2007 BMW 328Xi complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REMOTE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS AND THE KEY HAD TO BE USED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

ON THE WAY TO WORK THAT MORNING A RED WARNING LIGHT "STEERING WHEEL WITH A PAD LOCK ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER" CAME ON, AFTER PARKING AT WORK I GOT THE MANUAL OUT AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRIC STEERING-WHEEL LOCK FAULT , THE CAR MIGHT NOT START IF SHUT OFF. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER, AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE SAYING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. GOT THE WARNING AGAIN IN DECEMBER, WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND NOW THEY SAY A SENSOR IS BAD. THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $1000.00. *TR

I WAS LEAVING MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN THE VEHICLE CUT OUT WITH NO ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE ENGINE DIED. IT RESTARTED AND I WENT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER AND WOULD NOT START. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE BATTERY IN THE TRUNK HAD 12.60 VOLTS AND THE FUSES AT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER/BOX HAD ONLY 2.80 VOLTS. WITH A SCREW DRIVER I MOVED THE LARGE RED BATTERY CABLE GOING TO THE BACK OF THE PDC AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON. I SUBSEQEUNTLY REMOVED THE PDC AND INSPECTED THE MAIN POWER LEAD. THE TERMINAL WAS CORRODED HAS A RELATIVELY LOOSE FIT AND JUST CLIPS TO THE BACK OF THE PDC, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LARGE GAUGE WIRE. *TR

MY 2007 BMW 328XI COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS FORCED TO "COAST" INTO A SIDE LANE ON A BUSY ROAD DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. SINCE THIS FIRST INCIDENT MY CAR HAS BEEN HAVING THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE - RECENTLY, MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY. I FEEL AS IF THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ISSUE SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON INCREDIBLY BUSY STREETS AND I COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN INTO SOME FORM OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I OWN A 07 BMW 328XI, ON 10/03/12 I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND TRIED LOCKING IT AND ONLY TWO DOORS LOCKED. THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE FOB OR THE DOOR SWITCH LOCATED IN THE CAR. IN ORDER TO GET INTO CAR I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE PASSENGERS SEAT AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT THE SAME HAD TO HAPPEN. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A ACTUATOR PROBLEM, SO ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO TO GET THE DOORS UNLOCKED TILL MY APPT. I MADE. HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME NO AND UPON READING SOME FORUMS HE COULD HAVE SAID USE THE KEY HIDDEN IN THE FOB TO UNLOCK THE DOOR OR CHECK THE #57 FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE LOCKS. UNFORTUNATELY, I PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY DEALER BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE POTENTLY PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, HE COULD HAVE TOLD ME THESE THINGS BUT HE CHOICE TO SAY NOTHING TO GET ME IN THERE. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH BMW'S AND COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF THE CAR WAS TO RUN OFF THE ROAD IN A BODY OF WATER AND THE PERSON HAS TO OVER SEATS TO GET BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN. *TR

91 YEAR OLD PERSON COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR, FUSE 57 FAILED AND ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED AND ALSO DOOR HANDLES AND KEY FOB WERE INOPERATIVE. BMW SHOULD HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, PEOPLE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR. WHAT A DISGRACE BMW! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A KEYLESS IGNITION START AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY FAILED TO JUMP START. AFTER WAITING FORTY EIGHT HOURS THE ENGINE STARTED UPON ENGAGING THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE WAS NO TROUBLE DETECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

VEHICLE DISPLAYS MODERATE OVERHEAT WARNING AND WITHIN MINUTES DISPLAYS HIGH TEMPERATURE OVERHEAT WARNING AND GOES INTO FAILSAFE MODE WHICH MAKE THE CAR COME TO A HALT. THIS COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN A BUSY HIGHWAY. PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS FAILED WATER PUMP. *TR

DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK" ALERT. NO OTHER OUTWARD SYMPTOMS. CAR IS DRIVABLE. DEALER SAYS WHEEL COULD LOCK UP AT ANY TIME AND SAYS A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT ($1400) IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY PERVASIVE PROBLEM ON MANY BMW MODELS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS SO BAD THAT BMW REPLACES THE STEERING COLUMN WITH ONE WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM WITH THE PART. MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO AN INHERENT AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. BMW SHOULD MAKE THIS REPAIR AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *JS

THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK. THE LOCKS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT THE BACK DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AT ALL. I COULD OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR MANUALLY AND THATS PRETTY MUCH IT. *TR

AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE ALTHOUGH THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD. *TR

THE RECALL ANNOUNCED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES TODAY (HTTP://WHEELS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM/2012/03/26/BMW-RECALLS-NEARLY-1-3-MILLION-VEHICLES-WORLDWIDE-FOR-BATTERY-CABLE-FLAW/?NL=AUTOMOBILES&EMC=EDIT_WS_20120327) ANNOUNCING A RECALL OF 6-SERIES AND 5-SERIES BMWS ALSO POTENTIALLY AFFECTED 2007 3-SERIES BMWS AS WELL. AT ABOUT 31000 MILES, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A LOOSE BATTERY CONNECTION. THE BATTERY HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED/REMOVED, SO IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CONNECTION ISSUE. JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW SO IF 3-SERIES COMPLAINTS ARE COMMON YOU OPEN UP THE INVESTIGATION TO EXPLORE THE ISSUE IN 3-SERIES DESIGNS.... I WAS LUCKY, CAUGHT IT BEFORE DAMAGE/FIRE OCCURRED. *TR

CAR LOCKS BUT THEN WILL NOT UNLOCK, I HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR. PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE, THE FUSE KEEPS BLOWING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED THE FUSE TWICE IN 3 MONTHS. I HAVE LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 BMW 328XI. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THE THOUGHT OF SOMETHING HAPPENING WHERE WE ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR FRIGHTENS ME. *TR

REAR/AND OR FRONT BRAKES ARE NEEDED ON THIS CAR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 MONTHS AT LEAST. *TR

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL ARM IS PUSHED FORWARD TO ACCELERATE MILE BY MILE, THE ARM STICKS CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF OR THE BRAKE IS USED TO DISENGAGE. *TR

DOORS REMAINED IN LOCKED POSITION AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE ON FOB OR CENTRAL DOOR CONTROL INTERNALLY. DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN MANUALLY ONCE DOOR LATCH DEPRESSED. DRIVER DOOR ONLY OPENED THROUGH WINDOW TO ALLOW PASSENGERS IN FRONT AND REAR SEATS TO EXIT. OBVIOUSLY, VERY DIFFICULT TO EXIT. AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT, NO PASSENGERS COULD RIDE IN CAR UNTIL ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. *KB

I HAVE A 2007 328XI THAT CURRENTLY HAS 51,000 MILES. IT IS THE SECOND TIME THAT MY LOCKS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE FAILED. THE LOCKS PREVIOUSLY FAILED AROUND 30,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOW OUT OF WARRANTY I WILL BE LEFT TO FOOT THE BILL MYSELF. IN THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR USING THE KEY FOB OR THE BUTTON ON THE DASH. I FOUND MYSELF LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE USING THE VALET KEY. THE WINDOWS AND TRUNK WORKS, BUT THE LOCKS DO NOT. WHEN I PRESS THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB AND DASH, I HEAR AN AUDIBLE SOUND AS THE CAR IS TRYING TO LOCK/UNLOCK BUT THE ACTUATORS IN THE DOORS DO NOT FUNCTION. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE FOR ANY REASON. PLEASE INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL IMMEDIATELY. BMW ENGINEERS MUST DESIGN NEW LOCKING SYSTEM COMPONENTS THAT ARE NOT DEFECTIVE AND DO NOT FAIL EVERY 20,000 MILES. *TT

2007 328XI CURRENTLY AT 65700MI. UNABLE TO UNLOCK CAR USING KEY FOB OR INSIDE BUTTON ON DASH. WINDOWS WORK, HANDLES LIGHT UP. CAN HEAR AN AUDIBLE SOUND WHEN CAR IS TRYING TO UNLOCK. CANNOT OPEN WITHOUT USING VALET KEY. CAN EXIT FROM DRIVER SIDE ONLY USING HANDLE. ALL OTHER DOORS CANNOT UNLOCK AS WELL AS GAS CAP. SAFETY HAZARD IF PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE FOR ANY REASON. *TR

THE POWER LOCKS IN MY 2007 BMW 328XI SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE ALARM ARMS/DISARMS WITH THE USUAL BUTTON PRESSES, BUT THERE IS OTHERWISE NOTHING THAT TAKES PLACE. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE VALET KEY UNLOCKS FRONT, DRIVER-SIDE DOOR -- DIDN'T TEST PASSENGER'S -- THE FUEL DOOR REMAINS LOCKED. I HAVE A BUSINESS TRIP PLANNED EARLY IN THE MORNING. THE SAVING GRACE IS THAT I DIDN'T ENCOUNTER THIS FUEL DOOR FIASCO ON I-95 IN SOME BACKWOODS TOWN, BUT WOW... HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL?!?!?! I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE! DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE FIRST? WOW! *KB

DASHBOARD INDICATES, "ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED". CAR IS CURRENTLY DRIVABLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF BMW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN UNTIL THE CAR WILL NO LONGER TURN ON. THE MALFUNCTIONING FEATURE (STEERING WHEEL LOCK) HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SUBSEQUENT MODELS, INDICATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZES THE MALFUNCTION. REPAIR INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1300. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE POWER LOCKS WERE FUNCTIONING. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANUALLY BY USING THE KEY. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE DOORS, EXCEPT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE WHILE DECELERATING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE PARKWAY AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER TURNED OVER, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE FUEL LINES HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER TEN STATED THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE THE LINES, WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK. UPDATED 09/12/11

SIB 51 19 07, CAR DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND WAS FORCED TO EXIT THROUGH WINDOW. *TR

NONE OF MY DOORS WILL UNLOCK IN MY 2007 328XI WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE MANUAL KEY AND THEN IT ONLY UNLOCK MY DRIVER DOOR...ALL OTHER DOORS AND THE GAS TANK WILL NOT UNLOCK....NOT EVEN PULLING THE HANDLES FROM THE INTERIOR. THIS IS A VERY BAD DESIGN FLAW AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE A 5 AND A 2 YEAR OLD. WHAT IF I WERE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE MY BATTERY WERE TO DIE AND THE WINDOWS WERE UP. I AND MY CHILDREN WOULD PERISH IN THE HEAT OF OUR GEORGIA SUMMER. THE ENGINEERS NEED TO FIX THIS SAFETY HAZARD IMMEDIATELY OTHERWISE A LIFE IS GOING TO DIE! *TR

CAR DIED OUT OF NO WHERE WHO NOT START WOULD NOT JUMP START HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FOR BIG MONEY ON A FLAT BED WITH SKATES. I WAS HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. STEERING COLUMN AND A NEW BATTERY OVER $1600. *TR

2007 BMW 328XI. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UTILIZING REMOTE NOR OPEN/CLOSE LOCK BUTTON IN THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN OPEN EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY. I NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR STARTING EVEN WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON. I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. NOT BECAUSE IT WAS BAD, BUT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS REPLACING THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. TOTAL COST WAS OVER $700. MY CAR WAS 3 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WARNING LIGHT SENSOR IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN AND BMW RECALLS THIS PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK, CAUSING HIM TO HIT A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FILED A REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION WHICH WAS INCONCLUSIVE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA HAS LEARNED OF THROUGH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE? MY 2007 BMW 328XI DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED AT 52,660 MILES: THE KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS (THE DOOR HANDLES WILL LIGHT UP). I HAVE TO USE THE VALET KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT ONLY THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL UNLOCK. EACH OF THESE DOORS (DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER) CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE BY PULLING ON THE HANDLE. THE OTHER TWO DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED AT ALL. THIS ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN: SUPPOSE I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CAR WAS ONE OF THE TWO DOORS WHICH ARE NOT UNLOCKABLE? *TR

MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED IN OCTOBER 2010. A FUSE WAS REPLACED. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2010. BOTH TIMES I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I USED THE MANUAL KEY IN THE KEY FOB TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IF I HAD BEEN INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE ONLY WAY OUT WOULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE WINDOWS. WHEN THE LOCKS FAILED, ALL DOORS WERE FROZEN CLOSED AND THE INTERIOR OVERRIDE DID NOT WORK. THIS COULD BE SERIOUS IF THERE WAS A NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT THE CAR. ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVED PETS, CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY. *TR

2007 BMW 328XI. LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED. UNABLE TO UNLOCK PASSENGER DOORS EITHER WITH THE KEY OR BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE. ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO HAVE MY WIFE AND KIDS CRAWL OUT THE WINDOWS ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT SO THAT WE COULD ATTEND CHURCH. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED PROPERLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN HE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES; THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN DISPLAYED ABS AND DSC MALFUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

I HAVE A 1999 BMW 328I THAT I PURCHASED IN 2005 FOR $25,000 I JUST PURCHASED A 2007 BMW 328XI ON MAY WITH 54K MILES ON 11/1/10 IT TURNED OUT THAT I BOUGHT A $35,000 DEATH TRAP WITH THE DOORS NOT OPENING OR THE GAS TANK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO NOW IT JUST SITS THERE IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY 1999 WITH STILL DOES THAT SAME PROBLEM BUT OFF AND ON NOT LIKE THIS 2007 DEATH TRAP. I'M NEVER EVER BUYING A BMW AGAIN. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED A 2007 USED BMW 328XI WITH ~45K MILES. ONE WEEK TO THE DATE OF PURCHASE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR 5K MORE MILES) AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD A CRACKED RIM, "LIKELY DUE TO IMPACT." I HAVE DRIVEN IT ONLY ON ROADS UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, HITTING NO SIGNIFICANT POTHOLES OR OTHER ROAD OBSTRUCTIONS. THE RIM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST ~$500 TO REPLACE. I CHECKED THIS OUT INCIDENT REPORTS ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RIMS/RUN-FLAT TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

2007 BMW 328XI SEDAN; LOCKED VEHICLE WITH KEY FOB. RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN LOCKS. USED KEY FOB TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. INTERNAL BUTTON WOULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS. PULLING TWICE ON DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN DOORS. ACTUAL KEY WOULD UNLOCK DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY. DROVE CAR. TRIED INTERNAL BUTTON AGAIN, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. PULLING TWICE ON DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE WOULD UNLOCK THE DOOR. NO WAY TO OPEN ANY OF THE PASSENGER DOORS. ONLY WAY FOR PASSENGER TO EXIT IS TO GO OUT WINDOW OR THROUGH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. KEY FOB WOULD LOCK DOOR BUT NOT UNLOCK DOOR. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 2,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE IT TO DEALER/MECHANIC OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR MYSELF. *TR

HAVE YOU INVESTIGATED WHY BMW HAS NOT OFFERED A FIX FOR TRAPPING THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THE CAR WHEN A DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS AND BLOWS A FUSE? THIS IS A COMMON EVENT ON THE 2007 328 MODEL. WHAT HAPPENS IS A POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS DURING THE UNLOCK PROCESS AND THE INCREASE IN AMPERAGE CAUSES 2 FUSES TO BLOW. THIS PREVENTS ANY OF THE CAR'S DOOR LOCKS FROM OPENING, THEREBY TRAPPING OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OCCUPANTS MUST EITHER CLIMB OUT OF A WINDOW OR HAVE SOMEONE UNLOCK THE CAR USING A MECHANICAL KEY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2007 BMW 328XI COUPE WITH THE ZF 6-19 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. (NOT THE ZF 6-19 TU) TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE I WAS TRAVELING AT A STEADY 45 MPH & HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY TO ABOUT 5 MPH. I THEN IMMEDIATELY HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AWAY, AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND FOR AN UNACCEPTABLE PERIOD OF TIME. DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I TESTED THE CAR & DETERMINED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN TOP (6TH) GEAR, AND WAS BRAKED RAPIDLY DOWN TO A SPEED NEEDING A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN 6TH. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ONE GEAR AT A TIME, TAKES ABOUT 0.8 SECONDS PER GEAR CHANGE, AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY ACCELERATIVE FORCE UNTIL IT HAS MADE IT TO THE CORRECT GEAR. IN AN INCIDENT WHEN DECELERATING FROM TOP GEAR TO 10 MPH OR LESS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR TAKES ABOUT 4 SECONDS TO BEGIN TO RESPOND. ONCE I DEMONSTRATED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY LOOKED INTO IT FURTHER. BMW'S RESPONSE WAS "THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED." FURTHER COMPLAINTS RESULTED IN "CUSTOM SOFTWARE" FOR THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DROPPED THE DELAY FROM ABOUT 4 SECONDS TO ABOUT 3.75 SECONDS, AND ALLOWED THE TRANSMISSION TO TRANSFER SOME POWER TO THE WHEELS AS IT WAS WORKING DOWN THE GEARS. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY LIMITED IMPROVEMENT, STILL FAR FROM SAFE. A FOUR SECOND DELAY BEFORE A DRIVER CAN MOVE THE CAR EFFECTIVELY AFTER BREAKING IS UNSAFE. I AM FORTUNATE IN THAT I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM IN A SITUATION WH

THE DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. THEY LOCK AND STAY LOCKED. YOU CANNOT OPEN THEM FROM THE INSIDE, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ALL THREE REMAINING DOORS DO NOT OPEN! THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN BMW 3-SERIES E90S. *TR

2007 BMW 328XI. ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. NO DOOR COULD BE UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. NO DOOR COULD BE OPENED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. PULLING THE INTERNAL DOOR LATCH REPEATEDLY FAILED TO UNLOCK OR OPEN DOOR. PUSHING ELECTRONIC LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON DASHBOARD FAILED TO UNLOCK DOORS. LOWERING WINDOW AND USING MANUAL KEY IN EXTERIOR LOCK UNLOCKED DOOR BUT AS SOON AS KEY WAS ROTATED TO REMOVE FROM LOCK DOOR IMMEDIATELY ELECTRONICALLY RELOCKED. KEY HAD TO BE HELD IN UNLOCK POSITION WHILE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH WAS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO OPEN DOOR TO EXIT CAR. SUBSEQUENTLY EXCEPT FOR DRIVER'S DOOR ALL DOORS REMAINED INOPERABLE LOCKED BUT DRIVERS DOOR COULD BE OPENED ONLY MANUALLY WITH MANUAL KEY FROM EXTERIOR OR LATCH FROM INTERIOR WITHOUT AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCKING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED. DEALER REPORTED THAT A "SHORT" HAD CAUSED FAILURE OF ABILITY TO UNLOCK. EVENT HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN IN ONE MONTH. *TR

RUNFLAT TIRES ON BMW 328XI ARE NOT SUITED TO AMERICAN ROADS. HIT A POTHOLE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE RUNFLAT TIRES. WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AND TIRE WAS DAMAGED AS WELL. RUNFLAT TIRES SEEM LESS RESILIENT THAN STANDARD TIRES, AND RESULT IN GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF WHEEL DAMAGE. TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT, BUT WHEEL AND TIRE NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR

MY CAR FAILED A VEHICLE INSPECTION TODAY FOR "SAFETY REASONS" BECAUSE I'M TOLD THE 2 FRONT TIRES ARE WORN OUT. I HAVE A 2007 BMW 328XI THAT CAME WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL 42 RUN FLAT TIRES. AFTER 8114 MILES IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINS WITH THE HANDLING, AND NOISE, THE TIRES WERE FOUND TO BE SCALLOPED AND ALL 4 WERE REPLACED (WITH SAME MAKE AND MODEL) FREE OF CHARGE IN 2007. AT 22K MILES (14K ON NEW TIRES) THE NOISE BECAME UNBEARABLE AND AT 28,555 (20K ON TIRES) I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE TIRES FOR CLOSE TO $1000 (SINCE THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD ONLY REPLACE TIRES ONCE) WITH ADVISE TO SHOP FOR A BETTER PRICE. GIVEN THAT MY STATE INSPECTION GUIDELINES CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I'M ASKED TO CHANGE TIRES TWICE UNDER 29K MILES, I WOULD HAVE HOPED BMW OR BRIDGESTONE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. BUT I'M REQUESTING THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO IT. *TR

EARLIER THIS YEAR I WENT ON A WEEKEND TRIP WITH MY FAMILY: MY WIFE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, ON THE REAR SEAT MY SISTER AND MY TWO AND A HALF YEAR OLD NIECE ON HER CAR SEAT. WHEN WE ARRIVED TO OUR DESTINATION NONE OF THE PASSENGER DOORS WOULD OPEN; THEY WERE COMPLETELY SHUT AND THEY WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE INTERNAL CONTROLS, THE REMOTE OR IN ANY OTHER WAY. ONLY THE DRIVERS' DOOR, WHICH IS ALSO THE ONLY DOOR THAT HAS A KEY HOLE, WOULD OPEN. ALL OTHER DOORS ARE KEY-LESS AND REMAINED LOCKED. MY FAMILY HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE WINDOWS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT WITH MY LITTLE NIECE IN THE BACK SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM'S CAUSE WAS A BLOWN FUSE. FORTUNATELY WE DID NOT HAVE AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRE A QUICK EXIT OF OR ENTRY INTO THE CAR. BUT MY FAMILY AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY HAZARD THIS DESIGN REPRESENT. IN THE EVENT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN A RUSH WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT. MY WIFE IS NOW PREGNANT I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SAFE THIS VEHICLE REALLY IS. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER ARGUE THAT THIS IS A SIMPLE MALFUNCTION AND THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY DISMISSING THE CASE; I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR MANUAL LOCK/UNLOCK OF THE DOORS EVEN IF THE FUSE BLOWS - AT LEAST FROM THE INSIDE. GOOD SAFETY ENGINEERING POLICIES SHOULD STATE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FUSE BLOW NO SYSTEM SHOULD GET PASSENGERS LOCKED

I DISCOVERED FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THE CAR I LEASE SINCE 2008 DOES NOT HAVE A SPARE TIRE. WHEN I INQUIRE THE REASON WHY, THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR USES ESPECIAL TIRES CALLED RUN FLAT WHICH IN THE EVENT OF A TIRE PROBLEM WOULD ALLOW ME TO GO TO THE NEXT TIRE SHOP. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS ARGUMENT. FIRST, THE RATIONALE FOR ELIMINATING A SPARE TIRE IS FLAWED AND UNSAFE: A SPARE PROVIDES DRIVERS WITH AN EXTRA WHEEL ' INCLUDING BOTH TIRE AND RIM, IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH EITHER COMPONENT. ELIMINATING THE SPARE BECAUSE A CAR HAS RFTS (RUN FLAT TIRES) FAILS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE WHEELS OF THE CAR CAN ALSO SUFFER DAMAGE TO THE POINT OF IMMOBILIZING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY HAZARD THAT WOULD BE EASILY SOLVED WITH A SPARE TIRE. SECOND, AFTER RESEARCHING ABOUT RFTS I FOUND OUT THAT MOST TIRE SHOPS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA WHERE I LIVE DON'T CARRY THESE TIRES (ONE NEEDS TO PRE-ORDER THEM) AND CANNOT EVEN REPAIR THEM. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD BE THE AVAILABILITY OUTSIDE METROPOLITAN AREAS. THIRD, THESE TIRES ARE TWICE OR THREE TIMES AS EXPENSIVE AS A REGULAR TIRE ' THE CHEAPEST RFT FOR MY CAR ARE $200 PER TIRE; AND ACCORDING TO TIRE SHOP EMPLOYEES THEY TYPICALLY LAST HALF THE MILEAGE OF A REGULAR TIRE. FOURTH, AND PERHAPS THE MOST CONCERNING ISSUE, WHEN I WAS BUYING THE CAR NOBODY AT THE DEALERSHIP DISCLOSED THE TYPE OF TIRES THE CAR HAD OR THE LACK OF SPARE TIRE. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS INFORMATION I SIMPLY WOULD NOT H

SINCE APPROXIMATELY JAN./2008 THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON MY 2007 BMW 328XI COMES ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY AT APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEK INTERVALS. I HAVE HAD THE BMW SERVICE DEPT. LOOK AT IT FIVE(5) TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE DANGER LIES IN THE COMPULSION TO IGNORE A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE OF SO MANY FALSE INDICATIONS, LEADING TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON A PUBLIC ROAD RESULTING IN INJURIES. INTERNET BLOGS REPORT POSSIBLE INSTRUCTIONS BY PARENT COMPANY BMW FOR SERVICE DEPTS. TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM DELIBERATELY. *TR

UNABLE TO OPEN FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR DUE TO FAILURE OF FUSE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW AS SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. AS A TECHNICAL EXPERT IN THIS FIELD I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MODE IS UNSAFE AND CAN OCCUR DURING DRIVING, IF FAILURE OCCURS DURING DRIVING PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKING SYSTEM DOES NOT COMPLY TO FMVSS206 S4.1.3 AS THERE IS NO ABILITY TO UNLOCK THE MECHANISM ONCE THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND THE FUSE FAILS. *TR

DASHBOARD INDICATES, "ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED". CAR IS CURRENTLY DRIVABLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF BMW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN UNTIL THE CAR WILL NO LONGER TURN ON. THE MALFUNCTIONING FEATURE (STEERING WHEEL LOCK) HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SUBSEQUENT MODELS, INDICATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZES THE MALFUNCTION. REPAIR INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1300. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR IS FAULT CAUSING MY AIRBAG SENSOR TO GO OFF WHICH INDICATES THAT THERE IS A "FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINING SYSTEM." ONE DAY THE LIGHT WAS OFF - THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS ON. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED ON MY 2007 BMW 328XI. THERE ARE SIMILAR RECALLS ON 2009 BMWS? IS THERE ONE FOR THE 2007 MODEL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AT 18,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWERVING TO THE LEFT AND THE TIRES FELT HARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND ALL FOUR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES ARE CALLED "FLAT" TIRES AND NO SPARE TIRE WAS AVAILABLE. IF THE "FLAT" TIRES EVER GO FLAT, SHE CAN STILL DRIVE ON THEM FOR AT LEAST 125 MORE MILES. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE TWO OF HER TIRES FOR FREE, BUT THE OTHER TWO MUST BE PURCHASED AT THE COST OF $625. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,025.