1993 BMW 325i Problems & Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AND THE RADIATOR FAN WAS INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE RESERVOIR FOR THE RADIATOR WAS NOT MOUNTED CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

RECALL 98V178000; VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SIX TIMES FOR ENGINE COOLING THERMOSTAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR RECALL 98V178000 REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP REMEDIED VEHICLE AS STATED IN RECALL, BUT CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER SAID CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAM ON AT 37,901 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP HOUSING/ COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR, AND THERMOSTAT. CAR WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE PROBLEM CAME BACK AT 88,253 MILES, CONSUMER TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DLR REPLACED RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. IN 1998, RECEIVED A RECALL ON RADIATOR CAP. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CAP. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WHEN THE CONSUMER RAISED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE RADIATOR THE TOP FLANGE OF THE COMPOSITE RADIATOR BROKE OFF UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE OVERHEATING SYSTEM AND SPRAYED THE CONSUMER WITH SCALDING COOLANT CAUSING SEVERE BURN INJURIES (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER), THE DEFECT WAS POSSIBLY RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #93V-015 AND 98V-178. *MJS

I OWN A 1993 325IS WHICH HAS A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENT MEET. CAR WAS NOT MODIFIED IN ANYWAY. I JUST NOTICED THIS LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL OR REAR AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS TORN APART. LUCKY IT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE HIGHWAY OR I WOULD I HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PROBABLY GET KILLED. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED HE SEEN MANY BMW'S WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE SEARCH AND CONTACTED OTHER BMW'S AND IT LOOK LIKE ITS A COMMON FAILURE IN EARLY BMW'S BETWEEN 1992-1995'S E36. NEWER MODEL SEEMS TO HAVE THE SUBFRAME REINFORCE WITH THICKER BRACKETS AND NEW SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR $3600 LABOR AND PARTS. *JB

THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT POINTS HAVE RIPPED IN AT LEAST ONE PLACE FROM THE UNIBODY RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. I CAUGHT IT EARLY SO NO INJURY HAS RESULTED. THIS IS A COMMON (UNACCEPTABLE) PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS (BMW E36). *JB

MY 1993 BMW 325IS HAS A FAILURE OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN FEELING FUNNY FOR WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS UNTIL ONE DAY THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN TAKING A TURN AND ACCELERATING OUT OF IT. FROM THAT DAY ON THE CAR FELT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM MY STEERING INPUTS, IT WAS OBVIOUS SOMETHING WAS WRONG. HAD I NOT CAUGHT IT WHEN I DID, MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL DAMAGE WOULD HAVE SURELY OCCURED; AFTER ALL, THESE ARE WHAT HOLD THE WHOLE REAR OF THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN THE THE CHASSIS. AFTER SHELLING OUT OVER $1500 FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF A CHASSIS MEMBER, NEW BUSHINGS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND OTHER SMALL MISC ITEMS. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS ALL TO COMMON. IF THE REAR RUBBER SUBFRAME MOUNTS BECOME WEAK IT PUTS EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE UNITBODY. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE CHASSIS WILL EVENTUALLY TEAR, LEAVING THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR. THE LATER MODEL BMW M3'S CAME WITH REINFORCEMENT PLATES, INDICATING BMW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS UNETHICAL TO LET SUCH A DANGEROUS AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM GO UNATTENDED. BMW NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.*AK

THE SUBFRAME CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE CRACK IS LOCATED ON THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHED. I M AFRIAD THAT THE REAR AXLE MAY FALL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING. I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNER COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ON THE E36 DESIGN. THIS IS A WEAKNES ON THE SURFRAME THAT CASUES IT TO FAIL IN FATIGUE. I AM A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER AND HAVE VISUALLY INSPECTED THE CRACK. IT DID NOT SHOWN ANY CORROSION, THUS INDICIATING THAT IT IS NOT A ENVIRONMENTAL INDUCE FAILURE. THIS PROBLREM IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM IN AN INADEQUATELY DESGINED COMPONENT. A SUBFRAME IS A STRUCTURE COMPONENT AND SHOULD FAIL UDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS OVER $4000.00. IHAVE CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATION, THE REPRESENTATIVE HAS DENIED THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO LET ME TALL TO HER SUPERVISOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AND HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN ASSIST THE CAR OWNERS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.*AK

REAR SUB FRAME TORN AT 2 RIGHT POINTS, AND CRACKED AROUND THE LEFT FORWARD MOST MOUNT POINT. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN ABUSED, DRIVEN OFF-ROAD, OR ON A RACE TRACK. ALL ORIGINAL WHELL, SUSPENSION AND DRIVELINE COMPONENTS WERE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. *AK

TWO NIGHT AGO I NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE WOULD SHUTOFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. THEY NEXT MORNING I WENT TO MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ON BUT ALSO THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. I WENT THROUGH THE DAY WITH BOTH ON WHEN I REMEMBERED I CHANGED THE LICENSE PLATE BULB LIGHTS THE PREVIOUS DAY. THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM I OPENED MY TRUNK AND LOOKED AT THE LIGHTS AND NOTICED THE WIRES LEADING TO THE TRUNK. WHEN I LIFTED THE TRUNK LID ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. I SHUT THE TRUNK AND PROCEED INSIDE MY HOUSE WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON RIGHT AS I STEPPED THROUGH THE DOOR. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR AND OPENED THE TRUNK WHICH IN WHEN I HEARD THE NOISE OF SPARKS COMMONS FROM THE WIRES LEADING FROM THE TRUNK LID INTO THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRED AND PROCEEDED TO IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECT MY BATTERY WHICH IS LOCATED IN MY TRUNK. AFTER I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, I LOOKED AT THE REMAINS WHERE THE SPARKS HAD COME FROM, THE WIRES WERE ALL MELTED AND FRAYED. I RE-COATED ALL THE WIRES WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT REGARDING WIRES. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE WIRED. I FEW MONTHS EARLIER I NOTICED FRAYING OF WIRED IN THE SAME VICINITY. THE WIRE COATING IS TO THIN AND OVER TIME THE WIRES MOLD TOGETHER TO FORM ONE WHICH CAUSES THEM TO TOUCH ONE ANOTHER CREATING A VERY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD I NOT SEEN THOSE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, AND REGARDLESS THE WIRES ARE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. I POSTED A MESSAGE ON A BMW FORUM WHEN THE EVENT INITIALLY HAPPENED AND MANY PEOPLE REPORTED HAVING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AND MANY WITH EVEN NEWER MODELS REPORT SEEING SIGNS OF FRAYING AND WIRES COMING THROUGH THE COATING. *NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AFTER COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH. WATER GOT INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900 OR MORE. AN ADDITIONAL $200 OR MORE WOULD BE CHARGED TO INSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN WATER FROM RAIN OR CAR WASH FILLS UP IN THE DRAIN WHERE COMPUTER PROCESSOR IS PLACED. YH

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN WATER FROM RAIN OR CAR WASH FILLS UP IN THE DRAIN WHERE COMPUTER PROCESSOR IS PLACED. YH

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER CAR WASH DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION/CLOGGING OF THE ECM. MJS

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE SEALS ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK LEAKED GAS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF THE SENDING UNIT SEALS ARE DEFECTIVE. *SC THE DEALER FOUND THAT A HOSE AND SENDING UNIT SEALS WERE LEAKING FUEL ON TOP OF THE TANK *JB

RECALLS # 94V15100 AND 96V11100; NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER ABOUT EITHER RECALL, AND NO RESPONSE, JUST A REFERRAL TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

NO NOTIFICATION ON RECALL OF FUEL LINE FITTINGS.

GASOLINE ODOR PERSISTS EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK/FUEL LINES AS PER RECALL. (94V066000) *DSH

HEADLIGHTS: HEADLIGHTS ON LIGHT TRUCKS AND SUV'S ARE TOO HIGH. THIS CAUSES CAR DRIVERS TO BE BLINDED, SO THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE TO DRIVE. A SECONDARY EFFECT IS TO CAUSE ROAD RAGE, WITH CONSEQUENCES RANGING FROM NONE TO MURDER. FMVSS SHOUD BE CHANGED TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT OF HEADLIGHTS.*AK

BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY! DISPLAY ON DASH READS"BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE". (ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY!) DEALER HAS INFORMED US THAT DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THEY WILL REPLACE SWITCH FOR $100.00. WOULD THIS BE A NORMAL FAILURE RATE ON A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE? *AK

HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED A YELLOW MILKY COLOR. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS IN OTHER CARS OF SIMILAR TYPE AND BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THE BMW'S. THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL HAS COME UNGLUED AND IS BUBBLING. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC AND AN UPHOLSTERY REPAIRMAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THE BMW'S. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA CONCERNING BOTH PROBLEMS AND BEEN TOLD THAT THE DEALER MUST MAKE THE REPAIRS. I CONTACTED A DEALER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKE LIGHT COMES BUT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS. PRIOR TO THIS, BRAKE BULBS SHORTED OUT, BUT THEY WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

BLINKER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES IT HAS DRAINED BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES WHERE SHE HAD TO LEAVE HER CAR. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT IMPORTANT

AIRBAG FAILURE IN BMW 1993 325IS 40 MPH HEAD ON COLLISION. *NLM

NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL ON; INTERIOR SYSTEMS; PASSIVE RESTRAINTS; AIR BAG; DRIVER.

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A SEVERE FRONTAL COLLISION WHICH INVOLVED A ROLL OVER AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT-END COLLISION AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT ALWAYS AND THE SEATBELT WITH BE LOOSE AND UNSAFE.*AK

REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE LOCKING MECHANISIM IS NOT CATCHING SO THE LATCH FAILS TO LOCK. *AK

VEHICLE'S SUN ROOF ENTIRE ASSEMBLY CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NO WARRANTY, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, SECOND PROBLEM AFTER PRIOR REPAIR WORK DONE TWO BRACKETS STRIPPED FROM THE SUN ROOF. *AK

NOISY FRONT WINDOWS.

SUNROOF RATTLES AT 70 MPH.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AND THE TEMPERATURE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ACCURATE TEMPERATURES. LATER, THE HEATING UNIT FAILED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL, BUT WAS UNSURE IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED BECAUSE SHE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

JACK LUG WRENCH THAT COMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE WILL BEND AND BREAK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. CONSUMER ONLY HAD USED JACK ONES.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED. *MJS

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED. *ET

I HAVE A 1993 325IS BMW. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. ON RAINY DAYS I CAN HEAR WATER IN THE FLOOR BOARDS. THE DOOR PANELS ARE BOTH COMING UNGLUDED AND BUBBLING. MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT HITS THE GAS PETAL. THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT ON MY COMPUTER IS ALWAYS ON, THE THE COOLANT IS LOW EVEN AFTER I FILL IT. I AM AFAID MY CAR WILL OVERHEAT.*AK

PUCHASED WITH EMAIL AND VERBAL GUARANTEE NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR. HAVE VALID CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AGAINST SAME DEALER WITH MISREPRESENTATION OF VEH.(S) PURCHASED. 1: TCM LIGHT ON. VEH. WILL NOT SHIFT. OCCURRED 2ND DAY OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER DENIES. 2: LIGHTS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL UPON ARRIVAL TO DEALER. HAD "DETAILER" REWIRE (4 HOURS). BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT STILL ON COMPUTER. 3: DEALER ORDERED AND PROMISED PASS. WINDOW MOTOR. REPLACED 2 RELAYS WHILE AT DEALER. DID NOT REPAIR. REFUSES TO SEND MOTOR FOR FUNCTIONAL WINDOW. WINDOW WILL NOT, AND DID NOT ROLL DOWN EVEN AT DEALERS. 4: VERIFIED WITH DEALER GUIBO JOINT (PROPELLAR SHAFT FRONT FLEX DISC) AT FRONT OF DRIVESHAFT SEVERELY DAMAGED CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER INSISTED NOTHING WRONG IN EMAIL AND PHONE. HAVE 2 WITNESSED THAT CONTACTED HIM IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. COST: 330. DEALER FINALLY SENDS FUNDS FOR REPAIR. REFUSES IN LIEU OF THIS TO SEND POWER WINDOW MOTOR. 5: VEH. OVERHEATS IN SHORT STOPS 6: DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS HE WAS FULLY AWARE OF AT TIME OF SALE. 7: DEALER STATED WOULD HAVE EMISSIONS TESTED AS I AM RELOCATING TO CALIF. FAILED TO DO SO. 8: POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING FROM 2 LINES. VERIFIED BY MY OWN MECHANIC. LEAKING P/S FLUID ONTO OTHER HOSES.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOT OF PLAY AND WANDER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS VIBRATION COMING THROUGH THE REAR WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

ORIGINAL LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AT 14,347 MILES AND REPLACED AT 18,700 MILES BY DEALER FOR ORIGINAL OWNER. SECOND OWNER COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT 70,000 MILES AND SECOND REPLACEMENT OF LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS IN PROCESS AT 76. *AK

STEERING LOCKS UP INTERMITTENLY IN THE START POSITION, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF INOPERATIVE, GAS INTERMITTENLY GIVES INCORRECT READING OF FUEL

RECALL 98V178000; DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR CAP FOR THE RECALL. HOWEVER, HEATER CORE STILL LEAKS COOLANT, CAUSING SMELL AND FOGGING UP OF THE WINDOWS WHICH COULD CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. OWNER IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE COOLANT COULD SPILL INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FRONT FOOT AREA. MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. *AK *ML

OWNER HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY NOTIFIED OF BRAKE RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE.