BMW 328i Complaints (2000)

112 consumer complaints on file.

#10443605January 12, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE SUSPENSION STARTED TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE DEALER WAS THEN NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437453November 28, 2011
AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE RECALIBRATED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V223000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE BULBS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER REPLACING THE LIGHT BULBS SO THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS THEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V048000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EITHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435369November 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
I HAD HEARD THAT SUBFRAME FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY COMMON ON BMW E46 MODELS (1999-2006) BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS, UNTIL TODAY. I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 BMW 328I WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD POP, THE STEERING BECAME LOSE AND THERE WAS A CONSTANT KNOCKING NOISE. ONCE I GOT IT HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SURE ENOUGH THE SUB-FRAME HAD RIPPED COMPLETED AWAY FROM THE BODY, THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE WAS RIPPED OUT LEAVING TWO BIG HOLE IN THE UNDER BODY OF THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW NA BUT THAT CLAIMS HAD TO BE FILED BY 2010. THEY ARE NOT REFUSING TO FIX IT. THIS IS A CLEARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THERE ARE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS IN ONLINE BOARDS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434669November 3, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE REVERSE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN GEAR. ALL OTHER GEARS RESPOND. CANNOT MOVE CAR IN REVERSE. PROBLEM STARTED OCTOBER 2011. AT THIS TIME THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MOVED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429203October 8, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY 382I WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE NOR FORWARD. THE BMW RICHMOND VA. ASKED FOR $2,695.56. TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION. I ORDER A USED TRANSMISSION FROM LKQ AFTERMARKET BY KEYSTONE BRING TO COST TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION AT BMW RICHMOND VA, TO $1,065..THE BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY DAMAGED THE CAR REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A OIL LEAK..THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT THERE'S NO OIL IN MY CAR, BUT I CHECKED ANYWAY DO TO THE FACT I LIVE IN BROOKLYN NY AND HAD A LONG DRIVE..WHEN I PUT THE OIL IN THE CAR THE CAR SMOKED VERY BADLY AND I HAD TOWED BACK TO THE BMW RICHMOND DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME ANOTHER $693.29 TO FIX THE PROBLEM.I FOUND OUT THAT BMW RICHMOND VA. NEVER REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION. ALSO THE CLAMPS THAT HOLD THE COOLING FAN WAS MISSING AND I WAS TOLD TO PAY THEM $475.00, TO REPLACE IT OR THE COOLING FAN WOULD JUMP INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO ME OR ANYONE AROUND THE CAR.I AM IN COURT ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SITUATION THEY PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415257July 26, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BMW SERIES 3 SUBFRAME CRACKING. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT -- I HAD NO DAMAGE DURING THE TIME PERIOD ALLOWED. THE DAMAGE IS JUST BEGINNING, AND IT IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE. BMW SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR ! THERE IS STILL LOW MILEAGE ON THE CAR -- BUT IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT THE REPAIR (SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS), THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413645July 19, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2000 BMW 328I SUBSTANTIAL SUBFRAME CRACKING AT REAR DIFFERENTIAL AREA. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410199July 1, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR
PRODUCT FAILURE OF A 2000 BMW 328I. THE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY OF THE CAR IS SEPARATING FROM THE CAR. I AM THE NEW OWNER OF THE CAR, BUT HISTORY DOES NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OR ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO THIS FAILURE. THIS IS ALSO A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF BMW. THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS LAW SUITS INVOLVING THIS FAILURE. THIS IS ALSO A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR ALL 1999 - 2002 MODEL CARS BUILT ON THE E46 BODY TYPE. POSSIBILITY OF THE ENTIRE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY RIPPING OFF WHILE DRIVING IS POSSIBLE. BMW KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE, AS THEY HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE WITH NEWER MODELS. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO IMPROPER THICKNESS IN THE FLOOR PAN WHERE THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED TO. TOTAL FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OF NOT REMEDIED PROPERLY. THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL, AND NOT IN A INDIVIDUAL BASIS. IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE, YOU WILL SEE MANY REPORTS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. BMW HAS OFFERED TO PAY UP TO 50% OF THE REPAIR COSTS FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, WHICH SHOWS THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, GETTING IT REPAIRED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP, WITH ONLY HAVING TO PAY 50%, IS USUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE THEN HAVING IT DONE AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407133June 16, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE LOCKS ON MY 2000 BMW 328I VIN ([XXX]) DO NOT WORK ANYMORE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOT BECAUSE THE POWER LOCKS THAT PROBABLY ARE ACCEPTABLE TO FAIL OVER TIME HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY. THIS MEANS IN EVENT OF A COLLISION THE PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE COULD NOT EGRESS TO SAFETY. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX AND SHOULD NOTIFY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN 3 YEARS AGO WHERE THE LOCKS OCCASIONALLY (1/300 APPROX) WOULD FAIL BUT AFTER SEVERAL PRESSES OF THE KEY IT WOULD OPEN AND OPERATE NORMALLY. OVER THE LAST YEAR THE LOCKS HAVE FAILED HALF THE TIME WHEN IT IS COLD OUT (< 30 DEGREES F APPROX) AND ARE COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE WHEN IT IS HOT OUT (> 90 DEGREES F APPROX). AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT IT NEEDS A REPLACEMENT OF THE GM5 MODULE. THIS REPAIR WAS QUOTED TO ME BY THE DEALER AT OVER $700! THAT IS $700 TO FIX A PART THAT SHOULD WORK. SOMETHING THAT OVERRIDES A PASSENGER FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO FAIL. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE AT RISK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE HELP TO EITHER FORCE BMW TO REPLACE THESE MODULES ON VEHICLES OR STOP PEOPLE FROM OPERATING THEM, THEY'RE DANGEROUS! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
#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
#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
#10320487March 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2000 BMW 328I (E46) DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN TEMPERATURE RISES (WEATHER GETS HOT) AFTER RESEARCH FOUND OUT THE MG5 OR MODULE MUST BE CHANGED AND REPROGRAMMED BY BMW DEALER. THE RELAYS ON THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE WHOLE MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. BMW SAYS THE WHOLE JOB WILL COST AROUND $800.00 DOLLARS. THE RELAYS ARE $14.00 DOLLARS EACH AND THEY TEND TO GO BAD VERY OFTEN. A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CREATED BY A KIND PERSON THAT DOES HELP PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM TO LESSEN THE COST OF FIXING THE PROBLEM BY HAVING SOLDERING WORK ON THE MODULE BOARD WHICH REQUIRES LOTS OF SKILLS TO DO SO. I AM COMPLAINING THAT BMW SHOULD REPLACE ALL MODULES THAT DO GIVE THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED OVER. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS A FAULT ON BMW'S END. WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE RISES THE DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK BY USING THE REMORE THEREFORE CUSTOMER CAN NOT GET INTO CAR AND SOMETIMES PASSENGERS HAVE TO CLIMB INTO CAR FROM THE WINDOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310926February 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HAVE A 2000 BMW 328I. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING A FEW WEEKS AGO. WHEN I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, I GET TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT THAT COMES ON. AS EXPLAINED IN THE MANUAL, I STOP, TURN CAR OFF FOR 30 SECONDS THEN RESTART AND IT GOES OUT. THEN LAST WEEK AFTER DRIVING HOME, WHEN I WENT TO GARAGE TO GO BACK OUT, THE CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. I PUSHED IT OUT OF GARAGE AND IT DRIVES FORWARD FINE. AFTER A MILE OR 2 I PULLED OVER AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE. NOT HAPPENING ALL OF THE TIME, IT'S HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN PAST 5 DAYS. HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE OR ANYTHING YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294547December 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO REVERSE ON 2000 BMW 328I. WENT TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND LET OFF THE BRAKE THEN GAVE IT GAS TO PULL OUT AND INSTEAD ROLLED FOREWORD AND BUMPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282250August 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2000 BMW 328I TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO REVERSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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