BMW 328i Complaints

2,583 consumer complaints on file.

#10330455May 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN OCTOBER OF 2009 MY LEASED VEHICLE DID NOT START, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IN DETROIT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME. IN JANUARY OF 2010 THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AGAIN, AFTER TESTING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. IN APRIL OF 2010 THE VEHICLE DID NOT START FOR A THIRD TIME. I CONTACTED A DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN; AFTER 5 DAYS THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. I CONTACTED BMW NA AS I FELT THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE AND REASON FOR THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF "INVESTIGATION" BMW NA CONTACTED ME AND STATED THAT DUE TO MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GRANTED THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER LEASE AND WAS SOLD TO ME AS A DEMO VEHICLE WITH ROUGHLY 9000 MILES ALREADY ON IT AT TIME OF LEASE INCEPTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330265May 13, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOORS ON MY 2007 BMW 328I WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE PUSH BUTTON LOCK. I REMOVED THE MANUAL KEY AND WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY HOUSE, I REVIEWED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THE SETTING WAS WRONG WITH THE KEY. PUSHING THE KEY, OPEN-CLOSE BUTTON THE DOORS LOCKED BUT WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD THE FORESIGHT TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN PRIOR TO CHECKING THE LOCK. IF I HAD NOT DONE SO, I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED IN FLORIDA AND COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF LOCKED IN THE CAR WITHOUT A WAY OUT IN THE FLORIDA HEAT. ALSO, THE GAS DOOR WAS LOCKED SHUT AND I WAS UNABLE TO PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE BMW DEALERSHIP (QUALITY IMPORTS- FT WALTON BEACH) AND TOOK THE CAR TO THEM FOR REPAIRS. IT TOOK TWO DAYS INSTEAD OF THE TWO HOURS THAT I WAS PROMISED. ALSO, I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A TECHNICAL REPAIR BULLETIN THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING FAULTY LOCKS ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE. BESIDES THE SAFETY COMPLAINT I FEEL THAT I WAS CHARGES WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF (NO COST TO THE CONSUMER) SINCE THIS VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TALKED WITH CORPORATE BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT ANY ISSUE COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. (I FELT THAT I WAS BLOWN OFF). I WOULD LIKE FOR THE FAULTY DOOR ACTUATORS TO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUE. WHEN ASKING THE DEALERSHIP WHAT THEY MEANT BY A TECHNICAL BULLETIN, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NO SAFETY PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED. I DISAGREE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327309April 25, 2010
TIRES
BRIDGESTONE TURANZA TIRES 225/45R17 DOT 4906 - VERY NOISY TIRES AT 9, 131 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325617April 14, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
REPEATED DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE IN 2007 BMW 3281. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, BOTH REAR DOORS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOORS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321555March 23, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:REAR
BMW 328I YEAR 1999. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A REPUTABLE TECHNICIAN WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH REAR SUB-FRAM SEPERATION AND CRACKING. HE MENTIONED THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHCILE TO LOSE CONTROL. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAVE ONGOING PROBLEM. AFTER ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON WEB, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SAME MODEL YEAR(S) 1999-2002 3 SERIES BMW CARS. I HAVE OVER 200 NAMES MYSELF, OF LOGGED COMPLAINTS ON A BMW BLOG SITE. HERE IS MY COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA AT ABOUT 112K MILES I NOTICED A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAS MULTIPLE STRESS FRACTURES AND SEPERATIONS AT THE POINT WHERE THE MOUNT IS WELDED TO THE UNI-BODY. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINT. INSPECTIONS AT NORMAL INTERVALS. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY 90% OF THE TIME AND THE REST IN RESIDENTIAL STREETS. IT IS A FAMILY CAR AND HAS HAD NO MODIFICATIONS PERIOD. THE CAR WAS PRUCHASED WITH A BMWNA CPO WARRANTY THAT HAS SINCE EXPIRED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO COVER ANY REPAIR COSTS ( ESTIMATED AT >3000 DOLLARS) BMWNA HAS IGNORED REPEATED REQUESTS FROM OWNERS TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. IN FACT, BMW GERMANY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND COVERS THE COST OF REPAIRS, THEY EVEN HAVE A METHOD OF REPAIR. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THE SUSPENSION SHOULD NEVER SEPERATE FROM THE BODY BECAUSE OF TORSIONAL FORCES FROM THE TRANS/DIFF. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I PERSONALLY HAVE A LIST OF OVER 100 NAMES WITH DOCUMENTED SUBFRAME CRACKING/FAILURE OF THE E46 BODY YEARS 1999-2000. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THESE HAVE SUBFRAME DAMAGE AT THE SAME REAR DRIVERS SIDE DIFF MOUNT, IN OTHER WORDS, OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE FAILURE POINTS, THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE IS NEARLY ALWAYS THE FAILURE POINT !! PLEASE I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE NOW.
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
#10312185February 19, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF AND DOOR OPEN WARNING SHOWED UP. IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE ON MY CAR SO FAR BUT A FEW OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR BMW CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE STANDARD RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS "UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM" AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. *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
#10295857December 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES SO I BEGAN TAKING MY VEHICLE TO A LICENSED MECHANIC TO DO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. WHILE DRIVING OVER TO THE MECHANIC FOR A BRAKE CHANGE I WENT TO STOP AND LOST USAGE OF MY BRAKE. THIS RESULTED IN ME MERELY REARENDING THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY MECHANIC REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS; AND THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM. SO HE BEGAN TO LOOK OVER MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE VACUUM BOOST PUMP FOR MY BAKES WAS POSSIBLY BAD. ONCE OPENED IN THAT AREA HE FOUND THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE SPROCKET WAS BROKEN. PART OF THE BOLT WAS REMAINING AND THE REST IS STILL MISSING SOMEWHERE IN MY ENGINE. TOWED MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT DRIVABLE TO BMW OF RIVERSIDE TO HAVE THEM LOOK IT OVER AND FIX THE FAULTY BOLT. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WANTS SERVICED THERE FOR ONE YEAR DUE TO THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO FILE A CLAIM TO INVESTIGATE IT UNDER A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE BMW OF RIVERSIDE SAID IT WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT IT IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE. SUSAN MONJELLI FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FILED MY CLAIM AND HAD A ENGINEER LOOK A MY VEHICLE AGAIN. SHE IS CLAIMING BECAUSE I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC OTHER THAN BMW THAT MY MECHANIC MUST HAVE BROKEN THE BOLT AND THAT IT ISN'T BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY. MY MECHANIC HAS NEVER TOUCHED THIS ITEM. HE STATES THAT THE SPROCKETS AND THE CHAIN ARE LODGED AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IS WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING, NOT BUY HIM WORKING ON IT IN ANY WAY. ALSO THERE IS A WEBSITE SAYING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART IN OLD AND NEW BMW VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295023December 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1999 BMW 328I WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. ENGINE WOULD JUST REV UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $4500.00. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE IN NOREVERSE.ORG. FOR THE BMW. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFAULT FROM BMW AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. PLEASE HELP RENDER THIS ABUSE BY THIS MANUFACTURER. *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
#10291461November 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2007 BMW 328I COUPE, 6-SPEED MANUAL FAILS TO GO INTO 1ST OCCASIONALLY. I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES AND IT STILL SOMETIMES WILL NOT ENGAGE 1ST GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE ISSUE HAS CAUSED ME TO BE STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION TWICE AND IN REVERSE ONCE BY ACCIDENT DUE TO THE PANIC OF NOT ENGAGING 1 ST GEAR. THIS WAS ESCALATED TO THE REGIONAL SERVICE ADVISOR FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND HE STATE THE CAR IS DESIGNED TO DO THIS??? THE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT IS DANGEROUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289202October 21, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
ALL DOORS ON A 2007 BMW 328I, 4-DOOR, WOULD NOT UNLOCK FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. ALL PASSENGERS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE WINDOWS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286086October 2, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MODEL: 2007 BMW 328I. THE ELECTRONIC "DOOR ACTUATORS" FAILED. AS A RESULT, IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN ANY DOOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSIDE, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. WHEN THESE ELECTRONIC DOOR ACTUATORS FAIL, PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE, AND ARE EXPOSED TO INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR IF THE VEHICLE BECOMES SUBMERGED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP (WEATHERFORD BMW, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA) SUGGESTED THAT EVEN IF THE ELECTRONIC DOOR ACTUATORS WERE DISABLED THE DOORS COULD STILL BE OPENED BY PULLING TWICE ON THE OPENING LATCH. HOWEVER, WHEN THIS WAS TRIED, THE DOORS STILL COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE SERVICE ADVISORS DID COMMENT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED IN OTHER 328I MODELS; AND, IN FACT, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. IN VIEW OF THIS EXTREMELY SERIOUS DEFECT WHICH APPARENTLY EXISTS WITH THE 328I MODEL, RESULTING IN TRAPPING PASSENGERS IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTROLLING THE DOORS FAILS, WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THIS DEFECT BE INVESTIGATED, AND THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BE RECALLED SO THAT THE DEFECT CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE DEATHS OR INJURIES OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284997September 23, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1999 BMW 328I 4DR (E46) DOOR LOCK FAILURE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER UNLOCK DOORS WHEN BUTTON IS PRESSED ON FOB OR FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. HAPPENS 2 OUT OF THREE TIME'S DOOR ARE LOCKED, DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN CAR BEGINS TO MOVE. PROBLEM: LOCK NOT OPERATING, TRAP OCCUPANT IN VEHICLE, THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY. THIS IS SERIOUS, YOU CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS TO EXIT THE 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
#10281699August 25, 2009
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A SET OF BRIDGESTONE RUN FLAT POTENZA TIRES ON A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT RELATED RUN FLAT TIRE COMPLAINTS AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT FORM OF TREAD SEPARATION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ASSUME THE REPAIR COST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276419July 11, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING ON FREEWAY ~75 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLS (COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268625May 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I, LIKE THOUSANDS IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, NOW HAVE A BMW THAT THE REVERSE HAS GONE OUT ON. IT IS A 1999 BMW 328I. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS FINE. NO ISSUES PRIOR. JUST ONE DAY AFTER HAVING PARKED SOMEWHERE THE REVERSE WOULD NOT WORK. FROM THE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE I SEE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS THIS HAPPENS TO. DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER HOW MANY MILES A CAR HAS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO BMW YET AS I KNOW WHAT THEY WILL SAY. IF THIS IS THIS BIG A PROBLEM WITH A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE REVERSE GOING OUT THEN BMW NEEDS TO FIX IT. IT IS NOT JUST A FEW HUNDRED CARS. IT IS THOUSANDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268329May 10, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2000 BMW 328I WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FLAW WITH THE BMW'S AS LISTED ON THE NOREVERSE.ORG SITE. BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THE TRANNY. NO REVERSE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PERSONALLY FELL DOWN TRYING TO PUSH MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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