2006 BMW 325CI Owner Complaints

Internal Adaptive bi-xenon headlight wiring insulation flaking off exposing bare wire, thus causing headlight to fail

NHTSA ID

11660613

Incident

Apr 12, 2025

The headlights in my car both went out because of this wiring issue. The wiring insulation inside the headlight is very prone to cracking and subsequently breaking which causes the headlight to not function. I have repaired this issue myself on both headlights for almost every wire going into the igniter. No headlights is a major safety issue at night, and due to the cracking along all of the wiring, it could go out at any time again. I had this issue looked at by the dealership and they tried to sell me new bulbs instead. In the picture you can see the 3 repaired wires already and the 4th needed repair, the black wire, got severed.

NHTSA ID

11603944

Incident

Jul 21, 2024

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325CI. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic light, she became aware of smoke coming from under the hood and the odor of something on fire. The vehicle had overheated on several occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with PCV valve heater failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11465509

Incident

Feb 25, 2022

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V018000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF LOUISVILLE (2200 BLANKENBAKER PKWY, LOUISVILLE, KY 40299, (502) 287-1501) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11323755

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM STARTED FLASHING WHEN CAR HIT BUMPS AND WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. OPENED BULB ACCESS COVER TO CHECK THE BULB AND FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS HARDENED AND FLAKING INSULATION, EXPOSING BARE COPPER WIRE AND ALLOWING IT TO SHORT OUT. REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR A MORE THROUGH INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED THE SAME DAMAGE ON THE HIGH BEAM WIRING AND DETERIORATION ON THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE LIGHT. SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AS WELL AS FIRE RISK.

NHTSA ID

11311353

Incident

Feb 25, 2020

Mileage

116,000 mi

BMW 325CI 2006 FRONT LEFT ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT WIRING DETERIORATES OVER TIME. THIS CAUSE THE WIRING TO CRACK AND FAIL. THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. WHEN THE WIRING FAILS THE DRIVER CANNOT DISPLAY TURN SIGNALS, USE HIGH BEAMS OR ANY HEADLIGHT FUNCTIONS. BMW DOES NOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR HELP TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT NIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE PART IS THE FRONT HEADLIGHT IGNITER WIRING HARNESS. THE FAILURE HAPPENED INSIDE A SEALED COMPARTMENT AND IS NOT EXPOSED TO ANY OUTSIDE ELEMENTS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, A GOOGLE SEARCH WILL BRING UP MULTIPLE OTHER CASES OF FAILURE IN OTHER CARS WITH PICTURES. BMW 335CI 2006 REAR TAIL LIGHTS SHORT OUT FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND DO NOT DISPLAY TURN SIGNALS. A FAULT IS SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND DOES NOT GO AWAY. THE WARNING LIGHT IS ONLY DISPLAYED AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL IS TURNED ON. BMW 325CI A FRONT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED WHILE DRIVING AND DOES NOT SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND DOES NOT SHUT OFF. BMW325CI A FRONT SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH PERIODICALLY AND DOES NOT SHUT OFF. THE WARNING SUGGESTS THERE IS A FAILURE WITH THE SEATBELT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11152339

Incident

Nov 18, 2018

Mileage

83,000 mi

HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION IS DETERIORATING AND FALLING APART. RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT WIRING IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11066557

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HILTON HEAD BMW (1230 FORDING ISLAND RD, BLUFFTON, SC 29910) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11025238

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

MY DEALER SAID A REAR SPRING IN MY USED BMW IS CRACKED. THE OTHER REAR SPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET SPRING. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT MY TYPE BMW HAS MANY PROBLEMS WITH REAR CRACKED SPRINGS. A MANUFACTURING DEFECT? THE AFTER MARKET SPRING MOST LIKELY REPLACING ANOTHER CRACKED REAR SPRING

NHTSA ID

10995325

Incident

May 31, 2017

Mileage

83,600 mi

UPON RECEIVING A SAFETY RECALL FOR BOTH AIRBAGS BACK IN NOVEMBER 2016, I HAVE REQUESTED REPEATEDLY TO MY LOCAL DEALER (BMW OF ATLANTIC CITY) TO REMEDY THIS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. AT FIRST I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED ONCE THE PARTS ARRIVED. THEN, AND AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING I CALLED BACK AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE. I CALLED THEIR MAIN OFFICE AT THAT POINT AND GOT THE SAME LINE FROM THEM. FINALLY I EMAIL THEM EARLY JANUARY AND MONTH HAS PASSED WITH NO REPLY.... PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO REPLACE MY FAULTY AIRBAGS....THANK YOU...JOHN

NHTSA ID

10954786

Incident

Nov 21, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW DATED AUGUST 2016 REGARDING THE RECALL NO. 15V-318 DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE AND 13V-172/14V-42B PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MODULE. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALER ADVANTAGE BMW MIDTOWN - 713-289-1200 FOR MONTHS AND THEY INDICATE THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON THE PART. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING AROUND IN AN UNSAFE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10939757

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED REGARDING THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10937747

Incident

Aug 10, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A YEAR OR MORE TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE AIRBAG HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE, BUT I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THE CORRECT ONE. THE CAR IS BASICALLY WORTHLESS BECAUSE NO DEALER OR INDIVIDUAL WILL BUY IT WITH AN OPEN RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TAKATA TO BUY THE VEHICLE FOR MARKET PRICE.

NHTSA ID

10936055

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/15/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10913807

Incident

May 27, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10907214

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10906920

Incident

May 16, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL"

NHTSA ID

10894438

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID

10882454

Incident

Jun 29, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 09/14/16 *BF *JS

NHTSA ID

10882101

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/30/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10876262

Incident

Jul 14, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10864149

Incident

May 27, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF UPDATED 07/21/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10861556

Incident

Sep 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10819949

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10808361

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET AT RUSH HOUR. THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE MY WIFE HAD TO TAKE HER LIFE IN HER HANDS TO GET ACROSS THE BUSY STREET. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON A BUSY FREEWAY OR SHE OR SOMEONE ELSE MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA ID

10778406

Incident

Aug 13, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi