BMW 325i Complaints

1,385 consumer complaints on file.

#10224374April 13, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, MY VEHICLE STRUCK A CEMENT STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING COLUMN. I PUT ON BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. THE IMPACT WAS LATER FOUND TO BE MINIMAL (DENT). SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASED AS THOUGH THE FOOT PEDAL HAD BEEN PUSHED DOWN FULL THROTTLE. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE THROTTLE. DURING THIS TIME, INTERMITTENT CLICKING SOUNDS WERE HEARD, THE VEHICLE THEN ENGAGED INTO FORWARD AND DROVE ITSELF, AT FULL FORCE, AND HIT THE WALL OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WERE NOTIFIED. A TECHNICAL ENGINEER FROM BMW INSPECTED MY VEHICLE ON 4-2-2008. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TEST DRIVEN DUE TO ITS DAMAGES. THE RESULTS FROM WHAT WERE INSPECTED BY BMW REVEALED NO DEFECTS OR VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS. I WAS INFORMED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TOTALED I INCURRED A BROKEN RIB AND MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10224039April 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A FORMERLY PRISTINE BMW 325I 2003 WITH 70KMI THAT HAD A SUDDEN, CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR UNIDENTIFIABLE REASONS WHILE BEING DRIVEN NEAR SACRAMENTO. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALER IN SACRAMENTO WHO CLAIMED THEY HAD "NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT", YET CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM HAS OVER 20 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGH WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE A USED TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSTALL ANYTHING OTHER THAN A BRAND NEW UNIT AT THE COST OF $6,000. CLEARLY THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS. IT APPEARS THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICAN HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223499April 6, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM WRITING YOU REGARDING AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED WITH MY DAUGHTER'S 2001 BMW 325I. HER CAR HAS ABOUT 118,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY IT DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK SO MY WIFE TRADED CARS WITH HER ONE EVENING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR FAVORITE MECHANIC. I DISCUSSED THE SERVICES WE THOUGHT WERE NECESSARY WITH THE CAR WITH THE MECHANIC ' AN OIL LEAK, SOME INTERMITTENT MIS-FIRING AND ALSO THAT MY DAUGHTER HAD TOLD ME THAT RECENTLY SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WOULD COME ON WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. I HAD ASKED HER WHAT SHE MEANT AND SHE SAID 'THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AND THAT IT MADE IT HARD TO STEER'. THE MECHANIC ASKED IF I THOUGHT SHE WAS INADVERTENTLY TAPPING THE BRAKES. I TOLD HIM NO, SHE WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE MECHANIC FOUND A LEAKING HEAD COVER GASKET AND CRANK SEAL THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIRS WERE ACCOMPLISHED FOR THESE ITEMS FIRST. THEN THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE CAR TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE BRAKES. HE RELATED TO ME THAT AT 60 MPH THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE GRABBED AND THEN RELEASED AS THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK OVER. THE CAR SWERVED DRASTICALLY TO THE LEFT AND THE TECHNICIAN ALMOST STRUCK THE CONCRETE BARRIER WALL ALONGSIDE AS HE CORRECTED THE STEERING. HE TOLD ME HAD NOT EXPECTED SUCH A DRAMATIC LOSS OF CONTROL AND HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED NOR HEARD OF ANOTHER CAR BEHAVING IN THIS MANNER. OUR MECHANIC AND HIS TECHNICIAN WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES WHICH LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE YAW AND STEERING WHEEL SENSORS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SAN ANTONIO BMW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REQUIRED COMPUTER CODING AND RETURNED TO ME AS REPAIRED. HAS THIS EVENT OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER CARS THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF? THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THERE IS AN ON-LINE NETWORK THAT MECHANICS CAN SHARE NOTES WITH THAT MENTIONS THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL INSTANCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223136April 2, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE LOCKS FAILED TO UNLOCK IN 2007. ALL OF THE LOCKS ARE ELECTRONIC AND THERE IS A MASTER UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO DRIVE TO THE SERVICE DEALER IN ORDER TO BE LET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAD TO RESET THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE LOCKS. ON MARCH 22, 2008, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE DOOR LOCKS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE ELECTRIC MIRRORS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE DEALER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221729March 20, 2008
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, AIR BAGS
INFORMATION ON SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR A 2002 BMW 325I. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG. SHE STATES THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WAS REPAIRED AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221436March 17, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10219922March 3, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (12/25/2007 AND 02/22/2008), WHILE DECELERATING TO 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPORT THE FIRST FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THE SECOND TIME. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218447February 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL GAUGE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. BMW'S FROM 70'S TO '07 HAVE BEEN NOTED BY OWNERS AS BEING A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. MOST DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SENDING UNITS. MANY OWNERS END UP HAVING THE SENDERS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES D/T MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SENDING UNITS. MY E36 HAS 2 SENDING UNITS AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES. AND THE SAME FOR MANY OTHER OWNERS ON BMW ONLINE BOARDS/FORUMS. I'VE BEEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC WHERE I MERELY MISSED AN ACCIDENT BY MANEUVERING W/O ENGINE POWER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. BMW HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS AND SHOULD RECALL THE FAILED UNITS THAT JUST KEEP FAILING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217836February 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SINCE I PURCHASED MY BMW 325I (2006) IN AUG. 2007 NEW, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A 10% INACCURACY OF THE SPEEDOMETER, THAT THE DEALERSHIP RELUCTANTLY REPLACED (WITH NO IMPROVEMENT) AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FINALLY ADMITTING THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND I WAS STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. THE SPEEDOMETER IS 10% OFF AN ACTUAL READING. SO IF YOU WANT TO 65 MPH AND SET THE SPEEDOMETER AT 65MPH YOU ONLY GO 58 MPH. IN ORDER TO GO 65MPH YOU HAVE TO DRIVE AT 73 MPH ON THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217845February 12, 2008
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42, SIZE P205/55R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE AND THE TWO FRONT TIRES MADE A LOUD HUMMING SOUND. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH LESS THAN 13,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217387February 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAVE HAD AN EMISSION-RELATED AIR PUMP AND VALVE REPLACED ON MY 2002 BMW 325I FIVE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN JUNE OF 2002. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES IT FAILED WERE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND THE MOST RECENT TIME IT FAILED WAS IN DECEMBER, WHEN THE CAR HAD 77,000 MILES ON IT. EACH TIME IT FAILED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THESE COMPONENTS IS TO PROVIDE FRESH OXYGEN TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UPON STARTUP IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE PREMATURE DEMISE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DESPITE THIS, BMWNA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS AN EMISSIONS RELATED COMPONENT COVERED UNDER US LAW UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE LAST TIME THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED IT COST ME $700 AFTER THE DEALER REDUCED THE BILL. ADDITIONALLY, BMW TOLD ME TWO WEEKS AGO THAT I WOULD BE RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL CHECK FOR HALF THE REMAINING COST OF THE REPAIR. THEY HAVE ALSO PROMISED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME AND EXPLAIN WHY IT ISN'T AN EMISSIONS RELATED PART COVERED UNDER US LAW. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CHECK OR AN EXPLANATION. MY CONTENTION IS THAT: - IT IS AN EMISSIONS-RELATED PART AND SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED TO 80,000 MILES - THE FACT THAT FIVE HAVE FAILED ON MY AUTOMOBILE INDICATE THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN - THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE TO AT BMW ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THIS COMPONENT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER (ALL MY FAILURES OCCURRED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN MINNESOTA). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216707February 1, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT CAN BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTRAL CONTROLLERS FOR THE DOORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $1,000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE DOORS ARE LOCKED, ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE CAN BE UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY OR SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER AND REAR DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. SOON AFTER, THE DOORS WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216311January 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER READING OFF BY ~5 MILES PER HOUR - GIVE OR TAKE. TWICE REQUESTED DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT BMW ALLOWS FOR A +/ - 10 MPH DISCREPANCY. THIS SPEED VARIANCE OR INEXACT SPEED INFORMATION COULD MISLEAD DRIVERS AS TO THE APPROPRIATE SPEED IN ICY OR RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS AS WELL AS OTHER INSTANCES WHERE SPEED NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD. DEFECT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AS MIGHT VIOLATE VARIOUS STATE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215170January 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE HAD BOUGHT A 2006 BMW MODEL # 325I, THE VEHICLE HAD 33,000 MILES ON IT. NOW THIS CAR HAS A HEAD CYLINDER LEAKAGE ON IT AND THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE AN ENGINE ON IT. THE FACT IS THAT THIS CAR WAS LESS THEN 2 YRS, AND WE HAD SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214856January 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE EMISSION SYSTEM WARRANTY SEEMS TO BE INCORRECT FOR MY 2006 BMW 325I. I THOUGHT THE SYSTEM MUST BE WARRANTED FOR AT LEAST 75,000 MILES. PLEASE CHECK THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL TO CONFIRM THEIR WORDING IS CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214916January 15, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRES FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE PEDAL AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207785November 2, 2007
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING, CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP
THE STRAP ON THE CAR SEAT THAT TIGHTENS THE HARNESS IS FRAYING VERY QUICKLY. OVER HALF OF THE STRAP IS FRAYED. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR SEAT FOR 9 MONTHS. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2001, MAKE=BMW, MODEL=325I). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206513October 22, 2007
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE (MODEL UNKNOWN), SIZE 205/55R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. FURTHERMORE, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS BLISTERED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. AS OF OCTOBER 22, 2007, THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,608 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,700. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205719October 15, 2007
TIRES
I OWN A 2006 BMW 325I WITH OEM BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 RUN FLAT TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOUD NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITH 18K MILES ON THEM. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR MY FIRST 15K MILE SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THE TIRE WAS NOT WEARING PROPERLY AND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL TIRE. THE DEALER WAS ONLY WILLING TO PAY FOR 2 NEW TIRES. IF THE TIRE HAS A PROBLEM I FEEL IT IS FAIR TO GET 4 OF THEM REPLACED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A RECALL ON THIS TIRE BUT I FELT LIKE IT DESERVED TO BE INVESTIGATED BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS THAT ARE POSTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. AFTER 6,000 MILES ON THE NEW TIRES I NOTICE THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR AND I AM GOING TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. I BELIEVE THESE BRIDGESTOME TURANZA EL42 RUN FLAT TIRES HAVE SERIOUS MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS AND NEITHER BMW OR BRIDGESTONE WOULD ADMIT IT. I THINK THIS MODEL TIRE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE WE BUYERS HAVE TO REPLACE THESE EVERY 6,000 MILES ARE SO. BMW SHOULD OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES AND REPLACE THEM WITH BETTER TIRES AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. GIVEN THE PRICE OF THESE CARS DEALING WITH TIRE ISSUES EVERY SIX MONTHS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204806October 3, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON A SMALL STREET, CAR LOST ACCELERATION, AND WOULD MOVE ONLY SLOWLY EVEN WHEN GAS PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY. THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE ONTO AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF POWER, THUS CAUSING THE CAR TO ROLL BACK AND HIT A ROW OF MAILBOXES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DAMAGE TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTY. BMW ONLY OFFERED EXPLANATION OF "SENSOR" FAILURE AND WOULD NOT EXPLAIN MORE, FOR FEAR OF COMPLAINTS. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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