BMW 325xi Complaints (2004)

55 consumer complaints on file.

#10369640December 8, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL BMW CAR. AT JUST UNDER 45K MILES, THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS AT TIMES FAIL TO WORK. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ETC. I GET NOTIFIED FROM THE INSIDE DASH BOARD. HOWEVER, AT TIMES IT IS A FALSE POSITIVE (DASH SAYS IT DOESN'T WORK BUT IN FACT IT IS WORKING). THEN AT TIMES THE WARNING LIGHTS SWITCH FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS. I AM NOT SURE WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING - THIS IS DANGEROUS AND BMW SHOULD FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO POOR MATERIALS USAGE (CORROSION PROBLEM) AND GROUNDING LIKE THE OTHER POSTS HAVE MENTIONED. APPARENTLY THERE IS A CLASS LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW FOR THIS. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR FIXING B/C FAILURE TO SIGNAL WHEN CHANGING LANES IS A VIOLATION BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347447August 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A MOMENTARY DELAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY JERK FORWARD BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325226April 12, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
E46 BMW 2004 325XI AND 2000 323I BOTH HAVE ISSUES UNLOCKING DOORS WHEN WEATHER IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES. VEHICLE WONT LET YOU UNLOCK DOORS FROM INSIDE AND MANUAL UNLOCK IS ONLY FOR DRIVERS DOOR AND MUST DO SO THROUGH WINDOW. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT IN THE CAR I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HAVE ESCAPED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT ARE FORCED TO CRAWL INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND OUT THE DRIVER DOOR. NO MANUAL UNLOCK IS AVAILABLE TO ANY DOOR BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319916March 15, 2010
SEATS
HEATED SEAT ARE MELTING THRU LEATHER AND MAKING BURN HOLES .....BURNS LEGS EVEN ON LOW SETTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293590November 25, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2004 BMW 325XI SEDAN WAS ABOUT TO CAREFULLY BACK INTO A SERVICE BAY FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE GARAGE DOOR. AWARE OF THE NEED FOR PRECISION AND CARE (THERE WERE PEOPLE AND ITEMS NEAR THE BAY), I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THEN VERY GENTLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS A MOMENTARY HESITATION, THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO GO BACKWARD SLOWLY FOR ABOUT A HALF SECOND AND THEN, WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON MY PART, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ROARED TO LIFE AND THE CAR WENT BACKWARDS AT TREMENDOUS SPEED. WITHIN ABOUT TWO SECONDS IT HAD GONE BACK SOME 40+ FEET AND, BECAUSE I HAD TURNED THE WHEEL A BIT BEFORE MOVING THE CAR, THE REAR PIVOTED ALMOST 90 DEGREES AND RAN INTO A GARAGE SIDE WALL ANOTHER 40 OR SO FEET AWAY. AN EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE BEEN BRUSHED AS THE CAR HIT THE WALL NEAR HIM. THE EVENT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY THAT I HAD NO TIME TO EVEN STEP ON THE BRAKE. I AM A SKILLED DRIVER AND AT NO TIME DID I STEP HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MAJOR DAMAGE TO TRUNK, REAR PANEL AND TWO DOORS OCCURRED. IN MY CA 50 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD ONLY ONE PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. THAT WAS IN FEBRUARY 2007 WHEN, AS I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IN AN ICY PARKING LOT, A GENTLE PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR RESULTED IN A SUDDEN RACING OF THE ENGINE AND RESULTED IN VERY RAPID BACKWARD RUSH OF THE CAR. IT HIT A BRICK WALL BEHIND IT AND RESULTED IN MAJOR REAR END DAMAGE. IT WAS THE VERY SAME CAR AS IN THE 2009 ACCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE 2007 EVENT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO ICE ON THE PAVEMENT AND NOT FURTHER INVESTIGATED. THE CAR WAS THEN FULLY REPAIRED BY BMW IN ROCHESTER NY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10291667November 10, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
UNRELIABLE TAILLIGHT/BRAKELIGHT/TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONING IN 2004 BMW 325XI. PROBLEM BEGAN IN EARLY 2008. LIGHTING INDICATORS KEPT COMING ON SUGGESTING TAILLIGHTS WERE OUT. REPLACED ALL APPLICABLE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR THEN FINALLY BROUGHT TO DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE INSTANCES WHERE THEY NEED TO REPLACE CARRIER, HARNESS AND ADD A GROUND WIRE TO FIX THE ISSUE IN ORDER TO GET LIGHTS WORKING AGAIN. DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY NO RECALLS, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM AND IF A DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO GO BACK IN AND CHANGE WIRING TO MAKE IT WORK, THAN IT'S SIMPLY A DESIGN FLAW AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, $700 LATER, I HAD TO GET IT FIXED TO ENSURE SAFE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289025October 19, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE WIRE THAT PLUGS INTO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT HARNESS BURNED WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO ALERT OTHERS OF HIS INTENTIONS REGARDING DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND SPEED. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 10020856(EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) SUMMARIZES THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,770. UPDATED 12/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT GROUNDING WHICH CAUSED THE BURNOUT OF THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281871August 26, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS A FORMAL PETITION FOR A SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION. MY 2004 BMW 325XI HAS A LEFT TAIL LIGHT THAT DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE OF A POOR CONNECTION AT THE REAR LAMP CONNECTOR (THE GROUND WIRE RECEPTACLE AND HOUSING HAVE BURNT OUT BECAUSE THE GROUND IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE CURRENT). MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT STILL FUNCTIONS BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SIDE BURNING OUT AS WELL AND POSING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 63 03 06) WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND SAYS THAT THE CAUSE IS "MINOR CORROSION AT THE 8-PIN REAR LAMP CONNECTOR CREATES HIGH RESISTANCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTOR HOUSING." BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING TAIL LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266104April 20, 2009
TIRES
I RECENTLY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ON MY PASSENGER CAR (2004 BMW 325XI). AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON WHICH TO BUY, WE BELIEVED THE RATING IN CONSUMER'S REPORTS AND PURCHASED 4 CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT TIRES (ORDER WAS PLACED ON 3/3/2009 AND THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT TIRE RACK ON 3/6/2009). I HAD A SERVICE CALL ON THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY (2/10/2009) AND THE RECORDED MILES FROM THE VOB SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE 29,750. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT (4/18/2009), THE MILES ON THIS CAR WERE 30,906. THEREFORE, THE NEW TIRES HAD FAR LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THEM. AT ABOUT 8:15 PM ON 4-18-2009, WE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT (RIGHT REAR TIRE) GOING CLOSE TO 70 MPH ON I-95 IN MARYLAND. THE STEEL SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED ON THIS TIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND STRUGGLED TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS (IT WAS DARK AND LOTS OF TRUCKS AND CARS WERE SPEEDING ON THE HIGHWAY) WE EXITED THE CAR BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED ANOTHER VEHICLE MIGHT REAR END IT (EVEN THOUGH THE FLASHERS WERE ON). WE CALLED THE POLICE BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE GIVING THE EXACT LOCATION ( WE WERE NOT BY A MILE MARKER) TO A TOWING SERVICE. THE POLICE DID NOT COME OUT. WE EVENTUALLY GOT A TOW TRUCK TO CHANGE THE TIRE. LUCKILY MY SPARE WAS FULL SIZED AND IN GOOD SHAPE. MY RIM AND THE TIRE ITSELF DO NOT LOOK LIKE THERE WAS A MAJOR ROAD HAZARD. WE BELIEVE THE TIRE FAILED. AFTER THE BLOW OUT INCIDENT, MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT IS LIT. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE ABS SYSTEM HAS BEEN AFFECTED. ALTHOUGH WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED (THIS WAS VERY SCARY) NO ONE WAS INJURED. WE ARE TRYING TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE TIRE INSTALLER (TIRE RACK) AND THE TIRE MANUFACTURER (CONTINENTAL). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232708June 30, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SEVERELY INJURED THE CONSUMER AND CAUSED A NECK SPRAIN AND A MILD CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10141043November 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING BMW 3 SERIES HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THE EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH. *TS (11/08/05) THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT THE EUROPEAN DESIGN BE MODIFIED WHERE THERE IS NO CUP HOLDER ADJACENT TO THE EMERGENCY FLASHER AND SWITCH TO THE USA DESIGN WHERE THE EMERGENCY FLASHER IS LESS THAN 1 INCH FROM THE CUP HOLDER. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066414April 18, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT BMW 325XI 2004 ON 03/04 AND I NOTICED THAT IT HAS PROBLEM WITH COLD START. IN THE MORNING, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN "D", IT DOESN'T MOVE AND THEN SUDDENLY LURCHES WITH A JERK. FIRST I THOUGHT, ITS JUST BECAUSE ITS A NEW CAR BUT WHEN I DIDN'T DRIVE IT FOR 3 DAYS AND STARTED IT, IT WAS WORSE. IT WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL FOR LIKE A MINUTE AND THEN SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD WITH A JERK ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL 3 SERIES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 03-03 TO 11-03 HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION . WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT ALL WHEREAS NOW I READ THE MESSAGE BOARDS AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I WONDER WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE? I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A SPECIAL DEAL ON THIS CAR. MAY BE THE DEAL WAS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064047March 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 330XI AND HAD TWO PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY BRUSHED OFF THE COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE CAR WAS NEW AND IT WOULD "SETTLE" GIVEN TIME. HOWEVER, AFTER THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP WHO, UPON INSPECTION, TOLD ME I SIMPLY NEEDED SOME NEW PARTS. ONE BEING A TRANSMISSION (WHICH I THINK IS MORE THAN JUST A PART). APPARENTLY, THERE IS A DIRECTIVE TO BMW DEALERSHIPS HIGHLIGHTING THE PROBLEM, BUT TO DEAL WITH IT ONLY UPON CUSTOMER COMPLAINT. I FIND THIS VERY TROUBLING GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM(S) AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAIL. THE ISSUES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. AFTER ONLY 2,000 MILES, I HAD PUT AN ADDITIONAL 7 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE VEHICLE. APPARENTLY, THE OIL VALVE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 2. WHEN FIRST OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE OFTEN WOULD NOT BEGIN TO MOVE UNTIL THE RPM'S REACHED ANYWHERE FROM 3-5K RPM'S. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE BMW DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE "PART". THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL FILTER MAKES SENSE AS IT IS A PART. THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, DOES NOT. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT THESE ISSUES CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEREFORE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063941March 26, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE BMW 325XIT (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WHICH I PURCHASED ON 2/5/2004 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH FORWARD GEAR NOT ENGAGING ON A COLD START. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM. TYPICALLY ON A MORNING WHEN I BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, AND THEN SHIFT THE GEARS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO MOVE FORWARD FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE. I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL AND WATCH THE ENGINE REVV TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3-5K RPM BEFORE THE GEAR WOULD ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE CREEPS FORWARD UNTIL THE GEAR FULLY ENGAGES. THE PROBLEM HAS NO FAR BEEN RATHER CONSISTENT - IT HAPPENS QUITE PREDICTABLY EVERY MORNING. I HAVE NOT HOWEVER NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH GEAR ENGAGEMENT ONCE THE CAR IS ABLE TO START.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063893March 25, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I FILED A PETITION FOR A DEFECTS INVESTIGATION AS WELL AS A COMPLAINT ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH A 2004 BMW 325XI WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN DELAYED ENGAGEMENT AS WELL AS "LURCHING" OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING AND/OR BRAKING. VEHICLE WENT BACK FOR REPAIR - AFTER HAD SLIGHT DELAYED ENGAGEMENT AGAIN, PART FELL OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, LOUD FLAPPING NOISE STARTED IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON - 2300 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN OUT OF MY POSSESSION 4 WEEKS OF THE 3 MONTHS. THE VA OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS SUGGESTED PURSUING THE STATE'S LEMON LAW. THE BMWBOARD ON-LINE HAS MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND A PORTION OF MY PETITION (THE ADDENDUM) WAS POSTED, GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT BMW IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ... I WAS TOLD THAT MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT I AM NOT AWARE THAT IT ACTUALLY HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT CARS MANUFACTURED AFTER DECEMBER 2003 ARE FREE OF THE DEFECT ... FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING ON THIS AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AND THE BMWBOARD, THAT IS NOT TRUE. BEWARE. IF I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS FILED A PETITION, BUT YOU ARE READING THIS AND YOU ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH YOUR 3 SERIES OR X5, FILE A PETITION, TOO ... THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET SOME ACTION FROM BMW ... THIS IS A POWDER KEG. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON DEC. 15, 2003 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FROM DAY 1. THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY ... I HAVE GIVEN IT TIME; BMW HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ... WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM ME ... BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOLD ME BASICALLY THAT I'M IMAGINING THINGS ... I'M NOT ... AND STILL I HAVE A NEW PROBLEM EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. THIS IS WRONG ... PLEASE SPEAK UP. THE DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO BE UNIFORMLY "POOH-POOHING" THE PROBLEM. THAT IS WRONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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