2003 BMW M3 Problems

The contact owns a 2003 BMW M3. 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 had 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.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

BMW M3'S WITH SMG TRANSMISSION 2002-2006. ON HOT DAYS THE TRANSMISSION WITH "POP" OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL FOR ABOUT 15-30 SECONDS BEFORE REENGAGING INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. THIS JUST LEAVES THE CAR HELPLESS COASTING DOWN THE STREET.THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST WEEK AND TODAY THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE HAD TO "BRAKE N SWERVE" TO AVOID T-BONING ME. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT US BMW OWNERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET BMW TO ACKNOWLEDGE FOR YEARS BUT THEY ACT LIKE ITS NOT A PROBLEM. THEY DON'T PROPERLY TROUBLESHOOT THE ISSUE AND JUST THROW PARTS AT IT HOPING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOUR CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS AND $3200 LATER(AVERAGE FOR THIS ISSUE) YOUR BLOCKING TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN COMING HOME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THIS IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO ME. I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE FEDERAL GVT ON THIS A OF YET. IF YOU WERE TO DO AN INTERNET SEARCH OF " M3 SMG OUT OF GEAR" OR "SMG NEUTRAL FAIL" YOU WOULD LITERALLY FIND 100'S UPON 100'S OF THREADS ON THIS ISSUE.PLEASE HELP. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE. HOPEFULLY THERE ARE OTHERS THAN MYSELF WHO TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO FILE A REPORT LIKE THIS INSTEAD OF WORRYING IF OUR 60K CAR IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AND CAUSE A TRAFFIC JAM OR ACCIDENT IF THE TEMP IS ABOVE 95 DEGREES. *TR

1. I LIVE IN LANCASTER, CA AND WHEN THE SUMMER COMES AROUND IT GETS REALLY HOT REALLY QUICK. MY BMW M3 2003 WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AN SMG KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT CAUSES MY TRANSMISSION TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY BY SHIFTING TO "NEUTRAL" AUTOMATICALLY. TODAY, ON MY WAY BACK FROM WORK I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY TRANSMISSION CHANGE AUTOMATICALLY FROM 3RD GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO CRASH ONTO MY VEHICLE. 2. THE SMG LIGHT KEEPS TURNING ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE "HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) WITH PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR" WHICH IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I NOTICE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS USUALLY DURING THE HOT WEATHER SINCE IT ALSO HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR AROUND THE SAME TIME. MY BMW MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS WOULD COST ME ON OR ABOUT $3,000 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. I GOT ONLINE AS SOON AS I GOT HOME TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS I AM, FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER BMW M3 SMG E46 (2001-2006) OWNERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE, I FEEL MY LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ARE AT HIGH RISK IF MY TRANSMISSION CHANGES FROM ANY GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS MALFUNCTION. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND DISCOVER ONLINE, BMW NORTH AMERICA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WANTS ALL BMW M3 SMG E46 OWNERS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HCU WHICH AS STATED BEFORE COST ON OR ABOUT $3,000 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. THIS WILL ONLY FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY SINCE THE PROBLEM WILL PERSIST AS THE WEATHER CONTINUES BEING ABOVE 85-90 FAHRENHEIT. I DON'T BELIEVE IS FAIR FOR ALL BMW M3 SMG E46 OWNERS TO PAY SUCH AMOUNT WHEN CLEARLY WON'T FIX SUCH PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE FAIR IF BMW TOOK CHARGE AND RECALL THIS ISSUE THAT IS PUTTING EVERY CITIZEN IN DANGER DUE TO THEIR MISTAKE IN THE HCU FOR ALL BMW M3 SMG E46 VEHICLES. *TR

REAR SUBFRAME SUPPORT IS SEPARATING FROM THE BODY WHERE IT MOUNTS TO. CRACKS AROUND THE SUBFRAME BOLTS CAN BE SEEN. PINCHWELD AROUND REAR FENDER IS SEPERATING.

WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. THERE HAD BEEN A LIGHT RAIN. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES F. DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. UPON SHUTTING THE IGNITION KEY OFF IN A PARKING LOT, BOTH DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY AND IMMEDIATELY. LOCK BUTTON ON CONSOLE WAS NOT PUSHED. BOTH DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, BY USE OF THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYS OR BY THE CONSOLE BUTTON. TWO DIFFERENT KEYS WERE TRIED. THE DOOR HANDLES MOVED, BUT WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WOULD HAVE OPENED THE DOORS EITHER BECAUSE THE DOORS WERE "LOCKED" . THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE OF THE CAR BEGAN TO RISE RAPIDLY SO THE ENGINE WAS STARTED TO PROVIDE AIR CONDITIONING. RESTARTING THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES DID NOT CHANGE THE CONDITION OF THE LOCKED DOORS. AFTER 10 TO 12 MINUTES I DECIDED TO LOWER THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND USE THE KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS FINALLY UNLOCKED BOTH DOORS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE AND I HAD PULL OVER THE CAR AND SHUT THE KEY OFF. THE DOORS MAY LOCK. A DISABLED OR WEAK PERSON MAY NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BREAK THE GLASS OR CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW IF THEY PANIC. I AM VERY SCARED TO USE THE CAR AT THIS POINT...EVEN TO DRIVE IT TO GET REPAIRED.

MSG PUMP FAILURE

SMG HYDRAULIC PUMP: I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH IN THE #1 LANE AND MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN DROPPED OUT OF GEAR AND MY CAR STARTED TO COAST LOSING SPEED VERY FAST, I LOOKED AT MY SPEEDOMETER AND IT WAS 45 MPH. CARS WERE HONKING AND HIGH BEAMING ME BUT I WAS HELPLESS AND WAS TRYING TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR KICKED BACK INTO GEAR, I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT IT IS A VERY COMMON SCARY PROBLEM THESE CARS HAVE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SUBJECT. VERY SCARY SITUATION, I AM GLAD MY KIDS OR WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME. I HOPE BMW STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND PROACTIVELY TAKES CARE OF THIS BEFORE TRAGEDY STRIKES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND LOST POWER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED AND A PART ON THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

P133 CODE HAS COME UP AFTER DRIVING 100 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC IN WHICH HE REPLACED ALL OXYGEN SENSORS. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CODE CAME BACK UP. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC IN WHICH HE SAID IT HAS TO DO WITH A FAULTY ECM. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO FAIL SMOG TEST UNLESS I ERASE THE CODE. THE ECM HAS ALREADY BEEN REFLASHED BY BMW BACK IN 2012. *TR

REAR SUBFRAME SUPPORT IS SEPARATING FROM THE BODY WHERE IT MOUNTS TO. CRACKS AROUND THE SUBFRAME BOLTS CAN BE SEEN. PINCHWELD AROUND REAR FENDER IS SEPERATING.

REAR SUBFRAME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE PER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BACCA V. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC, CASE NO. [XXX]. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR MAINTENACE REPAIRS AND INSPECTION AT A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP AND NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF REAR SUBFRAME DAMAGE DURING THEIR INSPECTION. BMW DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THIS VERY TYPICAL ISSUE OF THEIR BMW 3 SERIES MODELS 1999-2006. THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL ISSUE IN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING AND SHOULD BE CONTINUED TO BE ADDRESS BY BMW NORTH AMERICA DUE TO THE COMPROMISE OF SAFETY TO THE OWNERS AND THE PUBLIC OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE ATTACHED A PDF OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT LETTER REGARDING THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT ADDRESSED BY BMW PROPERLY AND SHOULD BE CONTINUED TO BE ADDRESSED AS THE ISSUES ARE STILL RELEVANT UP TO NOW. THIS STILL RAISES A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THESE MODELS ARE STILL BEING SOLD TODAY. I'VE ALSO ATTACHED A CURRENT PHOTO OF MY VEHICLE THAT SHOWS THE EVIDENCE OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE UNDER THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU HELP IN GETTING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AS SO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND PREVENT ANY MAJOR ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING. THANK YOU! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

FAILED REAR VIEW MIRROR WHERE A LIQUID INSIDE FORMS A BUBBLE MAKING THE MIRROR TOTALLY UNUSABLE. THIS IS A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MOST WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES AND BMW NA HAS REFUSED TO OWN UP AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE LIQUID THAT SPILLS CAUSES IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE PARTS THAT IT SPILLS ON AND IS ALSO TOXIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW M3. FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AND A HALF, THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS DISCOLORED. HE WANTED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR FREE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST FOR THE MIRROR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND LOST POWER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED AND A PART ON THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. THERE HAD BEEN A LIGHT RAIN. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES F. DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. UPON SHUTTING THE IGNITION KEY OFF IN A PARKING LOT, BOTH DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY AND IMMEDIATELY. LOCK BUTTON ON CONSOLE WAS NOT PUSHED. BOTH DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, BY USE OF THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYS OR BY THE CONSOLE BUTTON. TWO DIFFERENT KEYS WERE TRIED. THE DOOR HANDLES MOVED, BUT WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WOULD HAVE OPENED THE DOORS EITHER BECAUSE THE DOORS WERE "LOCKED" . THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE OF THE CAR BEGAN TO RISE RAPIDLY SO THE ENGINE WAS STARTED TO PROVIDE AIR CONDITIONING. RESTARTING THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES DID NOT CHANGE THE CONDITION OF THE LOCKED DOORS. AFTER 10 TO 12 MINUTES I DECIDED TO LOWER THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND USE THE KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS FINALLY UNLOCKED BOTH DOORS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE AND I HAD PULL OVER THE CAR AND SHUT THE KEY OFF. THE DOORS MAY LOCK. A DISABLED OR WEAK PERSON MAY NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BREAK THE GLASS OR CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW IF THEY PANIC. I AM VERY SCARED TO USE THE CAR AT THIS POINT...EVEN TO DRIVE IT TO GET REPAIRED.

XENON HEADLIGHTS MY XENON HEADLIGHTS ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN THEY DO WORK THEY JUST BARELY LIGHT THE ROADWAY. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. I WENT TO THE BMW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS MALFUNCTION COULD ONLY BE REPAIRED AT MY COST AND THAT THE XENON LIGHTS HAD SIMPLY WORN OUT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW. REAR TURN SIGNAL LGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING. THE INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH FROM THE REAR.

MY CAR WAS IN A COLLISION WHERE THE DRIVER OF CAR 1 WAS MAKING A TURN INTO THE MAIN STREET , SHE TURNED TOO WIDE AND COULD NOT COMPLETE THE TURN AND DECIDED TO BACK UP..SHE SLAMMED INTO MY CAR ,DAMAGE WAS LEFT FRONT BUMPER ,BROKEN PARKING LIGHT, DAMAGE LEFT FRONT FENDER , XENON HEADLIGHT MODULE,(CAUSES THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT TO TURN OF SOMETIMES) AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON , DIAGNOSIS FOUND DRIVERS SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAULT ,SINCE THERE WAS THE IMPACT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DRIVER OF CAR 1 WAS CITED FOR HE INCIDENT AND ALSO FOR DRIVING ON A LEARNERS PERMIT ALONE. STATE FARM ONLY COVERED THE BODY REPAIR AND DECLINED THE REPAIR OF THE AIR BAG AND THE HEAD LIGHT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ANY ONE INSIDE THIS CAR IF THERE WAS ANY REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND IT DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME. MY CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED AND FEEL SAFE DRIVING. *TR

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT RECALLS FOR A 2003 BMW. HE STATES THAT HE HAS TRIED TO CONTACT BMW TWICE AND HAS RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK AND ALSO A FAULTY QUARTER PANEL TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND SIGNAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPAIRED THE FUEL LEAK AND FAULTY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON HIS OWN. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED FOUR LIGHT SOCKETS/ BULBS OUT OF FIVE WERE NON-OPERATIONAL. THE ONLY LIGHT FUNCTIONING WAS THE INTERIOR TRUNK ILLUMINATION LAMP. FUEL WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO A FAULTY #5 FUEL INJECTOR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR CARTRIDGE THAT CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPDATED 12/22/10 *JB

THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN TANK IS FULL. AFTER INVESTIGATING LOUD NOISES FROM THE TRUNK AREA, I DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS TANK HAS IMPLODED, AND THE COMPONENTS WITHIN HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND EVERYTIME THEY THINK THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, SOON AGAIN THE SAME THING HAPPENS.*AK

On May 01, 2026, at approximately 0230 while traveling on hwy. I75 I heard a loud pop towards the rear for the vehicle as the car started to slide. I pulled over to the right side of the road nearly hitting another vehicle. I exited my vehicle and noticed the right rear passenger tire tread had separated from the side wall completely. It should be noted there was no warning before the tire failed. I then contacted Continental Tires who advised a take them to Discount Tires for inspection. The service center confirmed the tire tread had separated from the sidewall. The tire has not been inspected by anyone else, but I do have numerous pictures.

MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT (TO INDICATE A FLAT TIRE HAS BEEN SPONTANEOUSLY COMING ON. BMW HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A REASON FOR THIS, BUT THEY CONTINUOUSLY RESET THE LIGHT ONLY FOR IT TO GO OFF AGAIN AT A LATER DATE. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN LOOSING AIR AT TIMES. THIS RESULTED IN A DOUBLE REAR TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE CA I-405 AT 80 MPH WHICH PUT ME AT RISK AND DAMAGED MY CAR. WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF THAT DAY I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ANOTHER FAILURE AND THOUGHT I HAD TIME TO PULL OFF IN A SAFE PLACE TO LOOK OVER THE CAR. I WAS WRONG. THIS HAS COST ME TIME AND MONEY AS I HAVE HAD TO RE-ARRANGE MY SCHEDULE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIMES, AND CANCEL PATIENTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR WHILE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. THE 405 INCIDENT WAS IN SEPT OF 2005 BUT THE PROBLEM DATES BACK TO MUCH EARLIER BUT AN EXACT DATE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME BUT COULD BE DETERMINED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW M3. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED TO OPEN. THE DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION "ON" AND ACTIVATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS TO A DOWNWARD POSITION. THE DOOR WAS OPENED BY ACCESSING THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

2004 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND DECIDED TO PUT THE TOP DOWN. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND HAVE PERFORMED THIS OPERATION A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES (I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA). I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH WHEN I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW AND NOTICED THAT THE STOWAGE LID WAS COMPLETELY UP. I PULLED OVER AND PERFORMED THE OPERATION, BUT IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED SOS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST ME. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, I TOOK THE CAR TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS MY NEGLIGENCE WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THEM, I DID NOT COMPLETE THE TOP DOWN OPERATION AND WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH THE LID OPEN. I ASSURED THEM THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THAT I AM POSITIVE THAT I HAD WAITED FOR THE WINDOWS TO COME UP (WHICH ONLY HAPPENS AFTER THE OPERATION IS COMPLETE). THE SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NO OTHER WAY FOR IT TO COME UP AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE BENT HINGES BECAUSE I HAD CAUSED IT. HINGES WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE BY THE DEALER. I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT I HAD COMPLETED THE OPERATION AND IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION POSSIBLY RELEASED/UNLOCKED THE LATCHES HOLDING THE STOWAGE LID IN PLACE (OR POSSIBLY SOME OTHER MALFUNCTION), AND I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY OCCURED.

WHILE DRIVING ON A RELATIVELY HOT DAY (92 DEGREES F), MY VEHICLE'S SMG (SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEARBOX) MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED ON AND I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY DROPPING OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL OR "0" FOR 6-15 SECONDS AT A TIME. WHEN OUT OF GEAR, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. ON ONE INSTANCE OF DROPPING OUT OF GEAR, I WAS TURNING RIGHT AT AROUND 10-15 MPH WHEN I FOUND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE ALMOST RAN INTO ME. SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS, THIS TYPE OF "STALLING" HAS HAPPENED MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 90 DEGREES, AND NOW I CANNOT DRIVE LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES WITHOUT THE SMG MIL TURNING ON AND GEARS START DROPPING. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND LEAVE ME STRANDED ON A HIGHWAY OR EVEN IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, WHERE IT SEEMS TO OCCUR VERY FREQUENTLY. I'VE RESEARCHED MANY FORUMS FOR THIS AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH OTHER M3 SMG OWNERS. THERE IS SOME INDICATION FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT THE ISSUE MIGHT BE LINKED TO A HYDRAULIC TEMPERATURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE MAIN SMG HYDRAULIC PUMP BUT I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY INFORMATION FROM BMW DETAILING A REPAIR FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. THE ONLY OPTION SEEMS TO BE A FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE ON MY VEHICLE ONCE BEFORE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. THIS TYPE OF REPLACEMENT COSTS ALMOST $4000 AS QUOTED BY THE DEALER. I THINK BMW SHOULD GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON POTENTIAL CAMPAIGN REMEDIES. *TR

MY 2003 BMW M3 HAS CRACKED WHEEL WHICH CAUSES TIRE TO GO FLAT WHICH IS A VERY BG SAFETY HAZARD. THIS TIRES GOES FLAT 2 TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

MY CAR WAS IN A COLLISION WHERE THE DRIVER OF CAR 1 WAS MAKING A TURN INTO THE MAIN STREET , SHE TURNED TOO WIDE AND COULD NOT COMPLETE THE TURN AND DECIDED TO BACK UP..SHE SLAMMED INTO MY CAR ,DAMAGE WAS LEFT FRONT BUMPER ,BROKEN PARKING LIGHT, DAMAGE LEFT FRONT FENDER , XENON HEADLIGHT MODULE,(CAUSES THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT TO TURN OF SOMETIMES) AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON , DIAGNOSIS FOUND DRIVERS SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAULT ,SINCE THERE WAS THE IMPACT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DRIVER OF CAR 1 WAS CITED FOR HE INCIDENT AND ALSO FOR DRIVING ON A LEARNERS PERMIT ALONE. STATE FARM ONLY COVERED THE BODY REPAIR AND DECLINED THE REPAIR OF THE AIR BAG AND THE HEAD LIGHT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ANY ONE INSIDE THIS CAR IF THERE WAS ANY REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND IT DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME. MY CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED AND FEEL SAFE DRIVING. *TR

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT TIGHTENED TO THE POINT THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN IT WAS HARD TO TURN. ITS WAS AS IF SOMETHING WAS HOLDING ON TO IT.*AK THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY