NHTSA Complaint #10048997 — 2003 BMW 325I

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 BMW 325 IN JULY, 2003 FROM PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL, NC. THE IGNITION COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED TODAY ON THE #2 CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 8,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BY MEL, THE SERVICE TECH AT PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL, NC, THAT BMW HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION COILS ON THE 2003 AND 2004 MODELS AND THAT BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS BMW HAS SWITCHED VENDORS FOR THESE IGNITION COILS AND NO LONGER USES THE VENDOR THAT SUPPLIED THE PARTS FOR MY CAR. SINCE THERE A 6 IGNITION COILS IN MY CAR, THAT MEANS THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME ANY ONE OF THE OTHER 5 IGNITION COILS COULD FAIL AND LEAVE ME STRANDED AS HAPPENED TODAY. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REPLACE ALL THE IGNITON COILS IN MY CAR THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY THIS VENDOR SEEING AS I AM A FEMALE WHO TRAVELS FREQUENCTLY FOR BUSINESS THROUGH RURAL AREAS WHERE IT WOULD BE EASY FOR ME TO BE STRANDED. THE DEALER REFUSED SAYING THAT THE OTHER COILS HAVE NOT YET FAILED SO THEY CANNOT REPLACE THEM. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS PRODUCT, FOR WHICH BMW IS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT.*AK