2003 BMW 3 Series complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 3SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. AFTER CHECKING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE TAIL LIGHT APPEARED TO BE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

IN 2010 THE SUNROOF WENT BAD I TALKED TO A BMW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEM, IN AUGUST OF 2011 I NOTICED THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND BLINKERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPER,NOR WAS MY HORN,AND THE DRIVERS WINDOW REGULATORS ARE BINDING UP, ALSO A BRAKE HOSE FROM MY BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE ENGINE IS COLLAPSED IN TWO SPOTS. ??*TR

HEADLIGHTS FAIL RANDOMLY. HEADLIGHTS FLICKER, TURN OFF, TURN BACK ON. INDEPENDENT OF SPEED OR WEATHER CONDITIONS. BULB TESTING AFTER THIS FAILURE INDICATE THAT THE BULBS ARE NOT FAILING (THEY ARE NOT BURNED OUT). *TR

THE COOLING FAN BROKE LOOSE SPONTANEOUSLY AND FLEW THROUGH THE AIR CUTTING THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND RIPPING THROUGH THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MOMENTS PRIOR THE HOOD HAD BEEN OPEN WITH PEOPLE STANDING AROUND LOOKING AT THE HOSES. HAD THE FAN BROKE LOOSE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED PEOPLE. *TR

THE LOW BEAM REFLECTORS ON 2003-2004 ZKW BRANDED HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE XENON OEM HID HEADLIGHTS ON THE 3 SERIES BMW FROM THAT MODEL YEAR (SEDAN) WERE MADE OF SOME PAINTED MATERIAL THAT DEGRADED WHEN SUBJECTED TO THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE OEM XENON BULBS. THIS RESULTS IN A SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED LIGHT OUTPUT AS THE REFLECTOR BECAME SCORCHED. IF IT'S BAD ENOUGH, THERE IS NO LIGHT BEING PROJECTED ON THE ROAD AND IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE ANYTHING WITH THE NORMAL HEADLIGHTS. EITHER THE HIGH BEAMS HAVE TO BE USED OR THE FOGLIGHTS HAVE TO BE TURNED ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT BMW AND ZKW WERE AND ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AS THE NEWER, REDESIGNED HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT OEM HEADLIGHTS COST $1200 FOR EACH SIDE. *TR

ON 2003-2004 BMW 3 SERIES E46 SEDANS WITH OEM ZKW MANUFACTURED XENON (HID) HEADLIGHTS, THE REFLECTIVE BOWL FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME DISCOLORED AND NON-REFLECTIVE AFTER NORMAL USE WITH OEM BULBS. OVER TIME, THE HEAT FROM THE OEM BULB WILL SCORCH THE REFLECTIVE BOWL AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCE LIGHT OUTPUT TO UNSAFE LEVELS FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING. BMW HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE DESIGN FLAW, AND NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE OTHER THAN THE ENTIRE EXPENSIVE, NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT WILL SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THOUGH BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AN ISSUE EXISTS, BMW CHANGED THE XENON HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DESIGN FOR LATER MODEL YEARS TO A METAL REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY THAT DOES NOT DEGRADE WHEN EXPOSED TO THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES OF THE OEM XENON BULBS. THESE NEWER DESIGNED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES TO NOT SUFFER FROM ANY REDUCTION IN LIGHT OUTPUT WITH USE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DETECTION MATT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN IN REGARDS TO DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,606. UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BMW AGREED TO SHARE THE COST WITH THE HIM. UPDATED 07/28/11

LENS COVER FOR HEAD LIGHTS ON BMW 325 I WITH ONLY 65K IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE SEVERELY OXIDIZED LIMITING VISION AT NIGHT. CALLED BMW AND BASICALLY STATED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR

CENTRAL LOCKING WONT WORK, THE KEY DOES NOT OPEN THE DOORS LIGHT COMES ON TO SAY DOOR OPEN BUT THEY DON'T AND ALSO DRIVER DOOR OPENS WITH KEY THE INTERNAL BUTTON ALSO DOES NOT OPEN THE DOORS, INTERMITTENT FAULT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE BRAKE LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR BULB SEVERAL TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

BMW E46 3 SERIES - ZKW HEADLIGHTS- VERY LOW LIGHT OUTPUT THE ZKW HEADLIGHTS HAVE A DESIGN FLAW IN WHICH AFTER 2-3 YEARS OF USE, THEY DIM TO AROUND 20% OF THE ORIGINAL LIGHT OUTPUT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT COMES TO NIGHT DRIVING. SOMEONE DRIVING WITH THIS ISSUE IS NEARLY COMPLETELY BLIND DRIVING AROUND AT NIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO THE PROJECTOR REFLECTOR BOWL BEING MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, AND MELTING FROM THE HEAT. THIS CAUSES THE LIGHT TO BLEED OUT FROM THE BACKSIDE OF THE LIGHT INTO THE HOUSING, INSTEAD OF FORWARD ONTO THE ROAD. BMW NOTED THIS FLAW BY REPLACED THE ZKW HEADLAMPS WITH AL BRANDED HEADLAMPS IN ALL THE NEWER BMWS IN 2005 AND ON. THE AL BRANDED HEADLIGHTS REPLACED THE PLASTIC BOWL WITH METAL BOWLS. HOWEVER, ALL E46 3 SERIES SEDANS FROM 2003-2004 STILL HAVE THESE FAULTY ZKW HEADLAMPS. THERE IS NO EASY FIX TO THIS PROBLEM, AS BMW DOES NOT SELL THE BOWLS SEPARATELY. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS, WHICH COSTS AROUND $2000. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT NEARLY EVERY 2003-2004 3 SERIES SEDAN WITH OEM XENON HEADLAMPS FACES THIS ISSUE. OWNERS DO NOT FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO THE HEAVY COSTS. *TR

1. ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING ROUGHLY ON START UP (FOR A FEW SECONDS) FOR A FEW DAYS. ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT, WHILE STARTING CAR TO HEAD BACK HOME, CAR STARTED VERY ROUGHLY (FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME). CAR THEN CLEARED UP. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 55-60 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD TO STEER THE CAR FROM THE LEFT-HAND LANE ONTO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC (DIFFICULT TO STEER). 2. THE ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE ENGINE DIED WHILE I DROVE THE CAR. 3. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK, THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. *TR

REAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY (TURN SIGNAL, PARKING LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT) MALFUNCTIONS OCCASIONALLY AND NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK THUS, POSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN VEHICLE IN MOTION, TURNING AND ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. IT APPEARS THAT THE WIRE CONNECTOR IN THE ASSEMBLY IS BURNING OUT THUS CAUSING A SHORT, I HAVE TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM MYSELF BY CLEANING THE BURNED PARTS OF THE WIRE AND RECONNECTING AND PROTECTING WITH ELECTRIC TAPE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED SINCE BOTH LIGHTS FAILED. TSB ACTION NUMBER 10025585 WAS RELATED TO THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING A RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER ESCALATION PROCESS TO FOLLOW REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE TAIL LIGHTS SINCE A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,578. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED 10/21/10*JB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO RECALL 11V438000 BEING ISSUED. UPDATED 05/17/12

I WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF A BMW 325I THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. AGE - 2003, MILES 60,000. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT A CAR WITH SO LOW MILES, HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN GENTLY HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE WEB, I FIND THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH BMW'S. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE? HOW CAN BMW SAY THIS IS NOT THEIR ISSUE WHEN CLEARLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS. I'M SPENDING AN ADDITIONAL 6,000 ON THIS CAR. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BMW AND SOLD THE 325 TO A CLOSE FRIEND. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AS I COULD NOT EXPECT THEM TO PAY FOR IT. PRIOR TO THE SALE, THE CAR CHECKED OUT WITH BMW. LITTLE DID I KNOW 2 WKS LATER IT WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHICH APPEARS TO BE A STANDARD PROBLEM WITH BMW. I REGRET THAT I BOUGHT A NEW ONE. *TR

FORMAL PETITION FOR SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION, AFTER REPLACING THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS IN ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE THEY CONTINUED TO BURN OUT, AFTER TAKING THE BULB HOUSING COVER OFF, I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THE BROWN WIRE IN THE UNIT HAD MELTED THE ENTIRE CONNECTION. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP THIS IS A KNOWN FLAW AS THE GROUND WIRE IS NOT ADEQUATE TO HANDLE THE POWER COMING THROUGH, THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE REAR-ENDED 4 TIMES WHEN THE LIGHT SUDDENLY WILL STOP WORKING BMW USA WHOM I CONTACTED IS AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION, AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR UPDATED 04/27/09. *JB

2003 BMW 325XI SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED TO PARK OR APPROACHING LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. NO ACCIDENTS, BUT IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. ENGINE RAVES TO 4000 - 6000RPM, VERY HARD TO HOLD THE BRAKES. SO FAR I HAVE ONLY GOTTEN A MOVING VIOLATION TICKET FOR NOT STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN, WHILE RETURNING FROM THE THIRD BMW SERVICE INSPECTION AND BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. BMW CAN NOT OBSERVE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND PERHAPS I AM HITTING THE WRONG PEDAL. I HAVE WITNESSES THAT WERE IN A CAR WITH ME THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. IT ALSO HAPPENED WHILE MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR. BY RESEARCHING IT ON MY OWN I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 325I AND 325CI SERIES OF THE SAME YEAR THAT IS MINE. BECAUSE MY CAR IS 325XI SERVICE WOULD NOT EVEN TRY TO APPLY THE RECOMMENDED REMEDY. THE SERVICE IS TRYING, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S AGAINST THE BMW POLICY TO PROCEED WITHOUT EXPERIENCING THE ACTUAL PROBLEM TALKED TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE FOUR TIMES, VERY POLITE, BUT NO ACTION SO FAR. *TR

ERRATIC IDLE. . . WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, CAR IN NEUTRAL, THE RPMS REV IN SPIKES FROM 500 TO 1500, UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN. THE CAR NEVER RESETS TO A CONSTANT IDLE. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP 8 - 9 TIMES OVER 18 DAYS TOTAL. NO SOLUTION. TECH TOLD ME BMW KNOW OF PROBLEM BUT HAS NO PLANS TO FIND A FIX. *JB

I WAS TOLD THAT MY TIRE HAD A DEFECT BUT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A TIRE DEFECT BUT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING SINCE HE WORKED FOR THE COMPANY. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A BULGE CAUSED BY A POT HOLE BUT IT WAS NOT DANGEROUS. WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND LITERALLY LIFTED THE CAR UP ON TWO WHEELS. I WAS SO SCARED AND UPSET AFTER I REGAINED CONTROL THAT I CALLED THE COMPANY AND THEY SAID OH WELL. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TIRES SINCE THEY WERE PUT ON LAST SUMMER. THEY BOUNCE CONSTANTLY BUT YET COOPER DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR SO CALLED HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES. *JB

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FILE A COMPLAINT BUT NOW IT IS WORSE. ONE OF THE TIRES FROM COOPER THAT I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT BLEW OUT FORCING MY CAR UP ON TWO WHEELS. I MANAGE TO CONTROL THE CAR WITHOUT FLIPPING. DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I AM KILLED OR SOMEONE IS HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JB

I PURCHASED COOPER TIRES LAST SUMMER AND DO NOT HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THEM AND THEY ARE STARTING TO FALL APART. I HAD TO REPLACE ONE BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS DAMAGE BECAUSE OF A POT HOLE. NOW I HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS A KNOT IN IT AND I AM TOLD THAT IT IS DUE TO A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE TIRE CAUSE BY A POTHOLE.. IT SEEMS LIKE I AM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN AND BLONDE. TWO YEARS AGO MY DAUGHTER HAD TO HAVE ALL 4 OF HER TIRES REPLACED THAT WERE COOPER BECAUSE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIAL HAD FLAT SIDES. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE XENON HEADLIGHT OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. CAR HAD TO GO TO DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT PARTS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO FIX. FOR SAFETY I HAVE RESTRICTED VEHICLE TO DAYTIME DRIVING ONLY BECAUSE I CANNOT DEPEND ON THE HEADLIGHTS TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 2003 325XI ON COUNTY HIWAY SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE RIGHT TURN TO ABOUT 15-20 MPH. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM TRANSMISSION AREA (PREVIOUS FAILURE OF TRANS. COMP. MODULE @ 1500 MILES-REPLACED BY DEALER) AND VEHICLE LOCKE UP, HARD ENOUGH FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE TO MOVE FORWARD AGAINST THE SEAT BELTS. PRESSED ON ACCELARATOR, MOTOR RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND. DODGE TRUCK STRUCK MY VEHICLE IN REAR, DRIVER AND WITNESSES SAW NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATION I WAS STOPPED OTHER THAN NOT MOVING FORWARD. SHUT CAR OFF. HAD TO RESTART CAR TO MOVE SAME TO SIDE OF ROAD, RESPNDED NORMALLY. TOWED TO DEALER, UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING ABNORMAL. BMW TO SEND ENGINEER TO SHOP.*AK