BMW 330Ci Complaints
291 consumer complaints on file.
- #10197111July 21, 2007FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY APPROX. 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR STALLED. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED CAR. I COULD ONLY DRIVE 30 MPH AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1700.00 BUT THE WARRANTY WAS UP LAST YEAR. THERE WAS TSB ISSUED IN 2003. WHY WEREN'T THE OWNERS TOLD ABOUT THIS? *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10194154June 25, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
DASH INDICATED TAILLIGHT WAS OUT WHEN IT WASN'T, THIS WAS RANDOM ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE DASH PANEL INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. AS I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I STOPPED, AND NOTICED THE MELTED WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS. AS I LOOKED AT THEM I COULD SEE THEM SPARKING WHEN CERTAIN MOVEMENTS OCCURRED., VERY DANGEROUSLY AND ERRATIC. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SIDES MELTED. I HAVE NOTICED THE OTHER SIDE WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS, RANDOM INDICATIONS OF A TAIL LIGHT OUT WHEN THERE WAS NONE. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION , SAVAGE BMW, AS WELL AS BMWNA. I BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO, AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT, AND DIDNT TAKE MUCH CONCERN INTO THE MATTER. THEY WERE E CHARGING ME $400+ TO FIX JUST THE ONE SIDE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10192762June 8, 2007EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT A TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS MELTED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,626 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10192220May 31, 2007POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW 2001 330CI. REVERSE GEAR FAILED AND INOPERABLE (ACTS LIKE NEUTRAL AND DOES NOT ENGAGE) ALLOWED VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN HILL BEFORE I (THE OPERATOR) NOTICED I WAS MOVING. COULD NOT USE ENGINE THROTTLE TO CONTROL SPEED AS IT WAS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON 'NO SERVICE' AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10189400May 1, 2007POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE - I STARTED MY CAR, LET IT WARM UP AND MOVED THE SHIFTER TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE JERKED (MY GLASSES FLEW OFF MY FACE) AND MADE A ROUGH GRINDING SOUND. I MOVED THE SHIFTER BACK TO PARK AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME GRINDING SENSATION AND NOISE. IT WAS TOWED AND DEALER SAID THAT THE 330CI WAS ONLY USING TWO GEARS DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10180938January 28, 2007ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER DRIVING MY 2002 BMW X 5 FIVE BLOCKS FROM MY HOME, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PARKED THE CAR. FROM THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO GET OUT AND WALK TO THE REAR OF THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND IN SHORT ORDER THE CAR BURNED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND HIRED AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN VEHICLE FIRES AND CAUSATION. THE CONCLUSSION OF THE REPORT WAS THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, ORIGINATING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THIS SITUATION WITH BMW FIRES ON DIFFERENT WEB SIGHTS, INCLUDING ROADFLY, AND HAVE FOUND TO MY SHOCK, THERE ARE WAY TO MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS OUT THERE WITH A SIMULAR SITUATION. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE SOMEONES LIFE. IF MY GRANDCHILD OR ELDERLY MOTHER HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WITH ME, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT IN TIME! I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU, HOPE PESSIS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10178769January 15, 2007POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART, TOWED TO SHOP, WAS TOLD I CHANGED FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM CAUSING VALVE TO BEND. I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND THERE WAS NO REASON TO CHANGE FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY A NEW ENGINE/VALVE/HEAD JOB. I HAD TO PAY FROM POCKET. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175786December 11, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW 2004 330CI. THE OIL LIGHT COMES UP EVERY 400-500 OR 700-800 MILES DEPENDING IF IT IS DRIVEN IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAYS. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS CHECKED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR, CRANKCASE VENT VALVE, VENT PIPE, VENT HOSE, RETURN PIPE, WASH PUMP SO FAR BUT THE CAR STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. CAR GOES TO THE DEALER ONCE A MONTH APPROX. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10173881November 20, 2006STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. LATER THAT EVENING, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BECAME STUCK HALFWAY OPEN. THE TOP HAD TO BE MANUALLY PUSHED WHILE THE SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED TO GET IT TO MOVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10173822November 19, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN I TRIED TO STOP IN THE RAIN. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DID NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE BUT MY CAR HAD OVER $5700 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10172645November 5, 2006TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES:BEAD
OWN A 325CI COUPE THAT HAS HAD SEPARATION TIRE SEPARATION ON 3 TIRES BF GOODRICH 225/45R17. ONE TIRE SEPARATED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN YESTERDAY TWO MORE TIRE SEPARATED. WHEN I REPLACED THIS TWO TIRES THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE OTHER REMAINING TIRE ON THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALL OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TIRE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10167243September 1, 2006STRUCTURE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A TEMPERATURE SENSOR UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT BUMPER. WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES WITH A CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK, THE SENSOR WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE CONCRETE BLOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE BUMPER WAS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND PUTTING THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AT RISK OF DAMAGE. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10160346June 21, 2006SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES OF VERY GENTLE DRIVING, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SCRAP ON MY 2001 BMW 330CI. SYMPTOM SHOW UP AS A JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE QUICKLY APPLIED. FRONT WHEELS CAN ALSO BE OBSERVED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BY AN ONLOOKER MOVING WITHIN THE WHEEL WELL WHEN VEHICLE GETS ROLLING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THEN RELEASED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A WELL KNOWN HIGH WEAR AREA. INTEND TO CLAIM FROM BMW EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10159322June 8, 2006AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS MAKING A LANE CHANGE IN ORDER TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC. WITHOUT HITTING ANY OBJECTS, UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT SIDE AIRBAG (DRIVER SIDE) OCCURRED. MY HEAD WAS HIT BY SOME FLYING OBJECTS FROM THE DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND COULDN'T BE STARTED AFTER THAT FOR ALMOST 15 MINS. FINALLY CHP SHOWED UP AND HELPED ME TO START MY CAR SO THAT I COULD DRIVE IT TO LOCAL DEALER. AFTER FEW DAYS OF "INVESTIGATION", THE DEALER DECIDED IT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. INSTEAD, THEY BLAMED MY REAR TIRE ON MY PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE DEPLOYMENT. AS A RESULT, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER BMW'S COST. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10143622November 24, 2005LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I HAVE A 2001 BMW 330CI THAT I BOUGHT NEW. RECENTLY THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THEY WOULD FAIL, YOU WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO USE THE KEY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, YOU WOULD BE TRAPPED BECAUSE THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID FROM INSIDE THE CAR. YOU COULD POWER DOWN THE WINDOW AND GIVE YOUR KEY TO SOMEONE TO USE IT TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER DOOR LOCK CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD COST $680 TO REPLACE IT. I BELIEVE THAT FOR SAFETY REASONS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO ESCAPE YOUR VEHICLE FROM INSIDE EVEN IF THE COMPUTER FAILS. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN IF THERE IS A FIRE OR IF YOUR END UP IN A THE WATER YOU WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. YOU ARE TRAPPED INSIDE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128936October 6, 2005AIR BAGS
DT THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS HAPPENED AROUND MAY 31, 2005. VEHICLE ENDED UP OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT HIT CONSUMER IN THE HEAD. HAD HEADACHES FOR A FEW DAYS AFTERWARD. *AK *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134559August 25, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2004 BMW 330CI UPON START UP THE ENGINE OVER REVS AND SOMETIMES STALLS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THIS MALFUNCTION HAS ALSO OCCURED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10114194March 16, 2005STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. SUB-FRAME FAILURE CAUSING MAJOR CLANKING IN AND LARGE UNDUE STRESS ON DRIVE TRAIN. THE DRIVETRAIN IS LIKELY TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP NOT HELPING. PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WELL DOCUMENTED IN BMW FORUMS. 3. THE DEALER DOES NOT ADMIT THE PROBLEM. MAY COST MANY OWNERS THOUSANDS TO REPAIR. THERE WAS A EUROPEAN RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10089465December 8, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOFTWARE MALFUNCTIONED. *AK POWER LOSS ISSUE. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10096075October 19, 2004STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STRUCTURE
SUBFRAME FAILURE IN 2001 E46 330CI, REAR SUBFRAME TEARING NEAR SPARE TIRE STORAGE AND MOUNTS. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND I WAS BASICLLY TOLD TO GO SCREW MYSELF BY BMWNA.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0