2002 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 442 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 18 involved a crash and 31 involved a fire. 22 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
442 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 20, 2008
INFORMATION ON SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR A 2002 BMW 325I. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG. SHE STATES THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WAS REPAIRED AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *KB
Air bags, Mar 17, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 7, 2008
I HAVE HAD AN EMISSION-RELATED AIR PUMP AND VALVE REPLACED ON MY 2002 BMW 325I FIVE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN JUNE OF 2002. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES IT FAILED WERE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND THE MOST RECENT TIME IT FAILED WAS IN DECEMBER, WHEN THE CAR HAD 77,000 MILES ON IT. EACH TIME IT FAILED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THESE COMPONENTS IS TO PROVIDE FRESH OXYGEN TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UPON STARTUP IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE PREMATURE DEMISE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DESPITE THIS, BMWNA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS AN EMISSIONS RELATED COMPONENT COVERED UNDER US LAW UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE LAST TIME THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED IT COST ME $700 AFTER THE DEALER REDUCED THE BILL. ADDITIONALLY, BMW TOLD ME TWO WEEKS AGO THAT I WOULD BE RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL CHECK FOR HALF THE REMAINING COST OF THE REPAIR. THEY HAVE ALSO PROMISED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME AND EXPLAIN WHY IT ISN'T AN EMISSIONS RELATED PART COVERED UNDER US LAW. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CHECK OR AN EXPLANATION. MY CONTENTION IS THAT: - IT IS AN EMISSIONS-RELATED PART AND SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED TO 80,000 MILES - THE FACT THAT FIVE HAVE FAILED ON MY AUTOMOBILE INDICATE THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN - THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE TO AT BMW ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THIS COMPONENT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER (ALL MY FAILURES OCCURRED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN MINNESOTA). *TR
Visibility, Structure, Aug 24, 2007
THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING UP AND THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REINSTALL THE MOLDING. PRETTY BIZARRE FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 27, 2007
FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR PARKING LAMPS OF THE 1999-2005 BMW 3 SERIES ("E46"). ALSO NOTED ARE FORWARD TURN SIGNAL LIGHTING FAILURES. THE PROBLEM MAY INVOLVE TWO UNRELATED COMPONENT FAILURES: CHRONICALLY OVERHEATING/PARTIALLY MELTED 7-PIN WIRING CONNECTORS (AT THE REAR LAMP CLUSTER) AND CORRODED BULB SOCKETS (AT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS). (THE FIRST PROBLEM MAY BE MORE COMMON IN WARM WEATHER STATES.) BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I HAVE OWNED THREE E46 MODEL BMW'S, ALL PURCHASED NEW. ALL HAVE HAD REPEATED, YET INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEMS. MOST RECENTLY I NOTED ANOTHER INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE LEFT REAR LAMP CLUSTER OF MY 2002 BMW 330I WITH ~48,000 MILES. AFTER ANOTHER CAREFUL INSPECTION, TO INCLUDE REMOVING EACH BULB AND CHECKING ITS FILAMENT, RESISTANCE AND CONNECTION CLEANLINESS, I FOUND SOMETHING I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY NOTED--THE 7-PIN WIRING CONNECTOR WAS MELTED AT TERMINAL #2, THE TERMINAL THAT APPEARS TO BE THE COMMON GROUND FOR ALL THE LAMPS IN THE CLUSTER. THE CAR'S WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR (FEMALE) AND THE MALE PIN (#2) BOTH SHOW EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE/HEAT DAMAGE. I HAVE REMOVED IT FROM MY CAR AND TAKEN SOME PHOTOGRAPHS FOR SUBMISSION VIA AN EMAIL ACCOUNT TO MR. AJIT ALKONDON AT DOT. THE PART AS INSTALLED IN MY CAR HAS THE FOLLOWING IDENTIFICATION: 63.21-6 907 935 DATE CODE: 19.9.01 (FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2001) TIME CODE: 15:54 AS AN ASIDE, A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP HAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE REAR BULB CARRIER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. WHILE IT HAS HELPED, I AM STILL LEFT WITH CHRONIC, YET HIGHLY INTERMITTENT, LAMP FAILURES, (AS INDICATED BY THE CAR'S WARNING SYSTEM) FOR _BOTH_ REAR LAMP ASSEMBLIES. AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR, ALL THREE E46'S I OWNED HAVE HAD FORWARD TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS REPLACED FOR CORROSION, USUALLY WITHIN THE FIRST FEW YEARS OR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
Seats, Jul 26, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT CALLED IN REFERENCE TO A 2002 BMW 330I. AS THE INSURANCE ESTIMATOR WAS ESTIMATING DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PUSHED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT FORWARD BY PRESSING THE ELECTRIC BUTTON. THE ESTIMATOR WAS SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT AS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BEGAN TO SLIDE BACKWARDS. THE ESTIMATOR'S TWISTED BODY WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S AND REAR SEAT. HE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO HIS NECK, LIVER, RIBS, AND LOWER BACK. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT PURCHASE OR OWN THE VEHICLE, THEREFORE THERE IS NO PURCHASE DATE OR DEALER INFORMATION AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,579. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 21, 2007
I WAS DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY APPROX. 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR STALLED. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED CAR. I COULD ONLY DRIVE 30 MPH AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1700.00 BUT THE WARRANTY WAS UP LAST YEAR. THERE WAS TSB ISSUED IN 2003. WHY WEREN'T THE OWNERS TOLD ABOUT THIS? *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jun 28, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW E36. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 750. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 89,950 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Electrical system, Jun 25, 2007
DASH INDICATED TAILLIGHT WAS OUT WHEN IT WASN'T, THIS WAS RANDOM ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE DASH PANEL INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. AS I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I STOPPED, AND NOTICED THE MELTED WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS. AS I LOOKED AT THEM I COULD SEE THEM SPARKING WHEN CERTAIN MOVEMENTS OCCURRED., VERY DANGEROUSLY AND ERRATIC. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SIDES MELTED. I HAVE NOTICED THE OTHER SIDE WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS, RANDOM INDICATIONS OF A TAIL LIGHT OUT WHEN THERE WAS NONE. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION , SAVAGE BMW, AS WELL AS BMWNA. I BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO, AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT, AND DIDNT TAKE MUCH CONCERN INTO THE MATTER. THEY WERE E CHARGING ME $400+ TO FIX JUST THE ONE SIDE. *AK
Exterior lighting, Jun 8, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT A TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS MELTED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,626 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Power train, May 12, 2007
BMW 325XI 2002 BOUGHT USED IN MINT CONDITION WITH 60000 MILES DRIVETRAIN VIBRATION RELATED TO TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT BEARING. BMW INTERNATIONAL SAID THAT WAS TOO BAD, BUT NOT CONCERND AT THE FAILURE. EXPECTED AS THAT YEAR HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS. *AK
Electrical system, Apr 22, 2007
I AM LEASING A 2002 BMW 745LI . I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS GONE TO THE BMW SERVICE CENTER A TOTAL OF 33 TIMES FOR SERVICE MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. A FEW TIMES CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THIS VEHICLE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA VIA PHONE, EMAILS, AND LETTERS, THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE? THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER SHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS BMW MODEL YEAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT HEADACHES AND PROBLEMS FOR THEM. I FEAR FOR THE WELL BEING OF MY FAMILY WHEN THEY ENTER THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS MODEL HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR FROM ITS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I AM PAYING FOR A PIECE OF METAL! THIS VEHICLE IS ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I DEMAND THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM ME. THE MANUFACTURER (BMW OF NORTH OF AMERICA) BUILT A PRODUCT THAT HAS DEFECTS. THEIR OWN TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIX THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT BMW SERVICE CENTERS. I HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS. AGAIN I DEMAND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO RELIEVE ME FROM THIS VEHICLE! *TR
Power train, Apr 17, 2007
AFTER 100,000+ MILES OF NORMAL OPERATION THE 2002, BMW X5 4.4 BEGAN EXHIBITING UNUSUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATION. AT RANDOM TIMES, DURING START UP, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV VERY HIGH, THEN ENGAGE IN 1ST, CAUSING AN ABRUPT LURCH FORWARD. ALSO, IT WILL EXPERIENCE THIS DISENGAGEMENT SOMETIMES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO PASSING GEAR, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV, AND A LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION, AND THEN AN ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT, RESULTING IN A MAJOR LURCH FORWARD. THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AS YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR PERFORMING PASSING MANEUVERS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ,AND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED NOW FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. IT IS RELATED TO ZF SUPPLIED TRANSMISSIONS ON BMW AND JAGUAR VEHICLES, AND IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONTROLLING SOFTWARE THE BMW DEALER SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $7,600 , AND HAS NOT INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS OR ADMIT ANY COMMON PROBLEM EXISTED. REPORTS ON THE INTERNET INDICATED THAT SOMETIMES A SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL CURE THIS PROBLEM, AND SOMETIMES NOT, AS IT OCCURRED IN BOTH OLD AND NEW VEHICLES. AS AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD, I AM STILL CONDUCTING MY OWN ANALYSIS, BUT AM COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A BMW AND ZF PROBLEM THAT NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AS A CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *AK
Air bags, Feb 8, 2007, crash
ON 12/21/06, I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-LANE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK, HIS BACKEND SLID OFF THE ROAD AND WHEN THE BACK TIRES GAINED TRACTION, IT SHOT HIS TRUCK ACROSS HIS LANE AND INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR WITH THE FRONT OF HIS TRUCK. HIS TRUCK ENDED UP DAMAGING MY CAR DOWN THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE (FRONT TO REAR). MY SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SIDE MIRROR CAME THROUGH MY WINDOW AND STRUCK ME IN THE ARM WITH GLASS IMPACTING MY LEFT EAR, EYE AND CHEEK AS WELL AS MY MOUTH. THE COLLISION CENTER CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE COLLISION CENTER WITH $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2007, fire
AFTER DRIVING MY 2002 BMW X 5 FIVE BLOCKS FROM MY HOME, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PARKED THE CAR. FROM THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO GET OUT AND WALK TO THE REAR OF THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND IN SHORT ORDER THE CAR BURNED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND HIRED AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN VEHICLE FIRES AND CAUSATION. THE CONCLUSSION OF THE REPORT WAS THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, ORIGINATING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THIS SITUATION WITH BMW FIRES ON DIFFERENT WEB SIGHTS, INCLUDING ROADFLY, AND HAVE FOUND TO MY SHOCK, THERE ARE WAY TO MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS OUT THERE WITH A SIMULAR SITUATION. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE SOMEONES LIFE. IF MY GRANDCHILD OR ELDERLY MOTHER HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WITH ME, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT IN TIME! I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU, HOPE PESSIS. *NM
Power train, Jan 15, 2007
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART, TOWED TO SHOP, WAS TOLD I CHANGED FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM CAUSING VALVE TO BEND. I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND THERE WAS NO REASON TO CHANGE FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY A NEW ENGINE/VALVE/HEAD JOB. I HAD TO PAY FROM POCKET. *JB
Suspension, Structure, Nov 21, 2006
I WAS HEARING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR TOOK IT INTO BMW, AND THEY SAID THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS CRACKING. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO! ALSO THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING ARE BAD WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR OR IN REVERSE! *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 19, 2006, crash
STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN I TRIED TO STOP IN THE RAIN. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DID NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE BUT MY CAR HAD OVER $5700 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM
Visibility, Nov 8, 2006
I AM TAKING MY 2002 BMW 325I INTO THE SHOP AGAIN TOMORROW TO FIX THE 4TH POWER WINDOW REGULATOR TO BREAK ON THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT LAST YEAR. THESE HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT THE FREQUENCY AT WHICH THIS FAILURE IS OCCURRING SUGGESTS A DEFECT. EACH TIME, THE SAME SYMPTOMS WERE PRESENT: A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE FROM THE WINDOW AND IT GETS STUCK HALF WAY AND NO LONGER MOVES. THIS TIME, I HAD DAMAGE TO MY WINDOW TINT. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT WITH THE WINDOW DOWN WHICH IS RISKY. THE POWER REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER EACH TIME. *JB
Tires, Nov 5, 2006
OWN A 325CI COUPE THAT HAS HAD SEPARATION TIRE SEPARATION ON 3 TIRES BF GOODRICH 225/45R17. ONE TIRE SEPARATED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN YESTERDAY TWO MORE TIRE SEPARATED. WHEN I REPLACED THIS TWO TIRES THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE OTHER REMAINING TIRE ON THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALL OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TIRE. *NM
Seat belts, Jul 17, 2006
THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS INSERTED INTO DOESN'T HOLD THE BUCKLE ANY LONGER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS NO LONGER USABLE. THE PART IS TO BE REPLACED BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALER (NOT UNDER WARRANTY), WHO WILL HAVE THE OLD PART. *JB
Tires, Jun 27, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLES TIRES BLEW OUT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DURING ONE OF THE INCIDENCES, THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN A POTHOLE CAUSED ANOTHER BLOWOUT. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN NINE TIMES BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE COMPANY WHO DETERMINED PROBLEMS WERE WITH THE SIDEWALLS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERS AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO RESOLUTION. UPDATED 7/18/2006 - *NM
Wheels, Jun 19, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS BENT. EACH WHEEL BENT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE WHEELS VIBRATE WHEN TRAVELING 30 MPH OR MORE.
Wheels, Jun 19, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THREE LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS BENT. EACH INDIVIDUAL TIRE BENT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. DUE TO THIS INCIDENT THE WHEELS STARTED TO VIBRATE WHEN GETTING 30 MPH OR MORE.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 17, 2006
THE FUEL LEAKED ALL OVER MY GARAGE AFTER I FILLED IT JUST MINUTES LATER WHEN I GOT HOME. HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SO THEY COULD STABILIZE THE AREA TO MAKE IT SAFE. WHAT A HIDEOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY FAILURE FOR A CAR TO HAVE!! THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (WHERE IT WAS FRONT ENDED -AND NO ONE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY SO I HAD TO FILE THROUGH MY OWN INSURANCE! WHAT A SCAM! THE DEALERSHIP - PATRICK BMW IN SCHAUMBURG, IL HAD THE FUEL LEAK FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP/FUEL LEVELER HAD FAILED SO THEY REPLACED IT. *NM