BMW 325i Complaints

1,385 consumer complaints on file.

#10083766July 23, 2004
STRUCTURE
SAND COLOR STRIP THAT MEETS THE DASHBOARD IS IN CONSUMER'S LINE OF VISION.*MR THE CONSUMER LIVES IN AN AREA WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS HOT THEREFORE DECIDED TO PURCHASE HER VEHICLE WITH SAND LEATHER INTERIOR BECAUSE IT WOULD BE COOLER. THE CONSUMER LIKES THE INTERIOR BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE DASHBOARD IS BLACK WITH A SAND COLORED STRIP THAT MEETS WITH THE BLACK DASH. THE TWO COLORS CAUSE A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY. DURING BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO SUGGESTED THAT THEY REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AND THE STRIP TO ALL BLACK OR ALL SAND. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083318July 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083391July 19, 2004
POWER TRAIN
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ON 2003 BMW 325I.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LAGGED FOLLOWED BY SURGING WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK, NEUTRAL, REVERSE THEN DRIVE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. INITIALLY THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THREE MONTHS LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE DEALER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE CONSUMER IN ALMOST 2 WEEKS TO PERFORM THIS SERVICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080668July 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PERIODICALLY, MY CAR WILL BE RUNNING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT STARTS TO SHAKE AND WHEN YOU PUSH THE GAS IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. USUALLY IT WILL "FIX" ITSELF BY THE TIME I GET TO THE DEALER. BUT EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T, THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE THE BMW REPAIR GUYS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND "RESET" THE ENGINE. HOWEVER IT'S DOING IT AGAIN AND I'M FEARFUL THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN ON ME ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND IT'S LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 20,000 MILES!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081793June 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE THRUSTS FORWARD DESPITE THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. *MR CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS BOTH FEET TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM JUMPING INTO THE INTERSECTION. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT GEAR FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078876June 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DEALER RECOMMENDS THAT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES BE REPLACED BECAUSE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVE WORN, LEAVING BRAKE LIGHTS UNRELIABLE. HOW CAN A NON-MOVING ELECTRICAL PART WEAR OUT? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079861June 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGING WHEN STARTING FROM A STATIONARY POSITION. *MR THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP TO 3-4000, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD CREEP, LURCH FORWARD AND SPEED UP NORMALLY. THIS WOULD USUALLY OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE SAT OVERNIGHT. THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WHEN BACKING UP. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079567June 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072448May 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENT SEVERE ENGINE MISS. ENGINE HESITATION/FAILURE TO ACCELERATE. ENGINE SURGES AND HAS VERY ROUGH IDLE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO UP SHIFT (MAXIMUM SPEED IS APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH). SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES, BUT NOT ALWAYS (INTERMITTENT). WITH LESS THAN 9,000 MILES THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN THREE TIMES FOR THIS AND OTHER FAILURES WHICH HAVE LEFT THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. BMW DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS, WITHOUT SUCCESS, AS FAR AS WE KNOW (MORE LATER). THESE ENGINE EVENTS CAN OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY, AND ARE NOT ALWAYS INDICATED BY A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ARE WHEN IT OCCURS AS ONE COMES TO A STOP BEFORE ENTERING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC OR WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY, IF THE ENGINE WERE TO STALL OR BEGIN TO RUN ON LESS THAN ITS FULL COMPLEMENT OF CYLINDERS, IT COULD LEAVE ONE EXPOSED TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH NO WAY TO ACCELERATE. VERY DANGEROUS. INTERNET SEACHING AFTER THE LATEST "REPAIR" ATTEMPT HAS EXPOSED A "SECRET" BMW BULLETIN REGARDING BREMI IGNITION COILS. (APPARENTLY, THIS IS THE SAME COIL BRAND USED IN THE VW/AUDI CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS TWO YEARS AGO.) ALL SIX IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUGS, AND A HOST OF OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THUS FAR. UNKNOWN IF THESE ATTEMPTS WERE SUCCESSFUL AS THIS CAR IS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN--IT'S FATE AWAITS A POSSIBLE LAW SUIT AGAINST BMW. I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO RECALL EVERY BMW WITH THESE COILS, IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING BMW'S EFFORTS TO NOT PUBLICIZE THIS INFORMATION MORE READILY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. MARK PETERS [email protected]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072450May 11, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS "AUTO" POSITION CAUSES WIPERS TO FAIL TO SUDDENLY FAIL TO OPERATE DURING RAIN CONDITIONS. ALSO, CAN CAUSE DISTRACTING SWEEPS OF THE WIPERS WITH NO RAIN OR WATER, ANYWHERE NEAR THE CAR OR WINDSHIELD SENSOR. ODDLY, DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR; SERVICE WRITERS REFUSED TO WRITE IT UP AS "NORMAL" OPERATION. BMW FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER NOTED THE WINDSHIELD SENSOR (WHICH ALSO CONTAINS CONTROLS FOR AUTOMATIC LIGHTS) WAS MASSIVELY DELAMINATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THUS REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD FOR THIS SMALL PART. ISSUES: 1. NORMAL "ERRATIC" OPERATION OF WIPERS (AND AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS) IS ACCEPTABLE TO BMW SERVICE WRITERS. 2. WIPERS ARE A CRITICAL SAFETY FUNCTION, YET WITH BMW'S SYSTEM THEY CAN APPARENTLY OPERATE ERRATICALLY DUE TO A BAD SENSOR "BOND" WITH THE WINDSHIELD. 3. THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS HIGH--OUT OF WARRANTY MANY DRIVERS MAY NOT BOTHER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE GIVEN THE MASSIVE COST (AND ABSURDITY) OF REPLACING AN OTHERWISE PERFECT WINDSHIELD. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER WERE TO BE IN THE "AUTO" WIPER FUNCTION WITH A FAILED SYSTEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MARK PETERS [email protected]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072451May 11, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC; HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. WOULD NOT RE-START, DESPITE STRONG CRANKING. COMPUTER READ "38 MILES TO EMPTY" AND GAUGE READ APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TO 1/8 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING. CAR WAS TOWED IN AND SEVERAL FAULTS WERE FOUND: 240, 243. DEALER TECH (VISTA BMW, FL) STATED IN SERVICE RECEIPT: FUEL SENDING UNITS. CHECKED FUEL PRESSURE . . . PRESSURE WAS 3.5 BAR. CHECKED RETURN FUEL PRESSURE AT FUEL TANK . . . PRESSURE WAS 1.0 BAR. REMOVED BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS & PERFORMED RESISTANCE SWEEP OF BOTH RESISTANCE CARS . . . BOTH LEFT & RIGHT SENDING UNITS HAD AN OPEN. REPLACED LEFT & RIGHT FUEL SENDING UNITS. PARTS REPLACED: FUEL SENSOR, SUCTION UNIT. SAFETY CONSIDERATION: SUDDEN ENGINE STOPAGE CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, YET THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT. INTERNET WEB SITES RELATE OTHER BMW'S WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY TROUBLESOME IS THE COMPLETE LACK OF WARNING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MARK PETERS BEDFORD, TX [email protected]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066762April 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN PULLING OUT THE DIP STICK AFTER VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR A WHILE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE DIP STICK. OIL SPREAD IN VARIOUS PLACES ON THE DIP STICK. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064555April 5, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE THE PASSENGER DOOR AIR BAG AND PASSENGER WINDOW AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WE ARE NOW LEFT WITH THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THEM ON A LEASED CAR? OR AT THE LEAST PAYING THE DEDUCTIBLE ON OUR INSURANCE? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063476March 18, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DEALERSHIP REPLACED FIVE TIMES THE REAR AND FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. ONCE AGAIN, REAR AND FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM. IT WILL COST CONSUMER ABOUT $400.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062408March 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A BMW 325I WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOV. '02. IN MARCH '03, WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJTPK AT 60-65MPH IN THE LEFT LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ITS ACCELERATION. THE CLOCKS ALSO WENT OFF AND THEN RESET ITSELF TO 12:00. BEING THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE NJ TURNPIKE, I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO CROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COME TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER (THERE WAS NO LEFT SHOULDER). I WAITED FOR A WHILE, RESTARTED THE CAR, RESET THE CLOCK AND HIT THE ROAD AGAIN. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR STARTING ACTING UP... AT ONE OCCASION, I WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR USING THE REMOTE. AT ANOTHER, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP UPON PULLING ON THE KNOB. THE LIGHT BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT COME ON. MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS WOULD GO AWAY AFTER I WOULD SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND RESTART IT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO PRINCETON BMW WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A FULL DAY AND DID EXTENSIVE TESTING ON IT. AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR STILL DOES NOT WORK FINE. IF I TURN THE RIGHT LIGHT ON, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. WELL, THIS PAST WEAKENED (MARCH 14TH '04) I HAD AN ANOTHER EXPERIENCE, ON RT. 1, WHERE THE CAR TOTALLY LOST ITS ACCELERATION AGAIN. I AM GOING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH PRINCETON BMW AGAIN. I ALSO CALLED BMW OF NA AND INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063079March 11, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE OR FOUR TIMES. *PH *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062874March 8, 2004
TIRES
REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RIPPED COMPLETELY APART WHILE TRAVELING 20-25 MPH. *PH *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058786February 23, 2004
TIRES
TOOK MY CAR TO BMW DELAER TO GET TIRES ROTATED. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID I NEED 4 NEW TIRES. MY 325I IS A 2001 AND HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT. MY FATHER HAS BEEN IN THE CAR BUSINESS ALL HIS LIFE AND SAID THAT MY TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR AT LEAST 30,000 MILES - ESPECIALLY WITH THE LOW MILEAGE I HAVE. I HAVE FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AGAINST CONTINENTAL AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AND A FINANCIAL ISSUE. WHO WANTS TO SHELL OUT $400 FOR NEW TIRES WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN LAST AS LONG AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO! I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF A TIRE BLOWOUT. I AM ALSO GOING TO WRITE A LETTER TO CONTINENTAL AND REQUEST THAT THEY EITHER REPLACE ALL MY TIRES OR AT LEAST GIVE ME PRO RATA FOR NEW TIRES. NHTSA - PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059407February 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED TRUNK WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058439February 18, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
2003 BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE IN THE MORNINGS. AFTER PARKING CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE CAR IS PUT WENT INTO REVERSE AND BACKED OUT WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS (DRIVEWAY IS SLOPED). AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE CAR LAGS ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE THERE IS ANY POWER TO DRIVE. THIS IS SPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS TRAFFIC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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