2002 BMW M3

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

Defect. BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Odi has received complaints from consumers stating that their tail light assembly is not properly illuminating.the tail light assembly consists of a turn signal lamp, a tail lamp and a brake lamp.the complainants have indicated that the issue is with an 8 pin connector and associated ground wiring.these components are allegedly overheating and melting due to excessive electrical current that runs through the system.bmw issued a technical service bulletin (tsb) sib-630306 on february 2007 to address the condition by adding supplementary ground wiring to the tail lamp assembly.odi is upgrading …

In march 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) received a petition from mr. Mark peters requesting an investigation of rear lamp failure in model year 2002-2005 bmw 3-series vehicles.an information request letter was sent to bmw in april 2009, and odi received bmw's response in june 2009.the tail lamp assembly contains lighting for the brake lamps, tail lamps, and turn signals.a technical service bulletin (tsb) was issued by bmw in january of 2007 instructing service technicians to examine an 8 pin electrical connector for heat-related damage and to incorporate additional ground …

BMW: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL 08E-A03; M3 S54-DME REPROGRAMMING FOR CATALYST CONVERSION DIAGNOSIS. THE DME PROGRAMMING, AS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, MAY CAUSE THE OBD DIAGNOSTIC TO ERRONEOUSLY EVALUATE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *PE

BMW: THERMOSTAT HOUSING INSPECTION. THE RETAINING SPRINGS OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING QUICK RELEASE COUPLINGS FOR THE COOLANT HOSES MAY NOT BE LOCKED CORRECTLY. THIS SITUATION MAY RESULT IN A COOLANT LEAK. MODELS AFFECTED ARE M3 SEDAN (E90), COUPE (92), AND CONVERTIBLE (393). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

BMW: AS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, THE DME PROGRAMMING MAY CAUSE THE OBD DIAGNOSTIC TO ERRONEOUSLY EVALUATE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. MODEL E46 (M3) COUPE AND CONVERTIBLES. *PE

See attached document for complaint

BMW M 3 parked in the driveway and had been turned off for several hours I was wax the car when I noticed a puff of smoke coming out of the air condition vent so I sat in the driver seat to investigate out of habit I close the door I planed to open the windows and the convertible top to take a look the car went into antitheft mode and locked me inside the smoke became thick quickly I tried to break the window with my elbow with no luck I was getting ready to try to kick the window if I could reach it with my foot I’m on most 70 years old so it was tough even moving I couldn’t get out ..my wife and daughter Who were in the backyard and saw what was happening they broke the window so that I could climb out of the car I sprayed the air conditioning vent with water which is also dangerous but I had to put it out I then disconnected the battery as quickly as I could I have called an insurance adjuster and had mechanics look at it apparently the LCM or the light control module for some reason caught fire I was lucky I had someone there to help me someone else might not be as lucky I did breathing a bit of the smoke and I’ve had cough but I don’t feel it’s severe I will have it looked out eventually would just like the car to be evaluated by BMW engineers to see if they can figure out why it caught on fire Before I pay money to have it repaired I’m not sure I can drive it again

IN NOVEMBER, 2020, I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM BMW THAT THE PREVIOUS FIX TO MY AIRBAG WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX, AND I NEEDED TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR A PERMANENT FIX. IN JANUARY, 2021, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. I AM GETTING READY TO START DRIVING MY CARS ON A REGULAR BASIS AGAIN, SO I TOOK THE CAR IN THIS WEEK FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. THEY SPENT 2 HOURS, TO ALLEGEDLY REPLACE A MODULE. AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THEY SAID THAT WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL, AND I NEEDED TO PAY $200 TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. 3 HOURS LATER, THEY SAID IT WAS AN AIRBAG MODULE (PRESUMABLE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THEY ALLEGEDLY JUST REPLACED), AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NOW, THE FIRST REPAIR FOR THE AIRBAG WAS ROUGHLY TWO YEARS AGO, NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE MODULE THAT IS FAILING IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. I THINK THEY EITHER DIDN'T DO THE AIRBAG MODULE WHEN IT WAS IN FOR THE REPAIR OR THE FACT THEY INSTALLED A "TEMPORARY FIX" TWO YEARS AGO IS LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THIS MODULE TODAY. ANYWAY, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. OH, THEY WANT $2,000 TO FIX IT.

THE DOOR CENTRAL LOCK CONTROL MODULE FAILS ON ALL OF THE E46 BMW MODELS WHERE THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER CAN BECOME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED IN ANY WAY BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY GM5 CENTRAL LOCKING MODULE

UPON INSPECTION, VEHICLE'S REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS SHOW CRACKING AND OTHER SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL FATIGUE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNDERGONE COMPLETE REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE. VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME NEEDS TO BE REINFORCED AND BMW SETTLED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE WAS NOT ESCALATED TO A RECALL, POSSIBLY LEAVING THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED, DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER PUSHING REMOTE OR CONSOLE BUTTON OR WHEN PULLING DOOR HANDLE INSIDE WHICH NORMALLY UNLOCKS IT. THIS COULD BE A DEATH TRAP IN CASE OF FIRE! I HEAR THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE GM5 MODULE.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON.......

THIS CAR IS SUBJECT TO THE AIRBAG RECALL.I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THIS IN SEPTEMBER 2014. SINCE THEN, BMW HAS REPEATEDLY PUT OFF THE TARGET DATE FOR THIS REPAIR. BACK IN OCTOBER 2014, AN ARTICLE IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES STATED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE FIRST 25% OF THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL FEBRUARY 2015. IF BMW WAS AWARE OF THIS IN OCTOBER 2014, WHY DIDN'T THEY MAKE ALTERNATE ARRANGEMENTS WITH ANOTHER VENDOR AND BACKCHARGE TAKATA? *TR

BMW SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE TAKATA PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. I CONTACTED MY DEALER IN LATE OCTOBER. THE DEALER HAS NOT RESPONDED AND BMW USA SAYS IT DOES NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS MAY BE AVAILABLE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MIAMI, FL NEW FROM A BMW DEALER AND WAS LOCATED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS. I NOW LIVE ON THE WATER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE HUMIDITY IS TYPICALLY 99% OVERNIGHT AND MY DECK DOES NOT DRY ALL DAY DUE TO HIGH HUMIDITY. SUMMERTIME TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE UPPER 80S TO LOW 90S WITH SEVERAL DAYS EACH SUMMER ABOVE 100 F. WHILE I UNDERSTAND PARTS SHORTAGES, I AM ALSO UNABLE TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN MY CAR IN WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SAFE MANNER. IF A MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIX AS RECALL IN A REASONABLE TIME THEY SHOULD MAKE OTHER PROVISIONS FOR VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT IN BMW'S SMG PUMP UNIT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT ME MAKING THAT DECISION. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING LANES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE SMG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON. THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED AS IT CHOSE TO SHIFT BACK TO 4TH GEAR AS I WAS GOING 65MPH. I TRIED SHIFTING BACK UP TO GEAR SAFELY GET TO THE SHOULDER BUT WITH NO LUCK AS THE VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL. THE CARS BEHIND ME CAME VERY RAPIDLY AND TWO ALMOST HIT ME AS A RESULT OF THIS PUMP FAILURE. BY THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH IN A 65+ TRAFFIC ZONE. I FINALLY ROLLED MY CAR DOWN THE SHOULDER TO SAFETY. I REPLACED THE SMG RELAY WITH A SPARE NEW ONE I ALWAYS CARRIED IN THE CAR. I WAITED 10 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AS I KNEW THIS WAS THE INFAMOUS SMG PUMP ISSUE. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP WITH NO LIGHT AND DROVE ME ALMOST THE ENTIRE ROUTE BACK HOME. JUST ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME, SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME LEAVING ME COMPLETELY STUCK IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WERE KIND ENOUGH TO HELP PUSH MY CAR OUT OF THE WAY. I CALLED A FRIEND AND WE PUSHED THE CAR ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY GARAGE. NOW THIS IS JUST THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. IT HAPPENS IN LESS THAN 3 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR JUST WHEN I TRY TO MOVE IT NEVER BREAKING 15MPH. BMWNA IGNORES OUR COMPLAIN

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE BMW DEALER FOR A INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE SUBFRAME/TRUNK FLOOR WAS CRACKING AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT MY CAR ON A VEHICLE LIFT FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND ADVISED ME IT MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. LOOKING INTO THIS ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON SAFTEY PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. *TR

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS SINCE THE DAY AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR: ?DRIVING IN 4TH GEAR (ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 40 MINS OF DRIVING) WILL SUDDENLY FEEL AS IF CLUTCH IS ENGAGED SO I CANNOT ACCELERATE, YELLOW TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THEN I HAVE TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE CAR TO RE-ENGAGE BACK INTO 1ST GEAR. NOTICED IF I WAIT LONG ENOUGH, ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ALSO TURNS OFF THEN I CAN RESTART BACK IN FIRST GEAR. ALL THIS WHILE DRIVING IN AUTO MODE. ?SAME ISSUE AS ABOVE BUT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LOWER GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING OR WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHER GEARS, FOR EXAMPLE, 6TH GEAR AND MANUALLY SHIFTING INTO 5TH, WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON, CAR WILL NOT BE IN GEAR, WILL HAVE TO COAST TO A STOP AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART WITH 1ST GEAR AGAIN. ?SAME ISSUE AS ABOVE, BUT HAS HAPPENED WHILE PARKED AT A RED LIGHT, INDICATOR SHOWS 1ST GEAR, BUT WHEN I TRY TO GO, THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND I?M NOT IN GEAR, REQUIRES A STOP/RESTART OF ENGINE AGAIN ? SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TRIES. THIS HAPPENS ON BOTH EVEN, DECLINED AND INCLINED ROAD SURFACES. ?THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WE HAVE BEEN LEFT DEAD IN THE ROAD ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE THERE'S ON-COMING TRAFFIC AROUND US! *TR

THE EXHAUST CAM HUB TABS BREAK OFF ON THE 2000-2008 BMW M3 MODELS. IF CAUGHT WHEN ONLY ONE TAB BREAKS IT CAN BE REPLACED. IF BOTH TABS BREAK COMPLETELY OFF THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. BMW NA WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *JS

TROUBLE WITH SMG TRANSMISSION. CAR WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR AND BUCKS HARD TRYING TO ENGAGE. *TR

I HAVE A BMW M3 WHICH HAS AN SMG TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOSES POWER TO CHANGE THE GEARS AND MY CAR STARTED TO JERK WHILE ON THE ROAD NEARLY CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE SMG PUMPS FOR BMW M3 HAVE ALWAYS A HIGH FAILURE DESIGN FLAW. THE COST TO FIX THAT IS ALSO UNBEARABLE WHICH NEARS THE $5,000 MARK. THERE HAS BEEN FORUMS GOING AROUND THAT THIS IS INDEED A DESIGN FLAW FOR BMW. I ALMOST NEARLY GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT, BUT THANKFULLY I WAS OK. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS I FEEL AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE BMW COMUNITTEE THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE EXTERIOR LAMPS WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. UPDATED 10/19/2011 *LN

BMW 2002 M3, REMOTE KEY DOES NOT WORK, BROKEN GENERAL MODULE. *TR

INSPECTION AT DEALER, BMW OF PEABODY, 221 ANDOVER STREET, PEABODY MA 01960, FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS QUITE NORMAL FOR BMW 3 SERIES. I BELIEVE THAT BROKEN REAR SPRINGS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO PERSONS.

THE REAR MIRROR IN MY VEHICLE IS A SELF-DIMMING ONE. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, I CAME OUT TO A SIGNIFICANT DISCOLORATION IN THE GLASS, ALMOST LIKE THERE WAS WATER INSIDE OF THE MIRROR. I FIGURED IT WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT, BUT DID NOT THINK IT WOULD DETERIORATE SO FAST. THE NEXT EVENING, I PARKED IN THE GARAGE AGAIN. I CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND THE DISCOLORATION HAD WORSENED. I NOTICED SPLATTER ALL OVER THE AREA UNDERNEATH THE MIRROR. IT APPEARS THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT AND DRIPPED ALL OVER MY SHIFTER, TRIM, WINDOW BUTTONS, AND CUPHOLDERS. ANY PART THAT WAS PLASTIC HAD BURN MARKS FROM THE SPLATTER OF THE CORROSIVE LIQUID. I WAS VERY UNEASY CLEANING UP THE REMAINING LIQUID AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY CORROSIVE. I SPOKE WITH BMWNA AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS ISSUE IS BEYOND A DAMAGED PART; IT IS A SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARD. *TR

I OWN A 2002 BMW M3. THERE ARE SIX CAMSHAFT BOLTS BEHIND A PLATE COVER. BMW SPECED BOLTS THAT WERE TOO SOFT UNTIL 2004 WHEN THEY CHANGED BOLT SPEC TO A HARDENED STEEL WITH LOCTITE. PRIOR TO THIS THE BOLTS HAD NO LOCTITE. THE ISSUE IS STARTING TO SURFACE ALL OVER THE WEB. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE BOLTS DO NOT STAY SCREWED IN. THEY BACK OUT AND STOP AGAINST THE PLATE COVER. EVENTUALLY THEY SHEAR OFF AND IF THIS HAPPENS IT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO YOUR ENGINE. IN MY CASE I WAS GOING 15MPH SO THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY $10,000. THE CAR HAMMERED TO A STOP. BMW IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE SUGGESTING OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE 60K ON THE CAR WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED FIRST. A P0011 CAMSHAFT TIMING FAULT COMES UP. A BMW SERVICE CENTER CLEARED THE FAULT AND REPLACED SOME COILS AND SPARKPLUGS ($663) AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THREE DAYS LATER THE BOLTS SHEARED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY "HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE". THEY ALSO SAID BMW HAD ISSUED NO BULLETINS TO ADDRESS THE BOLTS. EVERY INDEPENDENT BMW FACILITY I INTERVIEWED IN PORTLAND WAS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ALREADY DOING ENGINE REBUILDS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I THINK THIS IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON BMW'S PART FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE AND DEALING WITH IT. I ALSO THINK THE DEALER IS GUILTY OF CLEARING THE FAULT WITHOUT CHECKING FURTHER. THE BID ON MY WORK IS $10,000 (TWO VALVE HEADS AND A VANOS SYSTEM PLUS 50 HOURS OF LABOR). THIS IS AN ESTIMATE UNTIL THEY PULL THE ENGINE APART MORE. ONLINE YOU CAN SEE ON YOU T

AUTO DIMMING MIRROR ON 2002 BMW M3 COUPE LEAKED AND IS NOW PERMANENTLY DIMMED ON 3/4 OF THE MIRROR. IT NOW INHIBITS MY ABILITY TO SEE OUT THE REAR OF MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE LIQUID IS TOXIC AND CORROSIVE, HOWEVER BMW STILL HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

AFTER 2.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE A SLIGHT "CLUNK" COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IS NOTICED WHEN MOVING FORWARD FROM A STOP SOME TIMES. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE "CLUNK" BECAME LOUDER AND OCCURRED MORE OFTEN. IN ADDITION THE A LOUD "BANG" ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATIONS WOULD COME FROM THE REAR WHEN GOING OVER SPEED-BUMPS. DURING THIS TIME THE CAR BEGAN FEELING UNSAFE WHEN ON HILLS OR IN THE RAIN. IF I WAS ON A HILL AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD I FEARED AFTER THE LARGE "CLUNK" A MAJOR FAILURE COULD LEAD TO THE CAR LOSING ITS REAR DRIVETRAIN OR SUSPENSION AND FALLING BACKWARDS. I ALSO FELT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE IN THE RAIN AND THE REAR OF THE CAR WOULD SHIFT AROUND WHEN UNDER LOAD OR ACCELERATING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS TEARING AT MULTIPLE POINTS. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON MANUFACTURER DEFECT OF THE BMW 3-SERIES THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND NEWER MODEL CARS WOULD TEAR THE ENTIRE FLOORPAN OUT. THE REPAIR IS COSTLY AND THE SHOP SAID THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE ANY REPAIR OF THIS PART AS IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I CONTACTED BMW NA AND THEY HAD A REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT ME AND SETUP AN INSPECTION AT A LOCAL BMW CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE BMW REP THERE SAID HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HE SAID THAT 99% OF THE TIME THE DAMAGE IS COVERED AS IT IS A PROBLEM IN EVEN THEIR LOWEST MODELS AND EVEN IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS. LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SHOP AND W

I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I HEARD A NOISE. AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER, I REALIZED IT MUST BE A FLAT TIRE AS THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO PULL IN ONE DIRECTION. AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. I PULL OVER TO FIND THAT THE TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS A CONTINENTAL CONTISPORT CONTACT 255, 40ZR 18, ON A 2002 BMW M3. THE TIRE APPEARS TO HAVE SIMPLY BLOWN OUT DUE TO THE SEPARATION. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE TIRE DEALER THAT THIS IS "COMMON" FOR LOW-PROFILE TYPE TIRES. I DO NOT THINK THIS AN ACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION, AS THE TIRE WAS NOT UNDERPRESSURIZED, BARE AND/OR DAMAGED. I BELIEVE THIS BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO A TIRE DEFECT (TIRE SEPARATION). THE ONLY TIRE I COULD FIND TO REPLACE IT WAS ANOTHER BRAND. I WILL NOT PUT CONTINENTALS ON MY CAR IN THE FUTURE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THEM SINCE I DO ALOT OF FREEWAY DRIVING, AND I WONDER WHEN ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES WILL SEPARATE AND BLOW OUT. *NM

ON NOVEMBER 2ND, 2005, AT 6:30 P.M., MY FAMILY GOT INTO THE M3. THAT INCLUDED MY WIFE IN FRONT, AND THREE DAUGHTERS IN THE BACK. WE WERE ON THE WAY TO MEET MY FATHER FOR DINNER. WE HAD PLANNED TO TAKE THE 60 FREEWAY WESTBOUND, OF WHICH THE ON RAMP IS OFF A STREET CALLED CHINO HILLS PARKWAY. TO OUR SHOCK, THE FREEWAY WAS JAMMED LIKE A PARKING LOT, SO WE PROCEED TO MAKE A U-TURN TO TAKE AN ALTERNATE SIDE ROAD. TRAVELLING SOUTHBOUND ON CHINO HILLS PARKWAY AT ABOUT 25 TO 30 MPH IN 2ND GEAR, THE SMG GEAR INDICATOR GOES TO "0". I DO NOT RECALL SHIFTING AT ALL, SO I JUST PROCEED TO MOVE THE GEAR LEVER TO PUT IT BACK IN GEAR. IT DOES NOT CHANGE, REAMINS AT "0", AND SINCE MY FOOT IS STILL ON THE GAS PEDAL, I JUST HEAR THE REVS OF THE ENGINE WHILE NOTICING I HAVE NO POWER TO MOVE FORWARD. THANKFULLY, WE WERE ON A SLIGHT DOWNWARD SLOPE, SO I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO A STOP BY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FIRST THING I NOTICE IS THE YELLOW GEAR-SHAPED TRANSMISSION LIGHT HAS COME ON. I PROCEED TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, THINKING A RESTART WOULD CORRECT THE SITUATION. I TRY SHIFTING INTO GEAR, BUT IT REMAINS AT "0". BEFORE I RESTART THE SECOND TIME, I POP THE HOOD OPEN, AND GO OUT TO CLOSE IT, HAVING HEARD THAT SOMETIMES THE SMG PUMP ACTS FUNNY IF THE HOOD IS NOT CLOSED. I'M STILL UNABLE TO SHIFT. I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, WAIT A FEW MINUTES. THIS TIME, THE ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN START! THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIME. FINALLY, ON THE SIXTH RESTART, THE ENGINE COMES ALIVE, AND I AM ABLE TO SHIFT INT

REAR PARK DISTANCE CONTROL SOUNDED AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. SOFTWARE REPROGRAMMED 2 TIMES SO FAR WHICH CORRECTED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. WARNING LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON AFTER EACH REPROGRAMMING AS SOON AS PARK DISTANCE CONTROL SOUNDS. NOTE: CAR HAS SMG TRANSMISSION. *JB

DT: DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO ACCENDENT, NO POT HOLE, AND NO OBJECTS WERE HIT. TOOK TO DEALER ON FRIDAY, AND THEY STILL HAVE THE CAR. THE INJURIES WERE BURNS AND BRUISES TO THE LEFT ARM.*AK

2002 BMW M3, REPEATED SMG TRANSMISSION FAILURES RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. BMW HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. BMW ALSO DAMAGED THE VEHICLE TRYING TO RETRIVE IT FOR YET ANOTHER REPAIR ATTEMPT. IT MAY HAVE STARTED ITSELF WITHOUT THE KEY IN IT WHILE THE TOW TRUCK WAS PICKING IT UP. BMW IS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF DENIAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER 6 WEEKS NOW AND COUNTING AND IT HAS LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON IT.

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICEL. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 16000, THE TRANSMISSION (SMG) WAS RE[;ACED AT 20000, NOW THE ENGINE REV HIGH AT IDEL AND SEND STRON VIBRATION TO THE CABIN AND STEERING COLUMN. BMW OF HOUSTON NORTH, A LOCAL DEALER IN HOUSTON, TX, WERE LESS THAN HELPFUL IN TRYING TO SOLVE THE CURRENT PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP THE PROBLEMS WITH M3 QUIET. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED FUMES COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONER A/C VENTS WHILE TRAVELING FROM 65-70 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FIVE TIMES FOR PROBLEM.*AK

WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON 9/9/2002. ON 5/27/2003 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED 4 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES WITH NO EFFECT. THE DEALER DROVE IT OVER 300 MILE TO "TEST DRIVE" THE CAR. BMW DOES NOT RESPOND WITH ANYTHING BUT RHETORIC AND POOR SERVICE. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES LITERALLY BLOW UP! BMW IS A TERRIBLEL COMPANY WITH DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS AND POOR SERVICE. *NLM

CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS ARE STARVED OF ENGINE OIL CAUSING A SERIES OF CHAIN REACTIONS THAT ULTIMATELY BLOWS THE ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE OIL TO SPILL EVERYWHERE AND FORM THICK CLOUDS OF SMOKE FROM EVAPORATED ENGINE OIL TO COME OUT OF THE CAR, HINDERING THE VIEW OF OTHERS BEHIND, AND CREATING A DANGERIOUSLY SLIPPERY SURFACE. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, CAUSING VERY POSSIBLE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT ARE TOO SPECULATIVE AND MANY TO LIST. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED WITHIN OCTOBER OF 2001 TO FEBURARY 2002. BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECT REPEATEDLY BLAMES THE CONSUMER. SIMPLY REPLACING THE ENGINE(WHICH IS WHAT BMW DOES) IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, DUE TO INEVITABLE LOSS OF VALUE FROM SUCH A DISASTEROUS FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, MANY HAVE PAYED MORE THAN $60,000 FOR THE CAR, EXCLUDING THE PREMIUM OF $2500-$15000 EXTRA DEPENDING ON DEALERSHIP. BMW ALSO DOES NOT PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THIS FAILURE PROBLEM WITH ANY FORM OF COMPENSATORY ACTIONS, SUCH AS LOANER CARS FOR PERIODS AS LONG AS 2-6 WEEKS.(THE ESTIMATED TIME IT TAKES TO FIX THE PROBLEM) DT

BMW HAS HAD A RASH OF ENGINE FAILURES ON THEIR NEW E46 M3S. THESE FAILURES USUALLY(IN MY CASE AND MANY OTHERS)HAS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE ACTUALLY BLOWING UP. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS FAILURES THAT COULD HAPPEN. OIL DUMPS ALL OVER THE ROAD, THINGS LOCK UP AND YOU COULD EASILY LOOSE CONTROL. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND NO ONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED. BMW HAS BEEN REPLACING THESE MOTORS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WILL NOT DISCLOSE THE REASON FOR THE FAILURES OR WHAT HAS BEEN FIXED TO INSURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE SENT REQUEST TO BMW ASKING FOR AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO MY PARTICULAR FAILURE AND WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT ON THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM BMW AS OF TODAY. I HAVE RECEIVED E-MAILS FROM OTHER CONCERNED M3 OWNERS STATING THAT REPLACEMENT MOTORS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL ALSO. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE ANOTHER ENGINE BLOW. I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME. WHAT WORRIES ME MOST IS THAT BMW SEEMS TO BE IGNORING THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED. TS

BMW HAS HAD A RASH OF ENGINE FAILURES ON THEIR NEW E46 M3'S. THESE FAILURES USUALLY (IM MY CASE AND MANY OTHERS) HAS RESULTED IN THE ENGINE ACTUALLY BLOWING UP. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS FAILURES THAT COULD HAPPEN. OIL DUMPS ALL OVER THE ROAD, THINGS LOCK UP AND YOU COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND NO ONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED. BMW HAS BEEN REPLACING THESE MOTORS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WILL NOT DISCLOSE THE REASON FOR THE FAILURES OR WHAT HAS BEEN FIXED TO INSURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE SENT REQUEST TO BMW ASKING FOR AND OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO MY PARTICULAR FAILURE AND WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT ON THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM BMW AS OF TODAY. I HAVE RECEIVED E-MAILS FROM OTHER CONCERNED M3 OWNERS STATING THAT REPLACEMENT MOTORS HAVE BEEN KNOW TO FAIL ALSO. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE ANOTHER ENGINE BLOW. I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME. WHAT WORRIES ME MOST IS THAT BMW SEEMS TO BE IGNORING THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768014

ENGINE DESTROYED BY ROD BEARING FAILURE. *AK

REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT NO CHARGE BY DON JACOBS BMW. NO SAFETY DEFEWCT MENTIONED. *AK

AS AN OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE I AM CONCERNED BY THE SAFETY, RELIABILITY AND RESALE VALUE ISSUES RAISED BY OVER 80 ENGINE FAILURES. THESE HAVE BEEN CATALOGUED AT URL HTTP://MEMBERS.ROADFLY.COM/JASON/M3ENGINES.HTM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. NLM

HOOD SENSOR WILL INDICATE THAT HOOD IS CLOSE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL OPEN. CONSUMER IS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE BLEW UP WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AFTER PULLING OVER CONSUMER FOUND A LOT OF PIECES TO ENGINE ON FLOOR, AND OIL WAS EVERY WHERE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND CHANGING GEARS COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. HAD VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP FOR A THIRD TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, AND REPLACED TWICE.*AK