BMW 325xi Complaints

306 consumer complaints on file.

#10296209December 17, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FORMAL PETITION FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF A SAFETY-RELATED DESIGN DEFECT: BMW 325XI 2002 DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHT. TAIL LIGHT CONNECTIONS BURN OUT DUE TO LACK OF PROPER WIRING. BMW HAS NOW ISSUED A CORRECTION FOR THIS BUT WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. *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
#10284759September 21, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
I HAVE CONTACTED BMW 3 TIMES ABOUT NHTSA ID#02V088000 AND THEY WILL NOT CONTACT ME. I WANT TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283399September 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
NEVER CONTACTED BY BMW ABOUT BMW 325XI RECALL #02V088000. ALSO, BOTH FRONT AXLES HAVE GONE OUT AT 77,000 MILES. *TR
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
#10267676May 4, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2002 BMW 325 XI HAVING NEW WATER PUMP AND FAN CLUTCH REPLACED AND OIL CHANGE (4/27/09). AFTER 15 MINUTES DRIVE ON I-90 (4/28/09) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF I-90 NEAR EXIT 11A. NEAR COLLISION WITH A BIG TRUCK THAT CAUSE TRAFFIC STOP. MANAGE TO GET INTO THE MASPIKE TOLL PLAZA, THE ENGINE DAMAGE AND OVERHEATED. CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAVE THE OLD PUMP, NEW PUMP, FAN CLUTCHES (OLD AND NEW). THE CAR NEARLY GOT HIT BY A TRUCK THAT MAY CAUSE FATAL. THE ENGINE THAT HAVE THE PARTS REPLACE TO PREVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEAT OVERHEATED. NO REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267357April 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 BMW 325 XI THE WARNING LIGHT FOR A BULB-OUT OR THE FAST BLINK FOR THE TURN SIGNALS COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE GROUNDING OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE WIRING HARNESS MELTS. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX OUTSIDE WARRANTY. CHARGE TO REPAIR - $450. BMW SERVICE BULLETIN: SI B 63 03 06 PARTS NEEDED: 12 52 7 519 956 8-PIN CONNECTOR HOUSING 12 52 0 007 171 BLADE CONTACT SLK 2.8 WITH A WIRE LENGTH OF 500 MM, 1.0 MM 12 52 1 433 217 BLADE CONTACT SLK 2.8 WITHOUT WIRE FOR A CABLE CROSS SECTION OF 1.5 MM 61 13 8 353 747 CRIMP CONNECTOR 1.0 MM 61 13 1 379 833 SHRINK SLEEVE 61 13 1 393 718 COMB-TYPE CONNECTOR (HOUSING) 3-PIN 61 13 1 387 150 COMB-TYPE CONNECTOR (CONTACT STRIP) 61 13 1 387 144 FLAT CONTACT FOR COMB-TYPE CONNECTORS 07 11 9 975 531 FLAT PLUG-IN SLEEVE 4.8-2.5 SOURCE LOCALLY BROWN WIRE, 1.5 MM, LENGTH APPROXIMATELY 120 MM. *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
#10260856March 5, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW 2002 325XI AT LOW TEMPERATURES LIKE 5 OR 6 F. THE CRANKCASE VENT VALVE FROZE AND THE HIGH PRESSURE BUILT UP CAUSED THE VALVE TO BLOW AND COUPLE OF GASKETS BURNT. OIL SPILLED OVER TO THE EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF DRIVEN COUPLE OF MORE MILES THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE. THE CAR JUST HAS 67000 MILES WHICH IS FAIRLY LOW MILES AND NEW CAR. ALL THE MECHANICS I TALKED TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND ASKED ME NOT TO DRIVE AT ALL. THEY SAID IT CAN CATCH FIRE IF DRIVEN LITTLE MORE. ITS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST OF THE MECHANICS RECOGNIZE AND FREQUENCY IS HIGH BUT IN COLD STATES NOT IN WARMER STATES. *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
#10227750May 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS FOR A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR POSSIBLE REAR END ACCIDENT DUE TO A KNOWN FAILURE IN THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE TAIL LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160879June 27, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLES TIRES BLEW OUT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DURING ONE OF THE INCIDENCES, THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN A POTHOLE CAUSED ANOTHER BLOWOUT. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN NINE TIMES BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE COMPANY WHO DETERMINED PROBLEMS WERE WITH THE SIDEWALLS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERS AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO RESOLUTION. UPDATED 7/18/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159147June 6, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING MY 2005 BMW 325 XI ON TWO CONSECUTIVE MORNINGS, ON THE THIRD THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ON THE PRECEDING DAYS AFTER IT DID START THE CAR RAN NORMALLY THE REST OF THE DAY AND WOULD START WITHOUT HESITATION WITHIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER NOT STARTING ON THE THIRD DAY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD "CONTAMINATED FUEL" AND THAT THE FOLLOWING PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED: FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, & FUEL FILTER. THEIR INITIAL REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS THAT I PURCHASED CONTAMINATED FUEL FROM A FUEL RETAILER. THEIR STORY CHANGED WHEN PRESSED THAT ETHANOL IN THE FUEL ABSORBS CONTAMINATES AND FOULS FUEL SYSTEM. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT SEEMS THAT A COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK REACTS WITH THE FUEL, POSSIBLY BREAKS DOWN AND FOULS THE FUEL SYSTEM. BMW CORPORATE WOULD ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE SO I GOT MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY STATE FARM INVOLVED. STATE FARM IS INVESTIGATING BUT AS OF TODAY I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $1802.81 REPAIR BILL. I ASKED HOW TO AVOID THIS OCCURRING AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT "...IT PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THE FUEL YOU USED TO PURCHASE CONTAINED MBTE AND THAT ADDITIVE WAS ABSORBED INTO THE TANK. WHEN THE MBTE WAS REPLACED BY ETHANOL THE ETHANOL REACTED WITH THE MBTE AND CONTAMINATED THE FUEL. SINCE MBTE IS NO LONGER USED THE ISSUE SHOULD NOT ARISE AGAIN. AS I PULLED BEHIND THE DEALERSHIP AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR I COUNTED ELEVEN FUEL TANKS STACKED BEHIND THE BUILDING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
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
#10090843September 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
(1) PARKED AT A LIGHT. (2) LIGHT CHANGED, I ACCELERATED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, VARIOUS DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, I NURSED THE CAR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, AND PULLED OVER. TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AFTER TALKING WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE. WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON BUT ENGINE POWER WAS BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME. (3) DEALER RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EXPLAINED THE ENGINE FAILURE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAULT INVOLVING "DEFECTIVE CRIMPING" IN THE THROTTLE MOTOR, RESISTENCE FLUCTUATION DUE TO PIN CONTAMINATION, OR "FAULTY CRIMPING OR DEFECTIVE FEMALE PINS" ON A CONNECTOR. WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE MOTOR WERE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079339June 23, 2004
TIRES
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF BLOWOUTS INCURRED WHEN HITTING POTHOLES. (GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A, HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075573June 2, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DRIVER RAN OVER PIECES OF DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES , AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
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

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