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.
Vehicle would not start and all electrical systems were dead despite a good battery. Was solved by removing glove box and fus box and pushing on the battery cable that goes into the fuse box to get a connection. This is a know issue for BMW and a recall was issued on other 3-series vehicles (2007 - 2011) with the same part numbers, but will not cover M3. This is a safety issue as loss of power to fuse box while driving can shut down the car.
While trying to exit my E92 2009 M3 from inside the vehicle by double pulling the handle it would not unlock the car. The locking bolt sticks up partially when you pull the handle but doesn't unlock. I had to hit the lock button from the dashboard to unlock the car. This is a safety concern if you are panicked and can't get out of the vehicle under heavy stress.
400 miles out of warranty, the electrical system fault warning began to come on. When this happens all gauges bottom out quickly then return to normal. Sometimes, the restraint system, edc or other warnings will start. I don't experience any problems driving the vehicle. The battery has been replaced and alternator has been tested and is performing as it should. When connected to the BMW computer for error codes it doesn't show any codes or that the warnings have gone off. I have driven it for 18000 miles trying to find just one common thing that will make this happen. I have found nothing to cause this warning. It may go off constantly one day and not happen again for 2 weeks. Sometimes, after going off for several times, the gauges for RPM, temp will drop to their lowest indications and the speedometer will stick at whatever the speed is at the time. I have emailed BMW of na and they informed me that the recent recall for this problem does not include the M series. I was told that it could cost up towards $5000 to find a loose wire. Didn't think I should have to pay that much since it was just 400 miles out of warranty. I don't think that it is a loose wire because I would have noticed that as a common factor, like hitting a bump in the road. After reading many BMW forums, this seems to be a problem associated with the M3 as well as the other series.
Shortly after purchasing my BMW 2009 M3, I noticed a rare but very disturbing pattern on take off. I had car checked in dealer and I was told it was likely secondary to my driving style! this uncontrolled take off is like hi rev and rapid acceleration periodically alternating with deceleration for few seconds. I had this happen prob a dozen time so far(36K on car). On day of my accident, in stop and go traffic with speed less than 5 miles per hour, car literally went off on me. It accelerated to hit the car in front and then managed to push the car into another 3 cars in front, before it came to a stall. I am not sure if it was exactly like my previous episodes because the distance between my car and next car was short. What I am sure is that I had no control on car.
On a 2002 BMW 325I tail light socket over heats due to improper grounding and burns out. Causes the tail light and blinkers to malfunction. Dealers charging upwards of $600 (each side ) to fix the wiring that certainly is a safety issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Portland, OR, USA