1993 BMW 325IS Owner Complaints

I OWN A 1993 325IS WHICH HAS A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENT MEET. CAR WAS NOT MODIFIED IN ANYWAY. I JUST NOTICED THIS LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL OR REAR AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS TORN APART. LUCKY IT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE HIGHWAY OR I WOULD I HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PROBABLY GET KILLED. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED HE SEEN MANY BMW'S WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE SEARCH AND CONTACTED OTHER BMW'S AND IT LOOK LIKE ITS A COMMON FAILURE IN EARLY BMW'S BETWEEN 1992-1995'S E36. NEWER MODEL SEEMS TO HAVE THE SUBFRAME REINFORCE WITH THICKER BRACKETS AND NEW SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR $3600 LABOR AND PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147111

Incident

Jun 18, 2004

I HAVE A 1993 325IS BMW. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. ON RAINY DAYS I CAN HEAR WATER IN THE FLOOR BOARDS. THE DOOR PANELS ARE BOTH COMING UNGLUDED AND BUBBLING. MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT HITS THE GAS PETAL. THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT ON MY COMPUTER IS ALWAYS ON, THE THE COOLANT IS LOW EVEN AFTER I FILL IT. I AM AFAID MY CAR WILL OVERHEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112418

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097084

Incident

Oct 18, 2004

THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT POINTS HAVE RIPPED IN AT LEAST ONE PLACE FROM THE UNIBODY RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. I CAUGHT IT EARLY SO NO INJURY HAS RESULTED. THIS IS A COMMON (UNACCEPTABLE) PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS (BMW E36). *JB

NHTSA ID

10082218

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

Mileage

142,450 mi

MY 1993 BMW 325IS HAS A FAILURE OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN FEELING FUNNY FOR WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS UNTIL ONE DAY THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN TAKING A TURN AND ACCELERATING OUT OF IT. FROM THAT DAY ON THE CAR FELT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM MY STEERING INPUTS, IT WAS OBVIOUS SOMETHING WAS WRONG. HAD I NOT CAUGHT IT WHEN I DID, MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL DAMAGE WOULD HAVE SURELY OCCURED; AFTER ALL, THESE ARE WHAT HOLD THE WHOLE REAR OF THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN THE THE CHASSIS. AFTER SHELLING OUT OVER $1500 FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF A CHASSIS MEMBER, NEW BUSHINGS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND OTHER SMALL MISC ITEMS. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS ALL TO COMMON. IF THE REAR RUBBER SUBFRAME MOUNTS BECOME WEAK IT PUTS EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE UNITBODY. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE CHASSIS WILL EVENTUALLY TEAR, LEAVING THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR. THE LATER MODEL BMW M3'S CAME WITH REINFORCEMENT PLATES, INDICATING BMW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS UNETHICAL TO LET SUCH A DANGEROUS AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM GO UNATTENDED. BMW NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081226

Incident

Nov 24, 2003

Mileage

139,829 mi

PUCHASED WITH EMAIL AND VERBAL GUARANTEE NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR. HAVE VALID CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AGAINST SAME DEALER WITH MISREPRESENTATION OF VEH.(S) PURCHASED. 1: TCM LIGHT ON. VEH. WILL NOT SHIFT. OCCURRED 2ND DAY OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER DENIES. 2: LIGHTS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL UPON ARRIVAL TO DEALER. HAD "DETAILER" REWIRE (4 HOURS). BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT STILL ON COMPUTER. 3: DEALER ORDERED AND PROMISED PASS. WINDOW MOTOR. REPLACED 2 RELAYS WHILE AT DEALER. DID NOT REPAIR. REFUSES TO SEND MOTOR FOR FUNCTIONAL WINDOW. WINDOW WILL NOT, AND DID NOT ROLL DOWN EVEN AT DEALERS. 4: VERIFIED WITH DEALER GUIBO JOINT (PROPELLAR SHAFT FRONT FLEX DISC) AT FRONT OF DRIVESHAFT SEVERELY DAMAGED CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER INSISTED NOTHING WRONG IN EMAIL AND PHONE. HAVE 2 WITNESSED THAT CONTACTED HIM IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. COST: 330. DEALER FINALLY SENDS FUNDS FOR REPAIR. REFUSES IN LIEU OF THIS TO SEND POWER WINDOW MOTOR. 5: VEH. OVERHEATS IN SHORT STOPS 6: DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS HE WAS FULLY AWARE OF AT TIME OF SALE. 7: DEALER STATED WOULD HAVE EMISSIONS TESTED AS I AM RELOCATING TO CALIF. FAILED TO DO SO. 8: POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING FROM 2 LINES. VERIFIED BY MY OWN MECHANIC. LEAKING P/S FLUID ONTO OTHER HOSES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026054

Incident

Jul 3, 2003

Mileage

92,800 mi

AIRBAG FAILURE IN BMW 1993 325IS 40 MPH HEAD ON COLLISION. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016180

Incident

Aug 28, 2001

Mileage

80,000 mi

REAR SUB FRAME TORN AT 2 RIGHT POINTS, AND CRACKED AROUND THE LEFT FORWARD MOST MOUNT POINT. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN ABUSED, DRIVEN OFF-ROAD, OR ON A RACE TRACK. ALL ORIGINAL WHELL, SUSPENSION AND DRIVELINE COMPONENTS WERE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ID

753112

Incident

Feb 27, 1997

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WHEN THE CONSUMER RAISED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE RADIATOR THE TOP FLANGE OF THE COMPOSITE RADIATOR BROKE OFF UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE OVERHEATING SYSTEM AND SPRAYED THE CONSUMER WITH SCALDING COOLANT CAUSING SEVERE BURN INJURIES (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER), THE DEFECT WAS POSSIBLY RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #93V-015 AND 98V-178. *MJS

NHTSA ID

553751

REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

865274

ORIGINAL LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AT 14,347 MILES AND REPLACED AT 18,700 MILES BY DEALER FOR ORIGINAL OWNER. SECOND OWNER COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT 70,000 MILES AND SECOND REPLACEMENT OF LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS IN PROCESS AT 76. *AK

NHTSA ID

723018

BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY! DISPLAY ON DASH READS"BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE". (ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY!) DEALER HAS INFORMED US THAT DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THEY WILL REPLACE SWITCH FOR $100.00. WOULD THIS BE A NORMAL FAILURE RATE ON A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE? *AK

NHTSA ID

717945

Incident

Dec 31, 1998

HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED A YELLOW MILKY COLOR. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS IN OTHER CARS OF SIMILAR TYPE AND BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THE BMW'S. THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL HAS COME UNGLUED AND IS BUBBLING. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC AND AN UPHOLSTERY REPAIRMAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THE BMW'S. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA CONCERNING BOTH PROBLEMS AND BEEN TOLD THAT THE DEALER MUST MAKE THE REPAIRS. I CONTACTED A DEALER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

716466

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTICE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS (98V-178). MJS

NHTSA ID

547940

Incident

Mar 5, 1999

CONSUMER WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH. AT THE END WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ENGINE WAS SLOW AND POWER GONE, ALSO, WHEN STARTING TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, POWER FAILED. WASHED CAR AT HOME SAME THING HAPPENED , BUT LESS. WENT BACK TO CAR WASH AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT. CONSUMER WAITED FOR PARTS TO DRY. DEALERSHIP SAID THE DRAIN HOSE GOT CLOGGED, AND THE WATER GOT INTO THE COMPUTER COMPONENT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR THREE DAYS. DME WAS REPLACED, A BIGGER DRAIN HOSE INSTALLED, AND DRILLED A HOLE INTO THE COMPONENT SO THA T ACCESS WATER COULD DRAIN OUT. BMW SENT A BULLETIN TO DEALERSHIP ON THIS MATTER. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 20 CAR WASHES IN THE SAN FRANANDO AND LOS ANGELAS COUNTIES THAT RECEIVED REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

837573

Incident

May 6, 1999

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE LOCKING MECHANISIM IS NOT CATCHING SO THE LATCH FAILS TO LOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID

831111

Incident

Oct 2, 1998