BMW 330Ci Complaints (2001)

82 consumer complaints on file.

#10250959December 6, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK. I STARTED MY CAR LET IT IDLE FOR 3-5 MINUTES SINCE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS COLD. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD JUST PARKED THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS EARLIER. THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ON THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE THAT FROM A PHONE CONVERSATION, I WONDERED. I PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF MY GARAGE AND PROCEEDED TO A MECHANIC. WHEN I COMPLETED MY DIALOGUE OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED HE RESPONDED THAT I WAS NUMBER 4 FOR HIM THIS YEAR. A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COST BETWEEN $3K - $5K. I RETURNED HOME AND BEGAN MY UNOFFICIAL INTERNET RESEARCH...I AM NOT ALONE AND BMW OF NA IS DOING NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. SUPPOSE I WAS 100S OF MILES AWAY OR IF I WAS IN A POSITION WHERE I NEED TO USE REVERSE TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY AND IT DID NOT WORK. AS OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE STATED, AT LEAST MY CHEVY OR FORD USED TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS SICK AND NEEDED SOME ATTENTION. BMW HAS NO MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. I AM ASSUMING THAT THEY THINK IT IS REPLACE UPON FAILURE. UNACCEPTABLE, THE PART THAT FAILED IS CALLED THE DRUM. A BAND BEAKS AND THE REVERSE GEAR IS BROKEN. THEY HAVE MODIFIED THE MATERIALS IN THE NEWER DRUMS TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM . THAT TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE MATERIAL THEY INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE WAS INADEQUATE. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME STILL SHOPPING AROUND FOR OPTIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249978November 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1. VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE 2. WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE 3. NEED REBUILT TRANSMISSION $3,500.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238968August 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2001 BMW 330 CI WITH 116K MILES. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT INDICATED THAT SOMETHING COULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $4000. I WENT TO THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY CONSUMERS REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW BMW IS ADDRESSING THIS COMMON ISSUE AND IDENTIFY IF THERE ARE ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238053August 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330CI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE COOLING FAN MOTOR FAILED. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215572January 21, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIRBAG IN A VERY MINOR CRASH BLINDED ME EVEN THOUGH I WAS PROPERLY WEARING MY SEATBELT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10192220May 31, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW 2001 330CI. REVERSE GEAR FAILED AND INOPERABLE (ACTS LIKE NEUTRAL AND DOES NOT ENGAGE) ALLOWED VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN HILL BEFORE I (THE OPERATOR) NOTICED I WAS MOVING. COULD NOT USE ENGINE THROTTLE TO CONTROL SPEED AS IT WAS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON 'NO SERVICE' AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160346June 21, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES OF VERY GENTLE DRIVING, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SCRAP ON MY 2001 BMW 330CI. SYMPTOM SHOW UP AS A JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE QUICKLY APPLIED. FRONT WHEELS CAN ALSO BE OBSERVED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BY AN ONLOOKER MOVING WITHIN THE WHEEL WELL WHEN VEHICLE GETS ROLLING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THEN RELEASED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A WELL KNOWN HIGH WEAR AREA. INTEND TO CLAIM FROM BMW EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159322June 8, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS MAKING A LANE CHANGE IN ORDER TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC. WITHOUT HITTING ANY OBJECTS, UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT SIDE AIRBAG (DRIVER SIDE) OCCURRED. MY HEAD WAS HIT BY SOME FLYING OBJECTS FROM THE DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND COULDN'T BE STARTED AFTER THAT FOR ALMOST 15 MINS. FINALLY CHP SHOWED UP AND HELPED ME TO START MY CAR SO THAT I COULD DRIVE IT TO LOCAL DEALER. AFTER FEW DAYS OF "INVESTIGATION", THE DEALER DECIDED IT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. INSTEAD, THEY BLAMED MY REAR TIRE ON MY PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE DEPLOYMENT. AS A RESULT, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER BMW'S COST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10143622November 24, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I HAVE A 2001 BMW 330CI THAT I BOUGHT NEW. RECENTLY THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THEY WOULD FAIL, YOU WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO USE THE KEY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, YOU WOULD BE TRAPPED BECAUSE THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID FROM INSIDE THE CAR. YOU COULD POWER DOWN THE WINDOW AND GIVE YOUR KEY TO SOMEONE TO USE IT TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER DOOR LOCK CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD COST $680 TO REPLACE IT. I BELIEVE THAT FOR SAFETY REASONS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO ESCAPE YOUR VEHICLE FROM INSIDE EVEN IF THE COMPUTER FAILS. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN IF THERE IS A FIRE OR IF YOUR END UP IN A THE WATER YOU WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. YOU ARE TRAPPED INSIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128936October 6, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS HAPPENED AROUND MAY 31, 2005. VEHICLE ENDED UP OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT HIT CONSUMER IN THE HEAD. HAD HEADACHES FOR A FEW DAYS AFTERWARD. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10114194March 16, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. SUB-FRAME FAILURE CAUSING MAJOR CLANKING IN AND LARGE UNDUE STRESS ON DRIVE TRAIN. THE DRIVETRAIN IS LIKELY TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP NOT HELPING. PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WELL DOCUMENTED IN BMW FORUMS. 3. THE DEALER DOES NOT ADMIT THE PROBLEM. MAY COST MANY OWNERS THOUSANDS TO REPAIR. THERE WAS A EUROPEAN RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096075October 19, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STRUCTURE
SUBFRAME FAILURE IN 2001 E46 330CI, REAR SUBFRAME TEARING NEAR SPARE TIRE STORAGE AND MOUNTS. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND I WAS BASICLLY TOLD TO GO SCREW MYSELF BY BMWNA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086860August 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2001 BMW 330CIC [XXX] IN OCT. OF 2003 FROM A PRIVATE PERSON. BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I PAID ~$200 TO A BMW DEALER AND GOT IT CHECKED FOR MAJOR PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD ~ 53K MILES ON IT AND THEY SAID NO PROBLEMS. HENCE I WENT AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THIS PRIVATE OWNER. JUST AFTER 2 MONTHS I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL BUSHINGS THAT COST ME ABOUT ~$500 AND AFTER ANOTHER 2 MONTHS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT BAD. I PAID ABOUT $800 FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND PARTS. NOW JUST A FEW DAYS AGO THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING IN REVERSE. I HAVE NO PROBLEMS GOING FORWARD AND USING THE STREPTRONIC TRANSMISSION (A/T). NOW THE CAR HAS 64K MILES AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY CHARGED ME $100 TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BURNT UP BY LOOKING AT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER IS ASKING FOR ~ $4100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. I HAVE CALLED THE 800 NUMBER AND THE RESPONSE THAT I AM GETTING IS THAT BMW WILL NOT COVER THIS. BUT I HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT APPROACH; 1.AS A NEW OWNER I AM AT A LOSS BECAUSE I AM NOT ENTITLED FOR GOODWILL JUST BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER USED IT. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE SINCE I PUT MY TRUST IN BMW AND PAID A HANDSOME PRICE FOR THE CAR. (TRANSMISSION IS A MAJOR PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF IT BRAKES AT MERE 64K MILES). 2. THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO LAST IN EXCESS OF 20000 MILES, BUT BECOMES DYSFUNCTIONAL AT A MERE 64000 MILES (PRODUCT QUALITY) 3.FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS CAUSING THE REVERSE GEAR NOT TO WORK BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD. I AM SURE THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE IMPRESSION OR EXPERIENCE THAT BMW WANTS ME TO HAVE! PLEASE SUGGEST OR ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO. THE CAR IS STILL WITH THE DEALER (UNITED BMW OF ROSWELL, GA PHONE:- 678-832-4600 BMW CUSTOMER RELATION PHONE:- 1-800-831-1117 THANKS, [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054806January 24, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM CAME LOOSE ON MY 2001 BMW 330CI. HAD COMPLAINED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS TO DEALER (VOB BMW - ROCKVILLE, MD) CONCERNING ABNORMAL JERK OF CAR WHEN COMING TO STOP. DEALER INSISTED THAT CAR WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. FINALLY TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT BMW GARAGE (BMW EXCLUSERVICE - ROCKVILLE, MD), AND INFORMED THAT RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS POSSIBILITY RIGHT FRONT TIRE COULD COME OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED CONTROL ARMS WITH REDESIGNED 2004 MODEL YEAR CONTROL ARM. BMW REFUSED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM, WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. I WOULD IMAGINE THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO OTHER CARS IF THEY HAD TO REDESIGN THE CONTROL ARMS. I WOULD THINK THERE SHOULD BE A GOVERNMENT MANDATED RECALL FOR THIS. (I.E. POSSIBILITY OF WHEELS COMING OFF). *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8021338October 22, 2002
WHEELS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED IN THE INSIDE WALL, DUE TO THE WAY THE MANUFACTURER ALIGNS THEM AT TIME OF FACTORY INSTALLATION. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8019717September 27, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. (HAPPENS WEEKLY) THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017562August 29, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHIFT WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE BEEN TODEALER,BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#565749May 13, 2002
TIRES, WHEELS:RIM
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW WITH THE RIMS OR CONTINENTIAL TIRES, DUE TO TIRES DEFLATING AT HIGH SPEEDS.*TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564992April 10, 2002
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING SHAFT FAILED CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A PARKED CAR. DEALER FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS BOTTOMED OUT WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING SHAFT TO BREAK/SHATTER, LETTER IS WRITTEN BY CLARENCE DITLOW FROM THE CENTER OF AUTO SAFETY, CONSUMERS NAME WAS NOT GIVEN. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759397March 15, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
AUXILIARY FAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTERIL FAILURE; THIS CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE EXISTING RECALL / RECALL NEEDED TO BE EXPANDED / THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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