2000 BMW 323I Visibility Problems

TL* 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.

Mileage: 500

WAS TRYING TO REVERSE N IT WOULDN'T IT PERIODICALLY WON'T REVERSE UNTIL CAR WARMS UP. WINDOW WON'T GO UP WITHOUT MANUALLY PULLING IT UP. *TR

Mileage: 154,400

I DRIVE A 2000 BMW 323I AND AT TIMES DUE TO A FAULTY CENTER CONTROL MODULE (MOST LIKELY) I CAN NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR. IT WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE, BUT THANKFULLY I CAN ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS IF I NEED TO GET OUT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF I NEEDED TO GET OUT IN A HURRY. THE BMW DEALERSHIPS WANT TO CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG TO JUST POSSIBLY FIX A PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 141,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 136,026

WINDOW REGULATOR. LEFT REAR WENT OUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WINDOW WAS SCRATCHED WHEN ASSEMBLY BROKE. *TR

Mileage: 66,480

WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS THE 2ND ONE OF THE OEM REGULATORS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW. *TR

Mileage: 75,244

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. *JB

Mileage: 60,558

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. *JB

Mileage: 60,558

(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.*AK (3)

Mileage: 88,000

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.*AK

Mileage: 70,000

CONSUMER STATES MOLDING INSIDE THE WINDOWS WAS FALLING DOWN. DEALER FIXED IT TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

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. DT

WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE, CAUSING WINDOWS TO BE INOPERATIVE. REGULATOR HAS BROKEN 6 TIMES. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, UNABLE TO PUT MANUAL STICK IN 1ST, 3RD AND 4TH GEAR; 2ND MANUAL SHIFT POPS OUT OF GEAR. BRAKING SYSTEM, BRAKES SQUEEKING DURING BREAKING. DSC/EML - ACCORDING TO MANUAL, ITS AN SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL; LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING. FUEL INJECTION - LIGHTS STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING. EXTERIOR MIRROR - WOULD NOT TILT WHEN IN REVERSE. BRAKES LIGHT - INSTRUMENT LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING. (OTHER)SERVICE ENGINE - INSTRUMENT LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING AND BEEPS. OTHER PROBLEMS: TRUNK LOCK - INTRUMENT LIGHT STAYS ON, NAVIGATION SYSTEM - DATA DISAPPERS WHEN STARTING CAR AND WHEN DRIVING. CD/RADIO MANUAL DIFFERENT FROM THE SOUND SYSTEM IN THE CAR, SEAT MEMORY - SETTINGS WON'T KEEP WHEN ENTERING THE CAR, KEY MEMORY - SETTING WON'T KEEP, EXTERIOR BODY - LEANING TO THE RIGHT WAS REPORTED TO ME BY ANOTHER DRIVER, ENGINE - HESITATES, OR TROTTLES.

I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE NEW BMW 323CI CONVERTIBLE HAS A DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT CONSUMERS IN JEOPARDY. SPECIFICALLY, THE REINFORCED WINDOW FRAME IS SLANTED DRAMATICALLY DOWNWARD AND THE BLUNT TOP CORNERS OF THE WINDOW FRAME ARE POINTED INWARD, DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE HEADS OF THE PASSENGERS. DESPITE OTHER EXCELLENT SAFETY FEATURES OF THE BMW, IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH OF AN IMPACT TO HIT THE CORNER OF THE BLUNT WINDOW FRAME WITH YOUR HEAD (ONLY A FEW INCHES)! THE DOWNWARD SLANT OF THE WINDOW ALSO HINDERS AN OPTIMAL DRIVING VIEW. THIS IS A NEW DESIGN FOR 2000, AND THE PREVIOUS BMW CONVERTIBLES DID NOT HAVE THIS SLANT ISSUE OR THE PLACEMENT OF BLUNT CORNERS NEAR THE HEADS OF THE PASSENGERS. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE ON THIS DEFECT. BMW WILL BEGIN RELEASING THESE MODELS TO THE PUBLIC IN THE MAY TIMEFRAME. DEMOS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE DEALERSHIPS. I LOVE BMW AUTOMOBILES, AND I ORDERED THIS PARTICULAR CONVERTIBLE. I'M WRITING WITH THE HOPES THAT YOUR OFFICE WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE ASAP AND HELP/ADVISE BMW TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION IF A TRUE PROBLEM EXISTS BEFORE THEY RELEASE THESE VEHICLES IN THE UNITED STATES IN MASS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE A PROBLEM FIXED WITH THE SUN ROOF AND MENTIONED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH STEERING THE VEHICLE DURING BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I GOT THE REPAIR LIST BACK FROM THE DEALER I NOTICED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A MAJOR PORTION OF THE BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEM. THE SERVICE SEEMED RATHER FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T HESITATE TO REPLACE ALL OF THE COMPONETS WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF A SIGNIFIGANT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THE BMW WEBSITES ON THE 3 SERIES AND HAVE FOUND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER IS PAYING FOR THE FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEMS, BUT, ONLY IF YOU ASK ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY NOTIFYING INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM TO HAVE THIS CONDITION CORRECTED PRIOR TO THE COMPLAINT.