2004 BMW 325CI Problems

The TAKATA airbags were replaced April 8, 2021, by Reeds Import, Tampa FL. Please save a tree and stop sending recall notices. Thank you. Mark

AFTER RECALLED AIR BAGS REPLACED, ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER NEW AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND DIAGNOSED AS PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. JUST RANDOMLY THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN BMWS AND THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR OTHER MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.

I OWNED THE CAR FOR A YEAR BEFORE IT STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS. IT FIRST GAVE ME A PROBLEM CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT SLIPS AND WONT GO INTO GEAR. THE MOST DANGEROUS IS WHEN IM TURNING A CORNER AND THE CAR PUTS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. AT THIS TIME IT IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND IT IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. ITS DANGEROUS! I'VE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND FOR A SECOND OPINION AT BMW. THE COST TO REPAIR MY CAR IS OVER $5,000, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE NEWER BMW. NOW IM WITHOUT A CAR WAITING TO GET APPROVED FOR ANOTHER LOAN JUST TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR

AT AROUND 20K MILES, THE SMG (SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEARBOX W/ PADDLE SHIFTERS) ON MY '04 325CI BEGAN EXPERIENCING MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I'VE READ ABOUT REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER A COLD NIGHT, THE SMG WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT WOULD KEEP "CLUNKING" OVER AND OVER, CONTINUALLY LOUDER, UNTIL I SHIFTED BACK INTO NEUTRAL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO BMW, WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANNY. AT 83K MILES, I'M STARTING TO NOTICE SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. ADDITIONALLY, WITH BOTH TRANNYS, THE CAR DELAYS ITS ACCELERATION FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM. ON TOP OF THAT, MY ALTERNATOR JUST WENT OUT AFTER A COLD NIGHT. IN MY OPINION, BMW'S (AT LEAST MINE) DO NOT LIKE THE COLD! *TR

The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325 CI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side rear turn signal light became inoperable while attempting to make a turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the rear turn signal light failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear tail lamp functions had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND A STOP, HE NOTICED THAT HIS RIGHT TURN SIGNAL HAD FLASHED ERRATICALLY UPON ACTIVATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED CHAPMAN BMW CHANDLER (7455 W ORCHID LN, CHANDLER, AZ 85226) WHERE HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER THEN REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION ON STANDARD BMW HEADLIGHTS IS BRITTLE AND FALLING OFF EXPOSING BARE COPPER WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE HEADLIGHTS I HAVE HAD TO WRAP THE WIRES IN ELECTRICAL TAPE AND SHRINK WRAPPING. THIS ISSUE HAS EXISTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THERE WAS A LEAK FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

AFTER RECALLED AIR BAGS REPLACED, ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER NEW AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND DIAGNOSED AS PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. JUST RANDOMLY THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN BMWS AND THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR OTHER MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE SEAT WAS ADJUSTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAT WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

2004 BMW 325 CI -- CONSTANT FUEL LEAK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. WHILE PUMPING GAS INTO THE VEHICLE THE GAS TANK CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALERSHIP THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY. *AK

VEHICLE LEAKS LARGE AMOUNTS OIL FROM VALVE GASKET COVER AND OIL FILTER HOUSING COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE BLOCK MUST HAVE LOOSE BOLTS WHICH IS CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK AND FURTHER CAUSE A HAZARD IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THIS ASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE. I AM ASSUMING BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. *JS

ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON 2004 BMW 325IC. *MR THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON, THEN THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. THIS ALL OCCURRED WITHIN SECONDS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A WATER PUMP WAS NEEDED AND THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS OIL LEAK. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINDOWS DID NOT MOVE INTO THE LOCK POSITION. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR BEGAN TO PULL/SWERVE. A METAL ON METAL GRINDING NOISE ALSO BEGAN. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. A MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE PARKING BRAKE HAD ENGAGED AND DISINTEGRATED INTO SEVERAL PIECES OF METAL. ALL OTHER WHEELS WERE UNAFFECTED. THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER WAS DOWN, AND HAD NOT BEEN USED IN SEVERAL MONTHS. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE ( DELAYED BRAKE ENGAGEMENT) ONCE UPON LEAVING THE DEALER SHIP. AGAIN 24 HOURS LATER( RESULTING IN A CRASH) AND ONE WEEK LATER WITH 600 MILES. MW CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. I TRADED CAR IN REFUSING TO ENDANGER MY LIVE AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAME DISTORTED AND BEGAN TO LEAK. THE LIQUID BURNED THE GEAR SHIFT CONSOLE PLASTIC. THE DEALER STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS AUTOMATIC DIMMER CONSIST OF A LIQUID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000. ....UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/21/12

ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON 2004 BMW 325IC. *MR THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON, THEN THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. THIS ALL OCCURRED WITHIN SECONDS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A WATER PUMP WAS NEEDED AND THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS OIL LEAK. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINDOWS DID NOT MOVE INTO THE LOCK POSITION. *SC *JB

AT AROUND 20K MILES, THE SMG (SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEARBOX W/ PADDLE SHIFTERS) ON MY '04 325CI BEGAN EXPERIENCING MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I'VE READ ABOUT REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER A COLD NIGHT, THE SMG WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT WOULD KEEP "CLUNKING" OVER AND OVER, CONTINUALLY LOUDER, UNTIL I SHIFTED BACK INTO NEUTRAL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO BMW, WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANNY. AT 83K MILES, I'M STARTING TO NOTICE SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. ADDITIONALLY, WITH BOTH TRANNYS, THE CAR DELAYS ITS ACCELERATION FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM. ON TOP OF THAT, MY ALTERNATOR JUST WENT OUT AFTER A COLD NIGHT. IN MY OPINION, BMW'S (AT LEAST MINE) DO NOT LIKE THE COLD! *TR

WHEN WEATHER IS HOT STEERING BECOMES CRITICAL. DOES NOT RESPOND TO WHERE YOU STEER THE CAR. FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSES ME TO NOT USE THE CAR IN HOT WEATHER. SEEMS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL BY BMW ??

I PURCHASED 4) 225/45/17 CONTINENTAL EXTREME DW TIRES. THEY WERE INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE JANUARY 2013. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 BMW 325 CI. IT IS GARAGED DURING THE WINTER AND WAS ON THE ROAD FROM APRIL 15, 2013 UNTIL NOVEMBER 15, 2013. IT WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL APRIL 15, 2014. WHEN THE TIRES WERE REMOVED TO INSTALL NEW BRAKE PARTS IT WAS NOTICED THAT ALL 4 TIRES CONTAIN CRACKS IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE TREAD, IN LARGE AMOUNT OF AREA OF THE TIRE SURFACE. WITH THE TIRES OFF THE WHEELS, THE TIRE TECHNICIAN FLEXED THE TIRE, AS IF TO PUT A WEIGHT LOAD ON IT, AND THE CRACKED OPENED UP A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT. WHEN I PURCHASED THE TIRES I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE A TOP OF THE LINE MODEL, AND AN UPGRADE TO WHAT WAS THE OEM TIRE WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MY TIRES HAVE A DEFECT. I PAID THE DEALER TIRE DEPOT 16 JOHN AVE. BRISTOL, CT. 06010 $169.00 TO WARRANTY THE TIRES. MY POSITION IS THAT THE TIRES DISPLAYED THE DEFECTS PRIOR TO MY NOTICE OF THEM. THEY JUST DIDN'T APPEAR LAST WEEK. I'M TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT MY WIFE HAS BEEN DRIVING ON DEFECTIVE TIRES. I HAVE OBTAIN EVIDENCE THAT THIS DEFECT IS KNOWN TO CONTINENTAL AND IS AGENT AND OR AGENTS. AT NO POINT WERE WE CONTACTED OF THIS DEFECT BY EITHER CONTINENTAL OR IT'S AGENTS. WHY I SHOULD PAY ANY MONIES TO REPLACE TIRES THAT I PURCHASED JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, AND HAVE BEEN USED FAR LESS THAN THAT TIME, IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME. THE DECISION TO PRO RATE MY DEFECTIVE TIRES BASED ON REMAINING TREAD WEAR IS ALSO DISTURBING. WITH THE TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE, THAN THE PERFORMANCE AND TREAD WEAR COULD BE EQUALLY EFFECTED! *TR

BMW 525I 2004: DEALER SAYS THEY CAN NOT SET SPEEDOMETER TO SHOW MILES ACTUALLY TRAVELING: INSTEAD THE SPEEDOMETERS ON ALL CARS ARE SET USING THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: SPEED SHOWN ON SPEEDOMETER X .10 (THE RESULT) ADD 2.4 MILES. THEN TAKE THIS RESULT AND SUBTRACT IT FROM THE MILES SHOWN ON THE SPEEDOMETER TO FIND THE ACTUAL MILES I AM TRAVELING! IN OTHER WORDS IF THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS I AM TRAVELING 70 MPH X .10 = 7 + 2.4 = 9.4 I AM ACTUALLY GOING 60.6 MILES! BMW REFUSES TO ADJUST THIS. WHAT CAN I DO SHORT OF TRADING IN CAR?*JB

I PURCHASED 4) 225/45/17 CONTINENTAL EXTREME DW TIRES. THEY WERE INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE JANUARY 2013. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 BMW 325 CI. IT IS GARAGED DURING THE WINTER AND WAS ON THE ROAD FROM APRIL 15, 2013 UNTIL NOVEMBER 15, 2013. IT WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL APRIL 15, 2014. WHEN THE TIRES WERE REMOVED TO INSTALL NEW BRAKE PARTS IT WAS NOTICED THAT ALL 4 TIRES CONTAIN CRACKS IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE TREAD, IN LARGE AMOUNT OF AREA OF THE TIRE SURFACE. WITH THE TIRES OFF THE WHEELS, THE TIRE TECHNICIAN FLEXED THE TIRE, AS IF TO PUT A WEIGHT LOAD ON IT, AND THE CRACKED OPENED UP A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT. WHEN I PURCHASED THE TIRES I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE A TOP OF THE LINE MODEL, AND AN UPGRADE TO WHAT WAS THE OEM TIRE WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MY TIRES HAVE A DEFECT. I PAID THE DEALER TIRE DEPOT 16 JOHN AVE. BRISTOL, CT. 06010 $169.00 TO WARRANTY THE TIRES. MY POSITION IS THAT THE TIRES DISPLAYED THE DEFECTS PRIOR TO MY NOTICE OF THEM. THEY JUST DIDN'T APPEAR LAST WEEK. I'M TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT MY WIFE HAS BEEN DRIVING ON DEFECTIVE TIRES. I HAVE OBTAIN EVIDENCE THAT THIS DEFECT IS KNOWN TO CONTINENTAL AND IS AGENT AND OR AGENTS. AT NO POINT WERE WE CONTACTED OF THIS DEFECT BY EITHER CONTINENTAL OR IT'S AGENTS. WHY I SHOULD PAY ANY MONIES TO REPLACE TIRES THAT I PURCHASED JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, AND HAVE BEEN USED FAR LESS THAN THAT TIME, IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME. THE DECISION TO PRO RATE MY DEFECTIVE TIRES BASED ON REMAINING TREAD WEAR IS ALSO DISTURBING. WITH THE TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE, THAN THE PERFORMANCE AND TREAD WEAR COULD BE EQUALLY EFFECTED! *TR