1998 Bmw 323I: complaints, problems and recalls

PIRELLI TIRE FAILURE ON 1998 BMW 323IC. THE TIRES, AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOUR HAVE FAILED.THE CAR SHAKES AT ANY SPEED IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT AFTER TESTING ON A VERY SOPHISTICATED MACHINE THAT THE TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE ROAD FORCE PROBLEMS, TIRE RACK SAID PIRELLI WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THESE VERY EXPENSIVE TIRES, AS THEY ONLY COVER PROBLEMS W/N THE FIRST 2/32NDS OF WEAR. MY TIRES HAVE 3/32NDS OF WEAR. THEY CANNOT BE USED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW SET OF TIRES, THIS DOSNT MAKE ANY…

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147787 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, AND THE VEHICLE RPM'S - ON THEIR OWN - SUDDENLY INCREASED TO A VERY HIGH RPM. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS I WAS BACKING UP, CAUSING ME TO REAR END A PARKED CAR ACROSS THE STREET. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 102,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224272 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1998BMW 323IS AND I RECENTLY MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON SUNDAY 9/13/2009. MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT CRASHED VERY BADLY. THE WHOLE FRONT PORTION IS GONE AND CAR IS REUSABLE. WHAT SURPRISES ME IS THE AIRBAGS NEVER CAME OUT. ONLY THE SIDE AIRBAG(DRIVERS SIDE) JUST CAMEOUT1/2. IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS IN A CRASH?HOW CAN I TRUST CARS IN THE CRASH? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284468 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILS WHICH PREVENTS THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR IS BRAKE. SUBSEQUENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL CANNOT BE DISENGAGED BY THE BRAKE ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE BRAKE THE DEPRESSED THE CAR SPEEDS UP COMPENSATING FOR THE LOST SPEED. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE CHANCE FOR A HIGH SPEED CRASH BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 95,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477433 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611076 at NHTSA ↗

CONTROL DISPLAY THAT THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, BRAKE CIRCUIT, HAS FAILED. ON MY DASHBOARD THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS ARE ON: AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE PAD WEAR, ABS, AND THE ASC+T LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. NOTHING HAPPENED TO MY CAR, NO WRECK, NO QUICK STOPS, I AM AN EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. ALL THESE THINGS START TO OCCUR OUT OF NO WHERE,

Owner-reported narrative. 151,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10872301 at NHTSA ↗

A DRIVER, ON A 5 LANE ST, IN A CENTER TURN LANE, DRIVING THE SAME DIRECTION AS MYSELF STRUCK MY CAR ON IT'S LEFT-SIDE, CAUSING MY CAR TO SPIN. ATTEMPTING TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY IN EARLY AM TRAFFIC, I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY VEER TO THE FAR RIGHT AT A REDUCED SPEED OF 3 MPH, AND COULD NOT STOP ENOUGH TO PREVENT COLLISION WITH A STATIONARY BRICK WALL. I REMEMBER MAKING IMPACT AND THE AIRBAG POPPING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN LIKE A SMALL PILLOW, THEN SUDDENLY ERUPTING WITH PAINFUL MAGNIFICENT FORCE THROWING BY HEAD AND CHEST BACK, THEN MY FALLING T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11045158 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MOVED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AT THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRAIN LESION, THE F…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11054285 at NHTSA ↗