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
88 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 4, 2011
REVERSE GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. CAR ACTS AS IF IT IS NEUTRAL, ENGINE JUST REVS. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. WAS SURPRISED TO FIND IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL, AND THAT THERE IS A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO THE PROBLEM (NOREVERSE.ORG). ALSO LEARNED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR CADILLACS THAT USED THE SAME TRANSMISSION AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
Structure, Jul 19, 2011
THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT MY SUBFRAME HAS STARTED TO FAIL. TODAY I HAD MY BMW IN FOR A NORMAL BRAKE SERVICE AT MY REPAIR FACILITY. THEY NOTICED MY SUBFRAME IS STARTING TO CRACK ALONG THE MOUNTING POINTS. THIS IS USUALLY NOT FOUND IN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BMW ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR IS A NON M3, IT'S JUST A 328CI COUPE. *KB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jun 4, 2011
I'M JUST CONCERN IF THERE IS A RECALL TO BE FIXED ON MY CAR (2000 BMW X3 2.5I) I'VE NOTICED 2X ALREADY THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY GAS PEDAL ACCELERATES SPEED. IN DECEMBER 2010 WHILE DRIVING ON A SLIGHT SNOW, THE CAR WON'T STOP FOR A SECOND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES; MY FRONT ROTOR AND BRAKES WERE BEING REPLACED ON MARCH 7, 2011 AT THE DEALER. MY MAIN CONCERN HERE IS THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET A FREE MAINTENANCE FREE CHECK SERVICE. *TR
Structure, May 25, 2011
2000 BMW 323CI REAR FLOOR PAN TEARING. ALL FOUR OF THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS HAVE BECOME TORN. *TR
Power train, Jan 5, 2011
CAR DOES NOT GO ON REVERSE. DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 MILES OR SO AND THE REVERSE WORKS. LEAVE IT TURNED OFF AND MOST OF THE TIME, THE REVERSE WONT WORK AGAIN.. IT'S FRUSTRATING. *TR
Power train, Nov 2, 2010
I HAVE A 2000 323CI BMW AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY REVERSE STOP WORKING FOR NO REASON AT ALL. I BEEN UP TO DATE WITH MY TAKING CARE OF IT AND ONE DAY IT JUST STOP WORKING, THE REVERSE JUST DOESN'T DO NOTHING, I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO TRY TO CORRECT IT BECAUSE SIMPLY IS TO MUCH FOR ME THE COST FOR IT IS 4,000 DOLLARS AND I JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT, I FEEL ITS NOT FAIR WHAT BMW HAS DONE, WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT BMW 3 SERIES ARE SUSPECT ON DOING. I READ ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN BMWS AND I'M WONDERING WHY BMW HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS AN IDENTIFIED COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Oct 30, 2010
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323 CI CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE TRUNK RELEASE. NEITHER THE KEY FOB NOR THE RELEASE BUTTON FUNCTION; THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE TRUNK IS WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCK. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH LEARNED TWO THINGS. 1. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. (TYPE 'BMW TRUNK RELEASE PROBLEM' INTO A SEARCH ENGINE TO SEE THE EXTENT.) WHILE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE ARE MERELY ANNOYING, IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THEM BEING FAR WORSE. 2. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE HARNESS WHERE THE WIRING GOES FROM THE BODY TO THE TRUNK LID. THIS LINK IS CONTAINS SEVERAL PICTURES OF EXACTLY WHAT I FOUND WHEN I PULLED MY HARNESS BACK: HTTP://WWW.M3FORUM.NET/M3FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=248956. IN MY CASE, THERE ARE THREE COMPLETELY BROKEN WIRES, ONE THAT IS HANGING ON BY A FEW STRANDS, AND ABOUT 4 MORE WHERE THE INSULATION IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY CRACKED. YES, THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW TO ME. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Structure, Jul 8, 2010
THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP BRACKET ON MY 2000 BMW 323CI COUPE SNAPPED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED A LOUD METALLIC GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I STOPPED, AND NOTICED AN 18 INCH METAL STRAP BEING DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND, STILL ATTACHED AT ONE END (REAR END) OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FRONT SIDE OF THE STRAP HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR AND THE FUEL TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD DROPPED SEVERAL INCHES, AND WAS 'DANGLING' TO SOME EXTENT - IT BOUNCED UP AND DOWN WHEN PUSHED. THE WELD THAT BROKE WAS HOLDING THE FRONT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. IT APPEARS THAT A SMALL AMOUNT OF METAL HAD TORN OUT OF THE FRAME THAT THE BRACKET WAS ATTACHED TO. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC. TO REPAIR IT, THEY NEED TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK AND WELD THE BRACKET BACK ONTO THE FRAME, SO THAT THE SUPPORT STRAP CAN BE RE-ATTACHED. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $600. *TR
Power train, Jul 6, 2010
I OWN A 2000 BMW 323CI. IT HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND JUST TODAY THE REVERSE GEAR WENT OUT JUST LIKE THAT,WITHOUT NOTICE. I'VE BEEN READING ONLINE AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FROM BMW. I AM IN NEED OF HELP TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE I NEED THIS CAR FOR WORK.*TR
Power train, Jun 29, 2010
BMW 3 SERIES SUDDENLY NO REVERSE GEAR . NO WARNING NO ANYTHING JUST STOPS WORKING . SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES BMW . HOW IS IT THAT BMW/NA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS . THERE ARE NO RECALLS BUT LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM . ANY ADVICE OR HELP ? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 22, 2010, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY MINUTES WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS YELLOW SMOKE POURING THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO TWENTY FOOT FLAMES FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEXT TO A BUILDING WHICH WAS PARTIALLY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD FURTHER INSPECT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
Air bags, Jun 16, 2010
I RAN OVER A CURB GOING ABOUT 25MILES A HOUR GOING WHILE AROUND A BEND. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AT ALL. THIS HAPPENED ONCE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT FAILURE. THE CAR IS A BMW 323CI COUPE. *TR
Structure, May 2, 2010
I HAVE A 2000 323CI BMW MY PROBLEM IS THE WELD FROM THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK DETACHED FROM THE METAL THERE SEEM TO BE E DEFECT ON THE WELD AND THE GAS TANK DROPPED TO THE FLOOR!! PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT IT!! I DRILLED SOME HOLES AND ATTACHED A METAL PLATE THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE BODY(METAL TO WEAK) THEN I USED BOLTS AND PRESSURE WASHERS TO REATTACH IT! *TR
Power train, Apr 14, 2010
2000 BMW 323 CI CONVERTIBLE. REVERSE STOP TO WORK SUDDENLY, I PARKED MY CAR OVER THE DRIVEWAY YESTERDAY THEM NEXT DAY AFTERNOON I WENT TO THE STORE TO BUY SOME GROCERIES, I MADE A BAD TURN AND I WAS TRYING TO GET ON THE ROAD, MY REVERSE DID NOT WORK. I NEVER FEEL A SYMPTOM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE CAR O GRADUAL FAILURE JUST STOP TO WORK, MAGIC. *TR
Power train, Mar 11, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 325CI. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND SHIFTING IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. SHE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE SO THAT SHE COULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD ABOUT THE FAILURE OCCURRING ON THESE VEHICLES. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT IN REVERSE GEAR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AT THIS MOMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Power train, Mar 10, 2010
REVERSE GEAR OF TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AROUND 100,000 MILES. NO ISSUES PRIOR TO FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT CONSUMER'S COST. *TR
Structure, Apr 28, 2009
WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AT BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY THEN INFORMED ME OF THE SUBFRAME TEARING AWAY. NO WAY THE SHOULD HAPPEN SO MANY TIMES TO ANY VEHICLE. DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY BMWNA. *TR
Power train, Apr 6, 2009
MY 2000 323 CI BMW "NO REVERSE ". WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON IT PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED, ON APRIL 5 2009 THE CARS REVERSE GEAR WON'T ENGAGE ,ITS LIKE PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL BUT IS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE, THE CAR DRIVES FORWARD WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. BROUGHT IT TO BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILURE RATES OF THE ABOVE CAR IS VERY HIGH THAT THEY HAVE A SPECIAL WEBSITE FOR SUCH TRANY FAILURE WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG. BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE COMPLAINTS AND MAYBE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTS OF THE ABOVE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Air bags, Mar 12, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP ON THE MEDIAN. SHORTLY AFTER, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ON THE MEDIAN, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT INJURED. SHE PUSHED THE VEHICLE HALF OF THE DISTANCE TOWARDS HER RESIDENCE AND THE TOW TRUCK TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED HER TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THE AIR BAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Power train, Feb 15, 2009
I WENT TO BACK MY 2000 BMW 323CI INTO A PARKING SPOT AND IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. *TR
Structure, Jan 7, 2009
I DROVE FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO CALIFORNIA PRIOR TO PCSING OVERSEAS. HALFWAY I NOTICED A CREAKING SOUND. UPON ARRIVAL TO CALIFORNIA I TOOK IT TO A SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS TEARING FROM ITS MOUNTS. INSURANCE CLAIMS IT AS A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE AND REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE TEARING OF THE SUBFRAME DOES NOT SEEM POSSIBLE. I TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALER WHERE THEY ARE NOW RIPPING APART THE REAREND TO ONLY SPOT WELD THE REPAIR I DO NOT EVEN BELIEVE IS A PROPER REPAIR. NOW WITH INSURANCE REFUSING TO COVER IT I'M STUCK WITH AN 8,000 DOLLAR REPAIR THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN EXIST. *TR
Power train, Dec 21, 2008
2000 BMW 323 CI WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *TR
Air bags, Nov 18, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 325I. SPORADICALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Power train, Oct 8, 2008
NO WRECK, NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM. JUST NO REVERSE!!!! *TR
Power train, Sep 9, 2008
2000 BMW 323I NO REVERSE GEAR...WENT TO BMW DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO CHECK WHAT'S WRONG, ALL THEY WANTED IS TO CHANGE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION FOR $5500...I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR...HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE AND BMW WILL CALL OUR CARS FOR RECALL...I THING THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO COST SINCE IT IS THERE PURE REVERSE CLUTCH ENGINEERING. THANK YOU *TR