BMW 330Ci Complaints

291 consumer complaints on file.

#10086860August 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2001 BMW 330CIC [XXX] IN OCT. OF 2003 FROM A PRIVATE PERSON. BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I PAID ~$200 TO A BMW DEALER AND GOT IT CHECKED FOR MAJOR PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD ~ 53K MILES ON IT AND THEY SAID NO PROBLEMS. HENCE I WENT AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THIS PRIVATE OWNER. JUST AFTER 2 MONTHS I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL BUSHINGS THAT COST ME ABOUT ~$500 AND AFTER ANOTHER 2 MONTHS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT BAD. I PAID ABOUT $800 FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND PARTS. NOW JUST A FEW DAYS AGO THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING IN REVERSE. I HAVE NO PROBLEMS GOING FORWARD AND USING THE STREPTRONIC TRANSMISSION (A/T). NOW THE CAR HAS 64K MILES AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY CHARGED ME $100 TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BURNT UP BY LOOKING AT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER IS ASKING FOR ~ $4100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. I HAVE CALLED THE 800 NUMBER AND THE RESPONSE THAT I AM GETTING IS THAT BMW WILL NOT COVER THIS. BUT I HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT APPROACH; 1.AS A NEW OWNER I AM AT A LOSS BECAUSE I AM NOT ENTITLED FOR GOODWILL JUST BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER USED IT. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE SINCE I PUT MY TRUST IN BMW AND PAID A HANDSOME PRICE FOR THE CAR. (TRANSMISSION IS A MAJOR PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF IT BRAKES AT MERE 64K MILES). 2. THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO LAST IN EXCESS OF 20000 MILES, BUT BECOMES DYSFUNCTIONAL AT A MERE 64000 MILES (PRODUCT QUALITY) 3.FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS CAUSING THE REVERSE GEAR NOT TO WORK BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD. I AM SURE THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE IMPRESSION OR EXPERIENCE THAT BMW WANTS ME TO HAVE! PLEASE SUGGEST OR ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO. THE CAR IS STILL WITH THE DEALER (UNITED BMW OF ROSWELL, GA PHONE:- 678-832-4600 BMW CUSTOMER RELATION PHONE:- 1-800-831-1117 THANKS, [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083395July 19, 2004
TIRES:SIDEWALL
PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES ON 2003 BMW 330 CI.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD A DAMAGED MICHELIN TIRE REPLACED BUT ONLY FOUR MONTHS LATER THE NEW TIRE IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE OLD TIRE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE TIRES BECAME TOO HOT THEREFORE CREATING 3-4 INCH BUBBLES AROUND THE WALL WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068498May 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE STOPPED, ENGINE SPEED WOULD DROP NEAR OR BELOW IDLE. HAPPENED AFTER COLD ENGINE START OR WHILE WARM AFTER DRIVING (BOTH NO-TRAFFIC AND HIGH-TRAFFIC). TWICE THE CAR ACTUALLY STALLED (IN GARAGE AND AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). ROUGH IDLE CAN BE FELT IN PEDALS AND (6-SPEED MANUAL) SHIFTER. SEE ALSO ODI IDS 10064475,10062056,10064439.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067889April 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2004 BMW 330CI 6 SPEED MANUAL - 3.0L INLINE 6 CYL. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - IDLE BECOMES ERRATIC AND CAR STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROX 6-8 TIMES OVER 8 MONTHS/5000 MILES. NORMALLY HAPPENS ON WARM DAYS AND AT A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN. IT ONCE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS SEEN THE CAR 3+ TIMES AND UPDATED IDLE CONTROL VALVE, AND ENGINE SOFTWARE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND DOESN'T THROW ANY COMPUTER FAULT CODES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066207April 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AT RED LIGHTS. RPM DROPPED WITH NO WARNING. ALSO EXPERIENCE ROUGH IDLING WHEN AT COMPLETE STOP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065933April 11, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW 330I EXHIBITS FREQUENT ERRATIC IDLE WHEN STOPPED, AS WELL AS ENGINE STALLING. ERRATIC IDLE IS IN THE FORM OF ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 400-500 RPM. STALLING SOMETIMES OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THESE IDLE SPEED DROPS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG RECENT 330 MODEL BMW'S, AND APPARENTLY THERE IS NO KNOWN SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064510April 4, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE POWER FAILURE AND HEAVILY DISTORTED WINDSHIELD ON A 2004 BMW 330CI. REPEATED FAILURE OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (TWICE IN AN ITERSECTION). BMW REPLACED ENG. COMPUTER, THEN INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE AFTER SECOND INCIDENT. ROUGH IDLE AND SURGING CONTINUES AND GAS MILEAGE IN CITY DROPPED TO 12.6-13 MPG. ADDITIONALLY THE WINDSHIELD IS HEAVILY DISTORTED. BMW REPLACED IT WITH AN EQUALLY DISTORTED ONE AND THE FSE SAID"ALL 3 SERIES WINDSHIELDS ARE DISTORTED,WORSE ON THE X3". IT IS LIKE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITHOUT WIPERS. IN BOTH CASES THE BMW FSE HAS STATED THE " THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO BE DONE". THIS IS THE REAL BMW WARRANTY SERVICE. THIS LEMON IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064525April 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 330I BMW IN DECEMBER OF 2003. THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 1500 MILES ON IT AND HAS DEVELOPED A HUGE PROBLEM. IN THE MORNINGS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, THE ENGINE WILL REV WHEN ITS IN DRIVE AND NOT GO INTO GEAR. IT TAKES QUITE A FEW SECONDS FOR IT TO ENGAGE INTO 'D'. THE CAR WILL ALSO JERK INTO 1ST GEAR AFTER IT FINALLY STARTS TO DRIVE. I HAVE JUST TAKEN MY BRAND NEW BMW INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR TEST ON IT AND UNBELIEVABLE TO MY EARS.....I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THEM SAYING THE WHOLE ENGINE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED...."THERE IS SOME KIND OF FLAW".....AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FINDING OUT THAT THE BMW 3 SERIES HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM..I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF AND VERY UPSET. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY BMW. THIS WAS MY FIRST BMW...AND AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE...MAY BE MY LAST...IF NOTHING IS DONE IN THE FUTURE TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS TRANSMISSION FLAW! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064475April 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE CAR (2004 330I ZHP) OFTEN SHUDDERS AT START UP WITH AN ERRATIC IDLE AND CONTINUES TO DO SO EVEN WHEN WARM. THERE ARE NO COMPUTER FAULT CODES AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT FEELS AS IF IT IS READY TO STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITH SEVERE IDLE FLUCTUATIONS OF 100-200 RPM'S DURING STOPS. PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ACROSS DOZENS OF ZHP (PERFORMANCE PACKAGE) OWNERS AS WELL AS MANY 2003 AND 2004 3 SERIES CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064439April 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AT RED LIGHTS. RPM DROPPED WITH NO WARNING. ALSO EXPERIENCE ROUGH IDLING WHEN AT COMPLETE STOP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064440April 2, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONTINUOUS BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT TWEETERS. WENT TO DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO FIX. NOISE CAN BE HEARD EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062056March 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION 330CIC AND WHEN I PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AT A STOP THE ENGINE RPM WOULD DIP DRASTICALLY AND STALLS SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC. PERIODICALLY THE ENGINE RPM WOULD DIP SO RAPIDLY THAT THE ENGINE STALLS FROM IDLE POSITION. THIS CAN HAPPEN IN THE DRIVEWAY OR ON A ROAD AT AN 4-WAY LIGHT. BASICALLY ANYTIME THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR STALLING. I EXPERIENCED STALLS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS WELL AS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060205March 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD (TYPICALLY IN THE MORNING) WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, ONCE THE CAR IS THEN SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY IN THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE INTO DRIVE (5 TO 7 SECONDS OR SO). DEALER FOUND AN INTERNAL FAILURE AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATED THAT AT LEAST 12 OTHER 3-SERIES BMW'S HAD A FAILED TRANSMISSION AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR DEALER. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060207March 2, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
IN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE OR FROM INSIDE THE VEHILCE, THE TRUNK WILL SOMETIMES NOT RELEASE. OTHER TIMES THE TRUNK WILL NOT CATCH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE. IN ORDER TO GET THE LID TO CATCH, IT WOULD REQUIRE PRESSING THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON ON THE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS BACK TO DEALER 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE GENERAL MODULE WAS REPLACED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UNLOCK SIGNAL FROM THE GENERAL MODULE WAS TOO SHORT. THE REPAIR WILL REQUIRE REPROGRAMMING THE GENERAL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, NO FIX IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW AND NO SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE FROM BMW. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE DEALER AND BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE ADMITTED THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER 3-SERIES OWNERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060209March 2, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DESTINATION, AND AFTER PRESSING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE CENTRAL CONSOLE, YOU COULD AUDIBLY HEAR THE LOCKS "UNLOCK", VISIBLY SEE THE BUTTONS ON THE DOOR POP UP, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT RELEASE. I WOULD BE STUCK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS SEEMED TO FOLLOW WASHING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LATCH AND CABLE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059016February 26, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OF BMW 2004 330CI. AFTER COLD START TRANSMISSION ENGAGED WITH SIGNIFICANT DELAY (~5 SEC.) . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058875February 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AT LOW, INTERMIDIATE AND HIGH SPEED. CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY, SPUTTERED, THEN BECOME UNDRIVABLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD CAR HAS MISFIRED. DEALER PROCEEDED TO REPAIR PROBLEM BY REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER CHIP PER MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN. WAS TOLD THE CAR IS FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. 200 MILES AND ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. WAS TOWWED BACK TO THE DEALER NAD WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR AND SOEMTHING ELSE WAS THE ISSUE. REPLACES BOTH PARTS. REPAIR ENGINEER THINKS THAT THERE IS A 99% LIKELYHOOD THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. I AM NOT SO SURE SINCE THAT SAID THE SAME THING LAST TIME. SINCE THE CAR IS NOT ON THE LIST, IT IS A BMW 530I SEDAN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058565February 20, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT INGAGE IN FORWARD DIRECTION FOR 30 SECONDS WHEN CAR IS COLD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058567February 20, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR HAS DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD ON COLD STARTS. CAR DOWNSHIFT HARD UNDER BRAKING. CAR REVS HIGH ON QUICK ACCELERATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058416February 18, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2004 BMW 330CI. DRIVING IN REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE WHEN I REACH THE STREET, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE UNTIL ABOUT 3-10 SECONDS. THE CAR WILL ROLL FREELY DURING THIS TIME AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT OR CRASH, BUT FEAR IT IS A POSSIBILITY IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR ON A HILL OR IF A CAR WERE TO APPROACH AND I COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY. I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THIS AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT, DESPITE NUMEROUS REPORTS I HAVE READ ONLINE FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to BMW 330Ci