2016 BMW 328XI — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

10/12/18 APPROX. 12:30PM, ABOUT 80 DEGREES, DRIVING ON TEXAS FREEWAY, 65MPH, LOUD POW, FRONT SUNROOF EXPLODED. GLASS SHATTERED OUTWARD, EXPOSING LONG OPENING IN FRONT OF SUNROOF.

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ON THE 5 WHEN BOOM OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED SHATTERING GLASS EVERYWHERE. WE WERE IN COMPLETE SHOCK AS NOTHING HIT THE CAR OR ANY DEBRIS OR ROCKS. WE CALLED OUR LOCAL BMW IMMEDIATELY AND WE GOT TRANSFERRED OVER TO OUR STANDARD SERVICE TECH THAT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH US THIS MORNING. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT A ROCK MUST HIT IT AND WEAKENED THE GLASS AND THE PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING WITH WEAKENED GLASS CAN CAUSE IT TO SHATTER. I LET THEM KNOW THAT I RESEARCHED "EXPLODING SUNROOFS" AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENCY AND THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO WITH EITHER THE MANUFACTURING QUALIFY OR DEFECT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BMW THINKS ITS OKAY TO HAVE A SUNROOF EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING AND NOT TAKE THIS MORE SERIOUSLY AND ARE TELLING THEIR SERVICE CENTER TO SAY ITS NOT BMW'S FAULT AND THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY. THE TECH WOMAN WE SPOKE WITH IN PERSON AT THE BMW IN ENCINITAS SAID TO US THAT SEE HAS SEEN THIS 3 TIMES AT THEIR SHOP AND SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED PRESSURE CHANGE WITH WEAKENS GLASS ILL CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. I DON'T SEE HOW KNOWN ISSUES OF EXPLODING GLASS IS ACCEPTABLE ON OUR STREETS AND FREEWAYS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INSIDE SUNROOF SLIDER CLOSED GLASS WOULD HAVE RAINED DOWN ME DRIVING ALMOST CERTAINLY GETTING IN MY EYES AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS

INCIDENT DATE: 9/18 LOCATION: NEW YORK STATE VEHICLE MILEAGE: 15,000 VEHICLE ACTION: ENTERING & ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY DESCRIPTION: AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1.5HRS OF DRIVING, ON THE WAY HOME FROM A WEDDING IN RURAL NEW YORK, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, SIGNIFICANT ENGINE VIBRATION AND A WARNING MESSAGE WHICH DISPLAYED "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER AND ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND MAKE A SAFE EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE LIGHT, OTHERWISE THIS COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. TEMPORARY FIX: ONCE SAFELY ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, I CONTACTED BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY ADVISED ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE DISCUSSING OPTIONS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. AFTER 5-10 MINUTES ON THE PHONE, WITHOUT A GOOD SOLUTION (GIVEN THE RURAL LOCATION AND DAY OF THE WEEK), I DECIDED TO RESTART THE CAR. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE TURNED OVER SUCCESSFULLY AND DID NOT INDICATE AN ERROR. I DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, WHICH MADE IT THE BALANCE OF THE 4+ HOUR TRIP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON THE OPEN OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY 9/19, I INTEND TO CONTACT MY LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSED IMMEDIATELY.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN MOTION, A NEW 2016 BMW 328 GT, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED, EMERGENCY BRAKE PULLED WITH FULL PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL, CAR EVENTUALLY SLOWED AND STOPPED BEFORE STRIKING OTHER VEHICLES IN ITS PATH. CAR RETURNED TO BMW AND BMW STATED THAT BRAKES NOW WORK. BMW REFUSED TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSESSMENT OR SERVICE DESPITE BEING AWARE OF RECENT PRIOR VEHICLES FOR BMW BRAKE FAILURE.