2003 BMW Z4 Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER SIDE TO SIDE AND AS A RESULT, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE ON THE LEFT LANE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. IT OPERATES THE GLOVE BOX, PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOORS AS WELL AS GAS CAP DOOR. IT DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY TO FOB OR BY KEY. AT TIMES ALL LOCKS ARE FROZEN TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN NOT OPEN TO GET IN OR GAS. RIGHT NOW PASSENGER DOOR HAS BEEN LOCKED FOR 30+ DAYS. CANNOT OPEN AT ALL. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO ORDERED A NEW ACTUATER FROM BMW DEALER, FIRST ONE DID NOT WORK. SECOND ONE INSTALLED AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED. ($240.00). MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT SOMETHING IS BURNING AND I MUST TAKE TO DEALERSHIP. I CAN SMELL THE BURNING AND I AM AFRAID AND WILL NOT DRIVE. LOOKED UP ON INTERNET, THERE ARE 100S OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THREE YEARS. HAVE HAD 3 TESTS INCL LIETH BMW TEST THAT VERIFIES IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT. THIS DEFECT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MANY BMW MODELS. BMW REFUSES TO FIX IT YET REQUIRES ME TO DO THESE DIAGNOSIS (FOR A FEE) OVER AND OVER. NOT ONLY THAT - THEY HAVE DRASTICALLY RAISED THE PRICE TO REPAIR TO >$1400. I SERIOUSLY QUESTION THE SAFETY OF THE CAR AND FEEL BMW USES THE ISSUE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HIGH PROFITS OFF THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR

ALL SENSORS LIT UP AND WILL NOT GO OFF: TIRE PRESSURE, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AIR PRESSURE, AIRBAG, ETC. SENSORS. *TR

PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB OR THE INTERIOR SWITCH. ALL OTHER LOCKS RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. THE DOOR WILL OPEN MANUALLY WITH THE INTERIOR HANDLE. I REPLACED THE LOCK ACTUATOR WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. I AM NOW TRYING TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL RELAY. THE DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER. I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S FAILED SEAT SENSOR AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE SEAT. *TR

MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD GOING FIFTY MILES AN HOUR ON UNIVERSITY CITY BLVD. IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT LUCKILY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT SCARED IN MY LIFE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN IN NINE MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME BEING MAY 27, 2003. THE SECOND BEING OCTOBER 25, 2003. AND THE THIRD TIME BEING JANUARY 16, 2004 (THIS IS THE TIME IT STALLED GOING 50 MILES ON THE ROAD). THE DEALERSHIP, BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THE MANAGERS AT HENDRICK IMPORTS WERE ALL AWARE THAT MY CAR HAD STALLED ON THE ROAD! BEING THAT MY LIFE WAS AT ISSUE I WAS UPSET AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I EVEN LET THEM KEEP THE CAR AN EXTRA FEW DAYS TO MAKE IT SURE THE PORBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THIS IS WHY I DID NOT TAKE ANY PREVIOUS ACTION. NOW ON MARCH 5, 2004 ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST THREE TIMES. THIS TIME IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN MY APARTMENT WHICH IS NOT A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRAFFIC!! WHAT IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT STALLED AGAIN, I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU I WOULD BE IN THE GROUND! THEY JUST WANT TO FIX IT AND PUT ME ON THE ROAD AGAIN, BUT I KNOW THE CAR IS UNSAFE BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO CARE. I JUST WANTED TO LET THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE!! THANK GOD I AM STILL ALIVE TO WRITE THIS LETTER TO YOU!*AK