BMW 330i Complaints (2001)
116 consumer complaints on file.
- #10328671May 3, 2010STRUCTURE:BODY
BROKEN WELDS ON FUEL TANK STRAP BRACKET ON PASSENGER SIDE. CAUSED BRACKET TO FALL OFF AND GAS TANK TO HANG LOW TO AN UNSAFE HEIGHT FROM THE GROUND. DANGEROUS TO AN UNKNOWING DRIVER WHO IS NOT AWARE OF THE TRUE DANGER OF THIS FAILURE. THIS IS HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN ON THIS '01 BMW 3 SERIES FROM THREAD BELOW. HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=669079&HIGHLIGHT=GAS+TANK+BRACKET. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10324638April 9, 2010LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW 2001 330I SEDAN (4 DOORS). DOOR LOCKS ARE UNRESPONSIVE DURING HOT DAYS. I LIVE IN ORLANDO FLORIDA AND THIS MEANS ALMOST ALL THE YEAR IS HOT. THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE FOR SAFETY REASONS YOU WILL GET LOCKED IN YOUR CAR. I AM IMAGINE IF YOU HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO LEAVE THE CAR? ONLINE (HTTP://WWW.BMWGM5.COM/) YOU CAN FINE HOW BMW CUSTOMERS ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE GUY ON THAT WEBSITE HAS A FIX FOR THAT ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM MORE THAN 50 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. BMW SHOULD DO A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10302212January 25, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW 330I TRANSMISSIONS REVERSE WENT OUT CHECKING INTERNET SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WAS COMING HOME PUT AUTO IN REVERSE TO PARK IN DRIVE NO REVERSE OUT OF THE BLUE NEED YOUR HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10285882September 30, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE BACKING UP, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY JUMPED OUT OF REVERSE AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. REVERSE COULD NO LONGER BE ENGAGED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED AND EXAMINED. THE REVERSE CLUTCH DRUM HAD SHEARED AND PHYSICALLY FAILED. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD REQUIRED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10285003September 23, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THEIR RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP WAS DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK STRAP. THE TECHNICIAN WELDED THE FUEL TANK STRAP IN PLACE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAS CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279095August 2, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 330I BMW ,81000 MILES NO WARNING LOST REVERSE, WHILE ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE TRYING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE,ALMOST HIT THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME, HAD TO HAVE 3 VALET GUYS PUSH ME INTO THE PARKING SPACE. *TR THEN THE NEXT DAY MY HUSBAND TOOK IT OUT AT FIRST IT WENT INTO REVERSE SO HE DROVE IT PARKED TRIED TO BACK UP THE CAR NO REVERSE, SOMEONE PUSHED THE CAR BACK FOR HIM IT HIT ANOTHER CAR AND DAMAGED THE HEADLIGHT AND DENTED IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10277635July 21, 2009AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS LOCATED 70 MILES AWAY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10276417July 11, 2009UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WINDOWS WILL NOT FUNCTION, NEITHER UP NOR DOWN. THE REGULATORS PLASTIC FAILS PREMATURELY DUE TO FATIGUE. THIS OCCURS ON MOST 3SERIES AND 5SERIES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275630July 2, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
UNABLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK CAR DOORS. DEALER STATES THE GMV COMPUTER MODULE HAS FAILED AND THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE TO ALLOW DOORS TO BE OPENED. THIS SITUATION PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL PASSENGERS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273688June 13, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A BMW 2001 3330I. THE CAR HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ONE YEAR, PURCHASED USED WITH 106,000 MILES. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE REVERSE GEAR DISENGAGED. THE REVERSE GEAR HAS NOT WORKED SINCE, APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE OTHER GEARS WORK FINE. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10272829June 4, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 BMW 330I NO REVERSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10263652March 30, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT FAN WAS NOT WORKING AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT COOL DOWN. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THE ENGINE WAS CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 81,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10262593March 20, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 BMW 330I, 88,500 MILES. REVERSE FAILED COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR HAS THE ZF5HP19 TRANSMISSION WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE THE COMMON PROBLEM OF THE D-G CLUTCH DRUM FAILING. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED WITH NO SYMPTOMS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE REVERSE DRUM AT A COST OF $2116.34. I HAVE A COPY OF THE SERVICE ORDER AND HAVE IN MY POSSESSION THE FAILED PART. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260826March 5, 2009AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WE WERE DRIVING MY 2001 BMW 330I THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT (70 MPH) IN MISSOURI ON HWY 57 NORTHBOUND IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE WHEN SUDDENLY, AT MILE MARKER 19, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE AIRBAGS HITTING HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE FACE, UP AGAINST HIS RIGHT ARM AND ELBOW, AND COVERING HIM WITH A LIGHT, WHITE POWDER. HE QUICKLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR AND MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD ON TO THE RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER, HITTING SEVERAL POTHOLES, SLICING INTO THE BOTH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES (SLICING THE SIDEWALLS) , DAMAGING THE RIMS AND DAMAGING THE ALIGNMENT ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND AVOID HAVING THE CAR CAREEN DOWN THE EMBANKMENT INTO THE RAVINE AND OFF INTO THE WOODS. UPON INSPECTION BY US AND BY TROOPER SPAIN FROM THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL IT BECAME CLEAR THAT NO COLLISION OR ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. MEANING, NONE OF US COULD LOCATE ANY EXTERIOR DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE POSSIBLY DUE TO FLYING DEBRIS OR HITTING ANOTHER CAR, NOR COULD WE FIND ANY ROAD HAZARDS LIKE POTHOLES IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. APPARENTLY BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED (WITHOUT CAUSE) BREAKING THE WINDOW, HITTING THE DRIVER AND DESTROYING THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANELING AND RESULTING IN OTHER DAMAGE AS HE TRIED TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. WITH SOME DIRECTION FROM THE STATE TROOPER, WE TOOK PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE ON ALL SIDES; THE TIRE MARKS ON THE ROAD; THE GLASS ON THE ROAD WHERE THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED (IN THE CENTER OF THE HIGHWAY SHOWING NO POTHOLES) AND ALL THE INTERIOR DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS JUST SERVICED BY PERILLO BMW IN CHICAGO IN PREPARATION FOR THIS ROADTRIP - WHERE THE OIL AND BELTS WERE CHANGED. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR WAS NOT ON AND DID NOT COME ON DURING OUR TRIP. I HAVE THE ACCIDENT REPORT; PHOTOS; AND CAR RECORDS DATING BACK TO 2001 INCLUDING WORK FROM ALL PREVIOUS OWNERS PROVING NO PRIOR ACCIDENTS OR POSSIBLE CAUSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10225427April 22, 2008VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
I JUST BOUGHT MY 2001 330I BMW TWO MONTHS AGO WITH 103,000 MILES ON IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY WANT $2000 TO PUT A NEW ONE IN. I THEN LOOKED AROUND HERE AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. ALSO I HAD TO CHANGE TWO OF THE WINDOW REGULATORS. - ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW. IS BMW DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? WHY DOES BMW MAKE THE PUBLIC PAY FOR THE PROBLEMS THEY MADE? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10210342November 29, 2007POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
DESIGN FLAW IN TRANSMISSION, SPECIFICALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER, ON 2000-2002 E46. REQUIRING REBUILDING AND OR REPLACING TORQUE CONVERTER. BMW IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS AND IS WIDESPREAD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10200375August 21, 2007EQUIPMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS AFTERMARKET CHROME ARROW CORNER LIGHTS (MANUFACTURER UNKNOWN, PART #MHB17926/156). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE LIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT COME WITH A SEAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT ON THE LIGHTS AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE A REFUND. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE AD ONLINE AND EMAILS VIA CONSUMER'S REQUEST. THE CONSUMER STATED WANTED A REFUND DUE TO THE FACT THE LIGHTS HAVE A DEFECT. UPDATED 09/10/07 *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10160437June 22, 2006UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SEPARATION AND DELAMINATION OF INTERIOR CLOTH ON INTERIOR HEADER AND INTERIOR SUPPORT PILLARS CLOTH IN REAR WAS OBSTRUCTING REAR VIEW DO TO DROPPING DOWN. COST OF REPLACEMENT $1499.27. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10159940June 15, 2006AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
IN JANUARY 2006, THE TROUBLE LIGHT IN OUR 2001 BMW 330I, SIGNALED THAT THE COMPUTER THAT ACTIVATES THE AIR BAGS HAD FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER INDICATES THAT HE HAS 3 OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT TO THIS DATE HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SECURE THE PROPER REPLACEMENT PARTS IN THE U.S AND IS ON BACK ORDER TO THE FACTORY IN GERMANY. DURING THE PAST 4 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT AIR BAGS IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF THE PROPER REPLACEMENT PARTS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10155135April 12, 2006EQUIPMENT, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
MY WIFE WHO LIVES IN FLATONIA, TX AND WHO DROVE MY 2001 BMW 330I THAT I BOUGHT FOR HER TO DRIVE TOLD ME THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD FALLEN OFF AND THAT SHE HAD TO HOLD IT IN PLACE TO SEE REAR TRAFFIC AND THAT ACTION WAS VERY DANGEROUS. IMMEDIATELY, I SWITCHED CARS SO I COULD GET THE BMW REPAIRED. I WENT TO BMW OF AUSTIN TO GET THE REAR VIEW MIRROR REAPPLIED. AFTER A LOT OF WORK, THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THE GLUE THEY USE TO HOLD THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ON THEIR WINDSHIELDS DOES NOT WORK ON THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS A OEM ONE MAD E BY PPG THAT HAS A TYPE OF PAINT ON IT WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS ATTACHED THAT THEIR GLUE DOES NOT WORK ON. THE SERVICE WRITER CALLED AROUND AUSTIN TO FIND AN OPEN PPG DEALER WHO TOLD HIM THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO GET IN REPAIRED IF I GO THERE IMMEDIATELY. I DID. BUT AS THE MAN INSTALLED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HE TOLD ME THAT ONCE THEY START FALLING OFF THEY CONTINUE TO BECAUSE IT''S AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH PPG WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS BMW. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO PPG ASKING FOR HELP WITH THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. TO DATE, I HAVE RECEIVED NO REPLY OF ANY KIND TO THIS E-MAIL. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, IT FELL OFF AGAIN. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT SOME PPG RETAILERS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE TRAINED AND EQUIPPED TO DO A BETTER JOB THAT ''STANDARD'' PPG RETAILERS. I FOUND ONE IN GEORGETOWN. I TOOK MY BMW THERE. THE DESK PERSON WHO HELPED ME TOLD ME THAT THERE IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH REAR VIEW MIRRORS STAYING ON PPG WINDSHIELDS FOR THIS MODEL OF BMWS. THE INSTALLER SAID THAT HE HAD A NEW TWO PART ADHESIVE THAT SHOULD DO THE TRICK. HE INSTALLED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. IT FELL OFF A FEW WEEKS LATER. I AGAIN SENT AN E-MAIL TO PPG SEVERELY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR BMW WINDSHIELDS. TO DATE I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REPLAY FORM PPG. THE ONLY SOLUTION PPG IS OFFERING TO RESOLVE THIS OBVIOUSLY KNOWN DANGEROUS SITUATION IS TO REPLACE THE UNUSABLE PPG WINDSHIELD WITH A BMW WINDSHIELD THAT COSTS ABOUT $470.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0