NHTSA Complaint #10227254 — 2008 BMW M3

CAR = BMW 328 CONVERTIBLE WITH COMFORT ACCESS OPTION YEAR = 2008 AND 2007 (HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE REQUIRED OPTION = COMFORT ACCESS FOR REMOTE ROOF OPEN/CLOSE 1) WHILE EVERYONE WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR WITH THE ROOF OPEN THE SALESMAN DEMONSTRATED THE REMOTE ACCESS OPTION CLOSING THE ROOF. 2) THE ROOF CLOSED. 3) I REACHED INTO THE REAR WINDOW TO TOUCH SOMETHING IN THE BACK SEAT AREA 4) THE WINDOWS RAISED UP CATCHING MY ARM BETWEEN THE REAR WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE HARD-TOP ROOF. 5) MY ARM WAS CAUGHT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AS THE SALESMAN TRIED TO COMMAND EITHER THE WINDOW TO LOWER OR THE ROOF OPERATION TO REVERSE. 6) THE REMOTE ACCESS ROOF CLOSURE PROGRAM RELENTLESSLY TRIED TO CLOSE THE WINDOW EVEN THOUGH MY ARM WAS NOW FULLY CAUGHT AND MY WIFE (IN TEARS) NOR THE SALESMAN OR ANY OTHER STAFF AT THE LARGE DEALERSHIP COULD HELP ME. 7) I FINALLY PULLED MY ELBOW PAST THE WINDOW SUFFERING MINOR SCRAPES AND SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT NERVE DAMAGE. 8) I AM GLAD THAT IT WASN'T MY NECK OR THE APPENDAGE OF A CHILD. I NOTIFIED BMW AG AND BMW USA OF THIS EVENT. IT IS LIKELY THEY WILL TAKE NO AUTONOMOUS ACTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION THE REAR WINDOWS NEED PINCH PROTECTION CIRCUITRY AND THE REMOTE ACCESS CLOSING PROGRAM NEEDS A TIME-OUT FUNCTION RATHER THAN THE RELENTLESS "MUST CLOSE WINDOWS" PROGRAM THAT IS CURRENTLY A THREAT TO ANYONE WHO HAPPENS TO GET CAUGHT DURING THIS OPERATION. *TR