BMW 325Ci Complaints (2001)

49 consumer complaints on file.

#10478310October 2, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL CONNECTORS WERE FOUND TO BE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467081July 23, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325 CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE TAIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE BULB WIRE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467164July 23, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET I BEGIN HEARING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING DRAGGING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK UP, WAS HANGING DOWN FROM ONE END. I THEN DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WELD ON THE FRONT BRACKET OF THE GAS TANK STRAP HAD BROKEN AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THIS CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO SAG TO WITHIN ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445489January 26, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
VARIOUS TIMES I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH MY TAIL LIGHTS. I GET WARNINGS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL BUT WHEN I CHECK THE BULBS THEY ARE NOT BURNED OUT. ON OCTOBER 17, 2011, LOS ANGELES POLICE PULLED ME OVER NOTIFYING ME THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. WE CHECKED THE BULBS AND FUSES BUT THEY WERE OK. WE FOUND THAT WHEN YOU SLIGHTLY TOUCH THE HARNESS OF THE TAILLIGHT SOCKET THAT IS INSIDE THE BODY PANEL, THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR, BMW E46. ON SATURDAY JANUARY 21 I WENT TO SANTA MONICA BMW. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A COMMON ISSUE. TODAY I JUST LEARNED ABOUT RECENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000. THIS RECALL ADDRESSES THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY FOR MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 2001. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN JULY 2001 BUT USES THE SAME HARNESS AND BODY PANEL ASSEMBLY THAT HAS PROMPTED THE RECALL FOR MODELS BUILT IN SEPTEMBER 2001. THUS, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410773July 6, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR
2001 BMW 325CI REAR SUB FRAME DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399345May 6, 2011
TIRES
SEVERE DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER OF CAR AND DAMAGE TO 2 TIRES. RESULTING IN AN UNNECESSARY PURCHASE OF NEW TIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386451March 4, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2001 BMW 325 CI WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHEN THE GAS TANK STRAP ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF FROM THE REAR SECTION. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUMPS OR OTHER ISSUES THAT CAUSED THIS INCIDENT. THE GAS TANK HUNG DOWN A FEW INCHES FROM THE ROAD. WE GOT THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND LEARNED THAT WE NEEDED BOTH A GAS TANK STRAP AND A BRACKET FOR THE UNDERBODY. REGARDING THE BRACKET, BMW HAS NO SUCH PART LISTED IN THEIR SPECS. THE ONLY OPTION APPEARS TO BE RIGGING THE STRAP AND WELDING IT TO ANOTHER PART OF THE UNDERBODY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THIS COULD BE A CATASTROPHIC DANGER IF THE TANK WERE TO LOOSEN, DRAG ON THE GROUND AND ULTIMATELY CATCH FIRE. FORTUNATELY FOR MY WIFE, SHE WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM OUR HOME WHEN IT OCCURRED. I'M SHOCKED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL GIVEN THE COMMON REPORTING OF THE EXACT FAILURE. I WOULD BE SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A LESS THAN EXACT REPAIR. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345794July 28, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE
2001 BMW 325CI, PASSENGER SIDE FUEL TANK STRAP FAILURE AT FRONT WELD SITE CAUSING FUEL TANK TO HANG FROM THE UNDER BODY ONLY SEVERAL INCHES OFF THE GROUND. THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP REMAINED BOLTED DOWN SO STRAP REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, DRAGGING ON THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING A LOUD METALLIC POPPING AND SCRATCHING SOUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THUS ALERTING DRIVER. THE FAILURE SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS COLLISION FROM DEBRIS, SIGNS OF EXTERNAL DAMAGE OR EXCESSIVE RUST. THE FRONT WELD SITE AT THE UNDERCARRIAGE APPEARED TO BE TORN OR SHEARED OFF. OLD PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE STRAP HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY WELDING TO A DIFFERENT POINT OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332714May 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 BMW 325CIC FAILS TO GO INTO REVERSE GEAR. CONSEQUENCE IS THE PROSPECT OF UP TO $5-6000 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328885May 4, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
PASSENGER SIDE GAS TANK STRAP COMES UNWELDED FORM THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292112November 13, 2009
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
2001 BMW 325CI DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70MPH ONE OF THE FRONT BREAKS LOCKS UP DUE TO THE TRACTION CONTROLS SYSTEM VIOLENTLY TURNING ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE RESULT WAS THE CAR SWERVING INSTANTLY ABOUT 6 FEET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO FULLY REGAIN CONTROL AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WENT IN TO ERROR STATE. MY MECHANIC STATED THIS IS A YAW SENSOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BMW AND HE AS SEEN IT ON SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT WILL BE ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE I CAN PUT THIS IN THE SHOP TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264887April 10, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 BMW 325CI AUTOMATIC, WILL NOT WORK IN REVERSE, BUT WORKS FORWARD. APPARENTLY, THIS IS SO WIDESPREAD A SAFETY ISSUE THAT ENTIRE WEBSITES ARE DEDICATED TO IT EXCLUSIVELY, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE (OTHER THAN GREED) BY BMW ISN'T RECALLING THESE TRANSMISSIONS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256357January 26, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE FAN MOTOR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ALONG WITH A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER HER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242684September 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 AND HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234104July 13, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED A USED BMW 325CI 18 MONTHS AGO. IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF DRIVING THE CAR THE AC/HEATER WORKED FINE. HOWEVER, OVER TIME THE BLOWER HAS BECOME INTERMITTENT AND NOW CEASES TO WORK COMPLETELY ON HOT DAYS. SEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON TO MANY BMW DRIVERS OF SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. MECHANICS POSTING ONLINE HAVE ATTRIBUTED IT TO A FAULTY FINAL STAGE RESISTOR FOR THE BLOWER MODULE. THEY STATE THAT THE METAL WAS MADE OF INFERIOR QUALITY. I INTEND TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THIS MYSELF OR TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC BUT THE ESTIMATES I HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR ARE ABOUT $300 FOR TOTAL REPAIRS. LAST WINTER MY CAR BROKE DOWN WHEN IT WAS VERY COLD OUTSIDE AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, DURING THIS TIME I TRIED TO TURN ON MY HEATER ONLY TO HAVE IT CEASE TO WORK AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY I HAD EMERGENCY CLOTHING IN THE CAR, BUT EVEN WITH THAT MY FINGERS WERE NUMB BY THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. I THINK BMW SHOULD OFFER TO REPLACE THIS PART FOR FREE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227933May 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR DIES IN INTERSECTIONS ON "COLD STARTS" OCCURS ON ALL COLD STARTS AND WHEN BACKING OUT GARAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213235December 31, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING. TYPICALLY INCONVENIENT WHEN KEYLESS ENTRY WILL NOT UNLOCK DRIVER DOOR (UNLOCKS ALL OTHER DOORS). ONE INCIDENT WHERE, WHILE INSIDE THE CAR, DRIVER'S DOOR UNLOCKED, BUT PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR OTHER EMERGENCY WHERE PASSENGERS INSIDE CAR, ALL PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE TO EXIT DRIVER'S DOOR AS PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196241July 13, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2001 BMW 325 CI CONVERTIBLE STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE TODAY UNEXPECTEDLY. IT ONLY AS 59000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS REDICULOUS. THE CAR BARELY HAS ANY MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190149May 8, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TAG LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING. THE TRUNK SENSOR FAILED WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE WIRE HARNESS IN THE TRUNK WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL DUE TO CONSTANTLY BEING RUBBED EACH TIME THE TRUNK OPENED AND CLOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163823July 28, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
I LOST AND ESTIMATED 97% OF BRAKE PRESSURE WHILE COMING TO A STOP FROM APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH TO STOP AT A HIGHWAY RAMP TRAFFIC CONTROL STOP LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL TOUCHED THE FLOOR AND I PUMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WITH ONLY A MINIMAL RETURN OF BRAKE PRESSURE. I USED THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT MODE TO PERFORM ENGINE BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP WITH THE VERY MINIMAL BRAKE PRESSURE AVAILABLE BUT SURPASSED THE STOP LIGHT BY ONE CAR LENGTH. THERE WAS FORTUNATELY NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE A YELLOW DSC (DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL) AND YELLOW BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH CONSOLE. THE BMW AUTHORIZED SERVICE FACILITY REPORTS THAT A "DSC SENSOR FAILED". THIS PART WILL BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. THERE WAS NO BACK UP MECHANICAL INTERVENTION IN THIS CASE IN THE EVENT THAT A SIMPLE SENSOR FAILED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED UN-MEASURABLE DAMAGE, CRASH, INJURIES, OR DEATHS. IN THE EVEN OF PARTS FAILURE UNDER WARRANTY AND IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER STATES THAT DEFECTIVE PARTS WILL BE HELD AND PROVIDED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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