BMW 328i Complaints

2,583 consumer complaints on file.

#10234021July 11, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 328I CONVERTIBLE. DUE TO HIS BODY STATURE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAN THE SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO USE THE SEAT BELT EFFECTIVELY. HE CONSULTED THREE DEALERS FOR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, BUT NONE HAD THEM AVAILABLE OR WERE NOT BEING SOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS FOR THAT MODEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,882 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233532July 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC INTERIOR LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT DOES NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOORS. WHILE PASSENGERS WERE OCCUPYING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE THAT CAUSED THE LATCH ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGERS COULD NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE FUSE BOX. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,000. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232782June 30, 2008
TIRES
EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE AND ABNORMAL (PREMATURE) WEAR OF BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE TURANZA EL42 RUN FLAT TIRES 205/55R16. EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE STARTED BEFORE 10,000 MILES AND ALL TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 1 YEAR (APPROX 14,000 MILES). CAR WAS A 2007 BMW 328I. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 36 06 06) REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND IS REPLACING ALL TIRES (UPON COMPLAINT) IF < 10,000 MILES. IF TIRES HAVE BETWEEN 10,001 TO 20,000 MILES, REPLACEMENT IS AT 50%. TIRES WERE "CUPPING" AND DEMONSTRATING VERY ABNORMAL WEAR PATTERNS. UPON COMPLAINT TO BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE, THEY AGREED TO 100% REPLACEMENT COSTS. OLD TIRES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232168June 24, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222393March 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO REVERSE IN MY BMW!!!! I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF A 2000 BMW 328I. WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, THE PREVIOUS OWNER SUPPLIED ME WITH ALL BMW DEALER MAINTENANCE/SERVICE RECORDS. AS THE 2ND OWNER, I NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR REPAIRS. ONLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. MY CAR LOOKS AND RAN IMMACULATELY UNTIL, OUT OF THE BLUE, MY CAR REFUSED TO GO INTO REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A DEPARTMENT STORE. AFTER SHOPPING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE...MY CAR WOULD MOVE INTO DRIVE JUST FINE BUT NO REVERSE. THERE WEREN'T ANY NOISES OR ANY WARNINGS THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PEAKE BMW OF KENNER, LA WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $5,854.90. BEFORE PUTTING MY CAR IN THE REPAIR SHOP, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE BMW 3 SERIES YEARS 1999-2001. I ALSO LEARNED THAT DESPITE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS, BMW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AND WILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I'M TRULY APPALLED AT BMW'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE FAULTY GM 5L40E TRANSMISSION AS IT HAS FAILED IN OTHER MAKES OF CARS AS WELL LIKE CADILLAC. RIGHT NOW, I'M TRYING TO DECIDE IF I SHOULD ALLOW THE BMW DEALER TO REPAIR MY CAR OR TRY TO FIND AN AUTHORIZED BMW REPAIR SHOP THAT'LL HOPEFULLY SAVE ME A LITTLE MONEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220045March 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214332January 9, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NEW BMW 3 SERIES SPORTS WAGON SELF-ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE FAMILY'S GARAGE. MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH, THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ONTO THE DRIVEWAY OF THE HOUSE, WHICH IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD. SOON AFTER THE CAR THE GARAGE DOOR LIFTED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IN A TURN POSITION (ONTO THE DRIVEWAY), THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE AS THROUGH IT WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND QUICKLY CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. IT ONLY STOPPED FROM THE IMPACT OF HITTING AND BREAKING A STRUCTURAL HOUSE COLUMN AND A PILE OF SHEETROCK IN THE GARAGE. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, WHEN IT STOPPED. THE ENTIRE EVENT TOOK PLACE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10212851December 26, 2007
TIRES
I PURCHASED A 2007 BMW 328I ON 2/22/2007. IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42. IN DECEMBER OF 2007, I FOUND OUT THAT THESE TIRES ARE NOT WEARING PROPERLY. IN MY SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS. BMW REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPLACING ALL THE TIRES IF YOU ARE OVER 10K MILES. MY TIRES ARE WEARING HORRIBLY AND CAUSING A SAFETY RISK. BMW KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM IN JANUARY 2007 WHEN THEY ISSUED A SERVICE INFO BULLETIN TO ALL THE DEALERS. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT INFORM THE OWNERS AND THEY ACTUALLY SOLD MY CAR TO ME WITHOUT MENTIONING THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE TIRES. NO TIRES SHOULD WEAR OUT AFTER 10K MILES. I ACTUALLY TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN EARLY SEPT TO HAVE A TIRE REPLACED AND NO ONE STILL MENTIONED THE SIB TO ME. MY HUSBAND FOUND A COPY OF IT ON THE INTERNET AND IT BASICALLY SAYS, DON'T REPLACE THESE UNLESS THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS. HOWEVER, ITS DIFFICULT TO DETECT THE UNEVEN TREAD WEAR UNTIL THERE ARE HUGE FLAT SPOTS ON YOUR TIRES. THIS IS SO REMINISCENT OF THE FIRESTONE/FORD DEBACLE AND I FEEL THAT BMW IS PLAYING THE ODDS TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO HELP FUND A HUGE RECALL. THEY KEPT PUTTING THESE SAME TIRES ON THESE CARS DESPITE THE COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212027December 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 12/15/07 I PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE DIRT MEDIAN. THE CAR ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A VIRTUAL STOP ON THE HIGHWAY WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC QUICKLY APPROACHING. I WAS PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BUT NO POWER WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE WHEELS AND ENGINE RPM DID NOT INCREASE. THIS LASTED FOR MANY SECONDS. I HAD TIME TO CONFIRM I WAS STILL IN FIRST GEAR. I THEN DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH, REVVED THE ENGINE TO HIGH RPM AND TOOK OFF IN SECOND GEAR. MY WIFE AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE VEHICLE VIRTUALLY AT A STANDSTILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211127December 7, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
AUTO MANUFACTURES ARE BEGINNING TO INSTALL LED TAIL LIGHTS WITH REFRESH RATES THAT CAUSE ME TO SEE SIGNIFICANT FLICKER (STROBE EFFECT) AT NIGHT. IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN I AM BEHIND ONE OF THESE CARS. MY FEAR IS THAT THE ROADS WILL BE FILLED WITH THESE CARS IN A FEW YEARS, AND THE DISTRACTIONS WILL BE TOO INTENSE TO DRIVE. SPECIFICALLY, AT NIGHT, WHEN THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE DIMMED, (BRAKES NOT ON) AND I LOOK AT THEM AND BLINK OR TURN MY HEAD, THE AFTER IMAGE IS VERY STRANGE. I SEE DASHES OR TRAILS OF LIGHT. LAST NIGHT IN PARTICULAR, I HAD AN AFTER IMAGE FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TURNED OFF THE ROAD. THE CARS THAT HAVE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EFFECT SEEM TO BE CADILLAC'S, INFINITIES, AND BMWS. I HAVE FOUND A THREAD ON A NEWSGROUP THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL EXPLAINING WHAT IS GOING ON: HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVE-USENET.COM/REC-AUTOS-TECH/1414-RE-CAR-LED-TAIL-LIGHTS-STROBE-RATE-TOO-SLOW.HTML I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE WOULD LOOK INTO IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209179November 16, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2000 BMW 328I. AROUND FEBRUARY 2007, I PARKED THE CAR IN A PARKING STALL. WHEN I RETURNED, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STALL. SINCE THEN, THE CAR EITHER HESITATES TO REVERSE OR COMPLETELY FAILS TO GO IN REVERSE ABOUT HALF THE TIME I DRIVE IT. MY MECHANIC INFORMS ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM ABOUT TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $4,000. I DISCOVERED TODAY THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD IN CIRCA 2000 BMW 3 SERIES CARS. ONE WEBSITE I FOUND CONTAINING OVER ONE HUNDRED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS: WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/BMW_TRANS.HTML. THERE IS APPARENTLY A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. BMW N.A. DENIES ANY PROBLEM, DESPITE THE FACT THEY DISCONTINUED USE OF THE PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IN LATER MODELS. I AM INFORMED THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP. THE DANGER IS OBVIOUS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204720October 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON AFTER NUMEROUS RESETS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201869September 4, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4 DAYS AFTER CAR WAS LEASE BRAND NEW 2007 BMW 328I FAILED ON THE ROAD WHERE IT COMPLETELY HALTED WITH NO WARNING SYSTEM. IT WAS ON SURFACE STREETS LUCKILY NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH POSSIBLE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. AFTER 3 DAYS STILL NOT DIAGNOSTIC RESULT! BRAND NEW! NOT USED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199955August 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW 328I. HE STATED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE CUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. HE STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE CLOCKSPRING, BUT IT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,120 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96720.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199824August 16, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,300. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197361July 24, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHEN TRYING TO USE THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF- IT TRIES TO PUT ITSELF INTO THE TRUNK WHEN THE TRUNK IS CLOSED. ROOF GETS STUCK 1/2 WAY OPEN AND CLOSED. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. THE ROOF STILL CONTINUES TO TRY TO PUT ITSELF INTO THE TRUNK WITH THE TRUNK CLOSED. ROOF HAS BENT ITSELF TRYING TO PUT ITSELF INTO A CLOSED TRUNK. ROOF HAS BROKEN PARTS AS A RESULT OF ITS ATTEMPT TO PUT CONVERTIBLE ROOF INTO A CLOSED TRUNK. CAR IS INOPERABLE IN THIS CONDITION AS THE ROOF IS NOT SECURE. ANY ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR MIGHT CAUSE THE ROOF TO BOUNCE AROUND AS IT IS NOT CONNECTED AND LOCKED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197157July 22, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A ROCK FLEW UP FROM THE ROAD AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN I GOT HOME, MY DAD NOTICED A CHIP IN THE CORNER OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE NEXT DAY, THE CHIP FORMED INTO A CRACK OVER A FOOT LONG. I HAD TO GET MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED. IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS WITH MY NEW WINDSHIELD AND THE OTHER DAY I WAS HIT BY A ROCK AGAIN, CREATING ANOTHER CHIP. SO FAR, THERE IS NO CRACK. AND I FOUND FORUMS THAT PEOPLE ALSO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194959June 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE WOULD NOT OPEN THE VEHICLE'S DOOR. SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY WITH THE KEY, BUT IT BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER. THE 30G RELAY WAS REPLACED. ON JUNE 24, 2007, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER. THE KEY SLIDE AND THE RIBBON CABLE WERE REPLACED. ON JUNE 27, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER WHERE IT IS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1,299 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194169June 25, 2007
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT CRASHING. THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE ABS LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,183.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189811May 4, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:REAR
I HAD BEEN HEARING A NOISE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE CLUTCH, I TOOK THE CAR INTO A BMW-APPROVED BODY SHOP AND THEY POINTED OUT THE FLAW IN THE SUBFRAME AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND HOW THE METAL HAD TORN DUE TO STRESS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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