BMW 330i Complaints (2001)

116 consumer complaints on file.

#10477461September 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN
NO WARNING LIGHT. PUT IN REVERSE AND I HEARD A POP NOISE. I THOUGHT MY STUFF WAS MOVING IN TRUNK. PUT IN GEAR AND DROVE. WHEN I CAME TO FULL STOP AND TRY TO REVERSE. IT DOESN'T WORK. MORE LIKE REVERSE WAS IN NEUTRAL. ALL OTHER GEAR IS FINE EXCEPT REVERSE. I HAVE A BMW 330I SEDAN, 2001 3L. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. I BEEN DRIVING ON AND OFF WITH THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS SINCE GAS IS EXPENSIVE. NOW IT COMPLETELY DIED. THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I HEARD SEPTONIC TRANSMISSION ARE MADE BY GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471001August 12, 2012
POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE METAL STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK JUST BROKE OFF. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN METAL GRINDING AND JUMPING AROUND (LIKE A NEEDLE ON A SCRATCHED RECORD/ A CD) THE BRACKET TO WHICH THE FORWARD END OF THIS STRAP MOUNTED TO THE UNDERBODY BROKE FREE LEAVING A GASH LIKE TEAR ON THE UNDERBODY. I AM HAVING THE CAR SERVICED FOR REPAIRS, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE PARTS DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE ANY FIXABLE SOLUTION FOR THE MISHAP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD DO WAS TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO HAVE A FABRICATED PIECE MADE. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS INCIDENT AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER BMW OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME INCIDENT. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF REVERSE. THE DRIVE GEAR SEEMS TO BE FINE; HOWEVER, THE REVERSE IS NOT OPERATING. I AM NOW LOOKING INTO HAVING IT SERVICED FOR THAT ISSUE AS WELL. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DID TELL ME THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN CAMPAIGN ON THE TRANSMISSION (THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS ONLY FOR PROGRAMMING ISSUES). I HAD ALSO FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE AS WELL. I KNOW THAT THEY HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE TWO TYPES OF TRANSMISSION (THE GM AND THE ZF TRANSMISSION). THERE WAS A MENTION THAT IT COULD BE A FAULTY SOLENOID OR THE REVERSE DRUM HAS BROKEN/ SHREDDED. NONE THE LESS YOU CAN PLACE INTO "REVERSE" AND GIVE IT GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS NO MOVEMENT UNLESS YOU PLACE INTO "DRIVE." MY CAR DOES HAVE THE STEPTRONIC FEATURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467637July 25, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2001 BMW 330I IS EXPERIENCING TAIL LIGHT PROBLEMS. THE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AND WHEN ACTIVATING IT, IT BLINKS TWICE AS FAST ON THE FRONT AND SIDE MARKER. ON THE DISPLAY PANEL IT SHOWS THE REAR RIGHT SIGNAL IS OUT. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS ALSO OUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW AT LEAST. THE CAR DISPLAY ON THE DASH INDICATES THAT THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT. I HAVE CHANGED EVERYBULB IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WHICH FIXED NOTHING. I THEN DISCONNECTED THE THE TAILIGHT CONNECTOR ON EACH SIDE TO REVEAL THAT SOME OF THE PINS INSIDE OF THE CONNECTION HAVE MELTED AWAY. I AM POSITIVE THAT IS THE PROBLEM AS IT IS WITH THE 2002-2005 MODEL 3 SERIES. I CALLED BMW ABOUT THE RECALL AND OF COURSE 2001 IS NOT INCLUDED YET! I HOPE THIS GETS FIXED SOON. IT IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT AND DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456432April 25, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FOR 2002-2005 BMW (VARIOUS MODELS) REGARDING THE REAR LIGHTS. WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS IN OUR 2001 330I. THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND THE TURN SIGNAL BLINKS AND THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND IS TWICE AS FAST AS NORMAL. I AM WRITING TO MAKE YOUR DEPARTMENT AWARE THAT THE MODEL YEARS SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE 2001 BMW 330I. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444547January 19, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UPON EXITING THE FREEWAY A HORRIBLE, CONTINUOUS METALLIC SCRAPING NOISE BEGAN. I HAD HEARD THIS PERIODICALLY ON MY DRIVE, BUT UNTIL NOW IT WAS NOT CONTINUOUS. LOOKING UNDER THE CAR, I COULD SEE THE METAL GAS TANK STRAP HANGING AND RESTING ON THE GROUND. IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT THAT FAILED, SO THE STRAP WAS POINTING FORWARD. I ASSUME IT WAS ONLY PERIODICALLY AT FIRST BECAUSE IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR MY ACTUAL GAS TANK TO SLIP DOWN FORCING THE STRAP AGAINST THE ASPHALT. KNOWING THAT A METAL STRAP WAS SCRAPING AND POSSIBLY SPARKING AGAINST THE ASPHALT NEXT TO MY SAGGING GAS TANK, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440713December 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN
2001 330I BMW. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH REVERSE IN TRANSMISSION. *TGW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437563November 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
MY 2001 BMW 330I STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE LAST WEDNESDAY. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AS I WAS VERY SUPRISED TO SEE DOZENS OF WEBSITES DEDICATED TO THIS NO REVERSE ISSUE. HOW COME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS COMMON FAILURE? *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432620October 24, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL PUMP/TANK SENDING UNIT BEHIND PASSENGER'S SEAT IS LEAKING FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. STRONG GASOLINE VAPORS ARE PRESENT IN THE CABIN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW MINUTES AFTER A FILL UP. THESE VAPORS POSE A SIGNIFICANT EXPLOSION/FIRE HAZARD SHOULD SOMEONE BE SMOKING AS THEY ENTER THE VEHICLE OR SHOULD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND BECOME AN IGNITION SOURCE. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY IS VIEWED FROM THE TOP, THERE IS AN ENCLOSED PLASTIC CYLINDRICAL PIECE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER WITH A BALL SHAPED END, THAT IS LEAKING AT THE TOP. FAILURE OF THE FUEL/PRESSURE RETAINING PLASTIC COMPONENTS ON FUEL PUMPS AND SENDER UNITS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS SIMILAR (UNREPORTED) LEAKING PROBLEMS ARE FOUND WHEN RESEARCHING SIMILAR VEHICLES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB. REFERENCE : ODI 10426736. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422910September 1, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW 3 SERIES (E36-E46) 1991-2005 WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK CONSTANTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407549June 20, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BWI 330I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399582May 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REVERSE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. ALL OTHER FORWARD GEARS WORK FINE - (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BASED ON A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 3 SERIES BMW'S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393124March 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN AN AUTOMATIC 2001 BMW 330I. I HAVE HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ON MARCH 28, 2010, I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE (2 MINUTES LATER - WITHOUT STOPPING THE ENGINE) THE CAR DID NOT MOVE BACKWARDS. I PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT AND PUT IT BACK INTO REVERSE AND PRESSED ON THE GAS. THE VEHICLE REV'S UP BUT DOES NOT MOVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT SEEMS THE 2001 330I POWER TRAIN IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS EVEN WITH ALL MAINTENANCE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384616February 26, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NOTHING LED TO THE PROBLEM BUT MY BMW REVERSE STOPPED WORKING. LAST FALL THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED PER RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. NO REVERSE HAS STOPPED WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379506January 28, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
BMW 330I 2001 HAS LOCK AND UNLOCKING PROBLEM. MY MOTHER IN-LAW WHO IS HOLD HAS TO CLIMB TO GET OUT. I FOUND OUT RESEARCHING IN THE INTERNET THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378359January 23, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NOTHING HAPPENED LEADING UP TO MY TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO REVERSE. IT JUST FAILED AND WON'T ENGAGE. FOUND OUT THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY ON BMW TRANSMISSION. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372751December 20, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
ENGINE STALLS ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEED, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY RE-START THE ENGINE EVERY TIME BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASH OTHERWISE. THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER 2008 (AND AFTER 60K MILES), BOTH AT LOW SPEED ON LOCAL ROADS AND AT 45 ~ 55 MPH ON HIGHWAYS, SUMMER OR WINTER CONDITIONS, WITH OR WITHOUT AC TURNED ON. OCCURRENCES ARE INFREQUENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. REPORTED TO MY BMW DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. OTHERWISE, THE VEHICLE DRIVES PERFECTLY FINE AND I LOVE IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363067October 31, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATORS (ALL WINDOWS) FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS DUE TO MANUFACTURE DESIGN IN EQUIPMENT. IF WINDOW STOPS WORKING IN THE OPEN POSITION YOUR STUCK UNTIL REPAIRED. THE REPAIR LASTS A SHORT TIME AND THEN THE REGULATOR BREAKS AGAIN. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE IF ONE IS IN A SITUATION WERE THE AUTO NEEDS TO BE LOCK OR DRIVEN ON A FREEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347850August 6, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL, ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS RIDING ALONE & NOTHING WAS IN THE SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP & THAT WAS WHEN THE MAN WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR SAID THAT IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT UNLESS SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. ALSO, MY CAR ONE DAY JUST WOULDN'T UNLOCK OR IT WOULD START NOT LOCKING USING THE REMOTE. I USED THE KEY AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK. IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER NOT TOUCHING IT FOR A FEW DAYS. MONTHS AFTER, IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. ID BE LOCKED OUT OR LOCKED IN. IT WOULDN'T WORK USING THE REMOTE, KEY, NOR MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE. NOW, THE DRIVER DOOR WONT OPEN AT ALL, THUS I HAVE TO CRAWL ACROSS THE SEAT TO DRIVE. THE BACK BLINKER STARTED DIMMING SO WE TOOK IT TO GET IT REPLACED BUT THE MAN SAID IT WASN'T THE BULB BUT MAYBE THE WIRING. IM STARTING TO THINK MAYBE THE WIRING IS CAUSING THE MISHAPS IN THE LOCKS AND DOORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331509May 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR'S TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR. ELECTRICAL DETECTS REVERSE GEAR, REVERSE LIGHTS, BACKUP SENSORS AND MIRRORS FUNCTIONAL, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT REVERSE, ACTS AS IF CAR IS IN NEUTRAL. NOTICED ONLINE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIRS: OVER $5,000. PRICE PAID FOR VEHICLE IN PERFECT CONDITION: $9,000. MILEAGE, 105K. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328769May 4, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON MONDAY MAY 3RD, 2010, I STARTED MY 2001 BMW 330I AND SELECTED THE REVERSE GEAR ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE CAR DID NOT MOVE IN THE REVERSE GEAR, IT DRIVES FORWARD WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS AND POSTINGS ON THE WEB. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST BMW AS IT SEEMS THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY AND SUBSTANDARD SPECIFICATIONS WERE USED IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED ON MONDAY MAY 17TH , 2010 I AM SURE THE COST AND EXTENT WILL BE EVIDENT AT THAT TIME. AS I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE REVERSE IS FAILURE OF THE D CLUTCH DRUM , BECAUSE THE SNAP RING COMES OFF OF THE DRUM , AFTER THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS DIFFERENT ON EACH TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A POOR INFERIOR DESIGN, AND BMW IS AWARE OF IT. THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE CLUTCH DRUM ,TO MOVE THE SNAP RING AWAY FROM THE DRUM'S EDGE AND CONSTRUCTED THE DRUM OF STRONGER MATERIAL AND AN INCREASED OF THE DRUMS THICKNESS. THE REDESIGNED AND IMPROVED MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE FROM BMW AND THE REPAIR COST MAY EXCEED THE CURRENT VALUE OF SOME OF THE BMW MODELS AFFECTED. IT'S THE COST IN TIME AND DOLLARS TO ME OF A POOR AND KNOWING INFERIOR DESIGN AND MATERIAL APPLICATION, A WILLFUL DECISION ON BMW'S PART AS WAS THE DESIGN AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION FOR THEIR COIL SUSPENSION SPRINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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