2000 BMW 3 SERIES Structure Problems

THE LEFT REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT TORN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE UNIBODY/FRAME MOUNTING LOCATION. THE REAR BODY METAL FATIGUE WAS CAUSED FROM LOADING AND UNLOADING OF THE DRIVE TRAIN DUE TO AN ENGINEERING DESIGN DEFECT. THIS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY BMW. A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT REQUIRED BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM FROM 2009 TO 2010, BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR THE METAL FATIGUE SHOWED UP AFTER THE 2010 DEADLINE FOR REPAIR. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE REAR AXLE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A VEHICLE RECALL AND ALL BMW E46 3 SERIES SHOULD HAVE THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS REPAIRED AND REINFORCED BY BMW AT NO COST. *TR

Mileage: 192,000

I HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE SUBFRAME HAS TORN OFF OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. HE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL, BUT NONE HAS BEEN FOUND. HE DID NOTICE ONLINE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, WITH MANY COMPLAINTS, AND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

I TOOK MY YEAR 2000, BMW 328CI IN TO REPLACE A REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUSHING. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED FRAME DAMAGE WHERE THE DRIVER-SIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUSHING ATTACHES TO THE CAR BODY/FRAME. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CALL MY INSURANCE AGENT TO SEE IF THIS WAS COVERED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR WHO INFORMED ME OVER THE PHONE & EMAIL (INCLUDING PHOTO ATTACHMENTS) THAT THE DAMAGE COULD NOT BE CAUSED BY ANY COLLISION AND WAS NOT COVERED BY MY INSURANCE POLICY. THE AGENT STATED THAT THIS WAS A BMW ISSUE. HE ALSO SENT A LINK OF A VIDEO OF ANOTHER BMW 3 SERIES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM SHOWING METAL FATIGUE HTTP://VIDEO.GOOGLE.COM/VIDEOPLAY?DOCID=8362789948066992482# . I SENT PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN BMW REPAIR. HE SAID IT WAS NOT SOMETHING SEEN EVERYDAY BUT SOMETHING BMW KNOWS ABOUT BASED ON WHAT HE HAS READ. HE ALSO STATED THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SUGGESTED I CALL THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND ASK ABOUT ANY RECALLS. I CALLED THE BMW DEALER WHO ASKED FOR MY VIN # AND THEN SAID THERE WERE "NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS AT THIS TIME". I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON 10/25/2011. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS AROUND $5000, WHICH IS ALMOST THE SAME AS THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. *TT

Mileage: 179,886

THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT MY SUBFRAME HAS STARTED TO FAIL. TODAY I HAD MY BMW IN FOR A NORMAL BRAKE SERVICE AT MY REPAIR FACILITY. THEY NOTICED MY SUBFRAME IS STARTING TO CRACK ALONG THE MOUNTING POINTS. THIS IS USUALLY NOT FOUND IN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BMW ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR IS A NON M3, IT'S JUST A 328CI COUPE. *KB

Mileage: 161,000

2000 BMW 323CI REAR FLOOR PAN TEARING. ALL FOUR OF THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS HAVE BECOME TORN. *TR

Mileage: 149,000

I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323 CI CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE TRUNK RELEASE. NEITHER THE KEY FOB NOR THE RELEASE BUTTON FUNCTION; THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE TRUNK IS WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCK. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH LEARNED TWO THINGS. 1. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. (TYPE 'BMW TRUNK RELEASE PROBLEM' INTO A SEARCH ENGINE TO SEE THE EXTENT.) WHILE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE ARE MERELY ANNOYING, IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THEM BEING FAR WORSE. 2. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE HARNESS WHERE THE WIRING GOES FROM THE BODY TO THE TRUNK LID. THIS LINK IS CONTAINS SEVERAL PICTURES OF EXACTLY WHAT I FOUND WHEN I PULLED MY HARNESS BACK: HTTP://WWW.M3FORUM.NET/M3FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=248956. IN MY CASE, THERE ARE THREE COMPLETELY BROKEN WIRES, ONE THAT IS HANGING ON BY A FEW STRANDS, AND ABOUT 4 MORE WHERE THE INSULATION IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY CRACKED. YES, THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW TO ME. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP BRACKET ON MY 2000 BMW 323CI COUPE SNAPPED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED A LOUD METALLIC GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I STOPPED, AND NOTICED AN 18 INCH METAL STRAP BEING DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND, STILL ATTACHED AT ONE END (REAR END) OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FRONT SIDE OF THE STRAP HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR AND THE FUEL TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD DROPPED SEVERAL INCHES, AND WAS 'DANGLING' TO SOME EXTENT - IT BOUNCED UP AND DOWN WHEN PUSHED. THE WELD THAT BROKE WAS HOLDING THE FRONT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. IT APPEARS THAT A SMALL AMOUNT OF METAL HAD TORN OUT OF THE FRAME THAT THE BRACKET WAS ATTACHED TO. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC. TO REPAIR IT, THEY NEED TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK AND WELD THE BRACKET BACK ONTO THE FRAME, SO THAT THE SUPPORT STRAP CAN BE RE-ATTACHED. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $600. *TR

Mileage: 113,000

I HAVE A 2000 323CI BMW MY PROBLEM IS THE WELD FROM THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK DETACHED FROM THE METAL THERE SEEM TO BE E DEFECT ON THE WELD AND THE GAS TANK DROPPED TO THE FLOOR!! PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT IT!! I DRILLED SOME HOLES AND ATTACHED A METAL PLATE THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE BODY(METAL TO WEAK) THEN I USED BOLTS AND PRESSURE WASHERS TO REATTACH IT! *TR

Mileage: 76,000

WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AT BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY THEN INFORMED ME OF THE SUBFRAME TEARING AWAY. NO WAY THE SHOULD HAPPEN SO MANY TIMES TO ANY VEHICLE. DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY BMWNA. *TR

I DROVE FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO CALIFORNIA PRIOR TO PCSING OVERSEAS. HALFWAY I NOTICED A CREAKING SOUND. UPON ARRIVAL TO CALIFORNIA I TOOK IT TO A SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS TEARING FROM ITS MOUNTS. INSURANCE CLAIMS IT AS A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE AND REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE TEARING OF THE SUBFRAME DOES NOT SEEM POSSIBLE. I TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALER WHERE THEY ARE NOW RIPPING APART THE REAREND TO ONLY SPOT WELD THE REPAIR I DO NOT EVEN BELIEVE IS A PROPER REPAIR. NOW WITH INSURANCE REFUSING TO COVER IT I'M STUCK WITH AN 8,000 DOLLAR REPAIR THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN EXIST. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

I OWN A 2000 BMW 323CI WITH JUST OVER 80K ON IT AND MY REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS HAVE RIPPED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND THE WHOLE REAR OF THE CAR IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. AFTER SOME SEARCHING I FOUND AROUND 200 FELLOW 3 SERIES OWNERS WHO ARE IN THE SAME BOAT ALMOST ALL OF WHICH ARE 99 AND 2000 MODELS. BMWNA INSIST THIS IS NOT A DEFECT BUT DO TO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING OR SUSPENION MODES NONE OF WHICH APPLY TO ME OR THE MANY OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ITS NOT JUST ABOUT THE ESTIMATED 3 TO 7 THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR BILL IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED MAINLY FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD ENDANGERING THEMSELVES AND EVERYONE ELSE AND THE DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE BECAUSE THE ONLY SYMPTOM IS S SLIGHT RATTLE ONE WHICH THE AVERAGE DRIVER WOULDN'T EVEN NOTICE. *TR

Mileage: 83,883

THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK. AFTER TAKING THE WHEEL OFF TO INVESTIGATE I SAW WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS TO THE FRAME IT HAD PULLED THROUGH. I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND WILL E CONTACTING BMW ABOUT THIS SHORTLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH WILL FIND THAT THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE AND I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. *JB

Mileage: 94,000

SUB FRAME TORE FROM CAR REAR CHASSIS ON A 2000 BMW 323CI, VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB

Mileage: 99,000

REAR SUBFRAME OF CAR TEARING OUT OF BODY. *NM

Mileage: 99,500

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR USED. THEN TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THOROUGH INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE TUNE UP. FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS AND STRUTS ALONG WITH SPRINGS REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS. HE AND I LOCATED THE SUBFRAME ON THE REAR DRIVER WAS TORN. CAR IS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND THE ONLY ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHEN DRIVING, I CAN HEAR THE METAL ON METAL CLUNKING NOISE. AFRAID THAT IF IT DOES NOT GET REPAIRED, IT WILL LEAD TO MORE STRUCTURE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I'M SCARE TO DRIVE THE CAR FEARING THAT AN ACCIDENT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP WITH INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE DEFECT ON BMW 3 SERIES. I KNOW THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED WITH WASSERMAN, COMDEN & CASSELMAN, L.L.P REGARDING MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT THAT SEVERELY COMPROMISES THE SAFETY, DURABILITY, AND PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. WHICH ALLEGES THAT THE MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT INCLUDES A WEAK OR INSUFFICIENT FLOOR PANEL IN THE UNIBODY OF THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CRACKING IN THE FLOOR PAN AND MISALIGNMENT, CRACKING OR THE COMPLETE OR PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR NORMALLY AND STARTED TO REALIZE A SQUEAKING NOISE. SOON THE NOISE GOT REALLY LOUD AND CONSTANT SO I JACK UP THE CAR AND REALIZED MY REAR SUBFRAME WAS DETACHING FROM THE BODY. BMW SAYS THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *NM

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN MID APRIL, 2006. A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE I BEGAN TO NOTICE CREAKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION, PRIMARILY IN 1ST GEAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE REAR SUBFRAME TO BE TEARING FROM THE UNIBODY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. TOO MANY PEOPLE IGNORE TELL TALE SIGNS COMING FROM THEIR VEHICLES, IF BMW IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE REPAIR, THE LEAST THEY COULD DO IS SEND A NOTICE TO RECOMMEND AN INSPECTION TO ANY 3-SERIES OWNER. REPAIRING THIS COSTS MONEY, NOT LIFE AND LIMB. PLEASE BMW AND THE NHTSA, LETS KEEP IT THAT WAY. *NM

Mileage: 108,000

I EXPERIENCED A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 BMW 323CI , AS THE SUBFRAME BEGAN TO TEAR AFTER ONLY 57000 MILES OF USE. AFTER SOME COMPLAINING, I WAS ABLE TO GET BMW TO "GOODWILL" THE REPAIRS. BUT AS SOON AS I PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PARKING LIGHT BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. IT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED ETC. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THING. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT, BUT NOW ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST ALL THE POWER STOPPED WORKING, THE HEADLIGHTS BLINKED, A/C AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING, POWER LOCKS NO LONGER WORKED. THEN IT SOMEHOW FIXED ITSELF. BUT A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED AND NOW I CANNOT EVEN START MY CAR. AGAIN, IT APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF POWER PROBLEM, PERHAPS SOMETHING DRAINING THE BATTERY. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

TORN SUBFRAME WHERE REAR END IS SECURE TO CHASSIS SUBFRAME. *NM

EXPERIENCED TEARING IN THE SHEET METAL LOCATED ABOVE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER. THE SHEET METAL HAD BEEN FATIGUED FROM CARRIERS MOVEMENT UNDER LOAD (ACCELERATION/DECELERATION). THE SERVICE MANAGER (ON BEHALF OF BMW NA) STATES THAT THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF "HITTING A LARGE POTHOLE". IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NO OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE DAMAGED AND EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS FACTORY ORIGINAL. NO MODIFICATIONS WHATSOEVER AND NO REPAIRS UNTIL THAT POINT. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND THE AREA IN QUESTION HAS BEEN REINFORCED TO PREVENT FUTURE SUBFRAME FAILURES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR MANUFACTURER TO PASS BLAME FOR A DESIGN DEFECT ONTO THEIR CUSTOMERS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE LOST ANY FUTURE SALES FROM ME. *NM

Mileage: 79,000

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS COMPLETELY TORN AWAY FROM THE SUB-FRAME CAUSED EITHER BY WEAK SHEET METAL USED OR POOR DESIGN. AS A RESULT COUNTLESS OTHER BMW E46 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME. SHOULD THIS ACTUALLY TEAR COMPLETELY OFF THE VEHICLE, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND A POSSIBLE FATALITY. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURE OF MY VEHICLE AT HTTP://JAYHOWELL.SERVEBEER.COM/IMAGES/BMW/SUBFRAME/SUBFRAMEDAMAGE.JPG. *JB

Mileage: 85,000

VEHICLE STARTED MAKING STRANGE NOISES FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THIS WAS THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR TEARING AWAY FROM THE UNIBODY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THE E46 AND E36 BMW MODEL VEHICLES AND HAS SEEN IT BEFORE. WENT ONLINE TO SEVERAL RESOURCES AND CONFIRMED THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SUBFRAME TEARING, CRACKING, OR COMPLETE TORN AWAY. *JB

Mileage: 72,000

THE RAIL OF SUNROOF HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 6 YEARS, AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN USED A FEW TIMES A YEAR. *NM

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT THERE ARE OVER FORTY (40) COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BMW 3-SERIES REAR SUBFRAMES? THEY ARE SCATTERED AMONG THE VARIOUS 3-SERIES MODEL NUMBERS (I.E. 3-SERIES, 323, 323CI, 328, 328CI.325, 325CI, ETC.) THIS IS ALL BASICALLY THE SAME CAR. A TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE REAR AXLE CARRIER OF THESE MODELS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN INHERENT DEFECT. THAT IS, ONE OF THE MOUNTING POINTS IS TOO WEAK TO ABSORB THE NORMAL, EVERYDAY VIBRATION FROM THE TORQUE OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THEY MANUFACTURED A REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS NOW STRONGER AND REINFORCED. THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH ANY TYPE OF FREQUENCY ON ANY OTHER BMW CAR, EXCEPT FOR THE 3-SERIES THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1999, IS ENOUGH TO FORCE BMW TO ISSUE A RECALL. IN ADDITION, THE FACT THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS REINFORCED IS THE EQUIVALENT OF BMW "ADMITTING" THAT THE ORIGINAL REAR AXLE CARRIER HAD A DESIGN DEFECT. BMW HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS GLARING DEFECT IN THE CAR'S STRUCTURE DESPITE THIS DEFECTS NEVER HAVING OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER BMW -- OR ANY OTHER CAR FOR THAT MATTER HOWEVER, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN EUROPE. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES HERE IN THE U.S. HAVE NOT FORCED BMW TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOW CAN BMW JUSTIFY NOT HAVING A RECALL IN THE U.S. WHEN THEY'VE ISSUED A RECALL IN EUROPE FOR THE EXACT SAME THING? PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING OR IF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS MY ONLY RESORT. IN ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS LISTED BELOW, THE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT BMW PAID FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR. YET IN ALL OTHER COMPLAINTS, BMW MANAGED TO AVOID HAVING TO PAY ANYTHING, EVEN FOR CARS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOW IS IT THAT AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO ISSUE NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR MUNDANE DEFECTS, BUT BMW MANAGES TO SKATE BY WITHOUT HAVING TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECT THAT THREATENS THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS? *NM

NOTICED SQUEAKING SOUNDS FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEPRATED FROM THE BODY WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE ATTACHED. IF YOU LOOK UNDERNEATH THE CARE YOU SEE A LARGE CRACKED IN THE CHASSIS. THEY QUOTED 4K TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I STARTED LOOKING ON THE WEB FOR THE PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY INCIDENT OF THIS ISSUE. GOT A HOLD OF AN ENGINEER INSIDE BMW AND BASICALLY BMW KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DECIDED NOT TO FIX IT. THIS IS MORE FREQUENTLY OBSERVED IN MORE POWERFULL ENGINE. THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE IS CAUSING THE SHEETMETAL OF THE BODY TO BE STRESSED AND EVENTUALLY CRACK. I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING THE BMW FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEY ARE VERY UNCOOPERATIVE. THIS A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY SHOULD RECALL IT AND FIX IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, THE BACK OF THE CAR COULD ESSENTIALLY FALL OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IS BMW WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCIDENT AND DIE BEFORE THEY RECALL THIS? *NM

Mileage: 84,000

I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT MY SUBFRAME ON MY 2000 BMW 328CI WAS CRACKING . THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT BMW HAS NOT FIXED PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE PREVIOUS E36 MODEL HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF THIS MALFUNCTION. I WAS BROWSING WEBSITES REGARDING MY DILEMMA AND I FOUND THAT 40+ VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS SUBFRAME ISSUE. THIS IS ONE WEBSITE (MANY MORE) AND HERE IS THE LINK... HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=195602&PAGE=21&PP=20&HIGHLIGHT=SUBFRAME THERE ARE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF OTHER WEBSITES WHERE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE MENTIONED. ALSO, THERE IS A REPAIR KIT THAT WWW.TURNERMOTORSPORTS.COM MAKES FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS AN OCCURRING PROBLEM. HERE IS THE LINK.... HTTP://WWW.TURNERMOTORSPORT.COM/HTML/DETAIL.ASP?PRODUCT_ID=TDR4675412 BIMMER MAGAZINE ALSO HAS A SECTION INFORMING CONSUMERS ABOUT THE E46 AND THE SUBFRAME PROBLEM. IT IS IN THIS MONTHS ISSUE. BMW SHOULD RECALL THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. MY CAR HAS 60K MILES AND MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED. I PAID A LOCAL BODY SHOP TO TEMPORARILY FIX THIS PROBLEM UNTIL BMW COULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD RESOLVE. IF THIS SUBFRAME CRACKS WHILE DRIVING, AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR. MOST PEOPLE DRIVE WITH CHILDREN IN THAT BACK SEAT AND THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE INJURED. PLEASE SPEAK WITH BMW AND HAVE THEM ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS. REGARDS, THANH DINH. *JB

Mileage: 60,000

A HORRIBLE CREAKING NOISE STARTING DEVELOPING IN THE REAR OF MY 2000 BMW 323CI (WITH 82000 MILES) WHILE DRIVING. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE WITH TIME, AND AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH ONLINE ON THE WWW.E46FANATICS.COM FORUM WEBSITE, I FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME CHASSIS EXPERENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. FURTHER SEARCHING LEAD TO A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SUBFRAME. THIS SECTION OF THE CHASSIS FAILS UNDER PROLONGED STRESS AND A CRACK IN THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE DEVELOPS, EXPOSING A BARE COMPONENT OF THE REAR SUSPENSION AND ULTIMATELY DAMAGING THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS RECENTLY BEGINNING TO SURFACE AMONG MANY LATE MODEL BMW CARS OWNERS AS THIS PART SEEMS TO FAIL AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. NONETHELESS, THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT IS NOT ISOLATED TO A SELECT FEW VEHICLES, BUT ENOUGH TO RAISE ALARM AND SUSPICION. I WAS VERY SURPRISED AND DISSAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT FAILURE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

Mileage: 82,000

THE REAR SUBFRAME TORE OUT OF THE CAR'S UNIBODY (2000 BMW 328CI). IT HAD NOT REACHED A POINT WHERE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY IT, BUT IT WAS GETTING BAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BEGAN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT FIXED. BMW NORTH AMERICA CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT.*AK

THE REAR SUBFRAME OF MY CAR USED A THIN METAL TO HOLD IT AND I WAS DRAIVING MY CAR IN IT CRACKED. ANY FURTHER USE WOULD RESULT IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR PART OF THE CAR. I HAVE IT WELDED AND REINFORCED.*AK

Mileage: 88,483

BROKEN REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT - HAS OCCURED IN MANY BMW 3-SERIES CARS (MINE INCLUDED) THAT ARE EITHER COMPLETELY STOCK OR WHERE THE WHEELS, TIRES, AND/OR SUSPENSION MAY HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY. IT IS VERY UNUSUAL TO BE OBLIGED TO REPAIR THE FRAME IN A CAR AS A RESULT OF DAMAGE THAT OCCURS DURING NORMAL DRIVING.

Mileage: 47,813