2000 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 88 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2000 reports, 3 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMay 27, 2021
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 21V401000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Jun 30, 2008
MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING IN REVERSE ON MY BMW 323CI WHICH ONLY HAS LESS THAN 68,000 MILES. THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION FAILING SO EARLY. *TR
Power train, May 30, 2008
CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, TAKEN CARE OF AS NEEDED. ALWAYS OIL CHANGES ETC. GOT OFF OF WORK ONE DAY, CAR DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. WILL GO FORWARDS, NOT IN REVERSE. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION, A $6000 FIX. FOUND A WEBSITE WITH OVER 100 SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR
Power train, Feb 21, 2008
2000, BMW WITHOUT WARNING SHOWED SIGN OF THE DREADED NO REVERSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM DOCUMENTED ON SEVERAL WEBSITE. FOR EXAMPLE NOREVERSE.ORG. *TR
Power train, Dec 19, 2007
2000 BMW 323CI WILL NOT MOVE WHEN IN REVERSE GEAR; THE CAR BEHAVES AS IF IT IS NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR HAD NO ISSUES LEADING UP TO THIS, NO WARNING LIGHTS, ETC. THE CAR HAS BEEN IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB, INCLUDING AT YOUR FORUM, ABOUT THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Sep 13, 2007
I OWN A 2000 BMW 323CI CONVERTIBLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH 77,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR AND SERVICED. LAST WEEK (9/4/07) THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE BMW DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
Power train, Jul 12, 2007
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2000 BMW 323CI WITH 52,000 MILES FAILED IN REVERSE ONLY. PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES PER YEAR. INITIAL DIAGNOSIS COST $327.00, AND TOLD ESTIMATED COST OF REPLACING TRANSMISSION WAS $5500.00. NO REASON FOUND AS TO WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. TOLD THAT IF KEEP DRIVING THE CAR THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL WHICH WAS A SERIOUS DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK
Power train, Jul 11, 2007
A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I TOOK THE WELL MAINTAINED 2000 323CI BMW TO DEALER FOR THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE, COSTING OVER $700.00 FOR NORMAL? SERVICING. A DAY AFTER THE SERVICE I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR AS I HAD FOUND WASHER FLUID POOLED UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I WAS TOLD THE WASHER PUMP FAILED, I THEN PAID AN ADDITIONAL $100.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. A WEEK LATER I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO GO DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD ?BANG. THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TODAY THEY INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH WOULD COST OVER $5,000.00 FOR REPAIR. I WAS JUST THANKFUL THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STATED THAT BMW WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION PLACED IN CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY A TRANSMISSION USED IN THE 3 SERIES MADE BY GM. I THEN WENT ON LINE TO CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM AND NOTED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 3 SERIES TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND BMW OF FAILING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. BLOG ENTRIES EXPRESSED THE OBVIOUS FRUSTRATION, ENORMOUS COSTS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FILING A CLASS ACTION SUIT BECAUSE THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION WAS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. OBVIOUSLY MY COMPLAINT WA S TWO-FOLD: 1. THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MECHANISM HAD A RISK FACTOR IN SAFETY IN THAT THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSIONS USED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT WHILE OPERATING ,AND THE ONLY OTHER REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION THAT CAN BE PUT IN WAS THE SAME TYPE WHICH MIGHT SUGGEST THE SAME INCIDENT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN . 2.) THE COST/REPAIR FACTOR WAS UNEXPECTED AND RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT A DRIVER OR SERVICE NEGLECT PROBLEM BUT ONE OF DESIGN. WAS THIS A MATTER FOR RECALL AND OR CLASS ACTION SUIT? *AK
Power train, Jun 11, 2007
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 323I WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS CAREFULLY DRIVEN AND CARED FOR. FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS, VANCOUVER BRIAN JESSEL BMW HAS PERFORMED ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE. IT NOW HAS 75,000 KM. THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT TO BACK MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE FACTORY DEFECT ON THE TRANSMISSION. BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. *TR
Power train, Structure, Jan 28, 2007
SUB FRAME TORE FROM CAR REAR CHASSIS ON A 2000 BMW 323CI, VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB
Power train, Apr 3, 2006
TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE!! FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON 4/20/02 WITH 49,123 MILES. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ LOOKS AS THOUGH THE FAILURES ALL OCCUR BETWEEN 40,000 - 50,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO GOOD TO 100,000 NOT 40,000!! PLEASE HELP!*JB