2003 BMW 325I Electrical System Problems

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.

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.

MY REAR WINDOW AND THE ROOFTOP DONT WORK I CAN HEAR THE MOTORS BUT NOTHING HAPPENS A TECHNICIAN EXPLAIN THAT THE REGULATOR AND LINES ARE BROKEN ITS A COMMON THING ON MY MODEL HE SPECIFIED.

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.

STALLING, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, DEAD BATTERIES, SWERVING

REMOTE UNLOCKING/LOCKING WILL NOT FUNCTION. DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED OR UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE WITH CENTRAL LOCK SWITCH OR WITH DOOR HANDLE, TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE. THE DRIVERS WINDOW MUST BE ROLLED DOWN AND KEY USED TO UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE. CLIMBING OUT OF WINDOWS OR CLIMBING TO DRIVERS SEAT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF CAR, BMW STATES "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". *TR

THE CAR DOORS AT TIMES DO NOT UNLOCK. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT. A KEY CAN BE USED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES EVEN THE DOOR KEY HAS NOT WORKED. THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE IS THAT I HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR AND UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WITH THE MAIN LOCK CONTROL OR EVEN BY TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE PASSENGERS CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOW TO EXIT THE CAR A FEW TIMES. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE KEY WORKS TO GET IN BUT I CANNOT GET THE OTHER DOORS OPEN EVEN BY ATTEMPTING TO USE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS IS A SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN. *TR

THE DISPLAY THAT SHOWS THE ODOMETER, TEMPERATURE, TRIP METER, ETC. STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. A PIXEL OR TWO WILL SHOW UP, BUT NO LEGIBLE INFORMATION. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME INCIDENT ABOUT A DOZEN OF TIMES IN THE LAST 4-5 YEARS. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHT ON, ENGINEER STARTED TO KNOCKING, SPEED FORCED DOWN TO LESS THAN 30 MPH WITHIN IN SECONDS. IT WAS QUITE SCARING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SPEED AT ~50-70 MPG. MY DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS, CHANGING EVERYTHING IN THIS SPEED CONTROLLING SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES ACCORDING TO THE BOOK, INCLUDING THROTTLE BODY TWICE, ELECTRIC HARNESS THREE TIMES, AND CONTROL COMPUTER UNIT ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. OCCASIONALLY, RESETTING THE SYSTEM AND/OR RESTARTING THE CAR, AND SOMETIMES RECONNECTING EVERY PARTS OF THE SYSTEM CAN AVOID THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE (FROM A DAYS TO 1-2 YEARS). ALTHOUGH IT IS UNPREDICTABLE IN WHEN, IT WOULD COME BACK. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO COME MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER BECOME MORE...

THE WARNING LIGHT FOR MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR MONTHS AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN IT. IT STAYED ON PERMANENTLY THIS MONTH, SHOWING A DIMMER LIGHT THAN THE WORKING SIDE TAIL LIGHT, SO I HAD IT CHECKED WHEN I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT MY BMW MECHANIC. HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS A RECALL FOR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR MY VEHICLE AND TOLD ME TO CALL THE DEALER TO CHECK THE VIN NUMBER. I CALLED THE DEALER LAST FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2012 AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE WORK. NO ONE CALLED, SO I CALLED AGAIN TODAY AND THEY SAID THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE OPEN RECALL. THE TAIL LIGHT IS ACTING LIKE THE OTHER TAIL LIGHTS THAT WERE RECALLED SO I DO...

MULTIPLE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LOCKS FAILING TO OPEN EITHER BY KEY FOB, DEPRESSING BUTTON INSIDE CAR, OR BY PULLING INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. TO EXIT CAR, MUST LOWER WINDOWS AND INSERT KEY INTO OUTSIDE KEYHOLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD! PROBLEM ARISES WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE, THEN WILL DISAPPEAR A FEW DAYS LATER WITH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BMW REPLACED ACTUATOR (?) AND THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE DISAPPEARED, BUT IT COST ME $1400. OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS WITH AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON AFTER CAR SITS UNDRIVEN FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WAS TOLD THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK WITH LIGHT ON. NO REASON FOUND. BATTERY CHECKS OUT FULLY CHARGED. *TT

DOORS WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK. KEY FOB BUTTON WILL NOT UNLOCK ANY DOORS 90% OF THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN ONLY GET IN CAR ON DRIVERS SIDE WITH MANUAL OPERATION OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK (STICKING KEY IN LOCK AND TURNING). ONCE IN CAR, 90% OF TIME I STILL CANNOT UNLOCK ANY OTHER DOORS, EVEN BY PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE (WHICH WOULD ORDINARILY UNLOCK THE DOOR). THE INTERIOR BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WILL NOT WORK. ON FRIDAY, 12/9/11, I COULD NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. (CAR IS SET TO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE ALL LOCKS ONCE I START DRIVING) I HAD TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN AND REACH OUT AND UNLOCK DOOR WITH KEY. WHEN MY SON AND DAUGHTER DRIVE WITH ME, THEY HAVE TO GET IN AND OUT OF CAR EITHER BY CRAWLING...

MY 2003 BMW 325I WILL NOT UNLOCK. I CANT GET INTO THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED THE KEY AND THE FOB AND THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. I HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW TO GET INTO THE CAR ONLY TO FIND OUT THE DOORS STILL WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE YOU CANT UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING AND A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

RIGHT TAILLAMP FAILURE AND LEFT TAILLAMP INTERMITTENT OPERATION. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIR: RIGHT REAR TAILLAMP CONNECTOR AND BULB CARRIER CORRODED. DEALER REPLACED PIGTAIL HARNESS AND BULB CARRIER WITH UPDATED DESIGN: SOCKET HOUSING, TERMINAL, CONTACT, CABLE CONNECTOR, HOSE, INSULATION HOUSING, FLAT CONTACT, CABLE SOCKET AND BULB SOCKET. *TR

XENON LIGHTS WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER THE 50,000 MARK. SHORTLY AFTER CAR KEPT GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE, KEPT GETTING LOW VOLTAGE READINGS ON DIAGNOSTICS. ONE BMW DEALERS KEPT TELLING ME I NEEDED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. ALL THEY WOULD DO IS PLUG THE CAR INTO THE COMPUTER AND SEE THE TRANNY READING ON THE SCANNER. THE REASON THERE WAS A TRANNY READING WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN FAIL SAFE MODE. I EVENTUALLY HAD THE TRANNY REBUILT AND I STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD CYCLE THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR AND CAR WOULD DRIVE FINE. IT KEEPS GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. ITS HARDER TO GET IT OUT OF FAIL SAFE MODE IN THE WINTER WITH COLDER STARTS. *TT

GROUND WIRE ON REAR LIGHT WIRING HARNESS HAS BURNT THROUGH DAMAGING PLUG AND SOCKET. POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2003 BMW 325I NEW. SHORTLY AFTER THE SALE I NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS XENON LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHT BACK ON, IS TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS WORKS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IS A FALSE INDICATION THAT MY TAILLIGHTS ARE OUT. THIS IS VERY SPORRATIC AND ANNOYING. A THIRD ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING IS VERY DANGEROUS RELATING TO MY DRIVERS SEATBELT. THE SEATBELT MAY SEAM LOCKED, BUT IF YOU PULL WITH A BIT OF FORCE, THE SEATBELT WILL COME OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION.

GOT A WARNING FROM POLICE ABOUT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BEING OUT. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. BULB REPLACED. IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR SHOP THEY PULLED THE LIGHT PANEL OUT LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE OFF AND THE INSIDE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT IF THE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

OUR 2003 BMW 325I HAS HAD REPEATED STALLING EVENTS OCCURRING AT INCREASING FREQUENCY. WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS OR AT HIGHWAY SPEED WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD (EML, HAZARD AND BRAKE) LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER, AND RPM'S DROP. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE BMW WAS TAKEN TO ADVANTAGE MIDTOWN BMW IN HOUSTON, TX FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR. BMW REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROLLER WHICH THEY SAID WAS DEFECTIVE. 1-2 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS/SYMPTOMS. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ADVANTAGE BMW AND LEFT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. INITIALLY THE SERVICE STAFF AT ADVANTAGE BMW TOLD US THAT THE COMPUTER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BMW CORPORATE OFFICE, ADVANTAGE BMW DID NOT REPLACE THE COMPUTER INSTEAD STATING THE THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE DUE TO...

I PURCHASED MY BMW 325I IN AUGUST OF 2006. SINCE THAT PURCHASE I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT APPROXIMATELY 9-12 MONTHS COLLECTIVELY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH 37500 MILES AND NOW HAS 70,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF AND ON WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST 9 MONTHS BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD IT TO NUMEROUS BMW DEALERSHIPS, THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ALL THE ISSUES SEEM TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND ARE VERY HARD TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I AM CHARGED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE CAR BUT CAR IS STILL NOT SAFE. THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT AND THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AT WILL. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED...

WE OWN A BMW 325I SERIES 2003 SEDAN. WHILE MY DAUGHTER STARTED THE CAR SHE NOTED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. SHE WAS ONLY AROUND 4 BLOCKS AWAY SO PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME AND DURING THE DRIVE SHE EXPERIENCED HER BRAKES GRABBING AND STEERING DIFFICULTIES. ALL THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WE TOOK THE CAR THAT NIGHT TO BMW TO DROP OFF FOR EVALUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE XENON HEADLIGHT FAILED AND TOOK AT THE STEERING SYSTEM PANEL AND HAD TO BE ALL REWIRED. HE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE WIRING OF THE XENON HEADLIGHT TO EFFECT A STEERING PANEL WHEN THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. THE EFFECT ON THE STEERING PANEL IS IMMEDIATE AND GIVES NO TIME TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR....

FAULTY PIN CONNECTORS IN REAR BRAKELIGHT ASSEMBLIES, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTING HARNESS, VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

3/26/2010 - OLNEY, MD - 2003 325XI RIGHT AND LEFT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY SYSTEM FAILING AT TIMES, (TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENLY). BMW ACKNOWLEDGED "GROUND" PROBLEM IN ASSEMLY IN TBS:630306, FEBRUARY 1 2007 LOCAL DEALER IN SILVER SPRING MD, TISHER BMW CORRECT THE PROBLEM ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND COMPLETELY IGNORE MULTIPPLE OFFICE VISIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES AND REFUSE TO CORRECT PROBLEM ON THE LEFT ASSEMBLY. AT THE SAME TIME BMW CORPORATE OFFICE CUSTOMER SUPORT REFUSED TO OFFER OUT OF WARRANTY FREE REPAIR OR TO INITIATE RECALL ON PREVIOSLY ACKNOWLEDGED "GROUND" PROBLEM. I BELIVE THIS ISSUE IS THE SAFTY HAZARD BECAUSE THE "GROUND" RED WIRE IS BURNING IN THE CONNECTOR OF TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. ALSO PEOPLE AND OTHER DRIVERS CAN'T SEE WHEN YOU "BRAKING"

GM5 LOCKING MODULE FOR 2003 BMW E46. ALL FOUR LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK ON THE REMOTE OR SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. I HAD TO EITHER WAIT IN THE HEAT OR COLD OUTSIDE WHILE WAITING FOR THE LOCKING SYSTEM TO RESPOND. IF THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND YOU CANNOT GET TO IN TIME BECAUSE OF THE LOCK/UNLOCK ISSUE, IT CAN BE FATAL FOR OTHERS. *TR

BMW 325I REAR BLINKERS SHORTED OUT CAUSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO BURN. WHILE DRIVING MY BMW A WARNING LIGHT ON MY CONSOLE TURNED ON INDICATING THE LEFT REAR BRAKE/BLINKER LIGHT(S) WENT OUT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME I SMELLED WIRING BURNING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND ALL MY LIGHTS SEEMED OK, SO I PRESUMED IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR. A SHORT WHILE LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY I PULLED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND REALLY PISSED THE DRIVER OFF BEHIND ME AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS MOMENT I NOTICED MY LEFT BLINKER WAS MAKING A FAST NOISE AS THOUGH THE LEFT BLINKER BULB(S) WAS OUT. I PULLED OVER A SECOND TIME TO CHECK MY BLINKERS, FEARING I WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ALL MY FLASHERS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKERS WERE WORKING FINE. THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE WENT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I PURCHASED A NEW BULB...

REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, TO INCLUDE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT, ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. BMW ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN SYSTEM IN SI B 63 03 06, DATED FEBRUARY 2007 BUT TO DATE HAS REFUSED TO INITIATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT CAUSES THE LAMP HOUSING TERMINALS TO BURN AND BURNS THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC HOUSING. THIS CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD PARTICULARLY OF THERE IS FLAMMABLE MATERIAL IN THE TRUNK. OBVIOUSLY THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY IS AN OBVIOUS HAZARD. THE REPAIR COSTS APPROX $600 FOR BOTH SIDES. *TR

RIGHT REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, TO INCLUDE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT, ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. BMW ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN SYSTEM IN SI B 63 03 06, DATED FEBRUARY 2007 BUT TO DATE HAS REFUSED TO INITIATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

MY DASHBOARD PANEL SHOWED A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WAS HAVING AN ISSUE. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE CENTER THAT THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY MAY GET HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE PLASTIC IN THE HOUSING AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED AND THE POWER SUPPLY WIRE FOR ONE OF THE LIGHTS HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC AND THE WIRE HAD COME FREE. ONCE FREE, IT ARCED TO THE CONNECTOR PIN ON THE BULB HOLDER ASSEMBLY AND DEGRADED THAT PIN UNTIL THE CONNECTION WAS LOST. ALL PLASTIC PIECES IN CONTACT WITH THE PARTS ARE MELTED AND BURNED. I CONTACTED THE BMW SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE PARTS. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE OF THE PARTS. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION DUE TO CORROSION OF WIRES WITHIN THE HOUSING OF THE BRAKE LIGHT. BMW CORPORATE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS YET TO RECALL IT. *TR

LTR FM (MA) CONCERNED ABOUT THE STALLING TENDENCES IN MODEL YEARS 2001-2004 BMW 325I AND 323I PASSENGER CARS. *TS THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS ELEMINATED BY INSTALLING AN UPDATE RELEASED ABOUT JULY 2004 BY BMW AG HEADQUARTERS IN MUNICH. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DOWNLOADED THE UPDATE FROM THE BMW-SIEMENS WEBSITE IN THE U.K. AND INSTALLED IT IN THE CONSUMER'S BMW. SINCE THE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN UPDATED THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY STALLED TWICE SINCE UPDATED, ONCE WHEN IN THE WRONG GEAR, AND ONCE WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET. *NM

2003 BMW 325I STALLS FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF INSTABILITY. *KB THE VEHICLE STALLED ABOUT SEVEN TIMES AFTER BEING DRIVEN OFF THE LOT ON THE DATE IF PURCHASE. FROM DEC 2003 TO JUNE 2005 THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVE 11,000 BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ALLEVIATE THE STALLING CONDITION. THE DEALER BELIEVED THE STALLING WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE STALLING IS DUE TO INSTABILITY AND THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE EASY FIXED BY UPDATING SOFTWARE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DOWNLOADED THE UPDATE FROM THE BMW-SIEMENS WEBSITE IN THE U.K. AND INSTALLED IT. SINCE THE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN UPDATED THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY STALLED TWICE SINCE UPDATED, ONCE WHEN IN THE WRONG GEAR, AND ONCE WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET. *NM

THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING SINCE 11/2004, AND HAS HAD 6 DOCUMENTED SERVICES. AFTER LAST SERVICE ON 11/18/05, IT STALLED AGAIN ON 12/01/05 WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY. I HAD NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE THEN AND HAD IT TOWED AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 12/10/05. *JB

BMW 325I PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2003. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. MY CAR WOULD JERK VERY HARD WHEN APPROACHING TO A STOP. MY CAR STARTED TO STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR SOMETIMES IT DID NOT EVEN START. IN JUNE 2003 A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AFTER I INITIALLY PURCHASE IT, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT REGISTER ANY FAULTS IN THE COMPUTER. A MONTH LATER TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ANOTHER MONTH PASSD TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE JERKING PROBLEM. BMW TECH SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO UPGRADE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WHICH THEY DID AND THE JERKING STOPPED. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IS MY CAR...

I HAVE A BMW 325I WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN NOV. '02. IN MARCH '03, WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJTPK AT 60-65MPH IN THE LEFT LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ITS ACCELERATION. THE CLOCKS ALSO WENT OFF AND THEN RESET ITSELF TO 12:00. BEING THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE NJ TURNPIKE, I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO CROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COME TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER (THERE WAS NO LEFT SHOULDER). I WAITED FOR A WHILE, RESTARTED THE CAR, RESET THE CLOCK AND HIT THE ROAD AGAIN. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR STARTING ACTING UP... AT ONE OCCASION, I WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR USING THE REMOTE. AT ANOTHER, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP UPON PULLING ON THE KNOB. THE LIGHT BELOW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT COME ON. MOST...

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED TRUNK WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

THE COMPUTER FIRST FAILED ON MY 2003 BMW 325I ON JUNE 15, 2003, (THREE WEEKS AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BMW OF MANHATTAN), CAUSING ME TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE HAPPENED TO BE A VERY SMALL SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT; PARTICULARLY, BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD NO WAY TO DETECT THAT MY CAR WAS ONLY COASTING. THE NJ STATE TROOPERS HAD TO SHUT DOWN NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC...