1999 BMW 323i complaints

I DRIVE A 1999 BMW 323I, TODAY THE REVERSE STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON AT ALL. DROVE FINE THIS MORNING, I PULLED INTO A STORE TO RUN AN ERRAND AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE REVERSE WAS NO LONGER WORKING. I NOW READ THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL BUT THAT BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS, THIS IS UNFORTUNATE AS I'VE ALWAYS LIKED BMWS BUT NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS UNSAFE AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *TR

I DISCOVERED ONE MORNING THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD "CATCH", BUT IT WOULDN'T ACTUALLY GO ANYWHERE. I TOWED IT TO MY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY QUOTED ME $6000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I FOUND A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO QUOTED ME $1600-$3500 TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF REPLACE, SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED A SECOND TIME OVER TO THEM. SHOP CALLED BACK AND SAID NEITHER BMW OR GM WILL SELL HIM ALL THE PARTS HE NEEDS TO DO FIX IT. BMW DOESN'T OFFER THEM (ONLY WHOLE TRANSMISSIONS), AND GM WON'T WARRANTY THE PARTS IF THEY'RE INSTALLED ON A BMW. HE ALSO SAID HE'D DONE SOME RESEARCH ON MY CONCERNS WITH THE 1999 TRANSMISSION, AND THAT THERE WERE NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FROM BMW ON IT. THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON THE 2000 ZL MODEL TRANSMISSION BUT NOT ON MINE (WHICH HE SAID WAS A 5L40-E MODEL), SO HE DOESN'T THINK THERE'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. BMW STARTED USING THE 5L40-E TRANSMISSION HALFWAY THROUGH 1999 WHEN THEY CHANGED THE 323 OVER FROM THE E36 TO THE E46 CHASSIS. AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS A NEW COMPLAINT ON THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS PAGE ALMOST DAILY REGARDING FAILURE TO GO IN REVERSE, BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A SINGLE SERVICE BULLETIN. THIS SAME TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, WAS ALSO USED IN THE 2003 CADILLAC CTS, OF WHICH THERE ARE OVER 30 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. TWO OF THESE SPECIFICALLY MENTION FAILURE IN REVERSE. WHY WILL CADILLAC AT LEAST ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM, BUT BMW MAKES NO MENTION OF IT IN A VEH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SMALL BUMP AT 23 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY SUFFERED SOME FINANCIAL LOSS BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 02V223000 AND 99V063000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,500.

I HAVE A '99 BMW 323I. MY CAR RECENTLY REACHED 100,000 MILES AND HAVE STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR WILL SHIFT TO REVERSE BUT WITH NO EFFECT. I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER BMW OWNERS AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND COST 5000 DOLLARS TO FIX. IM IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND CANT AFFORD TO FIX A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I I AM BEING DEPLOYED AND AM WORRIED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE IM GONE WILL BE DANGEROUS FOR MY WIFE. I FEEL LIKE BMW SHOULD PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR BECAUSE ITS THEIR BAD CHOICE FOR CHOOSING FAULTY ENGINES. THEY VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

1999 BMW 3-SERIES TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 108K MILES DUE TO FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

DROVE INTO A PARKING SPOT A WORK AND COULD NOT BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE ONCE ON REVERSE, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE! AFTER HAVING SPENT $2,500 JUST 3 WEEKS PRIOR ON OTHER REPAIRS. *TR

I OWN A 1999 BMW 323I. RECENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO GO ON WHEN I WOULD DRIVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT INTO THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND IT TOOK ABOUT 3 DIAGNOSTIC VISITS TO DETERMINE THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $6K. MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT. I THEN TOOK IT TO SEVERAL BMW SPECIALIST AUTO SHOPS WHO EXPLAINED TO ME IN FULL DETAIL THE ISSUE THAT THIS GM TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN TO HAVE. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION FAILS IN 5TH GEAR AND DEFAULTS TO 4TH GEAR, WHICH NOT ONLY CAUSES IT TO DRIVE DIFFERENTLY, BUT CAN CAUSE OTHER EXPENSIVE ISSUES. AFTER READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION, I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT BMW HAS LET THIS GO AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM DISAPPOINTED W/ THE POOR QUALITY OF THE AMERICAN MADE TRANSMISSION, AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BMW AGAIN. *TR

I NOTICE IT MORE ON HOT DAYS, MY KEY BUTTON DOES NOT OPEN THE DOORS, I HAVE TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR. THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN IM INSIDE THE CAR THE UNLOCK BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, EVEN WHEN I MANUALLY PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLES FROM INSIDE THE CAR, THE DOORS CONTINUES TO BE LOCKED. ITS EMBARRASSING WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR GUEST CLIMB OUT FROM THE WINDOW BECAUSE THE DOORS DON'T OPEN. ONCE THE CAR IS COOLER, THEY START TO WORK AGAIN. IM AFRAID THAT IF I EVER GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT, WE WONT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I DO HAVE A FAMILY AND I WOULD HATE FOR ANYTHING TRAGIC TO OCCUR. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU *TR

I OWN A 1999 BMW 323I. SOMETIMES THE REVERSE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND ON SOMEDAYS THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER. I TOOK THE CARE INTO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD COST ABOUT $7,000. I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. I THOUGHT BUYING A BMW WOULD BE A GREAT RETIREMENT CAR. I AM VERY UPSET, ESPECIALLY READING ON THE INTERNET HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND BMW DOES NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE A 1997 381I THAT IS DOWN ALSO. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MY LOCAL MECHANIC. BMW HAS CHANGED..I REALLY NEED HELP ... *TR

MY BMW 323I 1999 HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. BMW SAYS THAT WE SHOULDN'T CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION OIL AS IT'S A LIFETIME OIL.... BUT I THINK THIS IS WHAT LEAD TO HAVING THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR DOESN'T GO INTO REVERSE AND I'VE LOOKED IN SEVERAL SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT I"M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM... HTTP://NOREVERSE.ORG/COMPLAINTS_2007Q3.HTML PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO... THX, ALEX *TR

MY REVERSE ON MY 1999 323I AUTOMATIC DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT INITIALLY WORKED THEN IT WOULD NOT REVERSE. *TR

REVERSE MYSTERIOUSLY NOT WORKING. GOES IN AND OUT. *TR

REVERSE DOES NOT WORK. THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM HUNDREDS OF OTHERS CAN BE FOUND AT NOREVERSE.ORG. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN PUT OUT TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION BUT BMW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 1999 BMW 323I, HE PULLED FORWARD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE ON OUR STREET IN ORDER TO BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. AFTER PUTTING IT IN REVERSE AND TRYING TO BACK UP, THE ENGINE REVVED AND ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL, THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED. IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS. I WAS PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND WHEN I TRIED TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE, THE REVERSE AGAIN FAILED. AFTER A LONG WAIT, THE PERSON WHO WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF ME LEFT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL FORWARD AND DRIVE HOME. THE REVERSE WAS WORKING AGAIN BY THE TIME I GOT HOME. IT BEGAN FAILING MORE FREQUENTLY, BUT USUALLY WILL COME BACK SOONER OR LATER. WE TOOK IT TO OUR BMW MECHANIC, HE SAID THE SEAL APPEARED TO BE BROKEN AND FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. HE REFILLED THE FLUID AND ORDERED A NEW SEAL. THE REVERSE WORKED FINE FOR 2 DAYS, THEN STARTED FAILING AGAIN. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT SINCE THE REVERSE FAILED SO QUICKLY, THE SEAL WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON MY OWN ONLINE, I SEE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS WIDESPREAD AND UNRESOLVED. CHECK THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE FOR COUNTLESS TESTIMONIALS ON THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, THEY EVEN NAMED A WEBSITE FOR THE PROBLEM SPECIFIC TO BMW: WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG. *TR

1999 BMW 323I NOT GOING INTO REVERS AT 90K MILES

THE REVERSE GEAR IN MY BMW 323I FAILED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AS A DRUM IN THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY IS CAST FROM WEAK METAL AND COMES APART UNTIL IT FAILS TO COMPRESS THE PLATES FOR THE REVERSE GEAR. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 1999 BMW 323I FOR THE PAST YEAR WITH FEW PROBLEMS. TODAY I GOT UP TO GO ON A ROAD TRIP, AND MY CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY, BUT THERE WAS INDICATION OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM EXISTING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WILL COST ABOUT $3,000.00 TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. A QUICK WEB SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR

REAR SUB-FRAME HAS CRACKED. OUR 1999 323I MODEL HAS 103,000 MILES AND APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. CALLED BMW USA N.A. TO HAVE AN INSPECTOR CHECK THE CAR ON 3/21/07 AND WAS TOLD TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID WE HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, AND TO DATE, DESPITE NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999-2005 323I MODELS. THE CAR HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY THICKENING THE METAL ON NEWER MODELS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

HEATED CAR SEAT IN A 1999 BMW STARTED ON FIRE--SEAT AND COAT DAMAGED. *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 BMW 323I RUNS ROUGH ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTS UP. THE VEHICLE REACHES A SPEED OF 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE NOT TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO WAYNE SERVICE CENTER IN WAYNE, NJ, AND WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUEDTO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE, AS WELL AS, HAVING WARNING INDICATORS WHICH SHOWED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WHEN IT WAS NOT OVERHEATING, AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE AND AIRBAGS. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE, CAUSING THE FRONT LEFT DOOR AND FRONT LEFT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED.

I PURCHASED FOUR P205/60R15BW AMEAG H (GOODYEAR)ON 8/2/06, THESE TIRES HAVE A 60,000 MILE TREAD WEAR. ON 8/15/06 MY CAR WAS SENT TO A CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC DUE TO EXCESSIVE WHEEL NOISE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM OF ORGIN TO BE "ALL TIRES VERY NOISEY & L/F CHOPPY TIRE AFTER 37 K MILES." HE ALSO STATED THE L/F TIRE WAS ALMOST SEPERATED. *JB

I'M REPORTING THE MANUFACTURER PROBLEM WITH BMW ON THE SUBFRAMES OF THE 1999 E46 323I. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS ON THIS MATTER. *NM

I JUST READ ABOUT THE PERSON WHO HAD THE 1999 THAT HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT GO ON. I HAVE HAD THE SAME THING. A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE SAID THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE THE "LIFETIME" FLUID AND IT MIGHT CLEAR IT OUT. WHEN PUT ON THE COMPUTER IT SHOWED A PROBLEM WITH THE 5TH GEAR. WE WENT AHEAD AND PAID TO HAVE THE FLUID CHANGED. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIRTY AND DEFINITELY A GOOD IDEA TO CHANGE IT....WELL IT DIDN'T RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BMW THAT I WILL NEED TO PROBABLY HAVE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED...BMW IS PART PUSHERS ONLY, NOT MECHANICS.....MY CAR IS A 1999 AND HAS ONLY 70K MILES ON IT...I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH A CAR WITH THAT LITTLE OF MILES ON IT. I HAD SOMEONE SUGGEST NOT USING THE 5TH GEAR SO I AM DRIVING IN S4 INSTEAD OF "D". SO FAR IT IS WORKING JUST FINE, HOWEVER MY ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON PERIODICALLY. I AGREE THAT BMW SHOULD HAVE A LONG WARRANTY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSMISSION ESPECIALLY WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ AND PRICE OF THIS "MOST WONDERFUL CAR". AT THIS POINT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BMW. I TOO PLAN TO GO INTO A TOYOTA OR HONDA. *JB

1999 BMW 323I (E46) I DIDN'T KNOW MY GERMAN CAR CAME WITH A CRAPPY TRANSMISSION MADE BY GM IN FRANCE. IT FAILED AFTER 89,000 MILES AND REQUIRED A TOTAL REPLACEMENT BECAUSE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. THIS COSTS $4500. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I'M SURE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THEM ON VARIOUS BMW MESSAGE BOARDS. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A KNOWN DEFECT AND BMW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS. THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY ACTION TO RECTIFY THIS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30MPH THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE AIRBAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES BEFORE BY THE DEALER.

I OWN A 1999 BMW 323I. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON ALONG WITH THE SIGN FOR THE TRANSMISSION (THE EXCLAMATION IN THE CIRCLE). THEN THE POWER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED WHICH DIDN'T ALLOW ME TO DRIVE OVER 40 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER NEAR MY HOME AND AFTER THEY RAN THE EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THEY STILL WEREN'T SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THEY RECEIVED A BULLETIN FROM BMW TELLING THEM THAT RESETTING THE COMPUTER FOR THE TORQUE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX, AS IT ONLY LASTED FOR ONE WEEK. THE LIGHT STILL CAME ON AND THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS FRUSTRATES ME THAT THE BMW DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER BMW OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ALL HAVE TRADED THEIR CARS IN FOR A HONDA OR SOME OTHER JAPANESE MADE CAR, WHICH I AM CONSIDERING TOO! HOWEVER, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RESORT TO THIS, AS I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS LUXURY CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT. NEVERTHELESS, I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, AS MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AMONG OTHERS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY BMW OWNERS AND DEALERS. A CO-WORKER'S HAD A '98 325 AND HAD ONLY ABOUT 70K MILES ON IT AND SHE HAD MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS AND SPENT ABOUT $3500 DOLLARS AND THE PROBLEM STILL WASN'T FIXED. SO, SHE TRADE HERS IN FOR A HONDA. I SPENT ABOUT $400.00 AND MY PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. I AM HESITANT TO POUR ANY MORE MONEY INTO FIXING MY CAR ESPECIALLY, AFT

EVER SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE ECM HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND ON MANY OCCASIONS THE DEALER WOULD JUST RESET THE COMPUTER SO THAT THE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. I AM POSITIVE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY SUCH E46 BMW 323I 4 DOOR CARS. THE ECM IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO HEAT OR COLD AND IT GOES OFF ONLY AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES. IT CAN SOMETIME TAKE DAYS FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. SECOND FAILURE IN THE E46 323I BMW'S IS THE AIR-BAG SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT (PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR). THIS HAS TO BE CHECKED BY THE NHTSA AS I AM FACING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE CAR ARE. BMW OWNER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEALERS TRYING TO RIP THEM OFF ON SUCH PART REPLACEMENTS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CONSUMER RAN OVER A POTHOLE. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY, BUT NOT INFLATE. THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS HAPPENED WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK THE CURTAIN AND SIDE AIR BAGS, HEADLINER AND SEAT BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *BF *NM

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE CEASED WORKING AFTER I HAVE COME TO A STOP AND THEN STARTED MOVING AGAIN. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED VISIBILITY AND DIFFICULTY EVEN PULLING OFF THE ROAD. IN ONE CASE I HAD TO DRIVE OVER A QUARTER MILE BEFORE FINDING A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. IT WAS DARK AND MY WAS VERY POOR. THE WIPERS WILL START WORKING IF I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED OR CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT I AM RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IF IT IS RAINING AND CANNOT USE IT FOR ANY EXTENDED TRIP. I AM NO LONGER CERTAIN OF THE EXACT DATES OF THE INCIDENTS. THE DATE I HAVE ENTERED IS APPROXIMATE.*AK

I BELIEVE THAT CARMAX SOLD ME A LEMON. IT IS A 1999 BMW 323CI, WAS PURCHASED USED AT THE INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD STORE ON NOV 28, 2003, WITH 57,097 MILES. THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS $21,420 INCLUDING A $1,699 EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 3YRS/36000. AUTOMOBILE WARRANTY AGREEMENT NUMBER: 7106508410. *AK SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, THERE HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVE AND EXPENSIVE DEFECTS, INCLUDING SAFETY ITEMS. THE CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN, FAILED TO START, REQUIRED TOWING, AND THE CONTROL PANEL FLASHES SPURIOUS WARNINGS. DESPITE THE WARRANTY, AND DESPITE MY REQUESTS TO CARMAX, CRITICAL REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED. SAFETY DEFECTS STILL OCCUR AND ARE NOT BEING REPAIRED BY CARMAX (I.E. CURRENT CONTROL PANEL WARNING FOR LIGHTS). MAJOR MECHANICAL ITEMS ARE NOT BEING PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY (E.G. TRANSMISSION). THIS HAS ALL OCCURRED IN LESS THAN A YEAR, AND WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES OF MY DRIVING. SUMMARY OF REPAIRS SINCE PURCHASE: 12/17/0357,561MI.AIR BAG LIGHT FAULT, SEAT BELT, ELECTRICAL & CONTROL PANEL 12/23/0457,694REAR DEFROSTER, ELECTRICAL, WINDOW REPLACED, WORN BRAKES 06/04/0459,565HORN REPLACED, FUSES & ELECTRICAL 9/10/0461,230CLUTCH REPLACED, WARNING LIGHTS, CONTROL PANEL FAILURE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON (HAS NOT BEEN FIXED) THE CAR IS CURRENTLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE...REFERENCE THE CONTROL PANEL WARNING INDICATOR THAT CARMAX CANNOT ANALYZE NOR REPAIR. THE HISTORY OF SAFETY PROBLEMS INCLUDE FUSES, AIR BAG, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND HORN. SUMMARY: I WAS SOLD A "LEMON" AND HAVE AN UNSAFE AUTOMOB

TRANSMISSION LOCKED TO "LIMP HOME" MODE. CAN BE RESET BY TURN OFF AND ON THE IGNITION, BUT IT WONT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND WILL OCCUR AGAIN. IF YOU RUN AT 75/80 MPH, AND THE "LIMP" MODE IS ON.. THE GEAR WILL BE SHIFT DOWN SUDDENLY AND IT WILL DANGEROUSLY IMPACT THE SPEED OF THE CAR BEHIND ME. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REDUCE THE SPEED BEFORE IT HITS ME. *AK

CRACKED SUB-FRAME AT 104,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY POT HOLES, I DO NOT DRIVE OVER POTHOLES AND TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE VERY MUCH SO. I AM NOT WRECKLESS, AND I HAVE EVERY MAINTENANCE RECORD AVAILABLE AS WELL AS OTHER WARRANTIES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH AT 75,000 MILES, ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND LIGHT INDICATORS TURNING ON FOR NO REASON, AIRBAG LIGHTS LIGHT UP AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, AND FINALLY A CRACKED SUB FRAME. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT COST AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT A SQUEAKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND A CRACKED SUB FRAME. *AK

ALL DOOR WINDOWS MAKE A RATTLEING SOUND SINCE AROUND 10,000 MILES.THEY HAVE CHANGED THE MOTORS BUT THOSE ALSO WORK FOR 2-4 MONTHS AND THE SAME SOUND COMES BACK .THE MOTORS ARE OVER PRESSURISED AND IF I LET IT DOWN VERY VERY SLIGHYLY, THE SOUND CUTS DOWN TO ALMOST 75%.THE LINING IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AS IT NEEDS CONSTANT SPECIAL GERMAN LUBRICATION,WHICH WORKS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND THAT MAKES THE DOORS GLASS QUITE. IT"S VERY ANNOUYING.BMW HAS STILL NOT COME UP WITH A PERMANANT FIX FOR THIS. LAST WEEK I TEST DROVE 4 OF THE X3 2.5 AS WELL AS THE 3.0 AND 3 OF THE 4 ALREADY ARE MAKING THIS NOISE WITH THE CARS HAVING FROM 80 TO 200 MILES ON THEM.I HAD THEIR MECHANIC AND THE SALES PEOPLE DRIVE THESE CAR WITH ME AND THEY ALSO AKNOWLEDGE THE NOISE ALONG WITH THE MOON ROOF DEFECTIVE SOUND FOR WHICH I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE AN OPEN CAMPAINE.*AK

MY 323'S DOOR LOCKS ARE EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL LOCKING PROBLEMS. THE KEY WILL NOT REMOTELY OPEN THE DOOR LOCKS. I CAN INSERT THE KEY INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY. PUSHING THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE THE CAR DOES NOTHING (BUT YOU CAN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND). THE PASSENGER DOORS WOULD OPEN ONLY BY PULLING ON THE INTERIOR LEVERS TWICE. BUT SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK WHICH CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. I CAN STILL OPEN THE TRUNK WITH THE KEY REMOTE AND LOCK ALL THE DOORS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I'VE NOTICED THE PROBLEM HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY DURING WARMER DAYS. I'VE CHECKED BULLETINS WITH OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM BUT WITH NO SOLUTION. I'VE CALLED THE NA BMW SUPPORT NUMBER AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.*AK

CIOLS BAD AND ALL 5 HAVE FALIED, FAIRLY NEW CAR. FAN DOES NOT COME ON CAR OVERHEATS AND AFTER VISITS TO THE DEALER AND MONEY THEY CANNOT TELL ME THE PROBLEM. *AK

AT 19,100 MILES I BROUGHT IN MY 1999 BMW 323IS FOR SERVICE AND MADE A COMPLAINT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY CHECKED IT BUT COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROBLEM UNTILL SOMETHING ELSE WOULD HAPPEN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AT 37,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. SEVERAL MECHANICS I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT IF THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING IT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE TRANSMISSION. BMW DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBLITY AND I AM STUCK DRIVING THE CAR WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION. FUTHERMORE, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS A GM TRANSMISSION THAT IS USED IN AN IZUZU. I THOUGHT I HAD BOUGHT A BMW WITH BMW PARTS. THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION AND BMW HAS YET TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.*AK

ON MAY 20, 2004, I WENT OUT TO MY 1999 323I BMW, PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE, WHERE IT IS PARKED EVERY NIGHT AND MOST DAYS, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS STUCK IN SUCH A WAY THAT NO ONE IS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF I WANT TO GET INTO THE CAR TO DRIVE IT, I HAVE TO GET INTO THE BACK SEAT OR IN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, MAKING SURE THAT THE DOOR DOES NOT SWING BACK EVEN A LITTLE; OTHERWISE, THE DOOR LOCKS. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT. THUS FAR, I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CORRECTED AS THE DEALERSHIP WOULD LIKE ME TO DRIVE THERE AND CANNOT TELL ME HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM MYSELF OR SEND ME ANYWHERE NEARBY. THE DEALERSHIP IS 30 MILES ONE-WAY AND I DON'T HAVE THE GASOLINE OR THE TIME. ANOTHER PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THE CAR IS THAT IT WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT MY DOING ANYTHING, AND I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, USUALLY HAVING TO APPLY THE BRAKE FULL-FORCE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT, SO I HAVEN'T ALERTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A THUMPING SOUND. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO NOTICED THAT REAR SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER MOUNT TORE AWAY FROM THE FLOORBOARD. *AK

1999 BMW 323I PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON AROUND 75K MILES. COMPUTER FOR AIRBAG WAS DECLARED MALFUCTION. AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT IF THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE ENGINE HESITATION DUE TO FAULTY OXYGEN SENSORS. BMWNA WILL NOT ASSIST IN AIR BAG PROBLEM.*AK

NUMEROUS BALL JOINT REPLACEMENTS. *PH THE CLOCK BULB, THERMOSTAT, CONVERTIBLE TOP TENSIONER AND POWER STEERING INTAKE WERE REPLACED. *JB

WILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND ABOVE CAME OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE JMK DEALER TO REPLACE THE GASKET IN THAT DOOR 2 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS FROM THAT DAY IF BLOW OUT.

BMW 323I CONTROL ARM (SUSPENSION) DESIGN IS FLAWED AND BMW HAS QUIETLY REDESIGNED THE PART BUT REFUSES TO OFFER REPLACEMENT TO CUSTOMERS. *LA

AT APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING POORLY. ENGINE WOULD QUIT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP UNLESS THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPED AND WOULD MISFIRE INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION. AFTER A HUNDRED PLUS MILES OF DRIVING THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A CHECK OF THE FAULT CODES INDICATED MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS NO.1, 2, & 6. A CHECK OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM REVEALED VERTICAL CRACKS IN THE INSULATORS OF ALL SIX, 100,000 MILE, FACTORY BMW NGK R5 SPARK PLUGS. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT BOTH BMW NORTHWEST & BMW SEATTLE. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT BMW WOULD NOT HELP. *LA

I HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 323I SINCE 4/30/2003 THAT THE BMW SERVICE TECHNICIANS CANNOT RESOLVE AT TWO SEPARATE BMW DEALERS IN MARYLAND, TISCHER BMW (WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR), AND TOWSON BMW. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, EML AND DSC (TRACTION) LIGHTS ALL COME ON AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE CAR LOSES POWER NOT ABLE TO GO ABOVE 40 MPH (APPARENTLY GOES INTO A FAIL SAFE MODE). THE LIGHTS THEN GO OUT ONE BY ONE AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF ABOUT FOUR TIMES, AND POWER IS RESTORED TO THE CAR. ALL IS WELL SEEMINGLY UNTIL IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN! NOTE: I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT OCCURS WHEN GOING DOWN A STEEP DECLINE SECTION OF ROAD, COASTING AT ABOUT 40 MPH.I CAN REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AT WILL, AND USUALLY WHEN YOU CAN REPRODUCE A PROBLEM, IT IS FIXABLE. THEY CHARGED ME OVER $500.00 AND DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM (THEY PUT A NEW IDLE SENSOR ON). THEY HAVE SINCE REIMBURSED ME FOR THIS TWO MONTHS LATER THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO BMW OF KENILWORTH TOWSON, THEY HAVE HAD IT ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THEY RESET SOME DEFAULT SETTINGS AND CHARGED ME $90.00, NOT CERTAIN IF THIS WOULD FIX IT OR NOT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT MAY BE A SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING ISSUE, AND A RECALL MAY BE IN THE WORKS. TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THEY PUT A NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR ON AND CHARGED ME ANOTHER $400.00 (THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE 99% CERTAIN THAT THIS WOULD FIX IT) IT DID NOT! THE VERY NEXT MORNING WHIL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD TWO CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT TIRES MADE FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER. THE TWO TIRES, WHICH WERE LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BLEW OUT. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AROUND 17000 MILES . *AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW PROBLEMS . MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK *TS

I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 BMW 323I ON HWY 101 IN SANTA CLARA, CA. THE CAR SUNDENLY FEELS "WEAK". I IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE NEXT EXIT. AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AFTER THE EXIT RAMP THE CAR STALLS. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT, SLOWLY, TO A PARKING LOT. THERE I FOUND THAT A). I LOST THE REVERSE GEAR B). THE TRANSIMISSION PROGRAM LIGHT WAS ON. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AGAIN TO SEE IF IT MOVES BUT THE ENGINE KEEPS STALLING - I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSIMISSION DOES NOT APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING. IT IS LIKE STARTING A MANUAL SHIFT CAR FROM THE 3RD GEAR.THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN OF ALL THESE. IT HAPPEN ALL IN A SUDDEN. THE CAR HAD JUST GONE THROUGH THE BMW 60K MILE SERVICE (MAJOR SERVICE) A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.*AK I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY BMW DEALER AND THERE THEY PRONOUNCE THE TRANSIMISSION DEAD - TRANSMISSION LOCKED-UP. I AM SCARED! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED THAT DAY!

ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FOR 1999 BMW 323 IC NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (ESTIMATED CHARGE IS $4600.00) - AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DID NOT ALERT ME OF THE PROBLEM SOON ENOUGH.