2004 BMW 3 Series Problems

HEADLAMP BULB OUT AND UPON REPLACEMENT IT WAS NOTED THE COATED WIRING TO THE XENON SYSTEM TO RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHT IS BRITTLE (THE WIRES PLASTIC COATING IS FALLING OFF)AND IN SOME PLACES EXPOSED WIRING WAS FOUND. ELECTRICAL TAPE NEED TO WRAP THE WIRING TO AVOID POTENTIAL FIRE. LATE NOTICE TO THIS SITE I WAS UNAWARE TO FILE A REPORT. OTHERS ALSO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES.

HEADLIGHTS PROJECT ALMOST NO LIGHT. JUST PAID $130 TO HAVE LENSES CLEANED, NO IMPROVMENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY EYES AND COMPLAINED TO OPTHAMOLOGIST TWICE BUT MY EYES ARE OK. I'VE READ THT THE REFLECTOR BOWLS IN THIS MODEL MELT FROM THE HEAT OF THE BULB. I NEED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION ASAP SO I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WAIT FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:15V318 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V428

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER DATED JULY 2015 CONCERNING THE RECALL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW ON 11/24/15 AND THEY SAID THEY PUT MY NAME ON THE LIST AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE REPLACEMENT CAME IN. I CALLED AGAIN ON 4/14/16 AND [XXX] SAID SHE WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE MY NAME IS ON THE LIST AND WOULD CALL ME BACK WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED. IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. THIS IS SO CONCERNING TO ME AS THIS CAR IS MY MAIN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I AM SO AFRAID I WILL HAVE A FRONT END COLLISION RESULTING IN DEATH OR DISMEMBERMENT. IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN I OR MY ESTATE WILL MOST CERTAINLY SUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VEHICLE ADAPTIVE XENON HEADLIGHT WIRING IS FAULTY . WIRE INSULATION IS CRACKING/DETERIORATING AND ENTIRE WIRES ARE BREAKING APART. SYMPTOMS START WITH FLICKERING XENON HEADLIGHT EVENTUALLY (ABOUT A WEEK LATER) STOPS WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY, ENGINE ON. THE FAULTY WIRES ARE IN A WEATHER SEALED COMPARTMENT OF THE HEADLIGHT AND HAVE NEVER (TO MY KNOWLEDGE) EVEN BEEN UNSEALED/ACCESSED SINCE LEAVING THE FACTORY. THE ISSUE IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, UNKNOWN IF IT IS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AS WELL. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS BACK SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING LOOKING DOWN, WITH THE WEATHER-SEALED COMPARTMENT OPEN. ALL EXPOSED WIRE IS AS A RESULT OF THE ISSUE, NOBODY HAS ACTIVELY CUT OR STRIPPED THE WIRES. PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED IN SEPT OF 2016, ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR BUT NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, WORSE.

MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED ON FIRE AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED. THE 2004 MODELS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (NOT THAT IT WILL HELP WITH THE LOSS OF MY CAR).

THE HEATING ELEMENT ON MY 2004 BMW X3 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I DON'T USE IT OFTEN, BUT HAD NOTICED A HOT SMELL WHEN I DID USE IT AND THAT IT WOULD BE TOO WARM IN THE LUMBAR AND HIP REGION. THE FIRE ACTUALLY BURNED ABOUT A DIME SIZE HOLE IN THE DRIVER SIDE LEFT SEAT PANEL (UNDER THE THIGH). AFTER READING OF MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME OR WORSE EXPERIENCES, I AM GLAD I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IF OFF, ALTHOUGH IT STILL BURNED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LEATHER. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF NEXT STEPS I SHOULD TAKE. I HAVE SHUT OFF THE HEATER AND WILL NO LONGER USE IT. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS, I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE. *TR

NO IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. WENT ABOUT 15 FEET AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TURNS ON AND OFF WITH OR WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE SEAT. BMW REPRESENTATIVE STATED RECALL ID# 81074 DID NOT RELATE TO MY VIN. *TR

HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS ON HID BEING BURNT THEREFORE NOT GIVING ENOUGH LIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OWNERS OF THIS MODEL THAT HAS THE ZKW BRAND.

AS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS, THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER LIGHT UP THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW ON 2003-2005 BMW 330 MODELS. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ON THESE UNITS BURN OUT OVER TIME AND REDUCE THE HEADLIGHTS ABILITY TO REFLECT LIGHT. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS LITERALLY NO BETTER WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON OR OFF. I HAVE TO RELY ON MY FOG LIGHTS JUST TO SEE ANYTHING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS WIDE-SPREAD. REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHTS IS EXPENSIVE AT $1300 EA, THIS HAS TO BE RESOLVED BY BMW IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NEW DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WITH TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED. BRAKE PADS ARE CONTAMINATED AND EMBEDDED WITH A SLIPPERY SUBSTANCE. PADS ARE FROM PRIME CHOICE AUTO PARTS 42832 STATE ROUTE 12, ALEXANDRIA BAY, NY, 13607-2216 CAN YOU INVESTIGATE AND ANALYZE THE BRAKE PADS IN ORDER TO STOP THE SELLING OF DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS BRAKE PADS? I AM ABLE TO SHIP TO YOU A BRAKE PAD SAMPLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, BUT UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE TURNING ON A CITY STREET.

2004 BMW 330XI SEDAN (E46) REAR TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO TAIL LAMP FAILURE. ONLINE COMMUNITY FORUMS REPORT THAT THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO GROUND WIRE SHORT IN THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. COST OF REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED AT $700. CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA AS EA09-019, BUT I'M WARY OF BEING OVERCHARGED BY DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

2004 BMW 330XI SEDAN (E46) REAR TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO TAIL LAMP FAILURE. ONLINE COMMUNITY FORUMS REPORT THAT THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO GROUND WIRE SHORT IN THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. COST OF REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED AT $700. CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA AS EA09-019, BUT I'M WARY OF BEING OVERCHARGED BY DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

BMW E46 SERIES CARS, (1999-2006), HAVE A WEAK POINT ON THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS. OVER TIME, THESE POINTS TEAR AND CAUSE THE SUBFRAME TO CRACK AND BEGIN TO TEAR THE BODY AND FRAME OF THE CAR. MY 2004 BMW M3 IS EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT. THERE IS NUMEROUS CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS OPEN ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

AN ALMOST FATAL CRASH. CAR WAS BACKED UP FROM GARAGE IN THE MORNING INTO THE STREET, PUT IN D POSITION BUT THERE WERE NO POWER TO THE WHEELS FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 SECONDS. CAR APPROACHING FROM BEHIND ON THE STREET NEEDED TO SWERVE TO AVOID REAR ENDING MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD (SITTING FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS). THERE IS A DELAY OF ABOUT 10 SECONDS FOR POWER TO ENGAGE IN D POSITION. ACCORDING TO ONLINE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND BMW DEALER, THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE IS RELATED TO A SOFTWARE ISSUE IN THE TRANSMISSION. A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN APPROACHING BMW FOR THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE, THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR FREE AND THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $360 TO UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A BMW 325, 2004 AND I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY REVERSE. WHEN I PLACE MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT DOES NOT MOVE. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM IN BMW VEHICLES FROM 2000 - 2005. MOREOVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THAT WAS SETTLED IN NJ. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IF THE NHTSA IS PURSUING AND INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE DATED SEPTEMBER 2014 FROM BMW REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER IN FT MYERS FL ON 10/28/14 TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE REPAIR DONE. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK AND ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN IT BECAME AVAILABLE. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE DEALER I DECIDED TO FOLLOW UP AND CALLED THEM ON JANUARY 8, 2015. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK. THE WOMAN SAID THEY ONLY RECEIVE SMALL QUANTITIES AT A TIME. AGAIN, I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND WOULD BE CALLED WHEN THE PART WAS RESTOCKED. HOW CAN BMW SEND OUT A RECALL NOTICE ASKING YOU TO CALL IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE THE NECESSARY REPAIR PERFORMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN THEY DON'T SUPPLY THE DEALER WITH THE PART? I EXPECTED MORE FROM BMW. I CERTAINLY HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AND EXPEDITE THE REPAIR! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE BRAKES TO ACTIVATE APPROXIMATELY TEN SECONDS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER 8 TIMES REGARDING THESE SAFETY ISSUES AND SEVERAL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES STILL OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 04-02-08 *BF

REAR SPRING BROKE! COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT A SPRING COULD BRAKE. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WAS AMAZED THAT THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS. A BROKEN SPRING CAUSES HANDLING PROBLEMS AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT BMW KNOWS OF THE ISSUE AND THE FAULTY DESIGN. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A CAR COMPANY THAT CHARGES SO MUCH FOR A CAR WOULD NOT OWN UP TOO SUCH A LARGE PROBLEM AND RECALL ALL OF THE AFFECTED CARS. PLEASE HELP US. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE BRAKES TO ACTIVATE APPROXIMATELY TEN SECONDS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER 8 TIMES REGARDING THESE SAFETY ISSUES AND SEVERAL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES STILL OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 04-02-08 *BF

EVERY SUMMER SINCE 2008 WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL OR NEAR FULL, FUEL DRIPS FROM THE GAS TANK DURING HOT WEATHER. REPLACING THE SOLENOID AS WAS RECOMMENDED HAS NOT SOLVED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND THE GAS DRIPPING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING HOT WEATHER ONLY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL OR NEAR FULL. THIS OCCURS WITH THE CAR BEING PARKED IN THE SUN WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. LAST MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2012 AFTER RETURNING TO MAY CAR AFTER WORK, I HAD STARTED THE CAR FIRST, THEN WENT TO GET MY THINGS OUT OF THE TRUNK, I SAW GASOLINE POURING LIKE A FOUNTAIN UNDER THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN SLOWED DOWN TO DRIPPING. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. WE TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO OUR MECHANIC. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. BMW WANTS OVER $5000 TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK! THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS PROBLEM! CAN'T DRIVE IT, CAN'T SOMG IT, OR RE-REGISTER IT WITHOUT REPAIRING THE FAULTY GAS TANK! *TR