2006 BMW 330XI Electrical System Problems

GOING THROUGH MY NEWLY PURCHASED, USED 2006 330XI, I FOUND SEVERAL WARNINGS FOR FRONT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONS WERE DISABLED AND THE LEFT LOW BEAM WAS STUCK POINTING LEFT. WHILE THE BULBS THEMSELVES WERE STILL FUNCTIONING, THE LIGHT WAS POINTED DIRECTLY AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. OPENING THE ACCESS PANEL AT THE REAR OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOWED MULTIPLE BARE WIRES INSIDE OF THE SEALED HOUSING, THE INSULATION HAD SIMPLY STARTED TO FLAKE OFF OF THE WIRES RENDERING ALL CENTERING AND LEVELING FUNCTIONS OF THE LIGHT INOPERABLE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BMW HEADLIGHTS, FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTED DATA AND CASES PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING FORUM THREAD : HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/THREADS/

Mileage: 160,640

RECALL WAS ORDERED IN OCT 2017 AND HAS STILL NOT BEEN REMEDIED. SAFETY RECALL 17V-676. I BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN PATIENT. WE CANNOT SELL THE CAR AS IS BECAUSE IT CAN CATCH FIRE.

THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING OVERHEATS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN OUT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD A FIX FOR IT YET. I DON'T NEED MY CAR CATCHING ON FIRE, I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD, IT IS NOT EASY TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (BMW OF MURRAY, 4735 S STATE ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84107) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED WIDE WORLD OF CARS BMW AT 845-425-2600 (125 NY-59, SPRING VALLEY, NY 10977) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR MONTHS BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER SENT NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER (NEWBOLD BMW, 1283 CENTRAL PARK DR, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 628-7300) REPLACED THE WIRING AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

Mileage: 140,000

THE CENTER CONSOLE IS CONTINUING TO OVERHEAT. IT SPREADS TO THE CUP HOLDERS AND OUTWARD AS WELL. GETS VERY HOT! HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS ON OR WHEN DRIVING

Mileage: 134,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LOCKS FAILED AND A FUSE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO RESET THE ECM. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

Mileage: 169,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BEAT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SENSOR MAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA *JS

Mileage: 96,000

REAR EXTERIOR SAFETY LIGHTING DOES NOT WORK DUE TO DESIGN FLAW WHERE TRUNK LID BREAKS GROUND WIRES. RECALL ALREADY DONE ON OTHER MODEL YEARS. BMW SKIPPED RECALL ON 2006 E90S. MANY CONSUMERS ARE STILL HAVING THE SYSTEM SHORT DUE TO GROUND AND CRIMP ISSUES. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WITH POTENTIAL FIRES AND OR CRASHES

Mileage: 142,000

THE MESSAGE 'STEERING WHEEL LOCK' CAME UP AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAD TO PAY TO BRING IT HOME. BMW SAYS 'IT HAPPENS TO SOME CUSTOMERS' AND THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. I SEE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS IN FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY IT IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE LOCK MECHANISM. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

DRIVING WITH BAG ON PASSENGER SEAT, "RED AIRBAG & RED SEATBELT" INDICATORS LIGHT UP. UPON TAKING TO DEALERSHIP, THEIR CODE READER SUGGESTED "LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE" CAUSED LIGHTS. CLEARED CODE. MONTHS LATER, WITH WORK BAG ON PASSENGER SEAT HAPPENS AGAIN. CLEARED CODE. SUGGESTED TO BUY A NEW BATTERY. BOUGHT A NEW BMW BATTERY, AND SAME THING, HAPPENS AGAIN. I TAKE TO ANOTHER SHOP (BMW CHARGES 100-150 TO CLEAR CODE EACH TIME...) AND THEY CLEAR CODE, STILL "LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE" BUT SUGGESTED I LOOK INTO THIS OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR RECALL. GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY UNLESS CODE READER SAYS AIRBAG FAULT, THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY. THROUGH THE COURSE OF 2 YEARS NOW, THE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON 4 TIMES PRIOR, AND NOW TODAY A 5TH TIME. I HAVE YET TO TAKE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN, BUT MAKING MY COMPLAINTS. I AM NOT A GENIUS BUT SOMEHOW I THINK THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT MUST BE DEFECTIVE YET THROWS ERROR CODES OF "LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE". WHEN I CHECK THE CODE MANUALLY THROUGH THE DRIVERS STALK, CCID-97 (FROM MEMORY) WHICH ONLINE REFERENCED TO AIR BAG FAULT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS, IT WAS A "CERTIFIED" PREOWNED FROM DEALER, AND I"M BEING TOLD THAT THE RECALL COVERS ONLY 10 YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL SALE DATE. WHICH MEANS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER THIS YEAR OF 2014, I AM OUT OF LUCK. HUNDREDS WASTED EACH TIME, INCORRECT DIAGNOSING. AND BMW REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS RECALL UNTIL A MACHINE TELLS THEM OTHERWISE. AND UNTIL THAT DAY COMES, THEY'LL KEEP SELLING ME NEW BATTERIES AND OTHER FALSE HOPES TO FIX. *TR

Mileage: 68,350

MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS OFFLINE. I BROUGHT IT INTO MY MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MAT AND POSSIBLY MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $700-$800 DOLLARS. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION THAT MY VEHICLE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000. WHEN I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AND BMWNA THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE UNTIL REQUIRED TO DO SO EVEN THOUGH MY AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS ALREADY FAILED AND IT IS SHOWING AS OFFLINE. I'M REGISTERING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT THAT THEY ARE NOT ACTIVELY RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND LOCKED THE DOOR AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. THE DOOR LOCKS DIDN'T OPEN WHEN TRYING TO OPEN WITH THE REMOTE. THE DOOR FUSE AND ACTUATOR BLEW UP. OPENED THE DOOR WITH THE KEY AND SAT INSIDE THE CAR. THE DOORS LOCKED AND THEN COULDN'T UNLOCK THE DOORS TO GET OUT. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

I HAVE A 2006 BMW 330XI SPORT AND WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE CAR, I RECEIVE A PASSENGER AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT. I WAS TOLD BY PARK AVE BMW IN NJ THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY UNDER THE RECALL. RECALL ID # 57362 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL RECALL DATE AUG 05, 2008 RECALL DATE: AUG 05, 2008 MODEL AFFECTED: 2006 BMW 3-SERIES SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCES: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417. POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 200000 NOTES: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND OFTEN TIMES THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REQUIRE A JUMP START FOR TIMES WHEN IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY RESTART. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CHARGED THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY NIGHTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL WHEN THE BATTERY WAS NOT CHARGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

Mileage: 100

I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. INSTEAD IT HAD AN ICON ON THE DASH OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH A LOCK SIGN ON IT. I PULLED THE FOB OUT AND PUT IT BACK IN A FEW TIMES, TRYING TO START THE CAR EVERY TIME, BUT NO LIFE. THIS IS A VERY WEIRD PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULDN'T RELEASE. I TRIED TO GET IT STARTED FOR OVER 30 MINUTES, STILL UNSUCCESSFUL. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 06 AND EARLY 07 MODELS OF THE 3 SERIES. IN MID-07, BMW STOPPED PUTTING LOCKS IN THE STEERING COLUMNS. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONIC LOCK POWER DRAW WHEN STARTING THE CAR, AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE NORMALLY FIXES THE PROBLEM. IF THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DOES NOT WORK, BMW REPLACES THE STEERING COLUMN IF YOU ARE UNDER THE WARRANTY. ALL MY UPDATES ARE DONE BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO MY BMW DEALER ON 11/14/12 AND THEY RECHECKED EVERYTHING. SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE ARE MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AS STATED IN HERE; HTTP://WWW.IMPORT-CAR.COM/ISSUE/ARTICLE.ASPX?CONTENTID=89276, BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 62,500

THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING NEAR THE PORT FOR THE IPHONE CHARGER ON THE DASH (LIGHTER.) THE PORTAL WAS COLD TO THE TOUCH. AFTER ABOUT MORE 20 YARDS THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING FINE AND WAS QUICKLY PULLED TO AN EMPTY PART OF THE PARKING LOT AND WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER PULLING THE HOOD RELEASE I JUMPED FROM THE CAR AND SHUT THE DOOR -- I IMMEDIATELY TRIED RE-OPENING IT TO LET THE SMOKE FROM THE COCKPIT AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN BY TOUCH OR WITH THE KEY FOB. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE LOOKED CLEAN. TO THE FAR RIGHT (MY LEFT) ON PASSENGER SIDE, AGAINST THE FIREWALL SMOKE WAS COMING OUT IN A THIN LINE AND THEN I SAW A SMALL FLASH OF FIRE SO I RAN 20 TO THIRTY YARDS AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I CALLED 911 AND WITHIN 3-5 MINUTES IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT HAD BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALER IN APRIL 2011, FOUR MONTHS EARLIER. IT HAD NO HISTORY OF ISSUES AND WAS REGULARLY SERVICED. *TR