BMW 325i Complaints

1,385 consumer complaints on file.

#10283676September 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONNECTORS ON THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE THEY ARE BURNT AND SHORTED AND WIRE IS BURNT. IN SAME LOCATION. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR, THE BURNT WIRE, AND THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY ON BOTH SIDES. ITS THE SAME WIRE (BROWN #4 I BELIEVE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280901August 18, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE AUTOMATIC POWER DOOR LOCKS ON A BMW 3-SERIES (E46) ARE KNOWN TO RANDOMLY FAIL, RESULTING IN IT BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY OCCUPANTS TO GET OUT OF A VEHICLE. THIS IS APPARENTLY DUE TO A FAULTY GM5 RELAY (GENERAL MODULE #5) SUPPLIED AS AN OEM COMPONENT IN THE VEHICLE BY BMW (SEE HTTP://HTTP://WWW.BMWGM5.COM/). FAILURE OCCURS ABOUT 1 OUT OF 3 ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. IT IS KNOWN THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GM5 RELAY SOLVES THE PROBLEM. SOMEONE EVENTUALLY WILL BE BURNED ALIVE DUE TO THIS FAULTY COMPONENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280765August 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, TO INCLUDE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT, ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. BMW ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN SYSTEM IN SI B 63 03 06, DATED FEBRUARY 2007 BUT TO DATE HAS REFUSED TO INITIATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT CAUSES THE LAMP HOUSING TERMINALS TO BURN AND BURNS THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC HOUSING. THIS CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD PARTICULARLY OF THERE IS FLAMMABLE MATERIAL IN THE TRUNK. OBVIOUSLY THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY IS AN OBVIOUS HAZARD. THE REPAIR COSTS APPROX $600 FOR BOTH SIDES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280074August 11, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
POOR CONNECTION AT REAR LAMP CONNECTOR. BMW. MODEL E46. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10020856 ). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279822August 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS DEFECTIVE LIGHT BULBS (ONE FROM TWO DIFFERENT SETS FAILED WHEN ONE SET WAS INSTALLED FOR MY TURN SIGNAL AND THE OTHER FROM MY BRAKE LIGHTS), BUT AS I BEGAN TO DO MORE RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING AN ISSUE SIMILAR TO MINE. THEY REPORTED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE CORROSION AND A LOOSE CONNECTION. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK MY CAR OUT AS WELL AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD AFFLICTED MY VEHICLE AS WELL. I THEN FOLLOWED THE LINK TO THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED BY BMW, AND THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING IS JUST AS THEY HAVE DESCRIBED. ONE OF THE 8-PIN REAR LAMP CONNECTORS HAS MELTED CAUSING A LOOSE CONNECTION AND MY CAR CONTINUING TO TELL ME THAT I HAVE A DEAD BULB, WHEN IN FACT IT IS THE CONNECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278632July 29, 2009
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARS A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000. UPDATED 08/28/09. *LJ THE VEHICLE HAS RUN-FLAT TIRES. UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278208July 24, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK THAT CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK OUT. EACH TIME THE GASOLINE TANK IS FILLED, HE SMELLS FUMES. RECENTLY, AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, THE CONTACT PARKED HIS VEHICLE AND OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE BMW MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE IF THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED. ONCE THIS HAS BEEN DETERMINED, THE CONTACT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OR BMW WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,172. UPDATED 8/18/09 *CN THE DEALER DETERMINED THE GAS TANK WAS NOT CRACKED, BUT THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A SEAL THAT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT THE FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 08/21/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277899July 22, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
REAR TAIL BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF, HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT AND THIS DIDN'T FIX IT. HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT ARE TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED ASAP . SAW THAT BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR STARTED FAILING 2 MONTHS AGO AND EACH TIME I OPEN TRUNK AND REMOVE BULB -IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR A WHILE THEN OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276688July 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS LOCKED IN THEIR 1994 BMW 325I AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOWS AND HORN DID NOT WORK EITHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275613July 2, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2004 BMW 325I. THE REAR INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME THE LIGHT WAS OUT. THE LIGHT WAS NOT OUT. I HAD TO GET A STATE INSPECTION AS I LIVE IN VIRGINIA. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PASS MY CAR DUE TO THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR BEING ON. THE ESTIMATE WAS $367. I DECLINED THE WORK AND TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG ON MY OWN. I DISCOVERED YOU ALL STARTED AN INVESTIGATION ON 4/9/09 ON THIS ISSUE. I ALSO FOUND INTERNAL DOCUMENTS FROM BMW ON THE WEB DESCRIBING THE "DEFECT". THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GROUNDING WIRES AND IT CAUSES MELTING AND CORROSION. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ARE RIPPING OF THE PUBLIC FOR ROUGHLY $350 TO $400 A TAIL LIGHT TO FIX THE DEFECT. THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A PART NUMBER FOR THE EXTRA GROUND WIRE. THE SAY IN THEIR DOCUMENT TO PURCHASE "BROWN WIRE" FROM A LOCAL SOURCE AND CHARGE $1 TO $2 FOR IT. I HAVE LOOKED INSIDE MY TAIL LIGHT AND IT IS MELTING IN SPOTS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE AND FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY HAVE ADMITTED A DEFECT. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. HERE IS THE DOCUMENT HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275043June 26, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN I SAW SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING AND I PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD AND THE WIRES CONNECTING TO THE COOLING FAN HAD CAUSED THE PLASTIC TO START ON FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND HAD ACCESS TO A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273791June 15, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND WINDOW WAS REPAIRED AT DEALER. OPPOSITE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. FRONT WINDOW OPERATORS MOVE THE WINDOW SLOWLY AND WINDOWS NEED MANUAL ASSISTANCE (PUSH ON GLASS) TO CLOSE. INVESTIGATED WHETHER NEW WINDOW REGULATOR DESIGN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. DETERMINED THAT REPLACEMENT WINDOW REGULATORS ARE IDENTICAL TO ORIGINAL. THE DESIGN PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE ATTACHMENT OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR CABLE ENDS INTO PLASTIC RETAINERS. OBVIOUSLY, DURING THE CYCLES OF WINDOW OPERATION, THE PLASTIC IS OVER-STRESSED AND FAILS. PLACED WRITTEN COMPLAINT WITH BMW USA TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FIRST WINDOW FAILURE WAS AROUND 50K MILES. REMAINING WINDOW FAILURES WERE AROUND 90K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272809June 3, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FAILURE OF LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. CONNECTOR ON WIRING ASSEMBLY HAS MELTED. ONE OF THE PINS ON LIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY HAS DISINTEGRATED RENDERING ALL LIGHTS INOPERABLE. CONTACTED LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268888May 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW 325 2002 UNDER 100K MILES WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. JMK SPRINGFIELD BMW SAID HEY COULD FIX FOR $500 I AGREED TO GO AHEAD. AFTER THE WORK COMPLETION THEY CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME PROBLEM STILL EXISTS BUT THEY STILL CHARGED ME $540. THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY ANOTHER $700 TO TRY THE NEXT 'GEAR SELECTION SWITCH CHANGE' SUGGESTION. AND IF THAT FAILS THEY'LL CHANGE THE GEAR BOX FOR $5K. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. GEARBOX SHOULD NOT FAIL ON ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE UNDER 100K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266559April 24, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BRAKE LIGHT GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED UP AND IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOUSING AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FIRES AND/OR WRECKS TO OCCUR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO THE BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266446April 23, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO BMW - TO HAVE (THROTTLE RECALL ) WORK PERFORMED. APPARENTLY, IT WAS NOT DONE OR IF IT WAS DONE, WAS NOT TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND NOW, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP FORWARD, WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, BMW HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SHORT IN THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE 'CHECK 1 REAR BRAKE LIGHT' WILL ILLUMINATE - FOR ABOUT 5 - 7 MINUTES. AIRBAG LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC, RPM' IS FINE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR ( NOT SAFE), I WOULD PREFER TO DRIVE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT - IN CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265065April 13, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE CONNECTORS SHORTING OUT. I READ ONLINE THAT IT IS A BMW DESIGN DEFECT AND IS GROUND WIRE PROBLEM COMMON TO E46 MODEL BMWS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263031March 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAULTY LAMP WARNING INDICATOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO THE REAR OF THE LAMP HARNESS FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING HAD A FAULTY GROUND IN THE CONNECTOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRES COULD NOT TAKE THE HEAT DISTRIBUTION, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO FRY INSIDE THE CONNECTOR. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE TURN SIGNALS AND REAR LAMPS TO NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS PERTAINING TO THE ISSUES (NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS 10025585 AND 10020856). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262895March 24, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE VEHICLE'S REMOTE. THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE DRIVER DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED USING A MANUAL KEY BUT ALL 3 OTHER DOORS REMAINED LOCKED DUE TO THE FACT THEY ARE CONTROLLED BY THE REMOTE. THE DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED BY DEPRESSING THE BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. IF MY SON AND I WERE IN A WRECK AND THE DRIVER SIDE DAMAGED WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262925March 24, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RIGHT REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, TO INCLUDE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT, ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. BMW ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN SYSTEM IN SI B 63 03 06, DATED FEBRUARY 2007 BUT TO DATE HAS REFUSED TO INITIATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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