1995 BMW M3

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.

Risk. IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

Defect. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

Defect. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

Defect. IN A FMVSS NO. 208 30 MILES-PER-HOUR COMPLIANCE TEST, AN UNBELTED TEST DRIVER DUMMY'S CHEST MAXIMUM RESULTANT ACCELERATION WAS 70.8 G'S, WHICH EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE VALUE OF 60 G'S. ALSO, THE UNBELTED PASSENGER DUMMY'S LEFT FEMUR MAXIMUM LOAD WAS 2361 LBS, WHICH EXCEEDS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE VALUE OF 2250 LBS. THE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE OCCUPANT WILL BE SUBJECTED TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy. ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODELS ONLY, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT CROSSMEMBER WITH A CROSSMEMBER USED ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION REAR BUSHING SUPPORTS WILL BE REPLACED WITH BUSHING HAVING DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS. THE STEERING COLUMN FRONT SUPPORT BEARING AT THE FIREWALL WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED PART USING A TEFLON INNER SURFACE AND TEFLON SPRAY WILL BE APPLIED TO THE COLUMN HOUSING IN THE AREA OF THE BEARING. A BRACE WILL BE ADDED BETWEEN THE KNEE BOLSTER SUPPORT AND THE STEERING COLUMN.

TIRES ARE MANUFACTURED BY FEDERAL (TAIWAN IMPORT). TREAD IS DELAMINATING OVER THE ENTIRE CROSS-SECTION OF TREAD, TIRE UNDER 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 5K MILES. WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE PER GOOGLE. TIRES HAVE BEEN USED FOR REGULAR ROAD-DRIVING IN NJ. NO ACCIDENT HAS TAKEN PLACE (YET).

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON FOR 2 MINUTES; COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1995 3 SERIES ACCORDING TO INTERNET FORUM (HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T595499-AIRBAG_LIGHT). *TR

I OWED THIS 1995 BMW M3 SINCE NEW AND ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON VERY FREQUENTLY. ABS: NEED TO REPLACE ABS PUMP AND ABS MODULE. AIRBAG: NEED TO REPLACE SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *NM

SAFETY RECALL 98V-178; REGARDING THE 1995 BMW M3. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICE ELEVEN TIMES FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, HOT COOLANT WAS EXPELLED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN THROUGH THE OPEN WINDOW AND SUNROOF. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED MINOR BURNS AND IRRITATION TO HIS SKIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, HOUSING, RELATED GASKETS AND CONNECTORS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS STATED IN THE RECALL. *JB

WHILE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO COME ON. THE DRIVER HAS PLACED REFUSES ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER BRAKE LIGHT WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT BUT THE CAMPAIGN BULLENTIN WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK TORN OUT FROM THE SHOCK TOWER. STRESS CRACKS IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SHOCK TOWER WITH FAILURE IMMINENT. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE SHOCK TOWERS BEFORE AND AFTER THEY WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR AS WELL AS THE SHOCK TOWERS THEMSELVES. I HAVE FOUND MANY EXAMPLES OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON BMW M3'S REPORTED ON NATIONAL E-MAIL LISTS. I CAN PROVIDE COPIES OF THE E-MAILS.*JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING, AND THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED.*DT *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WAS SIDESWIPED, RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

BOTTOM OF DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED - BROKE COMPLETELY AND RATTLING AROUND IN LOWER SUPPORT. COULD NOT IDENTIFY RATTLE FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL RECENTLY. MOST PROBABLE CAUSE OF FAILURE THIS EARLY IN THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE PART WAS THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR MATERIALS USED. IF THE SPRING HAD FAILED IN THE MIDDLE, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE. SINCE THE PART BROKE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE UNIT AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL AND THERE ARE SMELLS OF GAS VAPORS WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DEALER HAS FIXED VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM BEFORE. DEALER REPLACED FITTINGS IN THE SENDING UNITBUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

ABS SYSTEM FAILS, LOCKING UP THE BACK UP SYSTEM WITH UNEVEN BRAKING, RESULTING IN BOTH RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES LOCKING UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL ALMOST INTO A CIRCLE. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM FROM PREVIOUS OWNER. DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AT DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHEN A SLOWER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF CAR, DRIVER HIT BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE SPINNED, LOST CONTROL AND SMASHE DINTO CONCRETE CARRIER. *AK