1999 BMW 328i complaints

REAR SUBFRAME TORN AWAY FROM CHASSIS CAUSING NOISY AND MISALIGNED SUSPENSION PARTS AND A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN FOR COMPLETE FAILURE. COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 WEBSITES DETAILING IT. TIME FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT/SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

SUBFRAME PROBLEM THE SHEET METAL OF THE CAR RIPS DRIVER SIDE.

CAMBER, TOE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE PAIR AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DO NOT MOVE. THE "REGULATOR" HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THEY SIMPLY BREAK AGAIN. IT IS FRUSTRATING AND AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO PLANS TO PAY TO FIX THE REAR ONES. I TELL EVERYONE HOW GREAT THE CAR HAS BEEN...BUT FOR THE WINDOWS...AND THAT SEEMS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDABLE DETERRENT A PURCHASE BY MANY OF MY FRIENDS. *AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER WITH SOMETIMES AGO. DEALER STATED RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE. *AK

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING I STARTED TO HEAR AND FEEL A 'CLUNK' TYPE NOISE WHEN ENGAGING THE CAR INTO GEAR. TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO INSPECT AND HE FOUND SOME CRACKS IN THE REAR SUBFRAME ALONG WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS BEING PRATICALLY TORN OFF.*AK

BMW FRAME FAILURES ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT IN THE E46 BODY STYLE (3 SERIES). BMW IN GERMANY APPEARS TO BE ACTIVELY FIXING CARS. HERE IN THE US, HOWEVER, BMW NA APPEARS TO BE DOING NOTHING BUT IGNORING THE PROBLEM. POSTED BELOW IS JUST ONE OF MANY POSTS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS ON THE E46. (PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS OCCURING TO OTHER BMW MODELS AS WELL.) HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.ORG/BMW/FORUMS/E46/5633750-1.HTML COULD YOU PLEASE START AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHY BMW AG (HQ IN GERMANY) IS REPAIRING/RECALLING THESE CARS, YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE HERE? THANK YOU.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 00V048000; THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THIS RECALL IS ONLY FOR THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S IN 2000. *AK

I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. MY VEHICLE JUST REACHED THE 50,171 MILES. THIS A SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED REGARLESS EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY EXPIRED.*AK

THE SUBFRAME RIPPED OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REAR TIRES SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, AND ONLY WERE ATTACHED BY THE SHOCKS AND REAR AXLE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FACTORY DIDN'T REINFORCE THE UNIBODY TO THE SUBFRAME, WHICH CAUSED THIS FAILURE TO OCCUR. *AK

WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER STATES:RUBBER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH UPDATED POLY URETHANE ONES. COST:$448.00. *AK

WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. EALER STATES:RUBBER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH UPDATED POLY URETHANE ONES. COST:$448.00. *AK

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER ON A BMW 99 E46 328I AND I M VERY DILIGENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CARE OF MY CAR. I HAVE MADE SURE THAT EVERY RECALL HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND ANY SERVICE REQUIREMENT MET. BUT MY CAR WAS SERVICED THREE TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF IT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO PAY AND NOW EIGHT MONTHS LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHTS IS ON AGAIN AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM ALL THE BMW MODEL LINE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ABOUT ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS THAT GET OXIDIZED AND FAIL OVER TIME. THEY PROVIDE A SOLUTION IN THE BULLETIN BUT IT IS TEMPORARY FIX SINCE IT REQUIRES ME GO BACK EVERY SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS RIGHT. I SUBMITTED THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE. IT FEELS LIKE EXTORTIONS THAT THAT EVERY TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON I HAVE TO RUN TO THE DEALER JUST TO TURN IT OFF OR RUN THE RISK THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK WHEN MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. HTTP://WWW.UNOFFICIALBMW.COM/CGI-BIN/ULTIMATEBB.CGI?UBB=GET_TOPIC&F=2&T=008967. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE'S FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND AS RESULT THE PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND AGAIN HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT THE GARAGE WALL, CAUSING OVER $3000.00 DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *LA

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES PULSATE WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED BY THE DRIVER. THIS OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS (ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK) AND STOPS WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. WHEN THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (E.G. AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH) THE RIGHT REAR DISC WILL GLOW RED HOT UPON EXAMINATION AFTER GENTLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. ONLY THE RIGHT REAR DISC GLOWS.*AK

DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS TO FRAME HAVE 'TORN AWAY' @ 40K MILES AND A SECOND TIME @ 60K00MILES. BMW IS FIXING IT A 2ND TIME AND COVERING COST. CAR IS 4DOOR, MANUAL AND OTHERWISE HAS BEEN THE PERFECT CAR. ESTIMATED TIME TO FIX AT BMW IS 4-5 WEEKS.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN A SUDDEN STOP WAS NECESSARY. *AK *SCC THE DRIVERS DOOR MADE A RATTLING NOISE, THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPALCED.*CB *JB

RIGHT AND LEFT REAR SPRINGS BOTH BROKE AT SAME SPOTS. CAR HAS 92,000 MILES. CAR NEVER 'BOTTOMED OUT" OR HIT LARGE HOLE TO CAUSE SUCH A BREAK IN SPINGS.*AK

THE UNIBODY HAD TORE IN HALF AND THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION DISCONNECTED. *JB

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LURCHED FORWARD, LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE POWER FRONT WINDOWS ARE HARD TO ROLL UP AND WILL SOMETIMES NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING CONSUMER HIT A BUMP IN ROAD AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAG ONLY DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON FLAT SURFACE TREAD ON TIRE STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING A BLOWOUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE THE SIZE AND DOT#.*AK

ABOUT 6 A.M., THERE WAS A BIG BOOM; FIRE SPREAD TO GARAGE (TWO CAR), BURNING IT TO THE GROUND AND BURNING UP, ADDITIONALLY, MOST OF OUR GARDEN EQUIPMENT, ALL OF OUR FISHING GEAR, AND MANY MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. THIS WAS AT OUR SUMMER HOME IN VIRGINIA, WHOSE TELEPHONE NUMBER I HAVE GIVEN YOU. YOU CAN TALK TO MY HUSBAND, SEABORN P. JONES, WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I AM IN PHILADELPHIA FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. P CAMPBELL. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH ANOTHER DRIVER TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH RAN A RED LIGHT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON, ON DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND SNAPPED A TREE AT ITS ASE YET THE AIR BAGS STILL DID NOT DEPLOY, THE ENGINE WAS CRAXKED AS A RESULT OF THE FRONTAL COLLISION. *MJ

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE SIDE DOOR AIR BAG AND ROOF BAG DEPLOYED (CLAIM # 53-C718-260). *YD

SEVEN MONTHS FROM THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE CAR, THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FLAT TIRES ALL OF WHICH WERE TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND REPAIRED, CONSUMER HAS ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE JUST THE TIRES MAY ALSO BE THE WHEELS THAT DO NOT WORK WITH THE TIRES. *JG *SLC

SIX TIRES ON THIS CAR HAVE FLATTENED SINCE ITS PURCHASE WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ROAD HAZARD. THEY BEGAN TO RAPIDLY LEAK AIR WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND, ONCE FLATTENED, ARE NOT REPAIRABLE BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE. ONE POSSIBILITY IS THAT THE TIRE AND WHEEL DO NOT (AND NEVER HAVE) WORKED TOGETHER SUCH THAT THE SEAL IS NOT COMPLETE AND ONCE BROKEN THE TIRE FLATTENS. OR THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE SIDEWALL WEAKENS AND CAUSES LOSS OF AIR AND ULTIMATE DEFLATION. (TIRESIZE: 225/75/R17)

MANULA DRIVETRAIN REPLACED TWICE, DIFFERENTIAL ONCE AND PROBLEM CONTINUES

SIDEWALL FAILURE ALL OTHER PARTS OF TIRE OKAY. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/45/17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45/17 )

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND CLUTCH. THOSE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN FIXED BY DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AT THIS POINT VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAYTIRE SIDEWALL EXPLODED, CAUSING IMMEDIATE DEFLATION. TIRE SIDEWALL IS SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: ACOF 3FW TIRESIZE: 205/55R16)

WHEN INVOLVED IN AN HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 35 MPH, FRONTAL, OR SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT, WHICH REAR END A PICK UP TRUCK BUMPER AT 35 MPH; BOTH AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOYED; DEALER/MFR'S NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

WHEN THE DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT LURCHED FORWARD CAUSING ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO GAS PEDAL. YH

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN BRAKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO PULSATE, AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AUTO WAS SERVICE AT DEALER 08/10/99 FOR THIS RECALL AND ON 9/14/99 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED

WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CON, WHEN MANUFACTURER FINDS HAVE A REMEDY HE WILL ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HEAD AND SIDE DOOR AIRBAGS FALSELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY SIDE CRASH IMPACT EVEN AFTER 30 DAYS OF JUST BEING SERVICED FOR RECALL#99V063000. REPROGRAMMED THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE, RESULTING IN BURNS AND INJURIES.RECALL DONE ON AUG 10,1999 WORK COMPLETED AT JOHN ROBERTS BMW AUSTIN TX512-343-3500. *AK

UPON BRAKING ABRUPTLY DRIVER'S SEATBELT LATCH CAME LOOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. DRIVER WAS THROWN FORWARD, HITTING STEERING WHEEL. *AK

WHILE WAITING FOR RED LIGHT TO CHANGE, VEHICLE SUDDENDLY SEARCH FORWARD CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME.

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AIR BAG.

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH PASSENGER AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG CAUSED INJURIES TO DRIVE.