This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2000 BMW 323I. The contact stated that the front driver and front passenger side power windows failed to close. The contact also stated that the engine rpms increased abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and the repairs were unknown. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 500.
I parked to go inside of a BMW service center to buy a window regulator. When I came back out to leave I put my car in reverse and the car would not back up. I pushed my so called luxury car out of my parking space and drove home. I still have no reverse gear, guess I should start looking for a new transmission like the other hundreds of upset BMW customers with this problem.
The mechanism in power windows ( mechanical mechanism in the doors which raise and lower the windows ) appear to be faulty. After normal usage for a short period of time ( 3 weeks to a maximum of 6 months ), there are repeated failures of the mechanical mechanism and power windows once again fail to function. Although the issue at hand has been fixed by BMW numerous times ( some under warranty and some at owners cost), it is a repeating problem and BMW service provider does not appear to have a solution which would resolve the issue for a long period of time. Since the vehicle at this time is out of warranty and mostly driven by one driver ( me ), a greater use of ac is made in order not to use the power windows in case they will break once again.
323I BMW 4 door, 2000. Major problem with all my power windows going out. The service rep at the dealer just shrugs his shoulders and says "it happens". I said that four power windows to go out in six years is excessive. Three of which are hardly ever used since I am the only one ever in the car. He replied that you don't buy a BMW to be easy on the checkbook. I said I bought one because I thought they were reliable. He acted like this happens all the time. 6/20/06 right rear window regulator went out $394.16, 9/2/04 drivers window regulator went out $340.43, 10/27/03 passenger window regulator went out approx. $350, 10/27/03 sunroof window failed and they did a temporary fix at a cost of $264.54 and said it was not guaranteed. It would cost an additional $1665! apparently all the sliders were broken. I probably only opened the sunroof a dozen times in the three year period, this should not have gone out with such little use. None of these were covered under warranty since they all occurred three years after I bought the car new. I have had many other things go out in this car costing close to $10,000 to repair in the past six years. Seems excessive to me. Last time I commented on this the customer service rep said quote "it will only get worse from here". I will not be buying another BMW.
(1) there have been no events that have lead up to the failure. (2) the window regulators are failing on all windows. The repair shops who have fixed the regulators thus far have both claimed that all of the regulators for the BMW E46 will fail, that they've had dozens of visitors for this reason. --a) driver's side, front window - failed and fixed --B) driver's side, back window - failed and fixed --C) passenger's side, front window - failed (3) fixed 2 of the 3 that have broken so far. The fourth window (passenger's side, rear) is beginning to make the cracking noises associated with a broken regulator, as well. (3)
In spite of hardly ever using the windows, I have had to replace 2 window regulators at my cost. Dealer states that the regulators are not covered by the cpo and also states that the window regulators is a known problem in the 3 series and also in the 5 series. Very unsatisfied with quality of vehicle.
Window regulators have been replaced two to three times on all four windows. All repairs complete by South motors BMW service department except third repair on front passenger window completed by braman BMW. Service advisor admits that this is a known problem on this model due to a bad supplier. The vehicle has been serviced 5 times for this problem.
Contacted manufacturer, couldn't properly correct problems, car is defective, attorney general notified as well as BBB, attorney general's office recommended contacting private attorney.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Belmont, CA, USA