2003 BMW E36 Owner Complaints

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 BMW 325I IN DECEMBER 2007. TODAY (JANUARY 21, 2008), MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO WORK AND PARKED SAID VEHICLE IN HER REQUIRED PARKING SPACE. THAN ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER CAME IN AND INFORMED HER THAT THE BMW STARTED BY ITSELF AND CRASHED INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR AND SOME HOW STARTED WITH NO ONE IN THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE CAME WITH A REMOTE START FEATURE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE KEY. THE KEYS WERE ON THE DESK AND MY WIFE WAS NOT IN THE SAME BUILDING THERE THE KEYS WERE. MY WIFE WAS ACTUALLY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING ON THEIR COMPUTER. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215580

Incident

Jan 21, 2008

Mileage

77,000 mi

DELAY IN TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT (20-30 SECONDS) WHEN COLD. HAZARD ON HILL AND ENTERING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214869

Incident

Jul 18, 2001

Mileage

30,000 mi

DOUBLE VANOS SYSTEM ON SEVERAL MODELS OF BMW FROM 1999 TO 2006, HAVE DEFECTIVE VANOS SYSTEMS. THE E39 DOUBLE VANOS (VARIABLE VALVE TIMING UNIT) HAS A MALFUNCTION PROBLEM. THIS DOUBLE VANOS CAN BE FOUND ON 6-CYL ENGINES M52TU, M54, AND M56, FOUND IN SEVERAL MODEL CARS, E39, E46, ETC, YEARS 99-03. THE MALFUNCTION SYMPTOMS ARE ALMOST ALL SUBTLE AND MOSTLY GO UNNOTICED. THEY INCLUDE LOWER GAS MILEAGE, LOWER PERFORMANCE, DEGRADED EMISSIONS CONTROL, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. THE M52TU ENGINE (99-00) HAS ONE FURTHER MALFUNCTION SYMPTOM WHICH IS FAR FROM SUBTLE. IT OCCURS ON COLD WEATHER COLD ENGINE STARTS AND TAKES THE FORM OF REPEATED ENGINE ATTEMPTED STALLS AND POSSIBLY A COMPLETE ENGINE STALL. THE ENGINE RPMS DROP DRAMATICALLY AND THEN RECOVER. THIS THEN REPEATS AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF STEADY IDLE. THE PROBLEM CAN BE MORE DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSED BY DISCONNECTING THE VANOS INTAKE OR EXHAUST SOLENOID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208870

Incident

Oct 9, 2007

Mileage

37,500 mi

2003 BMW 525I WITH 56K MILES. DRIVER SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON WHILE THE ENGINE WAS WARMING UP AND FEW SECONDS LATER, ONE SPOT ON THE SEAT STARTED SMOKING AND BURNING A WHOLE. THE ENGINE AND HEATER WAS TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY WHICH PREVENTED THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. NOTIFIED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND DEALER AGREED WITH FULL SEAT REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206555

Incident

Oct 22, 2007

Mileage

56,030 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW S10 (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED AFTERMARKET CHROME RIMS ONLINE. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE RIMS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES AND SHATTERED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

NHTSA ID

10200209

Incident

Aug 9, 2007

Mileage

63,000 mi

THERE IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON MANY BMW E46 MODELS (NEWER CARS). THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS ON BOTH SIDES HAS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY, INCOMPLETE, OR INSECURE GROUNDING WIRE AND THE RESULT IS THAT THE WIRE OVERHEATS AND CORRODES, AND IN SOME CASES ARCS, WHICH CAN IGNITE A FIRE. THE PROBLEM IS OFTEN IDENTIFIED BY INTERMITTENT OR PERSISTENT FAILURE OF THE REAR LIGHTS ON THE CAR AND/OR UNNECESSARY REAR LIGHT WARNINGS ON THE DASH. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO SUPPORT THIS CASE AND HAVE DONE FURTHER RESEARCH TO FIND COUNTLESS SIMILAR CASES. THE DAMAGE IS MOST OFTEN CHARACTERIZED BY CHARRED DISCOLORATION OF THE BROWN (GROUND) INSULATOR AND MELTING OF THE SURROUNDING PLASTICS WHICH RESULTS IN THE METAL CONNECTORS BECOMING LOOSE. THE REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM WOULD MOST LIKELY CONSIST OF AN UPGRADED REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESS. FURTHER WORK INTO THE ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM MAY BE NECESSARY DEPENDING ON THE CAUSE OF THE FAULTY GROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199408

Incident

Aug 10, 2007

Mileage

73,000 mi

MY 2003 BMW 330I HAS 85K MILES AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. RECENTLY, HOWEVER, A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM AND INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER BECAUSE THE GASKET WAS LEAKING, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS DRIVING JUST FINE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I DIDN'T REPLACE IT NOW THEN DOWN THE ROAD THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION MIGHT FAIL AND NEED REPLACEMENT. I FEEL RIPPED OFF HAVING PAID $3,000 FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER ON A CAR THAT DROVE FINE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THAT BMW IS AWARE OF, BUT THE COMPANY REFUSED TO HELP OUT WITH THE COST, STATING THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON MY CAR. THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE WAY LONGER THAN 85K MILES. TOO BAD, BMW SAID. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198210

Incident

Jul 17, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY 2003 BMW 325I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER OF MY BMW REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX. 35 MPH. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY BMW. IN FACT, THE INSURANCE CO. IS CONSIDERING A TOTAL LOSS AS WE SPEAK. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END EXCEEDS $18,000.00 TO INCLUDE SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NEITHER THE FRONT AIR BAGS OR THE SEAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEPLOYED. THE FOLKS AT THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY. I BROUGHT MY COMPLAINT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SENT AN ENGINEER TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. HE FILED A REPORT WITH BMW AND THEY CALLED TO SAY "THE IMPACT DID NOT WARRANT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SAFETY SYSTEM". I STRONGLY QUESTION THIS DETERMINATION GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. FURTHER, MY WIFE, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, SUSTAINED SOME INJURY , AND IS SEEKING TREATMENT AT THIS TIME. PLEASE HELP ME! IF THEY DETERMINE THE VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS, THERE WILL NOT BE MUCH TIME TO HAVE AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188850

Incident

Mar 10, 2007

THE BMW X5 HAS A DEFECT. THE TAILGATE STOPPERS ROUTINELY FAILED ON BOTH THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SOFT CLOSE AND THE NORMAL MECHANICAL. THESE STOPPERS FAILED, CAUSING ERRONEOUS TAILGATE OPEN WARNINGS TO APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, BECAUSE THE STOPPERS FAILED THERE WAS A CONSTANT RATTLE. BMW KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM...AT LEAST THE LOCAL AGENTWAS QUITE AWARE OF THIS ROUTINE FAILURE.*AK ALSO, BMW WEBSITES LIST MANY OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=85610&HIGHLIGHT=TAILGATE

NHTSA ID

10186079

Incident

Mar 10, 2007

ON MARCH 2ND 2007 AROUND 10:30AM I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW M3 EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 40 FROM CHAPEL HILL NC TO RALEIGH NC. APPROACHING EXIT 292 MY REAR TIRE WHICH WAS A MICHELIN PILOT SPORT SIZE 255/35ZR RIPPED ON EACH SIDEWALL INNER AND OUTER. THE CENTER OF TIRE CAME COMPLETELY SEPARATED WHILE THE OUTER OF THE TIRE WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE INNER AND OUTER OF THE REAR LEFT TIRE. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THE TIRE SIMPLY SHREDDED ON THE INNER AND OUTER SIDEWALL CAUSING ME TO SWERVE, GAIN CONTROL OF CAR AND PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL. I AM EXPECTED THERE TO BE RIM DAMAGE AS WELL. AT THIS POINT AND TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. BMW ADVISED ME THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CAR UNTIL MONDAY. I WILL KEEP ALL PAPERWORK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184044

Incident

Mar 2, 2007

ON HOT, HUMID DAYS, THE STEERING GETS "STICKY". BY THAT I MEAN THAT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT "STICKS" IN ONE SPOT. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. SMALL CORRECTIONS OF THE STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT. MANY TIMES, BECAUSE IT STICKS, YOU HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE WHEEL TO MAKE IT TURN, WHICH, WHEN IT FINALLY "UNSTICKS", ENDS UP CAUSING TOO SHARP OF A TURN. I DID A SEARCH OF THE WEB USING "Z4 STICKY STEERING" AND FOUND THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178056

Incident

Jan 7, 2007

PLEASE REFER TO FR DOC 04-10644. MY PROBLEM CONCERNS THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH MY 2003 BMW X5, IE, DELAYED PARK TO DRIVE ENGAGEMENT ON COLD START. ON 11-11-06 I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVE (I LIVE ON A CORNER LOT) AND IMMEDIATELY AM AT A STOP SIGN. I PULLED OUT, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE IN DRIVE AND AS A RESULT I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF BEING SMASHED BY A TRUCK THAT WAS COMING DOWN THE ROAD I WAS ENTERING. IN THE DOCUMENT MENTIONED ABOVE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. YOU WERE WRONG. IN THIS DOCUMENT BMW ARGUED THAT THEY HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SIB 24 07 03 TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION BY INSTALLING A NEW TRANSMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY, IN JULY '04 THEY REVISED THIS TSB TO REPROGRAM THE EGS MODULE (INCREASING THE PRESSURE IN THE TRANSMISSION SO IT TAKES LONGER TO LEAK DOWN) AND NOT TO PUT IN NEW TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD MY X5 REPROGRAMMED BY BMW AND IT DID NO GOOD. I HAD A BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISOR TELL ME THAT THE REPROGRAMMING WAS A PARTIAL FIX BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A MATTER OF MONEY FOR BMW. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. I BOUGHT IT USED. THE BMW REPRESENTATIVE, JEFF FITZ, THEN HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME IF I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR NEW I WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE SAID I SHOULD THINK ABOUT LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM SINCE HIS EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE NEW TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT SATISFACTORY EITHER. I ASK THAT YOU REVIEW YOUR FINDINGS ON THE BASIS THAT BMW IS NOT CORRECTING THE SAFETY PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN FR DOC 04-10644. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176292

Incident

Nov 11, 2006

Mileage

29,000 mi

TIRE FAILURE--TOTAL DISINTEGRATION OF TOYO PROXES T1-R 97Y ZR 23545R17 PURCHASED ON 2/11/06. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173120

Incident

Nov 10, 2006