2008 BMW 335I Electrical System Problems

The engine and all electrical components including power steering spontaneously cutout while driving, usually while engine isnt being stressed at all, sometimes while idling. If the car is rolling, i have to restart the engine while driving and using manual power to steer. Obviously, this is a huge safety problem. I've just had the alternator and battery replaced, and they test fine. This has happened at least 50 times and I've reduced time driving vehicle until I solve the issue, which has persisted at least 6 months. I asked the BMW dealer about the following recall, and they claim they already performed it years ago after I already owned the car, without my recalling being told it was done. However, the symptoms are back, and BMW refuses to do anything about it at this time: Report Receipt Date: FEB 07, 2013 NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V044000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 504,545 All Products Associated with this Recall Details 2 Associated Documents Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW is recalling 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a breakage of the connection, and a loss of electrical power to the vehicle. CONSEQUENCE: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2013.

ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE CAR. MANUFACTURER'S DEALER HAD TO INSTALL "UPDATED DOOR LATCH ON BOTH FRONT" DOORS. AT THE TIME THE VECHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY.

Mileage: 99,559

NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL.

WENT TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUSLY BURNED OUT BRAND NEW XENON HID BALLAST. CONFUSED ABOUT WHY IT BURNED UP(FAILURE RATE OF 1 PER 1,000 QUOTED BY THE MANUFACTURER) I TOOK OFF THE BACK COVER FOR THE HOUSING. TO MY SURPRISE, THE POWER CABLE'S THAT PLUGS INTO THE HID BALLAST INSULATION WAS COMPLETELY GONE. BARE. WIRES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN EXTREME FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD. CURIOUS IF MY OTHER HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS THE SAME WAY, I POPPED THE BACK HOUSING OF IT TO INSPECT FOR ANOTHER HAZARD. LORD AND BEHOLD, IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. NOT JUST THE POWER SUPPLY INSULATION ON THE WIRES FOR THE BALLAST WAS CHIPPING, ALL OF IT WAS CHIPPING. THE DRL, ANGEL EYE AND TURN MAKER WIRING INSULATION WAS ALL..GONE. SOMEONE HAD RECENTLY DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE BEFOREHAND AS THERE WAS ELECTRICAL TAPE & SOLDER ON SOME OF THE WIRES KEEPING THEM TOGETHER. ---------------------------- THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD! ----------------------------

Mileage: 110,000

VEHICLE OVERHEATED DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING AND BEGAN RAPIDLY SLOWING FORCING AN EMERGENCY EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR AN EXIT. BMW DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WATER PUMP BUT PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS PROBABLY BLOWN AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE "IBS" CABLE. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE "NEGATIVE IBS CABLE." THEREFORE, IT APPEARS THAT FAILURE OF THIS CABLE WILL REQUIRE EMERGENCY STOPPING OR EMERGY HANDLING AT ANY SPEED. THE HIGHWAY SPEED I WAS TRAVELING MADE THIS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE THE REPAIR INVOICE SHOWING THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE NEGATIVE IBS CABLE.

Mileage: 79,744

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND OCCUPIED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THROUGH THE AIR VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND HIS FAMILY WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Mileage: 135,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FLOW BMW (2565 PETERS CREEK PKWY, WINSTON SALEM, NC 27127, (888) 896-2985) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE SUPPLY OF PARTS WERE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN THIRTY DAYS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF MACON (LOCATED AT 4785 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31210, (866) 980-4231) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE RECALL WAS ISSUED ON OCTOBER 25, 2017. WITHOUT WARNING, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A FIRE STARTED. A PASSERBY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR ARRIVED AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. 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. PETER PAN BMW (2695 S EL CAMINO REAL, SAN MATEO, CA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. 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 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO REMEDY THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF ONTARIO (1350 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761, (909) 906-4000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. 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. WEST GERMAN BMW IN FORT WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

STRONG SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRIC WIRING WHILE DRIVING. TURN OFF AC. AFTERWARDS AC STOPPED WORKING. UPON INSPECTION, AC BLOWER MOTOR HAD BURNED WIRING TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS BROKEN. HAD TO GET BLOWER MOTOR AND CONNECTOR REPLACED. NO VISIBLE SMOKE OR FLAMES. STRONG SMELL OF PLASTIC/ELECTRONICS BURNING WHEN IT HAPPENED. WIRING DAMAGE PRETTY BAD. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN CITY STREET WHEN IT HAPPENED SMELL CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES EVEN WITH WINDOWS OPEN.

Mileage: 55,000

BARE WIRE EXPOSED ON BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS.

Mileage: 100,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BE USED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAUDERDALE BMW-MINI SERVICE CENTER (2601 S ANDREWS AVE, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33316), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 82,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (CENTURY WEST BMW, 4245 LANKERSHIM BLVD, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91602) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE SMOKE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT, DUE TO THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN OVERHEATING, THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED MOMENTUM BMW AT (855) 645-6452 (10002 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77074), BUT THE CALL WAS DISCONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

HEAD LIGHT WIRING SHEATHING IS DETERIORATING , IT IS FLAKING OFF CAUSING WIRES TO TOUCH, IT HAS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND FRIED MY LIGHTING BALLAST AND BLOWN HEADLIGHT BULB.

Mileage: 80,000

THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION "REDUCED POWER " MESSAGE KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF , LOW ENGINE OIL MESSAGE KEEPS COMING ON EVEN THOUGH ITS GOOD ON OIL , THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE STEERING WAS OK AFTER THAT. IT'S CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT MY THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT ONLY 3 MONTHS AGO.

Mileage: 86,335

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE LIGHTS FLASH ON THE OUTSIDE BUT EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE UNLOCK BUTTON FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR THE DOORS STAY LOCKED. WIFE HAD TO EXIT MY CAR WAS BY CRAWLING OUT OF THE WINDOW. ABLE TO USE THE KEY FOR MANUAL UNLOCK OF DRIVER DOOR ONLY; GAS TANK DOOR REMAINS LOCKED SO I CANNOT PUT GAS IN MY CAR AND, THEREFORE, CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 128,534

I HAD NOTICED A MELTING PLASTIC SMELL FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE SOURCE AND SHORTLY AFTER THIS MY HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT SO I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB. BY THIS TIME, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY HEADLIGHT MOUNT. UPON OPENING THE HEADLIGHT I NOTICED ALL OF THE WIRE SHIELDING HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE WIRES INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT MOUNT, CAUSING THE WIRES TO ARK AND MELT. UPON COMPARING AGAINST THE OTHER HEADLIGHT, I FOUND THE SAME THING- ALL OF THE WIRE SHIELDING HAD FALLEN OFF. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, SIMPLY DUE TO HOW HOT AND DRY THIS MODEL GETS UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEING SEALED. THEY SAID IT'S USUALLY COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER NOT IN THE CASE OF MY VEHICLE'S MILEAGE. SINCE THE HEADLIGHT IS A SEALED UNIT, YOU CANNOT ACCESS THE WIRES TO REPLACE THEM AND CANNOT PURCHASE A HARNESS, THE WHOLE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $800 EACH. I GOOGLED AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. UPON CONTACTING BMW HQ DIRECTLY, THEY SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT NOT COVERED, AND GOT BACK TO ME SEVERAL WEEKS LATER OFFERING TO PAY $200 TOWARD THE COST OF THE $1600 REPAIR IF I HAD IT DONE AT THE DEALER, OR $2000 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW BMW. *TR

Mileage: 800,000

I JUST GOT BELT REPLACED. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE BELT POPS. THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND THEN WOULD NOT START. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE N SAW THAT ITS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 07- 08 335I'S BUT BMW IS REFUSING A RECALL. IMAGINE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY N IT HAPPENED. ITS TERRIBLE. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

AN OIL LEAK FROM THE TOP MOUNTED OIL FILTER HOUSING SPILLED ONTO THE RUBBER ACCESSORY BELT CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND DISINTEGRATE. THE RESULT WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWERS, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CHARGING AND POWER STEERING. THIS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING CREATED A SITUATION WHERE THE AUTO WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE LOSS OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING, CAUSED AN EVENTUAL COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF POWER AND SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE LEAVING ME ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. THIS WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS OCCURRED AT ONLY A 65,000 MILE ODOMETER READING. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

WHEN I STARTED AT THE CAR NOTICED A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE AFTER A WHILE IT WAS GONE AND IT CAME BACK. ALSO DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY SMELL WAS PRESENT. *TR

Mileage: 90,004

I WAS WARMING UP THE CAR IN THE MORNING FOR WORK, IT WAS ON FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES; AS I SAT DOWN PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE I HEARD A NOISE AND MY CAR SHUT DOWN. I TURNED MY CAR BACK ON AND DROVE FOR A SHORT PERIOD BEFORE NOTICING THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY AIR BLOWING.... I TOOK IT THE MECHANIC A DAY LATER TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR.... THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE BLOWER MOTOR, THE PROBLEM WAS A RECTANGLE SHAPED CABLE FOR FOUR PRONGS BUT ONLY THREE WHERE CONNECTED TO THE BLOWER MOTOR MELTED AND BURNED OUT THE CABLE. THE MECHANIC FOLLOWED THE CABLE AND CUT THE AFFECTED BURNED CORRODED RUSTED !!! PART OF THE CABLE, AND REPLACED IT..... IF I WASN'T LOOKING HE WOULD HAVE CHARGED ME FOR A BLOWER....AND MAYBE MORE !!! I HONESTLY DO THINK BMW SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM... TWO DAYS LATER MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH WHEN OUT- I PURCHASED ONE AT ORIELYS AUTO PARTS; THE WATER PUMP ALSO FAILED THE SAME DAY AND MY CAR OVER HEATED THAT MADE THE TOTAL OVER 2 GRAND IN LESS THAN A WEEK!!! , BUT MY BLOWER WORKS PERFECT WTF !!! EVERYTHING BEGAN THAT MORNING.... BECAUSE OF THE CABLE THAT SHORTED !!! OH AND ON TOP OF THAT THE TURBO IS MAKING NOISES AND I THINK ITS FAILING NOW!!! *TR

Mileage: 73,000

SUDDEN FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP. OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WASHER WAS UNDER CONSTANT USE DUE TO HEAVY RAIN AND ROAD CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 42,843

MY 2008 BMW 335I HAS THE SAME ISSUE FOR WHICH THE BELOW RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO 2008 MODEL YEAR. RECALL SUBJECT : FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT REPORT RECEIPT DATE: NOV 12, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 76,565 MANUFACTURER: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC SUMMARY: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC (BMW) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 325I, 325XI, 330I, 330XI SEDANS AND 325XI SPORTS WAGONS, MODEL YEAR 2007 328I, 328XI, 335I, 335XI SEDANS AND 328I AND 328XI SPORTS WAGONS, MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 525I, 525XI, 530I, 530XI, 550I SEDANS AND 530XI SPORTS WAGONS, MODEL YEAR 2006 760I SEDANS, MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 750I, 750LI, AND 760LI SEDANS, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 X5 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN SEAT TYPES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT THAT DETERMINES IF AND HOW THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG SHOULD DEPLOY IN A CRASH MAY FATIGUE AND DEVELOP CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSEQUENCE: SHOULD THE SYSTEM FAIL, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WOULD BE DEACTIVATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. REMEDY: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER IN JANUARY 2014 SINCE PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, ANTICIPATED TO BE IN MARCH 2014, BMW WILL SEND A SECOND LETTER AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MAY CRACK, FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY, OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 3 SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, 5 SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS, AND Z4 MODELS, WILL RECEIVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THEIR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 1-800-525-7417 OR EMAIL BMW AT [email protected]. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

ADAPTIVE HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED WITHIN 4 YEARS AND UNDER 65K MILES. EVERY TIME THIS WAS A NON AGGRAVATED ISSUE AND NOT COVERED BY THE DEALER. FURTHERMORE, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AROUND A CORNER AT A MODERATE RATE OF SPEED I NOTICED THE CAR MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. UPON PULLING OVER AND INSPECTING FURTHER, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A SHREDDED BELT WHICH HAD THROWN ITSELF EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. ONCE IT WAS TOWED TO BE REPAIRED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING PULLEY CONTACTED THE FRONT BAR AND, BREAKING THE PULLEY IN HALF, CAUSING IT TO HAVE SHARP EDGES WHICH DIRECTLY CUT THE BELT IN HALF AND RESULTED IN THE BELT BEING WRAPPED AROUND THE PULLEY AND VARIOUS ENGINE COMPONENTS. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE AS A RESULT OF A FACTORY/MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NOW I AM OUT ON THE BILL. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

9/11/2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:25 AM EST MY 2008 BMW 335I SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE FROM WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE DASH BOARD AREA. I WAS MAKING MY DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK WHEN THE AC UNIT SHUT OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON WITH THICK BLACK SMOKE POURING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. NATURALLY I ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN TO ALLOW THE SMOKE TO CLEAR SO THAT I COULD PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC. THIS MADE MATTERS WORSE, THE SMOKE THICKENED, THE HORN STARTED HONKING AS IF SOMEONE WAS HOLDING THE HORN DOWN, AS I WAS PULLING THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE SMOKE BECAME UNBEARABLE, I WAS FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE THE CAR AS THE FIRE RIPPED INTO THE CABIN CONSUMING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WITHIN JUST MINUTES. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND MY INSURANCE IS INVESTIGATING. MY QUERY IS WHAT IF I HAD OTHER PEOPLE IN MY CAR? WHAT IF MY CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE? WHAT IF I HAD YOUNGER CHILDREN IN THE CAR? JUDGING ON HOW QUICKLY THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT EVEN IN MY VERY ABLE CONDITION REMOVING TWO YOUNG CHILDREN FROM THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE, THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO! SEEING AS BMW'S TARGETED AUDIENCE IS MIDDLE TO UPPER CLASS FAMILIES I WONDER IF THE PUBLIC KNOWS OF THE RISKS? I KNOW I SURE DIDN'T, HOWEVER AFTER REVIEWING THE BLOGS AND POSTS ONLINE I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS OTHER SCENARIOS UNFOLD ALMOST IDENTICAL TO MINE AND I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE. I AM CURRENTLY DEALING WITH MY INSURANCE AND I AM SURE THEY WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH BMW AS THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER 100,000 MILES AND JUST AT 5 YEARS OF AGE. *TR

Mileage: 69,000

THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE LIGHTS FLASH ON THE OUTSIDE BUT EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE UNLOCK BUTTON FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR THE DOORS STAY LOCKED. I'M BEING TOLD IT IS A FUSE, BUT LITERALLY NONE OF THE DOORS WILL LOCK OR UNLOCK. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT MY CAR WAS BY CRAWLING OUT OF MY WINDOW. *TR

Mileage: 47,520

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON MY CAR, THIS CAUSED THE REMOTE FOB AND ALSO INNER CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON TO STOP WORKING, THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WAS TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVERS WINDOW AND TAKE THE KEY FOB APART TO REVEAL THE METAL KEY INSIDE, THIS COULD THEN BE USED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO OPEN THE DOOR BY PUTTING YOUR ARM OUT THE WINDOW HOWEVER ALL OTHER DOORS REMAIN LOCKED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, THE OTHER DOORS DO NOT HAVE A KEYHOLE AND THE INNER DOOR HANDLES WERE DISCONNECTED AND WOULD NOT WORK. MY PASSENGERS THEN HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEATS TO ESCAPE THE CAR THRU THE DRIVERS DOOR AND IN AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK. I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FROM SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 85,216

SIDE MIRRORS MOVE UP AND DOWN EVEN WHEN NOT SET TO ADJUST WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. MIRRORS ARE ADJUSTED PRIOR TO DRIVING, YET AT TIMES MOVE THE HIGHEST OR LOWEST POSITION RESULTING IN MIRRORS POINTED TO SKY, OR ROAD PAVEMENT. THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. IN ADDITION TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE MIRRORS, PASSENGER AND/OR DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS ROLL DOWN AFTER BEING ROLLED UP. SEVERAL TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP MADE IN WHICH COMPUTER WAS "RESET" WITH NO RESOLUTION TO PROBLEM. MIRROR ISSUE NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 24,500

ENGINE MALFUNCTION. LOSS OF POWER. *TR

Mileage: 20,000