1999 BMW 328I Electrical System Problems

Central locking module failed , car will not lock unlock

1999 BMW 328I. VEHICLE IS REGISTERED AND IS A DAILY DRIVER IN MASSACHUSETTS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 05/01/2021 IN THE BOSTON AREA ON A SMOOTH ROAD AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR & SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO ACCIDENT, NO POTHOLES, NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, JUST DRIVING AND THEN AN EXPLOSION FROM AIRBAGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IMMOBILIZED AT THE BATTERY.

GM5 CONTROL MODULE DOOR LOCK FAILURE. INTERMITTENT FAILURE, USUALLY IN HOT OR HUMID WEATHER, CAUSES DOOR UNLOCKING TO FAIL USING EITHER THE KEY FOB OR THE CONSOLE BUTTON. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED USING THE PHYSICAL KEY INSERTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR! THERE ARE ENTIRE WEBSITES, MESSAGE BOARDS, AND EVEN MICRO-BUSINESSES DEDICATED TO FIXING THIS FLAW IN THE GM5 CONTROL MODULE, BUT I FEEL THIS IS ALSO A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE AS PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS. IN AN EMERGENCY, THE ONLY OPTION WILL BE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AND CRAWL OUT OR BREAK A WINDOW IF THE WINDOW CONTROLS ALSO FAIL, AS SOME PEOPLE ALSO REPORT. *TR

CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER 24HRS IGNITED AND RESULTED INTO FIRE. NO KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCUR, FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CAR THE FIRE STARTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL. NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLED EQUIPMENT, NO EQUIPMENT LEFT INSIDE THE CAR THAT HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. ALMOST BURNED DOWN MY HOUSE. *TR

THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM (GM5 MODULE) IS MALFUNCTIONING AS IT FAILS TO OPEN THE DOOR LOCKS. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE CANT EXIT THE VEHICLE. ONLY AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS DOES THE DOOR FINALLY OPEN. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR THE TEMPERATURE RISES THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EXITING OF THE VEHICLE.

I HAVE A 1999 BMW 328I (E46 BODY). WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I HAVE HAD RECURRING ISSUES, USUALLY ON HOT OR COLD DAYS, WHERE THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN LOCKED, THE CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. I'VE EVEN HAD ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AUTOMATICALLY AND THE DOORS LOCKED WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE CAR AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET OUT WAS BY UNLOCKING THE DOORS WITH THE ELECTRIC KEY FOB. NEITHER OPENING THE DOOR HANDLE OR UNLOCKING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE WORKED. SOME RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON INDICATORS OF A FAULTY GM5 MODULE AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN. GETTING IT FIXED WOULD REQUIRE A SERVICE VISIT, PERHAPS MULTIPLE DIAGNOSES, AND CLOSE TO $1000.00 TO FIX. I FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A...