BMW 328i Complaints

2,583 consumer complaints on file.

#10383834February 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
RED STEERING WHEEL AND PADLOCK WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON - STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK. THE MOST COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS FAULT CAN CAUSE A "NO START" CONDITION. THE "NO START" CONDITION CAN ARISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE WITHIN 4 YEARS AND COMMON IN BMW'S (SEE THREAD: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=316722 *AND THREAD: HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=147586)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379921February 2, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PISTON VALVE AREA TIMING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379842February 1, 2011
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON JANUARY 21, 2011, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEGAL U-TURN UPON LEAVING I26 (ABOUT AN HOUR OUT OF CHARLESTON, SC,) AND DIDN'T SEE A TRUCK COMING. (AT ABOUT 50MPH) THE STATE TROOPER SAID THAT ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AT THAT PARTICULAR EXIT ALMOST EVERY DAY. THE COLLISION WAS MY FAULT, AND I WAS HIT DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY 2011 BMW 328I CONVERTIBLE. THERE WAS NO SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, NO CALL TO BMW SOS, NO ENGINE TURN OFF, AND NO FLASHER WORKING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I AM EXTREMELY BLESSED TO HAVE NO MORE SERIOUS INJURIES. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM BMW SPECIAL PRODUCT INVESTIGATION... WHO INITIATED THE CALL TO ME... SINCE LAST THURSDAY. I HAVE CALLED THE MAN WHO IS WITH THAT DEPARTMENT IN NJ ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HE HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALLS. (HE DID CALL ON LAST FRIDAY TO SAY THAT A MAN FROM ATLANTA HAD INSPECTED THE CAR ON THURSDAY. NO CONTACT WITH HIM SINCE THAT DAY) I HAVE BRUISED RIBS AND MUSCLES ON THE LEFT AND AM TO HAVE A CT SCAN FOR A POSSIBLE HEMATOMA BEHIND LEFT BREAST. I ONLY WANT A REASON AS TO WHY THE SIDE AIRBAG, CALL TO BMW, ENGINE TURN OFF, AND FLASHERS DID NOT WORK. I PAID OVER $56,000 FOR THE CAR LESS THAN A MONTH EARLIER, AND THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 400 MILES ON IT. *LN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10378895January 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM (GM5 MODULE) IS MALFUNCTIONING AS IT FAILS TO OPEN THE DOOR LOCKS. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE CANT EXIT THE VEHICLE. ONLY AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS DOES THE DOOR FINALLY OPEN. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR THE TEMPERATURE RISES THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EXITING OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374674January 4, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. AS PER THE BMW DEALERSHIP, SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY AND IT WILL COST $800/- TO FIX IT. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374676January 4, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 MILES/HR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED HAVING ISSUES: TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK ON DASHBOARD (WORKING OUTSIDE), TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WHILE ENGINE IS ON (CAR IS STOPPED IN NEUTRAL), ON STARTING THE CAR SOMETIMES AC WILL NOT WORK, AND IF CAR IS STARTED WITH A DOOR OPEN, OPEN DOOR DISPLAY WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR. BMW DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT LIGHT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WOULD COST $575 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374682January 4, 2011
VISIBILITY
ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SOME OF THEM WERE MAKING NOISE (FOUND BROKEN PIECES INSIDE DURING REPAIR) AND SOME WINDOWS GOT STUCK HALF OPEN. DEALER ESTIMATED $600/- PER WINDOW TO REPLACE THE REGULATORS. I HAD IT FIXED OUTSIDE FOR $250/- PER WINDOW, TOTAL COST $1000/-. DEALER INDICATED THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BECAUSE OF TEXAS HOT WEATHER. I GUESS WE NEED TO KEEP THE CAR IN AIR CONDITION. THIS PART IS FAULTY AND BMW SHOULD RECALL IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374685January 4, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE HAS ALL LIGHTS LIT-UP EXCEPT THE DRIVE THOUGH DASHBOARD HAS D LIT UP. I KNOW I AM IN DRIVE MODE. NO PROBLEM DRIVING THE CAR. IT IS VERY CONFUSING AND DEFINITELY VERY CONCERNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366955November 20, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2007 BMW 328I DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK/UNLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366495November 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS MORNING I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE IN MY 2000 328I BMW AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE...NOTHING HAPPENED, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE WOULD REV UP WHILE APPLYING GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, GOT A RIDE TO WORK AND RETURNED 8 HOURS LATER. MY SON HELPED ME PUSH IT INTO STREET BECAUSE DRIVE STILL WORKED. I DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK THEN PULLED IN FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO PUSH IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND TRIED REVERSE.......AMAZINGLY REVERSE WORKED. I LOOKED-UP THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS SETTLED IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN NJ IN 2008, CASE 2:07-CV-05755-DMC-MF. APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365288November 10, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO UNLOCK (WITH BOTH THE REMOTE ENTRY AND THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH LOCATED IN THE CAR) WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS RESULTED IN ALL PASSENGERS (INCLUDING SMALL CHILDREN) TO HAVE TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THIS COULD CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES FOR ALL OCCUPANTS. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE FUSE (TO A 20 AMP FROM A 15 AMP). AFTER RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE JUST A TEMPORARY FIX. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES THIS COULD CAUSE FOR OTHER FAMILIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362449October 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I OWN A 2007 BMW 328I WITH 21,000 MILES ON IT. IN JULY 2009 I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL STEERING POWER, THE ACCELERATOR NO LONGER FUNCTIONED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, & THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE EJECTED. A BMW DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, SO THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. IN AUG 2009, AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND IT POWERED DOWN. AGAIN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE KEY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE EJECTED. THE SAME BMW DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID THEY INSTALLED SOFTWARE UPDATES. IN SEPT 2010 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON IT. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT EJECT ITSELF. MINUTES LATER, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT, AND AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. (I HAVE PHOTOS OF IT ON). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT BMW DEALERSHIP--BUT ONCE AGAIN, THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY TESTED THE FUEL--THE FUEL WAS FINE. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD INCENTIVE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SO THAT THEY COULD BE PAID. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW N. AMERICA SEVERAL TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. AT ONE POINT, I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO FIX THE CAR-- PERSONAL INJURY? PROPERTY DAMAGE? THE BMW REP SAID NO--BUT AGREED THAT I'D JUST HAVE TO WAIT IT OUT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. AFTER SENDING A LETTER TO BMW N. AMERICA THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID I WOULD NEED A LOCAL DEALER TO CONSENT TO HAVING AN ENGINEER LOOK AT MY CAR. HE SAID HE WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD GRANT ME CONSENT. HE NEVER CALLED. I HAD TO CALL ON MY OWN AND BEG THEM TO HAVE AN ENGINEER LOOK AT MY CAR. THE ENGINEER WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR KEEPS POWERING DOWN. HE DID HOWEVER INSTALL A SOFTWARE UPDATE. BMW WON'T HELP ME, SO MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO SELL IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362176October 24, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
BMW 328I 2007. MY WHOLE FAMILY {4} OF US WERE LOCKED IN CAR. WE COULD NOT OPEN THE CAR FROM INSIDE. THAT IS MOST CRAZY THING EVER HAPPEN TO ME. THIS IS THE SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW NEED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES AND FIX PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS REALLY IN TROUBLE. I MADE SOME RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT MORE PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAD. I HAD TO PULL OUT MY CHILDREN TROUGH THE WINDOW TO GET THEM OUT OF CAR. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOME BIGGER ADULT WAS SITTING IN THE BACK OF CAR OR IF WE HAD CRASH ON OUR WAY HOME. THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR NEED TO BE RECALLED!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359940October 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1999 BMW 328I (E46 BODY). WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I HAVE HAD RECURRING ISSUES, USUALLY ON HOT OR COLD DAYS, WHERE THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN LOCKED, THE CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. I'VE EVEN HAD ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AUTOMATICALLY AND THE DOORS LOCKED WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE CAR AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET OUT WAS BY UNLOCKING THE DOORS WITH THE ELECTRIC KEY FOB. NEITHER OPENING THE DOOR HANDLE OR UNLOCKING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE WORKED. SOME RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON INDICATORS OF A FAULTY GM5 MODULE AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN. GETTING IT FIXED WOULD REQUIRE A SERVICE VISIT, PERHAPS MULTIPLE DIAGNOSES, AND CLOSE TO $1000.00 TO FIX. I FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A FAIRLY SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD NOT WANT TO FIND MYSELF LOCKED IN MY CAR WITH NO WAY TO EXIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355072September 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE AND MY 1999 BMW 328I WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE SHIFT LEVER SEEMED TO BE WORKING. THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH SAID "R". BUT THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I PUSHED IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE TO MY AUTO MECHANIC. WHEN I GOT THERE, IT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY. I DROVE IT AROUND FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND THEN IT DID IT AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 10 MINUTES I CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING. I CALLED TWO BMW DEALERS AND ALL THEY WOULD SAY IS "YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST 5 GRAND". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350555August 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 328I BMW NOT GOING INTO REVERSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349634August 16, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR ACTUATORS ON MY 2007 BMW 328I FAILED. IT BEGAN WITH JUST THE FRONT TWO DOORS AND THEN THE REAR DOORS. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, MOSTLY LABOR EXPENSE. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHEN AWAY FROM HOME AS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOORS WAS NOT POSSIBLE. ALSO, IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN IN THE BACKSEAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345766July 27, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAD JUST PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BMW 328I. WE WERE DRIVING ON I-5 FROM LOS ANGELES TO SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MY HUSBAND AND TWO DOGS. WE WERE TRAVELING ~80 MILES PER HOUR IN THE LEFT LANE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE TURNED COMPLETELY OFF ON THE VEHICLE. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BREAKING AND HAD NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO GLIDE INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT ROOM FOR THE VEHICLE, SO THE RIGHT TIRES WERE IN THE LEFT LANE OF TRAFFIC. WE CALLED BMW ASSIST, BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PICK US UP BECAUSE WE HAD DOGS IN THE CAR. WE WERE STUCK IN THE MEDIAN FOR NEARLY ONE HOUR, AROUND A BEND IN THE FREEWAY, WHERE OTHER CARS COULD NOT SEE US WELL UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. A CALIFORNIA STATE TROOPER TOGETHER WITH A TOW TRUCK FINALLY RESCUED US FROM THE CENTER MEDIAN. HE SAID WE WERE IN GRAVE DANGER, WHICH WE OBVIOUSLY KNEW. AFTER THE INCIDENT I CALLED THE BEVERLY HILLS BMW DEALERSHIP, WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER AND REPORTED THE ISSUE TO BMW ASSIST. I WAS FURIOUS THAT A VEHICLE WOULD TURN OFF AT THAT SPEED. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD DOCUMENT THE CLAIM BUT THAT NO OTHER INCIDENCES OF THIS HAD BEEN REPORTED. THE LATTER IS INACCURATE, AS MANY PEOPLE APPARENTLY HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344915July 23, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MY 2000 BMW 328I BRACKET WHICH CONNECTS THE BELT THAT HOLDS THE MY GAS TANK BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING AROUND A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I HEARD A NOISE AND STOP. THE BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT INSIDE SHEET METAL WAS MISSING. THE BELT WAS DRAGGING AND MY TANK DROP A FEW INCHES. BMW WHICH NO LONGER MAKES THE PART QUOTED ME $1.800 AND SAID THEY HAVE HAD 3 SIMILAR INSTANCES. THE REPAIR REQUIRES WIELDING; REMOVAL OF GAS TANK; BACK SEAT AND RUG. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE HAS ENCOURAGE ME TO WRITE THIS LETTER. HE FEELS THIS IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340550June 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE OWN MY 2000 328I SINCE 2000 WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM BMW OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. ON LAST WEEK WHEN PICKING UP MY SON FROM DAYCARE I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT PF A PARKING SPACE AND IT IGNORED THE GEAR SHIFT TO REVERSE. I THOUGH IT WAS ME ANT PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND TRIED REVERSE AGAIN ONLY TO GET NOTHING. I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT WORKED, I PUT T THROUGH ALL THE OTHER GEARS AND THEY APPEAR TO WORK, BUT NOTHING IN REVERSE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BEGAN AGAIN FROM START UP PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE A BIT AND THEN BACK TO REVERSE AND IT REVERSED. NO PROBLEMS AGAIN UNTIL A WEEK LATER AND ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NO REVERSE EXCEPT THIS TIME I CAN'T PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DRIVE FOR A BIT BECAUSE IT IS STUCK IN THE GARAGE WITH NO DISTANCE TO GO OTHER THAN BACKING OUT. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB AND SEE THAT THIS IS NOT A SMALL PROBLEM AND THAT SO MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME THING. BMW REALLY NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS REALLY NOT "CUSTOMER SERVICE" AS THEY REALLY DO NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN GIVE YOU A BIG FAT REPAIR ESTIMATE. PLEASE HELP !! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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