2002 BMW 325i complaints

2002 BMW 325I SEDAN, ELECTRICAL FIRE IN LEFT REAR TRUNK DUE TO SHORT IN REAR DRIVE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, BROWN GROUNDING WIRE MELTED HOUSING, UNIT NOT WORKING. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED UP AND IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOUSING AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FIRES AND/OR WRECKS TO OCCUR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO THE BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR

2002 BMW 325I, TURN SIGNAL FAILURE RESULTING IN SMALL FIRE. 1- SYMPTOMS: CAR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. 2- UPON REMOVAL OF HOUSING I NOTED THAT THE LIGHT OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED ME TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. UPON REMOVAL OF THE PLUG OR WIRING HARNESS I NOTED THAT THE BROWN WIRE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF MELTING OF BOTH WIRE AND METAL MALE PLUG END WITH BLACK RESIDUE. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT BMW ISSUED SIB NUMBER 63 03 06 TO MECHANICS. I HAVE NOT FOUND A RECALL FOR THIS HAZARDOUS FAILURE, HOWEVER, DID FIND A FORUM WHERE SEVERAL OWNERS NOTED THE SAME FAILURE. INTERNET ADDRESS TO THIS FORUM IS: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2002/BMW/325I/EXTERIOR+LIGHTING 3- I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE BUT PLAN ON INVESTIGATING THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. PER THE INFORMATION I FOUND I HAVE NOTED THAT IT SEEMS THAT A FAULTY GROUND WIRE IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FAULTS. *TR

IN A MATTER OF TWO HOURS MY 325I WAS RUNNING FINE TO NOT GOING IN REVERSE AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING IN A LOT OF CARS MY YEAR AND TYPE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING, ONE MINUTE YOU CAN BACK UP NEXT IT IS JUST STALLED IN REVERSE. BMW NEEDS TO STAND UP AND SEE THAT THEIR PRODUCT HAS A DEFECT AND POTENTIALLY CAN CAUSE INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED SAID IT'S IS THE TRANSMISSION, LET'S SET UP AN APPT AND BRING IT IN. IT STILL GOES NO PROBLEM AT ALL IN DRIVE. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR

WHILE UNDERGOING A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE REVIEW ON MY 2002 BMW 325I, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS. APPARENTLY, THE LIGHTS ARE NOT PROPERLY GROUNDED AND THERE IS A RISK OF OVERHEATING AND FIRE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND HAS OVER 76,000 MILES, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE BUT THE CONTACT REFUSED THAT REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,970.

CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AND PARKED IN A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. WEATHER WAS WET AND RAINY, THE DEFROSTER WAS RUNNING ON THE CAR FOR MOST OF THE TRIP. AFTER SITTING 25-30 MINUTES A RESIDENT NEAR THE RESTAURANT CALLED TO NOTIFY THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. EMPLOYEES OF THE RESTAURANT ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH HAND HELD EXTINGUISHER BUT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY DO SO. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE A SHORT TIME LATER TO UNPOWER THE CAR AND PUT OUT THE FLAME. POLICE AND FIRE TEAMS WERE ON THE SCENE. THE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE AUXILIARY A/C FAN IN FRONT OF THE CONDENSER AS THAT IS WHERE THE HEAVIEST DAMAGE IS. *TR

I'VE READ SEVERAL SAME COMPLAINTS RE: WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE, SO AM ADDING THIS REPORT FOR RECORD: I HAVE REPLACED TWO RARELY USED REAR WINDOW REGULATORS THAT WERE DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY (BOTH REAR DOOR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE) ON MY LOW MILEAGE 325I 2002 -- EACH WAS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED (DATES: 7/07 AND 9/09). THE WINDOW MECHANISM SIMPLY STOPPED RESPONDING/WORKING, PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPLOYED, AND WOULD NOT RAISE BACK UP FROM A PREVIOUSLY WORKING DOWN POSITION. DEALER GAVE ME A 10% LABOR DISCOUNT FIRST TIME AND THEN A 10% EACH PARTS AND LABOR DISCOUNT ON SECOND OCCURRENCE. COST AVERAGED AT $330+ PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO OPERATE WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE VEHICLE HAS 60,000 MILES. *TR

ON MY 325I, I HAVE HAD THREE TO FIX THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR THREE TIMES FOR TWO DIFFERENT WINDOWS, TODAY I TOOK IT IN TO FIX THE PROBLEM A FOURTH TIME AND FOR THE THIRD WINDOW. THREE OF THE FIXES HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY ' UNFORTUNATELY THE LATEST ONE IS NOT COVERED. EVEN UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS INCONVENIENT AND THIS TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED I WAS FOUR HOURS AWAY FROM HOME AND I HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOW DOWN ' IN THE COLD ' TO GET HOME. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS NOT RAINING. *TR

APPROX TEN MONTHS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE LIGHT BULBS...WITHIN TWO DAYS THE ENTIRE LIGHT FIXTURE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOUR MONTHS LATER. BOTH LIGHT FIXTURES HAVE NOT WORKED (TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT) SINCE SEPTEMBER 2009. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX BOTH TAIL LIGHTS WAS $450.00. I WAS TOLD EVENTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED SO I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE THE COST ESTIMATE. I REQUESTED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE, WHICH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAND WROTE ON A PIECE OF PAPER (DEALERSHIP USUALLY PRINTS OFF COMPUTER). I KEEP THIS IN THE GLOVE BOX TO SHOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WHENEVER THEY PULL ME OVER FOR INOPERABLE REAR LIGHTS. I READ THAT BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO ADD GROUND WIRES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT $450 IS AN UNREASONABLE FEE TO BE CHARGED TO ADD GROUND WIRES TO AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. HE STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC WINDOWS BROKE INSIDE OF THE DOOR THREE TIMES. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE THIRD AND MOST RECENT FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN SO THAT THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE DRIVER- SIDE HEADLIGHT ON THE VEHICLE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE WIRE FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE GROUND WIRE HAD BURNED. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY AT AN EXPENSE OF $600. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE CAME ON IN MY 2002 BMW325I. I WENT OUT TO LOOK FOR THE FAILED BULB, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ALL WORKING. I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT SIDE, REAR LIGHTS WERE MUCH DIMMER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE. I WENT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME A BURNT WIRE AND MOLTEN PLASTIC CONNECTOR FROM THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER. HE SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE BMW DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH GROUND TO THE CLUSTER AND OVERTIME THE EXTRA HEAT GENERATED BY THE CURRENT WILL BURN THE WIRE AND CONNECTOR. AT OTHER TIMES, HE SAID, THE CONNECTOR WILL SHORT THE GND PIN TO THE PINS AROUND IT AND CAUSES SMALL FIRES. BMW HAS A SIB NUMBER 63 03 06 OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS $400 TO REPAIR THEIR OWN MISTAKE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY VIOLATION AND I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY FIXING ALL THE CARS OUT THERE WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. TODAY, I SAW THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO A 2008 BMW 550 AT THIS LINK: HTTP://FORUMS.5SERIES.NET/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=90746&ST=0&P=1073957&#ENTRY1073957 PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THANK YOU.*TR

BMW 2002 325I WITH 135K MILES ON IT REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK. I STARTED MY CAR LET IT IDLE FOR 3-5 MINUTES SINCE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS COLD. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD JUST PARKED THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS EARLIER. THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ON THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE THAT FROM A PHONE CONVERSATION, I WONDERED. I PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF MY GARAGE AND PROCEEDED TO A MECHANIC. WHEN I COMPLETED MY DIALOGUE OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED HE RESPONDED THAT I WAS NUMBER 4 FOR HIM THIS YEAR. A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COST BETWEEN $3K - $5K. I RETURNED HOME AND BEGAN MY UNOFFICIAL INTERNET RESEARCH...I AM NOT ALONE AND BMW OF NA IS DOING NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. SUPPOSE I WAS 100S OF MILES AWAY OR IF I WAS IN A POSITION WHERE I NEED TO USE REVERSE TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY AND IT DID NOT WORK. AS OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE STATED, AT LEAST MY CHEVY OR FORD USED TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS SICK AND NEEDED SOME ATTENTION. BMW HAS NO MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. I AM ASSUMING THAT THEY THINK IT IS REPLACE UPON FAILURE. UNACCEPTABLE, THE PART THAT FAILED IS CALLED THE DRUM. A BAND BREAKS AND THE REVERSE GEAR IS BROKEN. THEY HAVE MODIFIED THE MATERIALS IN THE NEWER DRUMS TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM . T

2002 BMW 325I REAR TAILLIGHTS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH SIDES DUE TO THE WIRING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARNESS HAVE EITHER MELTED AND GROUND TO THE OTHER WIRES OR MELTED THE TABS OFF OF THE MALE PLUG. *TR

THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. *TR

REAR TAIL BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF, HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT AND THIS DIDN'T FIX IT. HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT ARE TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED ASAP . SAW THAT BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR STARTED FAILING 2 MONTHS AGO AND EACH TIME I OPEN TRUNK AND REMOVE BULB -IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR A WHILE THEN OUT AGAIN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN I SAW SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING AND I PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD AND THE WIRES CONNECTING TO THE COOLING FAN HAD CAUSED THE PLASTIC TO START ON FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND HAD ACCESS TO A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. *TR

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND WINDOW WAS REPAIRED AT DEALER. OPPOSITE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. FRONT WINDOW OPERATORS MOVE THE WINDOW SLOWLY AND WINDOWS NEED MANUAL ASSISTANCE (PUSH ON GLASS) TO CLOSE. INVESTIGATED WHETHER NEW WINDOW REGULATOR DESIGN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. DETERMINED THAT REPLACEMENT WINDOW REGULATORS ARE IDENTICAL TO ORIGINAL. THE DESIGN PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE ATTACHMENT OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR CABLE ENDS INTO PLASTIC RETAINERS. OBVIOUSLY, DURING THE CYCLES OF WINDOW OPERATION, THE PLASTIC IS OVER-STRESSED AND FAILS. PLACED WRITTEN COMPLAINT WITH BMW USA TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FIRST WINDOW FAILURE WAS AROUND 50K MILES. REMAINING WINDOW FAILURES WERE AROUND 90K MILES. *TR

BMW 325 2002 UNDER 100K MILES WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. JMK SPRINGFIELD BMW SAID HEY COULD FIX FOR $500 I AGREED TO GO AHEAD. AFTER THE WORK COMPLETION THEY CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME PROBLEM STILL EXISTS BUT THEY STILL CHARGED ME $540. THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY ANOTHER $700 TO TRY THE NEXT 'GEAR SELECTION SWITCH CHANGE' SUGGESTION. AND IF THAT FAILS THEY'LL CHANGE THE GEAR BOX FOR $5K. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. GEARBOX SHOULD NOT FAIL ON ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE UNDER 100K MILES. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED UP AND IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOUSING AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FIRES AND/OR WRECKS TO OCCUR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO THE BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR

REAR LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE CONNECTORS SHORTING OUT. I READ ONLINE THAT IT IS A BMW DESIGN DEFECT AND IS GROUND WIRE PROBLEM COMMON TO E46 MODEL BMWS. *TR

TIRE REQUIRED CHANGE. USED JACK FOR CAR ON LEVEL SURFACE AS DESCRIBED. JACK FAILED. LUCKILY I HAD A SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT AMPUTATION OF MY ARM WHEN JACK FAILED. *TR

PROBLEM SUMMARY: WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEY FAILURE. ON OR ABOUT MAY 2008, DEPRESSED SWITCH TO LET DRIVERS FRONT WINDOW DOWN. UPON DEPRESSING, A LOUD CRACKING NOISE OCCURRED. SEEING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, I DEPRESSED THE SWITCH AGAIN TO GET THE WINDOW UP. THE WINDOW WOULD NOT COME UP, ONLY THE LOUD NOISE COULD BE HEARD.. THE WINDOW WAS PULLED UP MANUALLY AND STAYED IN THIS POSITION UNTIL REPAIR. THIS ISSUE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON JUNE 6, 2008 AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS (QUOTE) "'LEFT WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEYS FAILED. REPLACED LF WINDOW REGULATOR AND NUTS'". ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2008, WHILE RIDING ON A CALM WEATHER DAY, I CHOSE TO LET ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN. WHEN THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS DEPRESSED, I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AS IF THE WINDOW HAD CRACKED. WHEN I STOPPED TO EXAMINE, I TRIED TO LET IT UP AND REALIZED IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. I REALIZED I HAD THE SAME ISSUE THAT OCCURRED IN LATE MAY08 WITH THE FRONT WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS MANUALLY PULLED UP. TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. ON OCTOBER 10, 2008 WHILE RIDING OUT, I CHOSE TO LET THE 3 WORKING WINDOWS DOWN TO ENJOY THE AIR. AROUND 5:30PM, OCT. 10, 08 I PRESSED THE REAR PASSENGER LEFT WINDOW AND ALL I GOT WAS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AS IF THE WINDOW HAD CRACKED. I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REALIZE THAT I NOW HAVE A 3RD WINDOW THAT HAS NOT HELD UP IN DURABILITY. MY PARENTS HAVE HAD A CAR FOR 20 YEARS WITH POWER WINDOWS AND NEVER HAD SUCH AN ISSUE. I PERSONALLY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR 11

SUNROOF TABS BROKE, LEAVING THE SHADE TO GET STUCK ALMOST ALWAYS LEADING TO THE WINDOW TO JAM. I KNOW THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A 325I HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS I. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REVERSE GEAR DOESN'T WORK. *TR

BMW 2002 325 I WITH 92,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE, SAME SITUATION MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH 99-2004 MODELS. *TR

THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT OPERATE THE SUNSHADE ON MY 2002 325I HAVE BROKEN FOUR TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2003 REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE DEALER COVERED IN FULL UNDER THE CPO WARRANTY, WHICH RAN OUT IN MARCH 2008. OUT OF WARRANTY COSTS ARE $350 TO REPAIR. TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO COVER THIS LAST REPAIR, WHICH I REPORTED JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT THEY REFUSED. *TR

INFORMATION ON SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR A 2002 BMW 325I. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG. SHE STATES THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WAS REPAIRED AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

I HAVE HAD AN EMISSION-RELATED AIR PUMP AND VALVE REPLACED ON MY 2002 BMW 325I FIVE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN JUNE OF 2002. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES IT FAILED WERE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND THE MOST RECENT TIME IT FAILED WAS IN DECEMBER, WHEN THE CAR HAD 77,000 MILES ON IT. EACH TIME IT FAILED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THESE COMPONENTS IS TO PROVIDE FRESH OXYGEN TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UPON STARTUP IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE PREMATURE DEMISE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DESPITE THIS, BMWNA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS AN EMISSIONS RELATED COMPONENT COVERED UNDER US LAW UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE LAST TIME THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED IT COST ME $700 AFTER THE DEALER REDUCED THE BILL. ADDITIONALLY, BMW TOLD ME TWO WEEKS AGO THAT I WOULD BE RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL CHECK FOR HALF THE REMAINING COST OF THE REPAIR. THEY HAVE ALSO PROMISED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME AND EXPLAIN WHY IT ISN'T AN EMISSIONS RELATED PART COVERED UNDER US LAW. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CHECK OR AN EXPLANATION. MY CONTENTION IS THAT: - IT IS AN EMISSIONS-RELATED PART AND SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED TO 80,000 MILES - THE FACT THAT FIVE HAVE FAILED ON MY AUTOMOBILE INDICATE THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN - THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE TO AT BMW ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THIS COMPONENT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER (ALL MY FAILURES OCCURRED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN MINNESOTA). *TR

ON 12/21/06, I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-LANE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK, HIS BACKEND SLID OFF THE ROAD AND WHEN THE BACK TIRES GAINED TRACTION, IT SHOT HIS TRUCK ACROSS HIS LANE AND INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR WITH THE FRONT OF HIS TRUCK. HIS TRUCK ENDED UP DAMAGING MY CAR DOWN THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE (FRONT TO REAR). MY SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SIDE MIRROR CAME THROUGH MY WINDOW AND STRUCK ME IN THE ARM WITH GLASS IMPACTING MY LEFT EAR, EYE AND CHEEK AS WELL AS MY MOUTH. THE COLLISION CENTER CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE COLLISION CENTER WITH $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM

I AM TAKING MY 2002 BMW 325I INTO THE SHOP AGAIN TOMORROW TO FIX THE 4TH POWER WINDOW REGULATOR TO BREAK ON THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT LAST YEAR. THESE HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH THIS FAILURE IS OCCURRING SUGGESTS A DEFECT. EACH TIME, THE SAME SYMPTOMS WERE PRESENT: A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE FROM THE WINDOW AND IT GETS STUCK HALF WAY AND NO LONGER MOVES. THIS TIME, I HAD DAMAGE TO MY WINDOW TINT. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT WITH THE WINDOW DOWN WHICH IS RISKY. THE POWER REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER EACH TIME. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THREE LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS BENT. EACH INDIVIDUAL TIRE BENT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. DUE TO THIS INCIDENT THE WHEELS STARTED TO VIBRATE WHEN GETTING 30 MPH OR MORE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS BENT. EACH WHEEL BENT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE WHEELS VIBRATE WHEN TRAVELING 30 MPH OR MORE.

THE FUEL LEAKED ALL OVER MY GARAGE AFTER I FILLED IT JUST MINUTES LATER WHEN I GOT HOME. HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SO THEY COULD STABILIZE THE AREA TO MAKE IT SAFE. WHAT A HIDEOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY FAILURE FOR A CAR TO HAVE!! THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (WHERE IT WAS FRONT ENDED -AND NO ONE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY SO I HAD TO FILE THROUGH MY OWN INSURANCE! WHAT A SCAM! THE DEALERSHIP - PATRICK BMW IN SCHAUMBURG, IL HAD THE FUEL LEAK FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP/FUEL LEVELER HAD FAILED SO THEY REPLACED IT. *NM

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW FAILURE (STUCK DOWN). AT DEALER NOW BEING FIXED. ON 11/17/2005; LEFT FRONT DRIVER DOOR WINDOW FAILED STUCK DOWN. REPLACED DOOR REGULATOR. SUN ROOF WINDOW STUCK OPEN; REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR. UNABLE TO SECURE VEHICLE (2002 BMW 325I - 4 DOOR) DURING TIMES OF FAILURES AND IN CASE OF ACCIDENT PROBABILITY OF EGRESS THROUGH WINDOWS DOUBTFUL. *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT REMEMBER IF SHE STRUCK THE POTHOLE OR NOT. INSTANTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE SIDE/CURTAIN PASSENGER'S AIRBAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER WAS ON HER WAY TO THE DEALER WHEN THIS OCCURRED TO TRADE IN ON A NEW VEHICLE AND DECIDED TO JOURNEY TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE AIRBAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE OR IMPACT WAS NOTICED. THE DEALER HAS MADE NO CORRECTIONS. THE DEALER WAS AWAITING AN INSPECTION FROM A BMW REPRESENTATIVE. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INCIDENT WITH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. *AK

I HAVE HAD FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED ON MY 2002 BMW 325I. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 16K MILES. MY FRIEND, WHO ALSO HAS A 2002 BMW 325I, RECENTLY HAD THREE REGULATORS REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, HER CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE SHE HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE ALLOWANCE FOR THE WARRANTY. THUS, SHE HAD TO PAY A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE THREE WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED. THIS SPECIFIC PART IS CLEARLY A DEFECT. *NM

T-BONED AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER GOING 55 MPH AFTER HE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN ON A HIGHWAY. THE AIRBAG OF MY BMW 325I FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN INJURY.

THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, MADE A LEFT TURN, DROVE A FEW YARDS, STOPPED AGAIN, PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AT AN ESTIMATE SPEED OF 45 MPH. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE FROM A TWO LANE BUSY STREET. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GRASSY EMBANKMENT. ALL FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FACTORY ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THEY FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. *JB.......*AK

INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH (DUE TO RAIN) AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. TIRE WAS BLOWN OUT AND THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO BOTTOM OF CAR FROM DEBRIS, BUT IT IS UNCLEAR IF BLOWOUT AND DEBRIS DAMAGE HAPPENED BEFORE OR AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. EITHER WAY, THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH ANY OBJECT THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DEPLOYMENT. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR NEARLY 4 WEEKS NOW AND IT SHOULD HAVE ONLY NEEDED A TIRE REPLACEMENT. ANY OTHER DAMAGES COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN MY OWN TIME, BUT CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE B/C OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND REPAIR COSTS ARE VERY HIGH. *NM

ON THE BMW MODEL 325I YERAS 2002 AND 2003 THE HEATED OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE HEATED. THEY ARE NOT THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED AND THEREFORE ARE ALWAYS ON. THE PROBLEM ARISES IN THAT IF YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND UNINTENTIONALLY TOUCH ONE FO THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS, YOU BURN YOUR FINGERS. THIS WAS OBSERVED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN REARVIEW MIRRORS AFTER THE CAR WAS ON FOR SOME TIME. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE BNW DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE MIRRORS WERE ALWAYS ON, NOT THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLED AND WERE ALWAYS HEATED. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE WINTER MONTHS AS THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS COLDER. HOWEVER IN THE SUMMER THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A CHILD OR UNWITTING ADULT TO BE BURNED ON THE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

PERIODICALLY, MY CAR WILL BE RUNNING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT STARTS TO SHAKE AND WHEN YOU PUSH THE GAS IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. USUALLY IT WILL "FIX" ITSELF BY THE TIME I GET TO THE DEALER. BUT EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T, THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE THE BMW REPAIR GUYS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND "RESET" THE ENGINE. HOWEVER IT'S DOING IT AGAIN AND I'M FEARFUL THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN ON ME ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND IT'S LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 20,000 MILES!*AK

RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE EYE INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG IN A CRASH. PASSENGER SUFFERS PARTIAL BLINDNESS. UNDERGONE SEVERAL SURGERIES. PASSENGER WAS FEMALE AND SMALLER IN STATURE. *JB

FOLLOW-UP TO NOVEMBER 20, 2003 CORRESPONDENCE TO MR. SEAN HAGGARD OF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REGARDING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING ON THREE OCCASIONS. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASION TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER. *NM (NAR)

MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT BEGAN APPEARING IN NOVEMBER 2003. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN THE FIRST TIME AND GLOBAL IMPORTS IN ATLANTA GA INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AGAIN, IN LATE DECEMBER 2003, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. ON 1/6/2004, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO GLOBAL IMPORTS. THEY INFORMED ME A VALVE WAS REPLACED AND I WAS ON MY WAY. TWO DAYS LATER ON 1/8/04, WHILE DRIVING DOWN GA 40 AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON ME. LITERALLY, THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN AS I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I SWERVED IN AND OUT OF LANES. IT WAS FORTUNATE MYSELF OR OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY WERE NOT INJURED. WHEN MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE MOVED AT ONLY 2 MPH WITH A LOUD, UNPLEASANT NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS AT ALL TO ALERT ME OF AN UPCOMING MALFUNCTION. BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE RESPONDED WITH A TOW TRUCK TO ASSIST ME A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR LATER. I WAS TOWED INTO GLOBAL IMPORTS. THE CAR IS STILL PRESENTLY THERE AS I AWAIT A NEW DIFFERENTIAL. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A NEW VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 FROM BRIAN HARRIS BMW IN BATON ROUGE, LA. THE CAR PRESENTLY HAS 17,000 MILES. LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD! *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CAR BECOMES COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. MY VEHICLE, A BMW 325I, WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON MAY 7, 2002. *LA