2009 Bmw 328I: complaints, problems and recalls

I PURCHASED A 2009 BMW 238I. I TOOK IT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE ON 30 SEPT 11. I DROPPED IT OFF, GOT A LOANER, AND WENT TO WORK. BEFORE I DROPPED IT OFF THAT MORNING THE CAR RAN GREAT, IT HAD NO TICKING, NO ENGINE LIGHTS NOR LOSS OF POWER. I HADN'T HEARD FROM BMW SO I CALLED THEM, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD TALKED TO BMW NA AND I NEED TO AGREE TO THEM REMOVING MY VALVE COVER, AT MY EXPENSE $700. I SAID THAT I ONLY WANTED AN OIL CHANGE. HE TOLD ME THEY TERMINATED MY WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY WAS FOR 4YR/50,000 MILES, IT HAD NOT EXPIRED. I WAS V…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,473 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429030 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER ONLY 16,000 MILES OF USE, THE WINDSHIELD FIRST APPEARED TO BE COMPLETELY "SANDBLASTED" WITH TINY INDENTATIONS. WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN THE GLARE BECOMES SO INTENSE THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE ROAD. YOU EFFECTIVELY BECOME BLINDED AND CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REACT TO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THE SAME SITUATION OCCURS AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING TOWARDS ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS RARELY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS AND IS ALWAYS GARAGED. BMW DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, WILL NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD UNDER …

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434670 at NHTSA ↗

MAKE : 2009 BMW 328I SEDAN E36 PROBLEM : 11/11 : ENGINE STOP RUNNING, LOSE POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING AND BRAKES. TRIED TO RE-STARTED MY CAR BUT COULD NOT - LONG-CRANK ENGINE STARTING TIMES ALONG WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. TOWED TO BMW OF SAN DIEGO. 1 WEEK REPAIR AND HAD BEEN TOLD FUEL PUMP MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED. PAID $730.68 FOR REPLACEMENT. 01/12 : SAME PROBLEM - ENGINE STOP RUNNING, LOSE POWER, LONG-CRANK. TOWED TO BMW OF SAN DIEGO AGAIN. HAD BEEN TOLD FUEL PUMP BROKEN AND CAUSE FUEL PUMP MODULE BURNING. PA…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442612 at NHTSA ↗

2009 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH VEHICLE TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE EXTRA COST SPORT PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDED 18 INCH SPORT WHEELS AND LOWER PROFILE TIRES THAN THE BASE CAR. THE TIRES WERE MICHELIN RUN FLAT TIRES WHICH WERE INSTALLED BY BMW SO THAT THEY COULD AVOID THE WEIGHT OF THE SPARE TIRE. THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE, JACK, INFLATION DEVICE OR OTHER BACKUP. THE TIRES HAD ROUTINELY FAILED DUE TO AN INHERENT DEFECT, BEFORE THEIR NORMAL SERVICE LIFE WAS COMPLETE. THE TIRES FAILED IN AS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10458355 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED, INSTALLER IDENTIFIED A CRACK IN THE RIM OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. TOLD ME HE HAD SEEN THIS ON SIMILAR BMWS BEFORE, TOLD ME TO RETURN IT TO DEALER RIGHT AWAY, WHICH I DID. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 38,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471793 at NHTSA ↗

I BEGAN TO FEEL STRONG RAPID PULSATING AND AUDIBLE VIBRATIONS THROUGH STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME WHEN I PARK THE CAR. ONCE I EXPERIENCED THE SAME WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHILE MAKING LANE CHANGE TO THE RIGHT. AND THESE VIBRATIONS AND NOISE STILL CONTINUE TO BE FELT SINCE THEN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479962 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT TURN THE UNIT OFF MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO WOULD ACTIVATE WITHOUT ENGAGING THE CONTROL DEVICE. THE TRUNK LID OPENED INDEPENDENTLY ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER EIGHT TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MOST RECENTLY, THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS U…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482914 at NHTSA ↗

SOON AFTER PURCHASING MY 2009 BMW 328I (WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION), I HAD THE DEALER INSTALL BMW CUSTOMIZED 328I RUBBER FLOOR MATS. THE MATS HAVE A FITTED SLOT FOR THE GAS PEDAL AND ANCHORS TO PREVENT THEM FROM MOVING AFTER INSTALLATION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LENGTH OF THE MAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS TOO SHORT FOR A VEHICLE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN YOU DEPRESS AND RELEASE THE CLUTCH, IT CATCHES THE TOP EDGE OF THE MAT AND LIFTS IT UP, COVERING THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT BACK DOWN, YOU END UP STEPPING ON THE MA…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483132 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-02-07 (February 7, 2013)

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2013, BMW informed the agency that it was adding 1-Series, 3-Series, and Z4 vehicles, representing an additional 12,094 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 516,791. 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 began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Reported: 2017-10-25 (October 25, 2017)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.

Consequence: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2019-06-19 (June 19, 2019)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009 328i and 328xi, 2009-2011 335d, 2008-2012 M3 Coupe and M3 Convertible, and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. The connection of the positive battery cable at the fuse box terminal may degrade, resulting in an intermittent loss of electrical power.

Consequence: A loss of electrical power can cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and secure the positive battery cable connector, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of a previous recall, number 18V-314.

Reported: 2020-01-15 (January 15, 2020)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2024-07-03 (July 3, 2024)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.