BMW 323i Complaints

564 consumer complaints on file.

#10251705December 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2000 BMW 323I ZF 5HP19 TRANSMISSION, WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE ALL OF A SUDDEN. NOTHING ELSE TO SAY. VERY BIG PROBLEM AMONGST BMW 323I. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251019December 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2000 BMW 323I REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK. I STARTED MY CAR AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD JUST PARKED THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR EARLIER. THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IN ANTICIPATION OF A COSTLY AND LENGTHY REPAIR PROCESS, I BEGAN TO EXPLORE THE INTERNET FOR OPTIONS, AND IT IS ONLY THEN THAT I REALIZED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED TO NUMEROUS OTHER BMW OWNERS. I AM NOT ALONE AND BMW OF NA IS DOING NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. BMW HAS NO MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. I AM ASSUMING THAT THEY THINK IT IS REPLACE UPON FAILURE. UNACCEPTABLE, THE PART THAT FAILED IS CALLED THE DRUM. A BAND BEAKS AND THE REVERSE GEAR IS BROKEN. THEY HAVE MODIFIED THE MATERIALS IN THE NEWER DRUMS TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM . THAT TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE MATERIAL THEY INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE WAS INADEQUATE. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME STILL SHOPPING AROUND FOR OPTIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250893December 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
LAST WEEK MY CAR QUIT GOING IN REVERSE LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS CAR HAS 100,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AS I HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 99/00 BMWS AND THE ZF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT AT A COST OF OVER $3000. THE FACT THAT THIS IS SUCH A COMMON FAILURE AND CAN PUT INDIVIDUALS AT RISK IS UNCONSCIONABLE. IMAGINE A TRANSMISSION GOING OUT DURING A U-TURN WHERE REVERSE IS NEEDED TO SAFELY MOVE FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250072November 28, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY REVERSE STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2000 BMW 323I. I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. BMW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSABILITY. CURRENTLY I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249820November 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
RECENTLY MY CAR QUIT GOING IN REVERSE AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE & THERE WERE NO ONCOMING CARS BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT AS I ROLLED VERY SLOWLY INTO THE ROAD LIKE I WAS IN NEUTRAL. THIS CAR HAS 85,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999-2006 BMWS. THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT BMW TRANSMISSIONS MADE BY ZF, AND BOTH HAVE A PART CALLED A DRUM THAT IS TOO WEAK TO LAST VERY LONG, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS STARTED MAKING A STRONGER REPLACEMENT PART. MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT IN ORDER TO REPLACE THAT PART, AND THE DEBRIS FROM THE BROKEN DRUM HAS TO CLEANED OUT. IT TOOK 3 DAYS & COST OVER $3000 TO REBUILD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249313November 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE REVERSE GEAR ON MY 2000 323I BMW STOPPED WORKING. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD. ALL THE OTHER GEARS WORK EXCEPT REVERSE. I ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I MAY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 65,000 MILES IS RIDICULOUS. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND MY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS, YET IF YOU DO A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH ON BMW REVERSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, IT IS A VERY COMMON ONE. I DO NOT THINK IT'S FAIR TO PAY FOR A "LEMON" TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249363November 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323CI WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE OWNED IT FROM DAY 1 - MILE 0. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 110,000 MILES BECAUSE THE REVERSE GEAR BROKE OFF. NOW AT 194,000 THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION IS VIBRATING HARD AND THE BMW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT I NEED TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS $ 4,100. TODAY, I WAS QUOTED $ 4,918. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249013November 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING HAS NO REVERSE. AS I LOOKED ONLINE I NOTICED THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. NOREVERSE.ORG HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR ME TO IDENTIFY MANY OWNERS ACROSS THE STATES WITH THE NO REVERSE ISSUE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE NHTSA WILL HELP US HOLD BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH POORLY PRODUCED CRAFTMENSHIP IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249055November 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REVERSE STOPPED WORKING IN CAR. KNOWN ISSUE IN THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT TO. CHECK OUT WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG - EVERYONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247732November 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW 2000 YEAR 323 DOES NOT GO IN REVERSE. GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW IN ATLANTA SAYS THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $5800. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT BY BMW BUT THEY WILL NOT RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE CAR OR REPAIR THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247225October 30, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I DROVE TO WORK THIS MORNING AND UPON LEAVING WORK MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE MY CAR TO BMW TOMORROW AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT. AFTER GETTING HOME I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT BMW HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT WILL COST AS MUCH AS THE CAR WORTH TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I LOST MY FULL-TIME JOB RECENTLY BECAUSE OF THE BAD ECONOMY AND THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AT THIS MOMENT. I DEMAND FROM BMW TO PUT A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SHOULD BE THEIR UTMOST PRIORITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245481October 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2000 BMW 323I AND IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAVE READ REVIEWS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY BECAUSE BMW PRODUCED THEIR 3 SERIOUS CAR WITH A GM TRANSMISSION AND DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT LASTING MATERIALS. THIS SHOULD BE FRAUD AND BMW SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245031October 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
LAST WEEK OCT 1 PARK MY CAR AT WORK, AFTER WORK I TRIED TO BACK UP THE CAR AND NO REVERSE. FORWARD GEARS ALL WORK. HAD TO ASK TWO OF THE COWORKS TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STALL. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I LOST THE REVERSE GEAR ON THREE OCCASIONS ON A TOTAL OF 6 SHORT DRIVING TRIPS. ONE TIME OF THE THREE OCCASIONS I HIT ANOTHER CAR WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE BUT IT DIDN'T ENGAGE AND ROLLED DOWN THE HILL HITTING THE CAR THAT'S 20 FEET BEHIND ME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10244899October 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I DISCOVERED ONE MORNING THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD "CATCH", BUT IT WOULDN'T ACTUALLY GO ANYWHERE. I TOWED IT TO MY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY QUOTED ME $6000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I FOUND A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO QUOTED ME $1600-$3500 TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF REPLACE, SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED A SECOND TIME OVER TO THEM. SHOP CALLED BACK AND SAID NEITHER BMW OR GM WILL SELL HIM ALL THE PARTS HE NEEDS TO DO FIX IT. BMW DOESN'T OFFER THEM (ONLY WHOLE TRANSMISSIONS), AND GM WON'T WARRANTY THE PARTS IF THEY'RE INSTALLED ON A BMW. HE ALSO SAID HE'D DONE SOME RESEARCH ON MY CONCERNS WITH THE 1999 TRANSMISSION, AND THAT THERE WERE NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FROM BMW ON IT. THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON THE 2000 ZL MODEL TRANSMISSION BUT NOT ON MINE (WHICH HE SAID WAS A 5L40-E MODEL), SO HE DOESN'T THINK THERE'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. BMW STARTED USING THE 5L40-E TRANSMISSION HALFWAY THROUGH 1999 WHEN THEY CHANGED THE 323 OVER FROM THE E36 TO THE E46 CHASSIS. AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS A NEW COMPLAINT ON THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS PAGE ALMOST DAILY REGARDING FAILURE TO GO IN REVERSE, BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A SINGLE SERVICE BULLETIN. THIS SAME TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, WAS ALSO USED IN THE 2003 CADILLAC CTS, OF WHICH THERE ARE OVER 30 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. TWO OF THESE SPECIFICALLY MENTION FAILURE IN REVERSE. WHY WILL CADILLAC AT LEAST ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM, BUT BMW MAKES NO MENTION OF IT IN A VEHICLE THAT'S BEEN ON THE ROAD FOUR YEARS LONGER? I KNOW A BULLETIN WON'T HAVE ANY EFFECT ON MY NOW $5000 REPAIR BILL, BUT I THOUGHT I HAD DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE IN RESEARCHING THE 1999 323I, E46'S, AND BMW IN GENERAL BEFORE I BOUGHT THE [XXX] THING. IF I'D HAVE KNOWN THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR WAS BOTH NON-SERVICEABLE AND PRONE TO FAILURE, I'D HAVE BOUGHT A KIA. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244333October 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REVERSE WENT OUT IN MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 323I YESTERDAY, HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND SAID THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, I ONLY HAVE 52,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT BMW DENIES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244092October 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW 323 CI REVERSE STOPPED WORKING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD STOP DRIVING IT BEFORE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION BLOWS. I HAVEN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE COST OF REPAIR IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD SO I HAVE IT GARAGED FOR THE TIME BEING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243442September 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PLEASE SITE NOREVERSE.ORG FOR A FULL LIST OF COMPLAINTS. RIGHT BEFORE MY CAR HIT THE 100,000 MILE MARK MY REVERSE WENT OUT. IT WILL STILL GO INTO REVERSE HOWEVER THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243145September 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
OUT OF NOWHERE MY 2000 BMW 323I STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE. PRIOR TO THAT IT WORKED JUST FINE, JUST STOPPED ONE DAY. DRIVE WORKS JUST FINE, BUT REVERSE IS GONE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF ON A SATURDAY AT 4:00PM THEY TOLD ME THEY'D LOOK AT IT ON MONDAY AND CALL ME. THE ADVISOR TOLD ME BASED ON THE REVERSE FAILING IT WOULD LIKELY BE A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NEEDED. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST HE SAID ANOTHER CUSTOMER WITH MY EXACT SAME YEAR/MAKE/MODEL IN THE WEEK PRIOR PAID $8K FOR HIS. WE THEN CAME HOME AND DID RESEARCH WHICH HAS REVEALED THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR/MAKE/MODEL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND APPARENTLY THIS IS SOMETHING BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT BUT IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT AT ALL. I EMAILED THE GM OF MY DEALERSHIP THE SAME SAT EVENING I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AND ATTACHED MANY ARTICLES AND WEBSITES HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUE AND TELLING THEM I PLANNED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MY OWN COMPLAINTS WITH BMW NA AND ONLINE FORUMS AND LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS. TODAY (MONDAY) I INITIALLY GOT A CALL FROM AN ADVISOR TELLING ME THE CAR DOES IN FACT NEED A NEW TRANNY AND THAT IT WOULD BE $6500. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON THE HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED SAYING THE GM HAD FORWARDED MY EMAIL AND THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO REDUCE THE COST TO $4K FOR ME. I TOLD HIM I HAD TO TALK TO MY FIANCE AND CALLED HIM BACK TELLING HIM THEY'D HAVE TO OFFER MORE THAN THAT TO GET ME TO NOT MOVE FORWARD SHARING MY ISSUES. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK YET (IT IS NOW MONDAY EVENING) BUT I IMAGINE SOMEONE WILL CALL ME TOMORROW. REGARDLESS OF HOW MY LOCAL DEALER CHOOSES TO DEAL WITH ME I DO FEEL THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN THAT 2 SERVICE ADVISORS AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND CLEARLY THE GM DOES TOO OR SHE NEVER WOULD'VE FORWARDED MY EMAILS ON. I HOPE SOMEONE FORCES THEM TO DO A RECALL (AND REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TO FIX OUR CARS NOW) AND/OR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243155September 23, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SMALL BUMP AT 23 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY SUFFERED SOME FINANCIAL LOSS BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 02V223000 AND 99V063000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242532September 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. EVENTS LANDING UP TO THE FAILURE: NONE 2. CAR DOES NOT MOVE IN REVERSE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE GEAR. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 3. CAR IS NOT OPERATIONAL PENDING REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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