2003 BMW 3 Series

While I was driving the air bags went off.

On June 28,2024, after parking and turning off the ignition switch, the dash started smoking and within minutes the whole dash and front of car were on fire. The car almost completely burned to the ground before the fire department could get there. The car was recently serviced at a BMW for an air bag recall. Heater ducts were loose when returned. There are also recalls for the 2006 325i for similar dash fires. The cause could be either dealer work or a factory issue.

Continental Sport Plus 215/50 ZR17 Replaced Michelin tires with four of this size/brand. Highly unstable at highway speeds. Even more unstable under wet roadway conditions.

Coolant leak from exhaust manifold Reservoir fails All coolant hoses fail

The xenon projector bowls in the headlight assembly on both sides of the vehicle have slowly been burning. The bowl is made of plastic and with the heat of the xenons burns the plastic creating not only a fire hazard but also greatly reduces the effectiveness of the headlight beam, rendering it almost useless. This is specific to the OEM manufacture of the headlight assembly, ZKW. This has also been well documented on various forums for these vehicles over the years.

When the vehicle is without electrical power the door locks cannot be opened from the inside. In the event of any type of emergency that eliminates power and which requires the occupants to exit (fire, fumes, injury after a crash) the occupants are unable to open the doors. On this particular vehicle when there is no power only the driver's door can be unlocked with a key, and to use that method to unlock the door the window must be rolled down...also impossible without power. This seems to be a major safety problem. Has there been a recall or service bulletin to address this problem?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ARSONIST INVESTIGATOR FILED A REPORT AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

ON OR AROUND THE FIRST WEEK OF DEC. 2020 AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS, THE CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION WITHOUT ANY PRIOR DASH WARNING INDICATORS. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR ON THE FIRST TRY. AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN BAD GAS. FAST FORWARD TO JAN. 09, 2021 WHILE PULLING UP TO GAS STATION CAR ACCELERATES WHILE I AM APPLYING BRAKES. VERY SCARY BECAUSE I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT REVVED UP AS THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS STARTED TO HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS, ALTHOUGH. INTERMITTENTLY. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL BMW FORUMS SINCE 2002 AND APPEARS TO HAPPEN IN OLDER AND NEWER CARS REGARDLESS OF MODEL TYPES. I HAVE MAYBE 165,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE MAINTENANCE IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED AND CONSISTENT.

THE COOLING FANS EXPLODED AFTER I STARTED MY CAR UP FOLLOWING COOLANT FLUID LEAKING OUT THE BOTTOM OF A HOSE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS SHOWING THE CAR OVER HEATING IN THE END RESULT.

THE DOOR LOCKS STOP WORKING PERIODICALLY WHERE ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. AT THAT TIME, THE REAR AND PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE OR THE BUTTON IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OR BY PULLING ON THE DOOR RELEASE INSIDE THE DOORS. THE BMW USUALLY UNLOCKS THE DOOR WITH THE FIRST PULL AND THEN OPENS WITH THE SECOND, BUT WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING, THE DOOR RELEASE (DOOR HANDLE) ON THE INSIDE DOES NOTHING. THIS RESULTS IN ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR OPENING AND I HAVE TO REACH BACK OVER THE SEATS TO UNBUCKLE MY KIDS AND THEN PULL THEM OUT OVER THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. SO LONG AS WE START OUTSIDE THE CAR, IT JUST MAKES THE BACK SEATS UNUSABLE. BUT IF I LOCK THE DOORS WHILE THE KIDS ARE IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS, WE GET INTO THE SCARY/FREAKY SITUATION. I VERIFIED THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS AREN'T ENGAGED FOR THE DOORS THAT DISABLE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES/RELEASES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN, IT JUST HAPPENS PERIODICALLY AND THEN GOES AWAY WITH NOTHING I CAN SEE AS A CAUSE. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS HAPPENING, BUT THE FILE FORMATS LISTED DO NOT INCLUDE VIDEOS.

POWER TO CAR WAS CUT. COULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS OR PULL DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN DOOR/UNLOCK. STUCK INSIDE.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50MPH I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND DURING THE TURN THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED HALF WAY DURING A FULL ROTATION AND LOCKED UP PREVENTING ME FROM MAKING A FULL RIGHT HAND TURN. ONCE PARKED I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT STOPPED HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AGAIN.

DRIVING ON 12/12/2019 ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ABOUT 65MPH, GOING STRAIGHT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN REAR WHEELS (THIS IS RWD - 2003 BMW 325I) LOCKED UP COMPLETELY - THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AT ABOUT 45 DEGREES SIDEWAYS BEFORE IT STRAIGHTENED OUT WHEN THE SPEED DROPPED. THANKFULLY I DID NOT HIT ANYBODY, AND NO ONE HIT ME ALTHOUGH THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF TRAFFIC ON THIS MULTI LANE INTERSTATE. I GOT AAA TOW IT HOME. HE HAD TO DRAG IT ONTO THE TRUCK BED AS THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUED TO BE LOCKED UP. WHEN I REMOVED AND OPENED THE DIFFERENTIAL TAPERED ROLLER BEARING ROLLERS WERE IN THE OIL SPACE. LOOKING TO SEE WHERE THEY JAMMED THE SYSTEM UP I NOTICED MARKS ON THE CARRIER. IT APPEARS ROLLERS JAMMED UP IN BETWEEN THE CARRIER AND THE INNER WALL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL BOX - SEE PHOTOGRAPHS. THEY MAY ALSO HAVE JAMMED UP IN BETWEEN THE GEARING BUT I DID NOT NOTICE MARKS ON THE TEETH BUT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO SPEND TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY.

WENT THROUGH A POT HOLE IN THE FREEWAY AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED..AIR BAG ONLY SHOW HALF FILL..MY SPEED ABOUT 60 MPH..IS THIS HOW IT WORKS. NO DAMAGED EXCEPT NEEDED WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

I OWN A 2003 SULEV BMW AND IT NEEDS A FUEL PUMP. THIS ONLY CAN BE REPAIRED BY A DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE FACT IT HAS A SEALED FUEL TANK. THE COST CAN BE 6 TO 8000.00 DOLLARS. I WAS TOLD THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A SULEV CAR. 150000 MI OR 15 YEARS. I CALLED BMW AND THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY HOUSE AND THE TRANSMISION STARTED SLIPPING AS WELL AS IT CATCHING AND BREAKING ONE OF THE AXLES LEAVING THE CAR TO BE STUCK NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE PERIOD SURELY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR GETTING HIT AND THE FUEL TANK EXPLODING MY AUNT WANT NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE CAR TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND AGAIN THIS CAR DIDN'T ALLOW THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY THE LOCATION IS UNKOWN

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO GET BMW TO HONOR A REMEDY FOR TAILLIGHT DEFECT CAUSED AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY TAILLIGHT GROUNDING WIRES ARE CAUSING A SHORT ON TURNING SIGNALS. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATED THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000. AFFECTED VEHICLES 325I - 2002-2005 BMW WILL NOT HONOR ITS PROPOSED REMEDY WITH NHTSA, CITING THE VIN HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED IN RECALL. I CONTACTED BOTH DEALERSHIP IN STERLING VA AND CORPORATE BMW OF AMERICA (800-525-7417). BMW OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED 7.15.2019. OPERATOR ANDREA EMPLOYEE # 6266 INFORMED ME THE CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER REMEDY. MANUFACTURER: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC MFR'S REPORT DATE: AUG 25, 2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. 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. CONSEQUENCE: INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. REMEDY: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417. THE RECALL IS FOR MODEL YEARS 2002-2005 OF THE 325I, 325XI, 330I AND 330XI CARS, THE MUNICH-BASED COMPANY SAID TODAY IN A POSTING ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S WEBSITE. LIGHTS INCLUDING TAIL, BRAKE AND TURN SIGNALS MAY ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY ON THE CARS, BMW TOLD THE AUTO-SAFETY REGULATOR.

BOTH BACK WINDOWS ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WILL NOT GO UP. GARAGE SAYS BOTH REGULATORS AND ACTUATORS MUST BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL AND IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325CI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,550.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY AND THE ROLLOVER PROTECTION SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ROLLOVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SAFETY LEVER TO RELEASE THE ROLLOVER PROTECTION SYSTEM WAS NEVER INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS UNABLE TO BE LOWERED OR RAISED. WINSLOW BMW OF COLORADO SPRINGS LOCATED AT 5845 N NEVADA AVE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80918, (719) 387-9650 WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND INSPECTED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,006.