2006 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 1,243 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 29 involved a crash and 40 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, exhaust system, emission control, crankcase (pcv)Mar 2, 2022
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 22V119000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, cooling system, fanAug 10, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Campaign 12E029000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalAug 5, 2008
BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.
IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 08V384000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control armOct 18, 2006
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ONE OF THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND SWIVEL BEARING CONNECTION BOLTS WAS NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. THE BOLTED CONNECTION COULD LOOSEN.
THE BOLTED CONNECTION COULD BREAK WHICH COULD IMPAIR VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BOLTED CONNECTION AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CONNECTION. IN SOME CASES, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND THE SWIVEL BEARING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Campaign 06V400000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
107 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Oct 7, 2015
AFTER WORK YESTERDAY WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR, THE YELLOW LOCKED STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER I JERKED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CAR STARTED. WHILE ON MY WAY HOME, ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN AND THE RED LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS GOING ABOUT 75 MPH AT THIS TIME. I HIT THE CLUTCH AND BRAKES AND JERKED THE WHEEL AGAIN CAUSING IT TO RELEASE. LUCKILY IT WAS NOT RUSH HOUR. IT HAS BEEN PARKED EVER SINCE. IT HAS 114K MILES.
Steering, Apr 27, 2015
I WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, THERE WAS AN AMBER STEERING WHEEL SYMBOL BEING DISPLAYED. AFTER SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM MANY DRIVERS HAVE HAD. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS IT IS NOT EASILY DETECTABLE AND CAN HAPPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
Steering, Mar 19, 2015
MY VEHICLE IS IN STORAGE FOR THE WINTER I START IT ONCE A WEEK THEN RECENTLY IT JUST STOP WORKING AND A STEERING WHEEL LOCK APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD I RESEARCH IT AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A BMW 325I HAD THE SAME ISSUE . I FEEL BMW SHOULD REPAIR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Steering, Feb 24, 2015
I HAD BEEN USING THE CAR REGULARLY DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. RANDOMLY THE YELLOW LIGHT POPS UP OF THE STEERING LOCK SIGN THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND THE LIGHT TURNS RED. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY WORK AND WAS FORCED TO GET IT TOWED TO BMW. *JS
Steering, Jan 13, 2015
I WENT TO START MY BMW 330I AND A WARNING INDICATOR CAME UP AND SAID THERE WAS A STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. IT SAID TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND START THE CAR. I TRIED AND TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT JUST KEPT SAYING THE SAME THING. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS BELOW FREEZING. I WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 26, 2014
VEHICLE HAD A YELLOW STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK DISPLAY ON THE DASH WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR IN EVERY POSSIBLY WAY, IT STILL DID NOT START. PUT KEY IN, PULLED IT OUT MULTIPLE TIMES; LOCKED CAR, UNLOCKED CAR; WIGGLED STEERING WHEEL WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR (PUSH START). NOTICED WHEN KEY IS PUSHED INTO KEY HOLE, IT LATCHES, BUT DOES NOT GIVE ANY ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE CAR, OR RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. CAR HAS NO POWER TO OTHER FUNCTIONS IN CAR. CAR CAN'T BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO MOVE CAR. THE CAR IS PRETTY MUCH UNUSABLE. *TR
Steering, Nov 6, 2014
STEERING LOCKS UP. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 11, 2014
I ONLY HAVE 65K MILES ON MY BMW 325I 2006 IT AND MOSTLY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS. A FEW DAYS BACK MY BMW WOULDN'T START WITHOUT ANY RHYME OR REASON. IT HAD A RED STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT ON AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE BOOK DIDN'T HAVE ANY INSTRUCTIONS EITHER BUT TO TAKE THE CAR TO DEALERSHIPS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE ALSO HELPLESS AND HAD NO IDEA. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. ULTIMATELY DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SOME MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SOUNDED CRAZY AS MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WITH ANY ACCIDENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A CAR WITH ONLY 65K MILES NEEDS A WHOLE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. IT COST ME ~$1500 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. ON SEARCHING GOOGLE IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME MANUFACTURING ISSUE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JAM AND CUSTOMERS NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. I EMAILED AND CALLED THE BMW SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION AND TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA IF I WISH TO DO SO. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN START UNTIL THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS REPLACED. PLEASE TELL BMW TO OWN THE MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND STOP CHEATING NAIVE CUSTOMERS. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 23, 2014
THE MESSAGE 'STEERING WHEEL LOCK' CAME UP AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAD TO PAY TO BRING IT HOME. BMW SAYS 'IT HAPPENS TO SOME CUSTOMERS' AND THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. I SEE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS IN FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY IT IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE LOCK MECHANISM. *TR
Steering, Jul 29, 2014
I JUST CAME BACK FROM A LONG FAMILY VACATIONS, I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ALL OVER THE STATES! I WAS SO LUCKY! THIS HAPPEN TO ME WHEN I GOT HOME , MY 2006 BMW 330I WHICH HAD A STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTION AND FAILURE. MALFUNCTION OF INTEGRAL LOCK SENSOR IN STEERING COLUMN NECESSITATES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A BMW CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN. BUT IS NOT!!! THE WARNING INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED AN ICON OF A STEERING WHEEL AND A LOCK AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE, EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO COVER THIS VERY COMMON QUALITY PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE MANY CASES REPORTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM! AND THAT'S WHY! I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT TO NHTSA IN HOPES THAT BMW WILL DO SOMETHING FOR OTHER OWNERS AS THE REPAIR BILL WAS $1000 AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY BMW. ALL I THINK ABOUT IS! IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH ALL MY FAMILY ON MY CAR! I THINK I GOT SO LUCKY! LOOK AT; SERVICE BULLETINS. YOULL SEE! SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: SIB-32-04-07 COMPONENT(S): STEERING BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL PROCESS HAS BEEN CREATED FOR BMW TO IDENTIFY CAUSES OF STEERING COMPLAINTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MODELS. *RM ((((SO! THEY KNOW! ABOUT THIS!!!)))) MAKE THIS A RECALL! BEFORE! THIS GETS LOCK WILE SOME ONE IS DRIVING AND GETS HURT!!!! *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 17, 2014
I OWN A 2006 BMW 330XI. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED. THE STARTING PROBLEM IS CONSTANT. WE ARE CONCERNED WE MAY GET STRANDED OR AS SOME HAVE REPORTED THE STEERING MAY LOCK WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING . FROM WHAT I CAN FIND ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. COMMENTS ARE BAD STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN FEB. OF 2012 WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 9000 MILES AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED. THE CAR NOW HAS 11000 MILES.THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP AND SUGGESTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT I CONTACT BMW DIRECT. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON FROM THE COMMENTS POSTED ON LINE BY BMW OWNERS OF 2006 ON. I RECENTLY CONTACTED BMW AND THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST.THE TEST RESULT WAS DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN.THE FEE FOR THIS TEST WAS $145.91. THE ESTIMATE THEY PROVIDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IS $1,467.86 PLUS DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $145.91. TOTAL COST $1,613.77. YOUR INVESTIGATION WILL SHOW THE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AS THE PROBLEM PERSIST THE SAFETY CONCERNS BECOME GREATER. IS A RECALL COMING AS THIS IS SERIOUS HIGHWAY SAFETY CONCERN? *TR
Steering, Apr 22, 2014
THIS BMW HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND ON MY CAR, THE COLUMN HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ELV. IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE ELV, THE CAR IS DISABLED LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED! BMW'S FIX FOR THIS IS EITHER A REPROGRAM OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, AGAIN IN MY CASE. THIS DOES NOT COME CHEAP! BMW MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS PLAGUE PROBLEM! *TR
Steering, Mar 26, 2014
JUST HAD CAR SERVICED AND LOOKED OVER ON WEEK LATER STEERING WHEEL LOCK CAME ON WHEN I USED IT DAY BEFORE. HAD NO WARNING, WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYMBOL CAME UP AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR
Steering, Mar 6, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 19, 2014
I HAVE A 2006 BMW 330I WHICH HAD A STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTION AND FAILURE. IT IS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A BMW CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN. ON JANUARY 7, 2014 THE TEMP. WAS MINUS 15 DEGREES F AND THE WARNING INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED AN ICON OF A STEERING WHEEL AND A LOCK AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS "LIGHTS UP IN YELLOW: ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL IS JAMMED. MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE." I MOVED THE STEERING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS AWAY FROM HOME IN THESE MINUS 15 DEGREES F COLD TEMP. I COULD HAVE FROZEN BEFORE I COULD HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT ANDERSON BMW IN ILLINOIS TOLD ME THAT THE 2006 BMW 330I HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONING. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH TOOK ALMOST 2 FULL DAYS DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER IN CHICAGO AND ALL THE CARS THAT WOULDN'T START FROM THE COLD. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE, EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO COVER THIS UNUSUAL QUALITY PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT I WOULDN'T EXPECT A MAJOR STEERING, START AND INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE WHEN IT IS ONLY 10,600 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. AS AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER RESPONSIBLE FOR QUALITY I DEAL WITH WARRANTY ISSUES QUITE OFTEN AS WELL AS RECALLS WITH NHTSA. WHILE MANY TIMES A QUALITY ISSUE WITH A PRODUCT IS SAFETY RELATED IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A NHTSA RECALL. HOWEVER, IT CAN BE COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN. FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE MANY CASES REPORTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 BMW 330I MODEL. I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT TO NHTSA IN HOPES THAT BMW WILL DO SOMETHING FOR OTHER OWNERS AS THE REPAIR BILL WAS $938.00 AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY BMW, WARRANTY OR NOT. *TR
Steering, Oct 21, 2013
I WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO START MY VEHICLE AND AS I STARTED MY ENGINE I RECEIVED A WARNING SIGN. THE WARNING SIGN INDICATED A CIRCLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT. I THEN NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, LEAVING MY CAR IN PARK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE MY CAR DIAGNOSED AND THEY MENTIONED THAT MY STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER A WEEK I WENT TO GET MY CAR FROM THE DEALER I WAS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. I THEN TOOK THIS ISSUE UP WITH MY DEALER AND WARRANTY WHERE THEY WAS NOT ABLE TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE. I KEPT GETTING A RUN AROUND AND THE GENERAL MANAGER WHERE I GOT MY AT FROM TRIED TO HELP. HIS ASSISTANCE WITH MY CAR FAILED. HE COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT MY CAR WAS GIVEN. HE THEN RETURNED MY CAR AND MY CAR STILL HAS THIS ISSUE. I HAD MY CAR FOR ONLY A MONTH WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURRED. *TR
Steering, Sep 11, 2013
RECEIVED YELLOW STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK ICON WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. ATTEMPTED USING DIFFERENT KEYS, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IMMOBILE. I EXITED THE CAR AND WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN, BUT RECEIVED YELLOW STEERING WHEEL WITH LOCK ICON AGAIN WHEN PUTTING THE KEY FOB INTO THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS QUOTED ABOUT $1200 AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED THE YELLOW STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK, WITHOUT THEM HAVING SEEN THE VEHICLE. THE SA ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE NEWER MODELS DON'T EVEN HAVE THIS FEATURE AT ALL. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT IT IS NOT A BMW RESPONSIBILITY OR DEFECT, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SHOP REPAIRS AND TIME. DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I FOUND THIS IS A VERY WELL DOCUMENTED AND KNOWN ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE DUE TO POOR DESIGN BY THE AUTO MANUFACTURER, SO MUCH SO THAT THE "FEATURE" ISN'T EVEN INCLUDED ON NEWER MODELS OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL. *TR
Steering, Aug 21, 2013
MALFUNCTION OF INTEGRAL LOCK SENSOR IN STEERING COLUMN NECESSITATES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT COST OF $1300. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT IN THIS VEHICLE, THE FIRST FAILED AT 80,000 MILES. SAME ISSUE WITH 2006 325I MODEL AT 90,000 MILES. UNDERSTAND THAT ELECTRONIC SENSORS WILL ALWAYS WEAR OUT AND FAIL BUT THIS IS DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING. THE SENSOR SHOULD BE A SEPARATE PART ANTICIPATING THE NEED TO REPLACE IT FROM TIME TO TIME. WOULD EXPECT MORE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND MORE CONSIDERATION FOR THE PAYING CUSTOMER FROM GERMAN ENGINEERING. *TR
Steering, Jul 4, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCK INDICATOR RENDERS THE VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO START. BMW SAYS THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AT 25000 MILES. 2 YEARS LATER AT 49000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WILL NEED TO DO IT AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD SET OF STEERING COLUMN WITHIN THE LAST 7 YEARS. IT IS CLEANLY A DESIGN AND DEFECT. IT SHOULD BE RECALL. *TR
Steering, Jul 4, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AS EVIDENCED BY WARNING LIGHT. VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE AND REQUIRED TOWING. COST FOR REPAIR = $1100.00. REPAIR SHOP SAID THERE WAS A CORE CHARGE FOR THE REPLACED UPPER STEERING COLUMN. THIS MEANS THAT BMW IS BUYING BACK THE MALFUNCTIONED UNITS TO EITHER DIAGNOSE, OR THEY'RE REBUILDING THEM AND MAKING MORE MONEY. EITHER WAY, IT'S AN KNOWN PROBLEM AND BMW ISN'T TAKING THE PROPER ACTION TO ENSURE OWNERS SAFETY. *TR
Steering, May 28, 2013
I WENT TO ADJUST THE VERTICAL POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE LEVER GEARS BROKE WITH IN THE STEERING COLUMN . NOW THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN FREELY WHILE DRIVING. I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VERY REPUTABLE FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SHOP AND HE SAID IN HIS 50 YEARS OF FIXING FOREIGN CARS, HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE ! *TR
Steering, May 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. *TR
Steering, May 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,320. *TR
Steering, Mar 21, 2013
I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO BMW AND STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL A FEW TRIES. BMW COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, SINCE THEN IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORST AND READING FORUMS, THERE SEEN TO BE A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Mar 11, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGINE IS LOCK CAR CAN NOT START WOW.. *TR