2008 BMW M3 Complaint Log

During a regular fuel stop at a gas station, I noticed the central lock button nor the physical door hinge fail to operate to open the door for me to exit. The fuse for the central power door lock/unlock button blew out, completely disabling the interior door hinge mechanism. I got trapped inside but thankfully the power was still on and the rear doors remained unlocked. So, I lowered the driverside window and crawl outside. Then open the unlocked reer door to enter the vehicle from the back seat. Then located the fuse box, searched on the internet to itenfy the effected fuse, replaced damaged one to another fuse (dedicated to another function), temporarily replaced with the same ampage fuse. For my vehicle, there is no visible solution to enter the physical key to open the door from the outside that are typically found under the exterior door handle. If it wasn't for a combination of luck that the other door remained unlocked, had power to lower the window, have some knowledge of vehicle electrical system (fuse), and tolerable weather condition, I would've been stuck inside my car for indifinite time, or break the window to get to exit. I would testify that this is a serious safety concern the manufacturer should investigate and provide permanent resolution.

Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor error displayed in vehicle information center. Warning restraint/Air Bag not functioning properly. This was taken to the BMW dealership for diagnosis, and it was determined the Passenger Occupancy Sensor has failed and needs to be replaced. There was no recall listed for this issue. I found there was a Service Information Bulletin from BMW acknowledging the issue SB-10056703-9690 with many affected models of vehicles, that has been updated in 2018 to include additional. It currently does not list the E93 model, but does list E90 and E91 and stated the affected component if electric adjustable seats is seat option code 459. My vehicle has the same option code as listed as the affected components. BMW extended warranty coverage for owners of vehicles adding additional models with E91 in 2018. They should cover over models with the affected component as it presents a safety issue and is a common failing part.

VISIBLE GASOLINE LEAK FROM THE CHASSIS UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER AREA. STATIONARY INSIDE GARAGE.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, CEL CAME ON, CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, BEFORE LOSING POWER ALTOGETHER WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. REPORT OF ENGINE DAMAGE REQUIRING AN ENTIRE REPLACEMENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN REVERSE ON A HILL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE HOOD, BUMPER, AND FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA TO AUTOMASTER BMW (3328 SHELBURNE RD, #3, SHELBURNE, VT 05482, (802) 985-1850) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE BODY DAMAGE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V472000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT HE HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ASSISTED WITH THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE BODY DAMAGE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. *TR*JB

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 17V676 THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED OVER A YEAR AGO AND STILL HAVE YET TO BE CONTACTED BY BMW TO RESOLVE THE RECALL OR PROVIDE ANY RECOURSE. WHAT IS THE TYPICAL RESPONSE TIME?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (BASNEY BMW MAZDA, 52203 IN-933, SOUTH BEND, IN 46637, (574) 272-8504) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL. DESPITE MY HAVING RECEIVED 2 RECALL NOTICES REGARDING MY AIRBAG, AND MY CAR'S VIN BEING LISTED ON NHTSA.DOT.GOV AS BEING SUBJECT TO AN AIRBAG RECALL, THE BMW DEALER LISTED ON MY RECALL NOTICE, BMW OF MOUNTAIN VIEW, IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR ON 5/16/2018 ON THE BASIS THAT THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM SAID THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THEY FURTHER SAID THAT THE RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED MEANT THAT THEIR MIGHT BE A RECALL BUT THAT IN FACT THERE WAS NO RECALL.

PASSENGER RESTRAINT ERROR KEEPS COMING UP DUE TO FAULT IN SEAT MATS. RECALLED FOR OTHER 3 SERIES VEHICLES, 2008 M3 SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL.

I'VE BEEN DRIVING BMW FOR OVER 12 YEARS. MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CAR TO DRIVE. I'VE HAD MY M3 FOR A YEAR. MY DREAM CAR. I TOOK THE UPMOST CARE OF HER. COMING HOME FROM WORK LATE MONDAY DRIVING AROUND 65-70 MILES PER HOUR. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM MY CAR AND AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION NOTIFICATION ON MY CAR. ALMOST HIT AN 18 WHEELER AS MY CAR LOST CONTROL BEFORE I SWERVED INTO A DITCH. HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHERE HE CONFIRMED A PIECE OF A ROD POKING OUT THE LOWER PART OF MY BLOCK. I NEVER THOUGHT THE ROD BEARING FAILURE WOULD EVER HAPPEN TO ME! IT HAPPENED. I CURRENTLY HAVE NO CAR AND I STILL MAKE PAYMENTS. I HAVE TO GET A RIDE TO WORK WHICH I HATE. BMW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL S65 MOTORS THAT HAVE THESE NO CLEARANCE ROD BEARINGS. THIS WAS MY BABY. NOW SHE'LL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.

I HAVE A BMW E92 CHASSIS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY, MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME BMW AND THEY HAVE SAID THE SAME THING. THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATORS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THESE BMWS. WHEN THE MALFUNCTION TAKES PLACE THE BMW GOES INTO LIMP MODE. THE CAR IS NOT ABLE TO REV ABOVE 3K RPM NOR GO A SPEED OF OVER 55 MPH. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN YOUR CAR DOES THIS. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE AS WELL AS MANY PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE E92 BMW AROUND 79,000 MILES. THE BMW M3 OF THIS YEAR IS VERY POPULAR AND THERE ARE MANY OWNERS. THE ROD BEARINGS ALSO GO OUT IN THIS CAR AND CREATE THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE THROTTLE ACTUATORS AND ROD BEARINGS GOING BAD AND PUTTING THE CAR INTO LIMP MODE IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED BMW NA AND THEY WILL NOT LOOK INTO THEM AS THEY ARE NOT AN 'ACTIVE RECALL'.

CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. STARTING MAKING A LOUD TICKING SOUND FROM THE BOTTOM END OF THE MOTOR.

RECEIVED A LOSS OF POWER WARNING FOR THE CAR. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, SHOP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BENT RED. TOOK IT TO GET A SECOND OPINION. NO COMPRESSION IN THE 4TH CYLINDER BUT THERE IS OBVIOUS CYLINDER WALL DEFORMATION AND SMALL PISTON SHRINKAGE.

I WAS DRIVING FROM WORK AND HEARD A LOUD METAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KUMMROW AUTOMOTIVE. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC ROD BEARING FAILURE. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN IN A CAR WITH A LITTLE OVER 60,000 MILES? I KNEW ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ROD BEARING ISSUE AND THE CLASS ACTION SUITS, BUT SINCE THIS ISSUE AFFECTS LESS THAN 1% OF THE VEHICLES AND SINCE I BOUGHT A VEHICLE THAT WAS NEVER TRACKED, BABIED ALL OF ITS LIFE, I FELT CONFIDENT I WASN'T GOING TO BE ONE OF THE UNLUCKY ONES. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY I WAS TREATED BY BMW NA AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF BEING A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND A BMW ENTHUSIAST. THE S65 (M3) AND S85 (M5) ENGINE ROD BEARING ISSUE HAS BEEN VERY WELL DOCUMENTED OVER THE YEARS. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO BMW NA AND CORRESPONDED WITH YOU AND SCOTT KUCHTA VIA EMAIL AS WELL AS ON THE PHONE. IT'S BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH FOR OVER A WEEK. I SPOKE WITH SCOTT ON MONDAY AND HE INFORMED ME THAT BMW NA IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ROD BEARING ISSUES WITH MY ENGINE AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WASN'T MAINTAINED AT THE DEALER, BMW NA WON'T BE ABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT BMW OF STERLING IN VA ALL OF ITS LIFE EXCLUSIVELY FROM 2008 THROUGH 2013. THE SECOND OWNER HAD THE CAR FROM 2013 THROUGH 2017 AND PUT 3,000 MILES ON IT. THAT'S IT! SO, HE DID ONE OIL CHANGE. THE CAR WAS BABIED ALL OF ITS LIFE. AS FAR AS THE ROD BEARING ISSUE, A SIMPLE SEARCH FOR THE ENGINE (S65) OR THE MODEL NUMBER (E92 M3) GENERATES PAGES AND PAGES OF INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT. ANY BMW LICENSED OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AND DISCOURAGING THAT BMW NA WOULDN'T STAND UP TO ITS REPUTATION AND DO THE RIGHT THING HERE. THIS IS A VERY WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE S65 ENGINE. I AM HOPING BMW WILL DO THE RIGHT THING HERE.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH MY DEALER TO FIX THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG (TAKATA) AND THEY ARE STILL SAYING ' NO SOLUTION AVAILABLE YET' I NEED THIS FIXED TO FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY BMW AGAIN.

CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE. WELL MAINTAINED AT DEALERSHIP AND CERTIFIED INDY SHOP. CRANKSHAFT WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED BECAUSE LACK OF OIL DUE TO INCORRECT BEARING AND CONNECTING ROD CLEARANCES FROM FACTORY. ENGINE IS UNREPAIRABLE. CHECK BY BMW AND REFUSE TO ASSIST IN REPLACEMENT. CAR WAS STATIONARY AND HAD BEEN IDLING FOR 1 MIN.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT BOUT 1AM ON A CLEAR 45 DEGREE MORNING. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 54 MPH ON A FREEWAY. I HEARD A NOISE COME FROM MY ENGINE, IT SOUND LIKE METAL BEING GRIND. MY VEHICLE THEN SHUT OFF I LOST POWER STEERING CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO A DITCH. WHEN I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RE START. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE TRUCK MOVED MY CAR I NOTICED A LOT OF ENGINE OIL UNDER THE CAR. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A BMW MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME " ONE OF YOUR ROD BEARINGS BROKE SENDING A ROD THROUGH YOUR OIL PAN". AND I HAVE TINY PIECES OF METAL ALL INSIDE OF MY ENGINE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE.

FAILED BEARINGS ENGINE HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY

ROD BEARING FAILURE! TODAY WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY I HEARD A LOUD BOOM FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE TURNING OFF. I TOWED THE CAR HOME AND AFTER INSPECTION I FOUND THE CYLINDER 8 PISTON HAS BLOWN THROUGH THE BLOCK. THE CAR HAS JUST BROKE 100K MILES,HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ON TIME AND SHOWED NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES. I HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR A CHECK UP FROM BMW'S "MASTER TECH" WITH NO NOTES OF ANY NOISES OR ISSUES.

ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AT SPEED WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF ROD BEARING ISSUE WHICH IS WELL KNOWN IN THESE ENGINES. *TR

THROTTLE ACTUATOR PROBLEM: IS CAUSED BY AN ENGINEERING DEFECT IN THE ACTUATOR GEARS WHICH DETERIORATE UNDER 60,000 MILES AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO GO TO "LIMP" MODE. ONCE IN LIMP MODE THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND WON'T ACCELERATE AS NORMAL; WHICH WAS MY CASE WHEN IT OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A GREAT DANGER TO MYSELF AND SOCIETY.

ABS HYDRO UNIT ON E92 M3 2008 JUST FAILED, IT IS A COMMON ISSUE ON ALL BMW CARS, THOUGH PROBLEM IS OVER THE YEAR AND BECAUSE OF POOR SOLDIERING THESE UNIT FAILS, CAUSING BRAKING PROBLEM, CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING IRRESPONSIVE, AND STABILITY CONTROL PROBLEMS.

THE 2008 ME HAS THE S65 ENGINE WHICH HAS BEEN HEAVILY REPORTED TO HAVE ROD BEARING FAILURES DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF THE FACTORY ROD BEARINGS. MY CAR ENGINE HAS SEIZED DUE TO THIS AND I AM LOOKING AT FROM BMW $30,000 PLUS IN REPAIRS!! THE NEW BMW M3S HAD AN UPDATED ROD BEARING MATERIAL WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM FAILURE.

MY BMW HAVE HEADLIGHTS INSULATION FLAKING OFF, THIS IS REALLY SCARY BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO GET MY CAR GETTING FIRE.

VEHICLE MILEAGE: 41,706 AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE, I PICKED MY CAR UP AT MY LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP. WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON I NOTICED A MISFIRE WITH THE ENGINE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ASKED THE SHOP TO TAKE A LOOK. THEY IDENTIFIED A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER #2. AFTER 30 SECONDS OF THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF, SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF CYLINDER #2. AFTER 90 SECONDS OF AGGRESSIVELY SMOKING, THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT. IIT WAS FOUND THAT THE COIL PACK FOR CYLINDER #2 CAUGHT FIRE AND FRIED AN UPSTREAM DME CONTROL UNIT AS WELL. REPAIRS WERE STARTED THE NEXT DAY TO REPLACE ALL 8 COIL PACKS AND THE DME CONTROL UNIT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT DRIVING AND MY FAMILY WAS NOT IN THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED BMW THROUGH THEIR ONLINE SYSTEM. AFTER 3 DAYS I CALLED THEIR HELP NUMBER. I THEN WAITED 2 DAYS FOR CONTACT FROM THEM. FINALLY I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL BACK, BY THIS TIME THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY MY MECHANIC. BMW DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, STATING THE CAR WAS NOT AT A BMW DEALERSHIP WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER ESCALATING THE CONCERN WITHIN BMW TO THEIR INVESTIGATION TEAM, I WAS REQUESTED TO SUBMIT PHOTOS OF THE BURNT COIL PACK, AND REPAIR RECEIPTS. AFTER 5 WEEKS OF WAITING, THEY CONTACTED ME AND DENIED MY CLAIM AGAIN. WHEN I ASKED FOR THE INVESTIGATION REPORT, THEY STATED THAT NO INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND THAT NO REPORT WOULD BE PROVIDED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND ANOTHER M3 OWNER WITH THE SAME FAILURE ON THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MILEAGE. THE COIL PACK WAS ORIGINAL TO THE CAR, AND HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED SINCE IT WAS BUILT BY BMW. THIS PART IS NOT LISTED FOR REPLACEMENT IN BMW'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. BMW REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE DAMAGES, NOR DO THEY CLAIM THAT THIS IS A BMW PART CONCERN. IF IT'S NOT A PART PROBLEM, THEN WHAT CAUSED IT TO CATCH FIRE?

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 126V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE REAR TIRES TO SPIN. THE CONTACT STRUCK A CURB, CRASHED INTO A TREE, AND THEN A FENCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN 4TH GEAR, THE MOTOR SEIZED. THE PISTON ROD SNAPPED AND BLEW ALUMINUM PARTS THROUGH THE OIL PAN.

THE ENGINE PISTON BEARING WORE OUT AT LESS THAN 60K MILES CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE. LUCKILY CAR ENGINGE DID NOT LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING OR COULD HAVE CAUSED TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN FREEWAY

AFTER INFORMING BMW NA MANY TIMES OF THE WIDESPREAD ROD BEARING PROBLEM ON THE S65 MOTOR THAT CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AND SEIZING OF THE ENGINE AT SPEED THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER. THIS WIDE SPREAD BEARING ISSUE HAS AFFECTED 100'S IF NOT 1000'S OF THESE ENGINES. AFTER MY ENGINE FAILED BMW REFUSED TO GOOD WILL ME A ENGINE FOR SMALL UNRELATED MISC. THINGS FOR EXAMPLE EXHAUST AND SUSPENSION. I'VE HAD THE BEARINGS REPLACED BY A REPUTABLE INDYSHOP THAT HAS DONE MANY ROD BEARING JOBS ON MY IDENTICAL CAR TYPE. I HAVE FAILED ORIGINAL BEARINGS IN HAND. AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR FROM THIS SHOP MY ENGINE SEIZED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH THIS SHOP PERFORMED THE WORK PROPERLY ULTIMATELY THIS ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED EITHER WAY. I AM NOW OUT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE BEARING JOB AND I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. MY COMPLAINT IS TO BMW NORTH AMERICA IN ARBITRARILY DENYING MY CLAIM WHEN THEY ARE AWARE AND I HAVE PROOF THAT THE ENGINES THAT THEY PRODUCED FROM THE FACTORY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO LUBRICATE AND WITCH CAUSES FAILURE TO CARS BETWEEN 25,000 MILES OR 110,000 MILES. THERE IS A REGISTRY ONLINE OF MANY MANY M3'S WITH THIS ENGINE WITH THE SAME ENGINE FAILURE. IF MY ENGINE WERE TO HAVE SEIZED ON THE FREEWAY THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH AS WELL AS A POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS BODILY HARM INCLUDING DEATH. TO FURTHER CLARIFY ENGINE FAILURE WAS IMMINENT EVEN BEFORE THIS INDY SHOP PERFORMED THIS WORK. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR AND I WORK. I AM NOW FORCED TO BUY A NEW ENGINE FOR OVER $15,000 WITCH IS APPROX. THE VALUE OF THE CAR OR SELL THE VEHICLE FOR A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS. BMW SHOULD HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING HERE BUT INSTEAD DENIED MY REQUEST AND PUSHED ME OUT THE DOOR. BMW NA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WHEN THEY SHOULD. IF YOU LOOK INTO THE PREVIOUS MODEL M3 WITH S54 ENGINE THERE WAS A MAJOR ROD BEARING RECALL. SAME ISSUE HERE. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROD BEARING AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ROD BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SUDDEN KNOCKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE NOISE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ROD BEARING FAILURE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

ENGINE BEGAN SUDDENLY MAKING A VERY LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AND I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO SANDY SANSING BMW SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC CRANK BEARING FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED NOW... CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND ALWAYS SERVICED AT BMW DEALERS SINCE IT WAS NEW... A CAR WITH 56K MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH AN EXTREME FAILURE IN THIS NATURE... *TR

PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT LIGHT CAME ON...SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN OTHER YEARS AND RECALLS FOR '06 MODEL YEAR BUT NOT THIS YEAR. *TR

INCIDENT 1 I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AFTER THE SIGNAL AND ENTERING INTO THE FREEWAY AT 25 MPH, AND DURING THE TURN, THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCLINATION IN THE ROAD LIKE A BUMP AND THE CAR LANDED ON THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY THE I LOST STEERING CONTROL AND HAD DSC (DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL) AND BRAKE WARNING AND I WAS THIS CLOSE TO GETTING RAMMED BY A TRUCK FROM BEHIND AND I HURT MY HAND DURING THIS EVENT BECAUSE I COULD HARDLY STEER MY CAR AND BARELY PULLED ON TO THE CURB OF THE FREEWAY. HOW CAN A BMW BE SO DELICATE, IT CANT HANDLE A BUMP AND IF IT CANNOT, THEN WHY DID I LOOSE STEERING CONTROL ? INCIDENT 2 2 WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT HAD A CLUTCH BEARING FAILURE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND DID AND RETRIEVE, I COULD NOT CHANGE THE GEAR AND ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR CAME TO A HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE IS PRE-CERTIFIED BY BMW AND IT'S BEEN ONLY 4 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND WAS IN WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 3/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB

IN A SITUATION WHERE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND LIGHT PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE (HVAC IS OFF) THE IDLE OF THE CAR WILL FALL BELOW SPECIFICATION AND THE IDLE BECOMES ROUGH. EVEN A VERY SLIGHT DECREASE IN BRAKE PRESSURE WILL RETURN THE IDLE TO SPEC. THIS WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE A PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE VACUUM BOOSTER OR THE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAVE NOTED MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN ONLINE FORUMS. AT THE VERY LEAST IT IS AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AND AT WORST A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM PROMPTED TO LOG THIS COMPLAINT GIVEN TODAY'S NEWS OF 328I BRAKE INVESTIGATIONS. I HAVE CALLED BMWNA TO GET NO SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *TR

THE ENGINE IN MY BMW DIED AT 74,598 MILES, NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NO WEIRD NOISES. IT DIED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT (65) ON THE HIGHWAY DOING NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, WHEELS LOCKED UP IN TRAFFIC SO I HAD TO PUSH IN CLUTCH. IT WAS A VERY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION BECAUSE A BIG RIG ALMOST CRASHED INTO MY CAR. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO CHECK IT OUT: THE ENGINE WAS NOT OVERHEATING AND THERE WAS NO FLUIDS ON THE GROUND. AS I TRIED STARTING THE CAR UP AGAIN I COULD HEAR THE FUEL PUMP TURNING ON AND THE STARTER MOTOR CLICKING, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS MADE KNOWN TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $19,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE AND $6,000 FOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. I MADE THE DEALERSHIP AWARE THAT I KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE, AND THAT NOTHING WAS INDICATING TO ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. I INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA (BMW HEADQUARTERS FOR NORTH AMERICA) FOR A "GOOD WILL" REPLACEMENT, BUT MY REQUEST WAS DENIED. THIS PROBLEM IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ROD BEARING INSIDE THE ENGINE, WHICH GAVE OUT BECAUSE THERE IS NO ADEQUATE LUBRICATION TO THEM, I HEARD OF THESE ROD BEARINGS GIVING OUT ON THE S65 ENGINE ALL OVER WEB FORUMS, MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD I DID LET THEM KNOW THAT MY CAR WOULD GO IN LIMP MODE (LOW POWER MODE ON ENGINE, MAX SPEED ABOUT 40MPH) AND I WAS HEARING TICKING NOISES (DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS NORMAL) THAT WERE NOT PRESENT WHEN THE CAR WAS REALLY NEW (THE FIRST 5000 MILES I PUT ON THE CAR). THE DEALERSHIP AND BMW NORTH AMERICA DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WHICH WERE PRESENT DURING MY ENTIRE OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR (IN WARRANTY PERIOD) AND THEY DENIED THE FREE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR'S DCT/TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND CAN PROVE TO BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU'RE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ANOTHER CAR AND THE CAR THRUSTS FORWARD. *JS

I OWN A 2008 BMW M3 WITH DCT TRANSMISSION. WHEN IN AUTO MODE AND YOU SLOW DOWN AND THEN WISH TO ACCELERATE THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR OR COULD CRASH INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. VIN NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT BMWNA IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR" FOR MY CAR/TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR." THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE "AUTO" MODE OF THE DCT TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO OCCURS TO A LESSER DEGREE WHILE IN THE MANUAL MODE WHEN YOU SELECT SECOND GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN. IT IS ALSO VERY REPEATABLE IN BOTH MODES. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING AFTER A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL UNDER HARD BRAKING OR NOT SHIFT UNDER HARD BRAKING. THE RECALL FIXED THAT PROBLEM, BUT INTRODUCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED DURING A SPECIFIC SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. *TR

DESPITE MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPDATES TO CORRECT THIS FLAW MY M-DCT (AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) CAR STILL EXHIBITS A DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE APPLICATION AND ANY RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. FOR A SMALL PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE IS UTTERLY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE THROTTLE INPUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A NEAR STOP. THE LACK OF ACCELERATION CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD IN MANY CASES. *TR

HESITATION IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE WHEN DECREASING SPEED THEN TRYING TO INITIATE A TURN. FOR EXAMPLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH THEN BRAKING TO TURN LEFT, ONCE BRAKING OCCURS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WILL OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HITTING YOU. *TR

SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR PRODUCES LAG AND UPON ACCELERATING THE CAR JERKS AND JUMPS FORWARD, WHICH IS SCARY IN TRAFFIC AND ABSOLUTELY A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

2008 E92 M3 WITH M-DCT TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION TENDS TO "LAG" AFTER MEDIUM TO HARD BRAKING CAUSING UNRESPONSIVENESS TO THROTTLE FOR 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE EITHER 1)SLOWLY REGAINING THROTTLE, OR 2)SUDDEN FORWARD JERK. BMW HAS TRIED UPDATING THE M-DCT SOFTWARE, WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BEFORE STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE "AUTO" MODE OF THE DCT TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO OCCURS TO A LESSER DEGREE WHILE IN THE MANUAL MODE WHEN YOU SELECT SECOND GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN. IT IS ALSO VERY REPEATABLE IN BOTH MODES. *TR

MY M3 WITH M-DCT TRANSMISSION HAS SIGNIFICANT THROTTLE DELAY IN LOWER GEARS AT ROLLING SPEEDS. CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUT FOR ONE SECOND OR MORE AND THEN SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED. *TR

2008 M3 DCT LAG PROBLEM. AT LOWER SPEEDS THE GEARBOX TAKES TO MUCH TIME TO SELECT A GEAR (LIKE COMING THROUGH A SLOW CORNER) AND THEN AFTER THE LAG AND IT "CATCHES" AGAIN THERE IS USUALLY A JERKY ACCELERATION. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE THIS WAY. HAPPENS MORE IN "D" MODE BUT ALSO IN REGULAR MODE ESPECIALLY IN 2ND GEAR. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 BMW M3 SEDAN, BUILT 2/08, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN JULY, 2008. IT HAS A DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS AS FOLLOWS. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION OR DELAY BETWEEN STEPPING ON THE GAS, AND GETTING THE CAR TO GO, WHEN I HAVE SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP, THEN WANT TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IN WYOMING IN LATE JUNE, 2009, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS COMING FROM A SIDE ROAD ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO STOP SIGN FOR ME, JUST A RIGHT CURVE IN THE ROAD I WAS ON, THEN MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR BECAUSE I HAD SLOWED DOWN FOR THE CURVE. AS I TURNED RIGHT AND STEPPED ON THE GAS, NOTHING, IT SEEMED LIKE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS MOVING ALONG AT A FAST SPEED, AND I ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED BEFORE THE MOTOR FINALLY RESPONDED TO THROTTLE INPUT. I THINK THIS IS DANGEROUS. WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS, THE MOTOR SHOULD RESPOND IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT LAG TIME. IT SEEMS LIKE SOME COMPUTER IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. MAYBE THERE IS A SOFTWARE FIX. WHATEVER IT IS, IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR