2000 BMW 328I Suspension Problems

CAR WAS MAKING UNHEALTHY NOISES WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND ALSO WHEN GETTING ON AND OFF THE THE VEHICLE. NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE REAR AND MOSTLY UNDERNEATH, AS TIME GOES BY THE NOISES WERE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE SUB-FRAME COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF FROM THE MAIN FRAME OF THE CAR. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE PROBLEM CAN OR MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, EVEN DEATH.

NHTSA ID

11001190

Incident

Nov 30, 2016

Mileage

159,001 mi

I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON 3-2-16 WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUES . SAME DAY I DROVE IT WAS MAKING A NOISE I IMMEDIATELY CALL THEM THEY SAID I CAN BRING IT UP TOO THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR FROM . WENT TOO SHOP NO ANSWER NO ONE WAS THERE SO I LEFT I THEN MADE APPT TOO GET IT CHECK OUT FOR 3/8/16 THEY TOLD ME BAD NEWS AND CAR IS UNSAFE TOO DRIVE I WENT BACK TOO THE SHOP THERE NOT EVEN TRYING TOO REFUND ME ANY MONEY BACK .

NHTSA ID

10845562

Incident

Mar 8, 2016

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNT POINT FAILURE. THE CAR HAS GONE THROUGH CLASS ACTION SUIT IN 2009, AND WAS INSPECTED BY BMW IN 2010--WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS OK AND IT WILL NOT FAIL SINCE ONLY ONES WITH VISIBLE DEFECT WILL FAIL. BUT MINE FAILED ANYWAY 5 YEARS LATER. THIS SHOWS EVEN IF THE DAMAGE/DEFECT IS NOT VISIBLE IT CAN MANIFEST ITSELF AT ANY TIME. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ON CITY STREETS GOING STRAIGHT, ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, SHIFTING GEARS FROM 2ND TO 3RD WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSIVE BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR WITH AN ALARMING JOLT THAT TRIGGERED AN INTERIAL LOCK ON SEATBELTS, MADE ALL OCCUPANTS SCREAM IN SHOCK AND CHILDREN CRYING. INSPECTION OF UNDERCARRIAGE REVEALED THAT THE FLOOR PAN WHERE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME ATTACHES TO HAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED, LEAVING DRIVER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME, DIFFERENTIAL, AND REAR AXLE FLOATING WITH CHUNKS OF SHEETMETAL FROM MOUNT POINT MISSING. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE AND I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE ONLY REASON OF FAILURE IS DEFECT IN THE CAR. MECHANICS BELIEVE THIS FAILURE POSES SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SAYING IT CAN EASILY SEPARATE THE REAR AXLE AND IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, THE SEPARATED REAR AXLE WILL PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AND LOCK IT UP, IMMEDIATELY STOPPING THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY IT CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC COLLISION INCIDENT, ENDANGERING LIVES. THEY WERE SHOCKED THE CAR WAS NEVER FORMALLY RECALLED FOR SAFETY. HUNDREDS OF CARS ARE AFFECTED AND THIS IS JUST ONE GLIMPSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE FAILURES: HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=16850066&POSTCOUNT=1473 IT IS APPALLING THAT SUCH DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT IS SO WELL-KNOWN AND PREVALENT IN 1999-2000 BMW 3 SERIES HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED TO MAKE BMW ACCOUNTABLE. REPAIR ESTIMATE MIN. $5000

NHTSA ID

10821825

Incident

Sep 25, 2015

Mileage

172,000 mi

2000 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME STRUCTURE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A RECENT INSPECTION, REVEALED THE SUB-FRAME WAS CRACKED. WITH THE CRACK, THE CONSUMER WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE DEFECT WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT LAUNCHED AGAINST BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. *JB

NHTSA ID

10806982

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND ACCIDENTALLY HIT A POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. AFTER DOING SO THE 2000 BMW 328I DROVE NORMALLY. HOWEVER AFTER THIS INCIDENT I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR AREA OF THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ANALYSIS AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CAR IS NOT REPAIRABLE BECAUSE THE 1999 TO 2006 BMW 3 SERIES HAVE A MANUFACTURING SUBFRAME DEFECT, AND THAT ONCE THE DIFFERENTIAL BEGINS TO SEPARATE FROM THE DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME THE VEHICLE IS RENDERED WORTHLESS. HE SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE BEEN WITH TRYING TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT DEFECT. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND FILED A CLAIM. THEIR ADJUSTER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED THAT IT IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, THE ADJUSTER SAID USAA WILL NOT PAY ANYTHING ON THE CLAIM BECAUSE IT IS A PRE-EXISTING MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I CONTACTED BMW AND FOUND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURING SUBFRAME DEFECT RENDERING THE VEHICLES UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WORTHLESS. BMW PAID FOR REPAIRS TO RE-WELD THE SUBFRAME BUT QUIT PAYING IN 2006. BMW ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING OF MY CAR, SO NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS AND CAN ONLY BE SOLD FOR PARTS. BMW'S REFUSAL TO RECALL AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MODEL YEARS FOR WHICH IT MANUFACTURED DEFECTIVE SUBFRAMES, THEREBY CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD END IN DEATH FOR THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS, IS INEXCUSABLE. BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE ALL PERSONS LIKE MYSELF FOR MANUFACTURING A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSES THE VEHICLES TO BECOME WORTHLESS ONCE A TEAR OCCURS IN THE SUBFRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701844

Incident

Feb 25, 2015

Mileage

163,000 mi

HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM NEAR MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL. LIFTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD PULLED THE MOUNT FROM THE BODY CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND NEARLY SIDESWIPED A PERSON IN THE NEXT LANE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464815

Incident

Jul 1, 2012

Mileage

133,000 mi

I HAD HEARD THAT SUBFRAME FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY COMMON ON BMW E46 MODELS (1999-2006) BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS, UNTIL TODAY. I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 BMW 328I WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD POP, THE STEERING BECAME LOSE AND THERE WAS A CONSTANT KNOCKING NOISE. ONCE I GOT IT HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SURE ENOUGH THE SUB-FRAME HAD RIPPED COMPLETED AWAY FROM THE BODY, THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE WAS RIPPED OUT LEAVING TWO BIG HOLE IN THE UNDER BODY OF THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW NA BUT THAT CLAIMS HAD TO BE FILED BY 2010. THEY ARE NOT REFUSING TO FIX IT. THIS IS A CLEARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THERE ARE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS IN ONLINE BOARDS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435369

Incident

Nov 12, 2011

Mileage

135,000 mi

PRODUCT FAILURE OF A 2000 BMW 328I. THE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY OF THE CAR IS SEPARATING FROM THE CAR. I AM THE NEW OWNER OF THE CAR, BUT HISTORY DOES NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OR ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO THIS FAILURE. THIS IS ALSO A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF BMW. THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS LAW SUITS INVOLVING THIS FAILURE. THIS IS ALSO A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR ALL 1999 - 2002 MODEL CARS BUILT ON THE E46 BODY TYPE. POSSIBILITY OF THE ENTIRE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY RIPPING OFF WHILE DRIVING IS POSSIBLE. BMW KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE, AS THEY HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE WITH NEWER MODELS. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO IMPROPER THICKNESS IN THE FLOOR PAN WHERE THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED TO. TOTAL FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OF NOT REMEDIED PROPERLY. THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL, AND NOT IN A INDIVIDUAL BASIS. IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE, YOU WILL SEE MANY REPORTS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. BMW HAS OFFERED TO PAY UP TO 50% OF THE REPAIR COSTS FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, WHICH SHOWS THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, GETTING IT REPAIRED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP, WITH ONLY HAVING TO PAY 50%, IS USUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE THEN HAVING IT DONE AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410199

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAD BEEN HEARING A NOISE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE CLUTCH, I TOOK THE CAR INTO A BMW-APPROVED BODY SHOP AND THEY POINTED OUT THE FLAW IN THE SUBFRAME AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND HOW THE METAL HAD TORN DUE TO STRESS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10189811

Incident

May 2, 2007

Mileage

51,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A VIBRATION WAS HEARD AND FELT WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BUT CONTINUED TO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 10MPH. THE NOISE WAS CONTINUOUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THE SAME SOLUTION AS THE DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10165036

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS, RESULTING IN RAPID EXTREME FRONT TIRE WEAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE TOE-IN. BALL JOINT RUBBER MOUNTING IS BONDED TO THE ALLOY LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE BALL JOINT FAILS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE RUBBER BONDING. BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES MUST BE REPLACED. BMW DEALER DID NOT DETECT THIS DEFECT AT BMW INSPECTION I PERFORMED AT 29,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

767392

Incident

Sep 13, 2002