2005 Bmw M3: complaints, problems and recalls

2005 MINI COOPER S WAS PURCHASED NEW AT SOUTHBAY MINI, TORRENCE CA, ON 3/4/05. CAR IS GARAGED AT 547 OAK PARK RESIDENCE, NO CRACK ON THE NIGHT OF 3/7/05. NOTICED APPROX 8" CRACK ON THE MORNING OF 3/8/05. TAKEN TO DEALER ON 3/9/05, DEALER PERFORMS "BALL POINT PEN TEST" ON WINDSHIELD CRACK TO DETERMINE IF WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, WARRANTY IS DENIED. STATES WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS (TSB: M5120103, ://ALLDATA.COM/TSB/85/04850253.HTML) HAVE BEEN FIXED IN 2005 MODELS YET NUMEROUS OWNERS ON MINI2.COM AND NORTHAMERICANMOTORING…

Owner-reported narrative. 495 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114024 at NHTSA ↗

THE VANOS SYSTEM IN THE 2001-2006 BMW M3 IS A COMMON PART THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST BOLTS OF THE CAM GEAR CAN SHEER OFF DUE TO IMPROPER TORQUING FROM THE FACTORY AND IMPROPER HARDNESS OF THE BOLTS. THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE VANOS SYSTEM IS ALSO WEAK. IF THE VANOS SYSTEM FAILS, THE CAM GEAR CAN SHEER OFF, AND PARTS CAN GET INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. SOMETIMES, PARTS CAN BREAK OFF INTO THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS SYSTEM FAILS WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON, SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD PROB…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10344897 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE NORMAL DRIVING THROUGH TOWN/HIGHWAY THE CAR WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AND CEASE TO ACCELERATE. WHICH CAUSES A HIGH RISK MANEUVER TO AVOID TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405576 at NHTSA ↗

THE AUTO-DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRRORS IN 2001-2006 BMW 3 SERIES, AND OTHER MODELS ARE DEFECTIVE. THESE MIRRORS LEAK OUT THE TOXIC AUTO-DIMMING FLUID INTO THE CAR (DAMAGING THE INTERIOR, AND PUTTING THE DRIVER/PASSENGERS AT RISK FROM THE CHEMICALS). NOT TO MENTION ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE MIRROR IS BECOMES BLURRY, AND HARD TO SEE OUT OF (WHICH IS A SAFTEY HAZARD FOR VEHICLE OPERATION). MY PARTICULAR CAR IS STILL UNDER CPO BMW WARRANTY, AND I WAS TOLD THE MIRROR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH ITS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN MATERIALS, OR DESIGN FR…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409353 at NHTSA ↗

THERE ARE NO VISUAL SIGNS OF THIS FAILURE UNLESS THE VALVE COVER TO THE ENGINE IS REMOVED. UPON REMOVAL THERE IS A METAL FRAGMENT THAT IS RUNNING LOOSE UNDERNEATH THE VALVE COVER. WHEN THIS METAL PIECE FALLS OUT IT CAN ENTER THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS PART BREAKS OFF DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE ADJUSTABLE TIMING MECHANISM (VANOS). A REDESIGN OF THE SYSTEM OR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF PARTS IS NEEDED TO SOLVE THE ISSUE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION I …

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415516 at NHTSA ↗

MY VEHICLE HAS 87,000 MILES AND I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT THE VANOS HAD FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS CAR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME ALMOST $5,000 TO FIX. I'VE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER FOR THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD ACCIDENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR, IT'S IN ORIGINAL STATE. I SPOKE TO MY SERVICE ADVISER TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO, HOWEVER IT'S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH AND WON'T EVEN RETURN MY CALLS. I'VE CALLED THEM AT LEAST 20 TIMES DURING THE PAST MONTH, IT'S RIDICULOUS FOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425826 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10693231 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10745348 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-06-11 (June 11, 2018)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Reported: 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

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

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant 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 passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.