRESSION AND/OR PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY CURTAILED VEHICLE POWER DUE TO THE "LIMP-HOME" CONDITION. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON 5/31/2009.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD ABOUT 100 FEET SUDDENLY. WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF SOMEONE WERE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A WAILING SOUND FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE GEARBOX WILL FAIL TO RESPOND AT RANDOM TIMES USUALLY IN CRITICAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS SUCH AS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR AVOIDING OTHER CARELESS DRIVERS. CAN'T SEEM TO DECIDE WHAT GEAR TO BE IN WHEN MAKING QUICK UPHILL TURNS. WHILE DOWNSHIFTING IN SD THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DOWN SHIFTS SO ROUGH IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER DRIVER. COLD TEMPERATURES SEEM TO ALWAYS MAKE THE SHIFTING ISSUE WORSE AND THE VEHICLE MAY RED LINE OR NOT SHIFT AT A NORMAL RATE.

OVER A YEAR AGO I BEGAN HEARING LOUD NOISES UNDERNEATH MY 2007 BMW X3. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED FOUR TIMES FOR THE FOLLOWING: LOUD POPPING FROM UNDERNEATH ESPECIALLY WITH SLOW DRIVING (5MPH ), PROBLEMS WITH JERKING WITH ACCELERATION, & A SIGNIFICANT RATTLING AND OR SHAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIMED TO HEAR NOTHING. THE 3RD TIME THEY TOLD ME THE TIRES WERE TO BLAME. WHEREIN THEY FURTHER TOLD ME THAT IF IT WAS TRANSMISSION ISSUES ( I TOLD THEM EACH TIME IT WAS TAKEN IN WE THOUGHT IT WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION) THEN THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE CAUSING AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASING. THE FOURTH TIME WAS THE SAME AS BEFORE WITH STILL NO RESOLUTION. *TR

BMW X3 NEEDS NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM DUE TO WATER DAMAGE ALLEGEDLY EMANATING FROM A CLOGGED DRAIN IN THE SUNROOF. NEW COMPUTER COSTS APPX $2,000. DEALER AND BMW SAY THE DRAIN CAN'T BE SEEN OR ACCESSED BY OWNER AND IT ISN'T CLEANED AS PART OF ANY SERVICING. CLEAR DESIGN FLAW. I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AND BMWS RESPONSE IS TO TRY AND FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM. *TR

2007 BMW X3 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO BMW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE SPRING OF 2007. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN A MONTH (TOTAL FROM NUMEROUS VISITS). AT A STOP LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY SURGE & IF NOT FOR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THAT SURGE WOULD THROW ME INTO THE CAR AHEAD. IT HAS SURGED WHEN PARKING ALMOST RAMMING ME INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. I ALMOST WENT THROUGH A FILE CABINET AND INTO THE WALL IN MY GARAGE YESTERDAY. HESITATES WHEN CHANGING LANES & THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. ALMOST RAMMED FROM THE REAR AT 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN TRANSMISSION HESITATED & WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THE TRANSMISSION WON'T KICK IN FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE CAR TAKES OFF LIKE A ROCKET. THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUS. I'VE BEEN TRYING INCESSANTLY TO GET BMW TO HELP ME FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. ALL LEVELS SAY THEY WILL HELP BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS SHORT OF A TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMING WHICH DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM...AND THEY KNOW IT. BMW STATES THE "VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED". WHAT A STUNNING ADMISSION! THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND QUITE EASY TO VERIFY. SERVICE MANAGERS ADMIT THE PROBLEM TOO...AND BMW IS SAYING THEY DESIGNED THE VEHICLE THIS WAY??? WHO HAS TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF? BMW HAD A REGIONAL TECH ENGINEER EVALUATE MY VEHICLE. HE SAYS IT'S "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". HE ALSO SAID THERE ARE NO 'FAULTS'. A SERVICE MGR ONCE TOLD ME THAT 'FAULTS' DON'T ALWAYS REGISTER IN THE COMPUTER SO HAVING 'NO FAULTS' ISN'T UNUSUAL. BY THE WAY, BMW HAD ME TAKE THE CAR IN TO GET REPROGRAMMED SHORTLY "BEFORE" THAT REGIONAL TECH DID HIS EVALUATION. YES, THEY REPROGRAMMED IT "THEN" SENT HIM IN! NOTHING WAS FOUND? GO FIGURE! WHAT COULD I DO? IT'S A LEASED VEHICLE. I COULDN'T JUST SELL IT OR TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. WHY DO THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME WHEN IT WOULD COST NEXT TO NOTHING. THEY LOVE MY $$$. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 (NA) BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AUTOMATICALLY SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, BUT THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESET THE SYSTEM BY TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND REMAINED LIT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO A CURVE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED AND STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS PULLED. THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO FAILING. DURING ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE PULLS BACKWARDS VIOLENTLY AND THE CONTACT'S HANDS RELEASED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ALSO ILLUMINATE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,300 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ON 10/27/08 I PURCHASED AND DROVE A 2007 CPO BMW X3 3.0SI SAV FROM BMW ENCINITAS IN CALIFORNIA. FROM THE TIME I DROVE VEHICLE FROM THE LOT TO MY HOME THE X3 PULLED TO THE RIGHT. ON 11/06/08 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO BMW ENCIITAS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE TO ME. DURING DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE CAR STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON 11/13/08 I TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AGAIN, AND ADJUSTED THE CAMBER TO FAVOR THE LEFT SIDE. ACCORDING TO THE SHOP FOREMAN, A DRIVING TEST WAS CONDUCTED AND REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE STRAIGHT AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE TO ME. AFTER I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL OR VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AGAIN THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. BMW OF USA IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS. *TR

THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND IS QUITE UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS. CARS WOULD BE COMING AT YOU WHILE YOU ARE 'PRAYING' FOR IT TO MOVE! IT HAPPENS REGULARLY BUT UNPREDICTABLY. SORT OF LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE! THE MAIN PROBLEM, ASIDE FROM PERFORMANCE IS SAFETY-SAFETY-SAFETY! THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS STILL UNDER BMW WARRANTY. IT'S BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS NOW! ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANS-AXLE! THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO ALL OF ITS OWNERS. CHECK: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F11FFDC/0 SUBJECT: BMW X3 HESITATION ON ACCELERATION. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2007 BMW X3 (GM6 TRANSMISSION) HESITATES IN ACCELERATION DURING DRIVE MODE. IT HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO MAKE A FAST LANE CHANGE. I ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED TODAY. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN TOP COMMUNITY SO DRIVING DOWN HILL THE DOWN SHIFT IN MANUAL (STEPTRONIC) 4TH TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 2ND PRETTY MUCH ALLOWS THE CAR TO LUNG FORWARD AS IF IN NEUTRAL. IN RELYING ON THE TRANSMISSION TO SAFELY SLOW THE CAR IT PRACTICALLY FORCES YOU INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR OR DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO SAFE SLOW THE CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO USE HARD BREAKING. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES NOW. I AM BEING TOLD "THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS" I SPENT 6 HOURS WITH THE BMW REGIONAL ENGINEER TEST DRIVING AND DOING SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS. WE COMPARED THIS TO A 2008 MODEL. ANY X3 WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

BMW X3 STALLS/HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW. VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT OR SIGN. TRANSMISSION REV'S VERY HIGH. HAVE EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS OR LIFE THREATENING MOMENTS WHEN DRIVING THIS CSR. HAVE HAD PREVIOUS BMW'S AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. HAVE TAKEN CAR IN FOR SERVICING ONCE AND IT IS GOING IN AGAIN. *TR

BMW X3 SAV SURGES FORWARD OR LOOSES POWER UNEXPECTEDLY. UNEXPECTED POWER SURGE HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN TAKING TURNS, COMING OUT OF THE TURN THE CAR TAKES OFF. LOSS OF POWER, HAPPENS OFTEN WHEN GOING UP A HILL OR SOMETIMES AFTER A STOP TO TAKE A TURN THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY. HAVE HAD CAR IN TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND STILL IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAS A TREMENDOUS LAG WHEN U STEP ON THE GAS.... *TR

CAR ALWAYS HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. ONE DAY EVEN WITH THE CAR IN "D" IT DID NOT MOVE AND ENGINE RACED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND UNABLE TO MOVE. A GENTLEMAN GOT OUT OF HIS CAR AND STOPPED TRAFFIC IN ALL DIRECTIONS. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR BY SWITCHING BETWEEN P AND D UNTIL IT CAUGHT AND THE CAR MOVED. I NARROWLY ESCAPED GETTING HIT WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED BUT MY CAR DID NOT MOVE. I HAD IT TOWED AND THE DEALER INSTALLED THE UPGRADE PROGRAM. *TR

ON 3 OCCASIONS, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2007 BMW X3 3.0SI HAS RESULTED IN NEAR CRASH SITUATIONS. THE TRANSMISSION EITHER DOES NOT RESPOND (A SIGNIFICANT DELAY) IN RESPONSE TO THE ACCELERATOR OR LURCHES NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLY IN RESPONSE TO ONLY A SLIGHT ACCELERATOR DEPRESSION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALER 3 TIMES WITH NO SUBSTANTIVE IMPROVEMENT. BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION'S ERRATIC UNPREDICTABILITY, IT REALLY IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT WILL NOT RESPOND IN A CRITICAL SITUATION RESULTING IN A CRASH. *TR

MY 2007 BMW X3 HAS BROKEN DOWN TWICE. THE FUEL SENSOR MONITOR HAS FAILED. I HAVE LESS THAN 9,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I DO NOT WANT THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. THE LAST TIME IT BROKE DOWN WAS ON A DRAW BRIDGE, THERE WAS NO POWER! *TR

VEHICLE HESITATES FROM STOP. TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY "HUNTS" FOR PROPER GEAR. VEHICLE EXHIBITS LOSS OF POWER WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, OR MAKING TURNS. *TR

2007 BMW X3 >SURGING FORWARD AFTER RELEASING FOOT FROM GAS PEDDLE >RPM REVVING TO RED LINE BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR ON ACCELERATION >RPM GOING PAST RED LINE AND NEVER INTO GEAR IN COLD TEMP AS IF THROWN INTO NEUTRAL >BMWNA REFUSING TO REPAIR STATING CAN'T DUPLICATE ALTHOUGH THEY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE OFFERED NEW SOFTWARE AS OF OCT 07 WHICH DID NOT WORK. >80 PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION JUST ON ONE WEB SITE WITH EXACT SAME CAR, EXACT SAME PROBLEM, HAVE EXACT SAME RESPONSES FROM DEALERS AND BMW NA. *TR

FAULTY TRANSMISSION/ENGINE - HESITATES AND CAUSES MANY NEAR FATAL ACCIDENTS WHEN GETTING ON A HIGHWAY. HESITATION IS ALSO SEEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THIS IS FRIGHTENING AND VERY STRESSFUL TO DRIVE. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY, HESITATES ON OCCASION AND WHEN COLD IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV IN EXCESS OF 3,000 RPM BEFORE SHIFTING. *TR

2007 BMW X3 (BUILD DATE 09/06) TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS (DEADLY). VEHICLE SURGES, LAGS, HESITATES, CAN'T FIND GEAR, RED LINES, FAILS TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR. FIRST THREE SERVICE DEPARTMENT VISITS, NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO REPAIR. 4TH VISIT = SOFTWARE UPGRADE. PROBLEM NOT FIXED. *TR

2007 BMW X3. THE SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS POORLY AT SLOW SPEEDS GOING UP HILLS. VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD AFTER DOWN SHIFTING TO TOO LOW OF A GEAR AND OVER REV BEFORE UP SHIFTING. THE GEAR SELECTION SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE WHEN GOING SLOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS; HOWEVER, THE PRESENT SOFTWARE FIX DID NOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO DRIVER INPUT, VARIOUSLY DISPLAYING HESITATION OF UP TO 3 SECONDS, ABRUPT UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS, AND OCCASIONAL STALLS. IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT ONE AVOIDS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, OR TURNING LEFT ACROSS INCOMING TRAFFIC. NOT AN ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE. THIS IS A BMW X3 2008 MODEL. *TR

MY CAR HESITATES TO CHANGE GEARS DURING A COLD START AND THERE IT IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

THIS IS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. 1)THERE IS A DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE THROUGH THE 1-2 UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. 2)THERE IS A LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION WHEN REAPPLYING THROTTLE, DURING EITHER A 4-3 OR 3-2 TIP-IN DOWNSHIFT. THIS MAY OCCUR AFTER SLOWING WITH A CLOSED THROTTLE. 3)HARSH DOWNSHIFTS WHEN SLOWING ON A ROADWAY WITH A RISING GRADIENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AS IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, OR CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION SINCE THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLS AT SOME POINTS UPON TAKE OFF. LIFE THREATENING. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 ATTEMPTS SO FAR TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BY THE DEALER WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. THIS WAS DONE BY REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT CONTROLS SHIFTING. THE 2007 MODEL AND BACK DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS SPECIFICALLY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE GEARS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. BETWEEN GEAR 1 AND GEAR 2. IT SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT THE START. *TR

WE HAD A NEW 2007 BMW X3 THAT HAD HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT WAS VERY SCARY - THE CAR WOULD HESITATE WHEN YOU WANTED IT TO ACCELERATE, IT WOULD SEEM TO LOSE POWER AT TIMES - A REAL DISASTER AND SAFETY CONCERN. BMW WAS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE - TOLD US ALL SORTS OF NONSENSE ABOUT US NOT KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE. INITIALLY THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A MONTH CLAIMING THEY NEEDED SOFTWARE. THEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THAT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE CAR. WE SENT THE CAR BACK FOR SERVICE AGAIN, AND AFTER ANOTHER MONTH THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. FINALLY, AFTER JERKING US AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, THEY AGREED TO SWAP THE CAR OUT FOR A 2008, BUT EVEN THEN, THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED WAS ABOMINABLE. THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE DEALING WITH BMW, THEY KEPT ACTING LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEMS WE WERE HAVING, YET A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED THE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. OBVIOUSLY, BMW IS TRYING TO AVOID A RECALL. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2007 BMW X3 HAS JERKINESS AND HESITATION ISSUES, PRESENTING SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. BMW ALREADY HAS ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH TWO SOFTWARE FIXES, WITH MIXED RESULTS. A THIRD SOFTWARE FIX ALLEGEDLY IS ON THE WAY. PLEASE REVIEW THE LINKS BELOW SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS. HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=255335 HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=242429 HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHPT=203584&HIGHLIGHT=TRANSMISSION+JERK. *TR