2001 BMW 325CI Problems

FAULTY DMTL NOW NEEDS A THIRD COMPONENT AT 49,000. MILES. JUST REPLACED DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS IN TRUNK THAT CAUSED SOME LIGHTS TO FAIL AND BURNT UP A RELAY FAULTY DESIGN. TRANSMISSION CABLE GETS STUCK WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF DRIVE & N. NEEDS CABLE RE ALIGNED OR REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 49,000. MILES VERY DANGEROUS. DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS FAILED .AGAIN. SOME HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OTHERS AFFECT PASSENGERS SAFTEY.

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A CARD IN THE MAIL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG FOR MY 2003 BMW X5. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN AMARILLO TEXAS, AUTOPLEX BMW, WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER KENDRA THAT WE ARE WELCOME TO BUY NEW CARS FROM THEM BUT THEY WILL NO LONGER HONOR WARRANTY OR RECALL. WORK FOR ANYONE WITH THE LAST NAME (XXXX) OR WHO IS RELATED TO OR AFFILIATED WITH DR. (XXXXX). IS THERE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE WITH THIS MATTER?3 THE RECALL STATES THAT THE INFLATOR COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF UN RESOLVED, DOES THE BMW DEALER HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PERFORM THE RECALL, JEPRODIZING MY SAFETY FOR WHATEVER PERSONAL VENDETTA THEY HAVE AGAINST DR. (XXXX), MY SON? (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE RADIATOR CAP AND THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAN CLUTCH, THE AUXILIARY COOLING SYSTEM, AND THE ELECTRICAL FAN CENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE FAN MOTOR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ALONG WITH A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER HER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

FAULTY DMTL NOW NEEDS A THIRD COMPONENT AT 49,000. MILES. JUST REPLACED DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS IN TRUNK THAT CAUSED SOME LIGHTS TO FAIL AND BURNT UP A RELAY FAULTY DESIGN. TRANSMISSION CABLE GETS STUCK WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF DRIVE & N. NEEDS CABLE RE ALIGNED OR REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 49,000. MILES VERY DANGEROUS. DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS FAILED .AGAIN. SOME HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OTHERS AFFECT PASSENGERS SAFTEY.

GM5 MODULE WHICH CONTROLS DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS. INTERMITTENT FAILURE PREVENTS UNLOCKING DOOR LOCKS OR OPERATING WINDOWS.

FUEL TANK STRAP BRACKETS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF AT THE WELD POINTS. FUEL TANK HANGING OFF BOTTOM OF CAR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET I BEGIN HEARING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING DRAGGING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK UP, WAS HANGING DOWN FROM ONE END. I THEN DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WELD ON THE FRONT BRACKET OF THE GAS TANK STRAP HAD BROKEN AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THIS CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO SAG TO WITHIN ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

2001 BMW 325CIC FAILS TO GO INTO REVERSE GEAR. CONSEQUENCE IS THE PROSPECT OF UP TO $5-6000 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE. *TR

2001 BMW 325CI AUTOMATIC, WILL NOT WORK IN REVERSE, BUT WORKS FORWARD. APPARENTLY, THIS IS SO WIDESPREAD A SAFETY ISSUE THAT ENTIRE WEBSITES ARE DEDICATED TO IT EXCLUSIVELY, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE (OTHER THAN GREED) BY BMW ISN'T RECALLING THESE TRANSMISSIONS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A METAL SCRAPING NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED FUEL TANK STRAP WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE FUEL TANK WAS HANGING WITHIN INCHES OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, I SUDDENLY HEARD A DRAGGING, SCRAPING NOISE THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS THAT SOMETHING WITHIN THE SPARE TIRE WELL HAD BECOME LOOSE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FURTHER WITH NO ABATEMENT OF THE NOISE, I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A SERVICE STATION WITH A MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING THE TRUNK, THE CAR WAS ELEVATED AND A WELDING FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL STRAP BRACKET WAS NOTED. THE SOUND CAME FROM THE TANK STRAP BEING DRAGGED ALONG THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DROPPED FROM WHAT THE MECHANIC STATED WAS ITS ORIGINAL "SEAT." THE MECHANIC SECURED THE CABLE AND TANK WITH STEEL TWINE, GAVE ME THE FAILED BRACKET, AND INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ASAP. I TOOK THE CAR AND THE BRACKET TO DEALERSHIP ON 07/03/14. RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THE STRAP BRACKET HAD INDEED FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT REMAINED INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL CONNECTORS WERE FOUND TO BE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

I [XXX] AND [XXX] WERE ON A LOCAL BACK ROAD IN OUR TOWN WHEN MY REAR FRAME MEMBER ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD SNAPPED AND PULLED US INTO THE ONCOMING SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A LARGE DITCH WHERE WE TOOK OUT A FENCE POST AND CLIPPED A FIBER OPTICS LINE INDICATOR POST THEN INTO A COLBERT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON MY FRONT WINDOW POST NOR ON MY DOOR THE FRONT DRIVER STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER DASH BOARD AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I [XXX] HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND AFTER PASSENGER [XXX] HIT THE DASH BOARD. AFTER DEPLOYMENT THE AIRBAG MODULE STARTED SPARKING THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE WE BOTH PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE THEN PATIENTLY WAITED FOR THE LOCAL MCCOMB MS POLICE TO ARRIVE THEN WE CALLED THE LOCAL WRECKER SERVICE TO PULL OUR BMW FROM THE DITCH THEN HAD IT HAULED TO THE LOCAL WRECKER YARD FOR PICKUP AT A LATER DAY FOR A FEE FOR STORAGE AND INITIAL TOW. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE REAR FRAME WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING FLAW OR DUE TO A PRIOR OWNER BUT THAT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS ON THE OTHER HAND DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE PROPER TIME CAUSING US TO BECOME SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT NOT HOSPITALIZED BUT MOST DEFIANTLY DAZED AND CONFUSED FOR THE MOST PART....I ALSO HAVE MORE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT REPORT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2001 BMW 325CI REAR SUB FRAME DAMAGE. *TR

VARIOUS TIMES I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH MY TAIL LIGHTS. I GET WARNINGS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL BUT WHEN I CHECK THE BULBS THEY ARE NOT BURNED OUT. ON OCTOBER 17, 2011, LOS ANGELES POLICE PULLED ME OVER NOTIFYING ME THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. WE CHECKED THE BULBS AND FUSES BUT THEY WERE OK. WE FOUND THAT WHEN YOU SLIGHTLY TOUCH THE HARNESS OF THE TAILLIGHT SOCKET THAT IS INSIDE THE BODY PANEL, THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR, BMW E46. ON SATURDAY JANUARY 21 I WENT TO SANTA MONICA BMW. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A COMMON ISSUE. TODAY I JUST LEARNED ABOUT RECENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000. THIS RECALL ADDRESSES THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY FOR MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 2001. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN JULY 2001 BUT USES THE SAME HARNESS AND BODY PANEL ASSEMBLY THAT HAS PROMPTED THE RECALL FOR MODELS BUILT IN SEPTEMBER 2001. THUS, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

I LOST AND ESTIMATED 97% OF BRAKE PRESSURE WHILE COMING TO A STOP FROM APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH TO STOP AT A HIGHWAY RAMP TRAFFIC CONTROL STOP LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL TOUCHED THE FLOOR AND I PUMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WITH ONLY A MINIMAL RETURN OF BRAKE PRESSURE. I USED THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT MODE TO PERFORM ENGINE BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP WITH THE VERY MINIMAL BRAKE PRESSURE AVAILABLE BUT SURPASSED THE STOP LIGHT BY ONE CAR LENGTH. THERE WAS FORTUNATELY NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE A YELLOW DSC (DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL) AND YELLOW BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH CONSOLE. THE BMW AUTHORIZED SERVICE FACILITY REPORTS THAT A "DSC SENSOR FAILED". THIS PART WILL BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. THERE WAS NO BACK UP MECHANICAL INTERVENTION IN THIS CASE IN THE EVENT THAT A SIMPLE SENSOR FAILED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED UN-MEASURABLE DAMAGE, CRASH, INJURIES, OR DEATHS. IN THE EVEN OF PARTS FAILURE UNDER WARRANTY AND IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER STATES THAT DEFECTIVE PARTS WILL BE HELD AND PROVIDED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

FAULTY DMTL NOW NEEDS A THIRD COMPONENT AT 49,000. MILES. JUST REPLACED DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS IN TRUNK THAT CAUSED SOME LIGHTS TO FAIL AND BURNT UP A RELAY FAULTY DESIGN. TRANSMISSION CABLE GETS STUCK WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF DRIVE & N. NEEDS CABLE RE ALIGNED OR REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 49,000. MILES VERY DANGEROUS. DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS FAILED .AGAIN. SOME HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OTHERS AFFECT PASSENGERS SAFTEY.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE GRABBED HARD. THE CAR VEERED INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE BEFORE THE STABILITY CONTROL FAILED (TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON) AND I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND IT IMMEDIATELY DID IT AGAIN AS SOON AS I WAS MOVING. TO TEST, I DROVE AROUND FOR 2 DAYS WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL TURNED OFF (LONG PRESS ON DSC BUTTON) WITH NO ISSUES. I THEN LEFT THE STABILITY CONTROL ON AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED WITHIN 5 MILES OF CAREFUL DRIVING. MY DIAGNOSIS IS THE YAW SENSOR HAS FAILED. THIS IS SUPPORTED BY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND SIMILAR OCCURRENCES LISTED IN THE BMW FORUMS.

MY VEHICLE ONE DAY DECIDED TO STOP GOING IN REVERSE. IT ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH THE DISPLAY SHOWS IT IS IN REVERSE. NOTHING OF MY DOING WOULD CAUSE THIS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE. I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT BMW OUTSOURCED THEIR TRANSMISSION TO FRANCE THROUGH GM FROM THE YEARS OF 1999-2003. THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS THROUGH GM WERE RECALLED HOWEVER BMW BEING A THIRD PARTY NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE SORTED THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF CONSUMER REPORTS STATING DIFFERENT MILEAGES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING OR DID EXPERIENCE THE "NO REVERSE" PROBLEM. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT DRIVING HABITS AND IT IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT BMW DENIES ANY PART OF. I MAY BE FACING SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS (ALONG WITH MANY OTHER DISGRUNTLED BMW OWNERS) FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. PLEASE ASSIST US CONSUMERS IN HOLDING BMW RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THEY CUT A CORNER AND IT IS THE CONSUMER THAT IS PAYING FOR IT. IMMORAL, UNETHICAL, UNSAFE AND CERTAINLY POOR BUSINESS TACTICS. *TR

MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT HER HAND CAUGHT IN THE HEADREST WHEN THEY AUTOMATICALLY MOVED WHEN THE SEAT WAS TILTED FORWARD SO SHE COULD GET OUT.THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT OF THE HEADREST IN THE MANUAL AND NO WARNING LABEL IN THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT IS TILTED FORWARD THE HEADREST AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT AGAINST THE SEAT LOCKING AGAINST THE BACKREST. THERE IS NO MANUAL RELEASE AND YOU HAVE TO RETURN THE SEAT TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION AND WAIT 8 SECONDS FOR THE SEAT TO RELEASE.*AK

DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING. TYPICALLY INCONVENIENT WHEN KEYLESS ENTRY WILL NOT UNLOCK DRIVER DOOR (UNLOCKS ALL OTHER DOORS). ONE INCIDENT WHERE, WHILE INSIDE THE CAR, DRIVER'S DOOR UNLOCKED, BUT PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR OTHER EMERGENCY WHERE PASSENGERS INSIDE CAR, ALL PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE TO EXIT DRIVER'S DOOR AS PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. *TR

SEVERE DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER OF CAR AND DAMAGE TO 2 TIRES. RESULTING IN AN UNNECESSARY PURCHASE OF NEW TIRES. *TR

2001 BMW 325CI DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70MPH ONE OF THE FRONT BREAKS LOCKS UP DUE TO THE TRACTION CONTROLS SYSTEM VIOLENTLY TURNING ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE RESULT WAS THE CAR SWERVING INSTANTLY ABOUT 6 FEET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO FULLY REGAIN CONTROL AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WENT IN TO ERROR STATE. MY MECHANIC STATED THIS IS A YAW SENSOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BMW AND HE AS SEEN IT ON SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT WILL BE ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE I CAN PUT THIS IN THE SHOP TO REPAIR. *TR