2007 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 1,040 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 29 involved a crash and 61 involved a fire. 24 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
Representative owner complaints
1,040 reports, newest first.
Structure, Jan 9, 2011
I WAS DRIVING ON THE MOTORWAY AND CLEANED MY WINDSCREEN WHEN A PIECE OF MY VEHICLE FELL OFF AND BECAME POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS PROJECTILE. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE SCREEN WASH JET COVER AND JET ATTACHED TO IT COMING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. BMW STATE THAT THIS CAN COME OFF DUE TO ICE FORMING ON THE WASHER JETS, SO CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THE COVER AND JET BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE POTENTIALLY CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO SWERVE, ITEM ACTS AS A PROJECTILE SO COULD DAMAGE/CRACK A WINDSCREEN OR POTENTIALLY BURST A TIRE IF CONTACT IS MADE. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO COMING OFF VEHICLE WHILST ON THE MOTORWAY. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 27, 2010
MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED IN OCTOBER 2010. A FUSE WAS REPLACED. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2010. BOTH TIMES I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I USED THE MANUAL KEY IN THE KEY FOB TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IF I HAD BEEN INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE ONLY WAY OUT WOULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE WINDOWS. WHEN THE LOCKS FAILED, ALL DOORS WERE FROZEN CLOSED AND THE INTERIOR OVERRIDE DID NOT WORK. THIS COULD BE SERIOUS IF THERE WAS A NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT THE CAR. ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVED PETS, CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 24, 2010
2007 BMW 328XI. LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED. UNABLE TO UNLOCK PASSENGER DOORS EITHER WITH THE KEY OR BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE. ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO HAVE MY WIFE AND KIDS CRAWL OUT THE WINDOWS ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT SO THAT WE COULD ATTEND CHURCH. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED PROPERLY. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 21, 2010
COULDN'T UNLOCK DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS AND USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE ON MY 2007 BMW 335XI. *TR
Tires, Wheels, Dec 19, 2010
BMW 3 SERIES AND ALSO OTHER SERIES WITH RUN FLAT TIRES HAVE AN ISSUE THAT WITH AN AVERAGE BUMP LIKE A MANHOLE COVER THE WHEEL WILL CRACK. I HAVE REPLACED 3 SO FAR ON MY 2007 335I AT MY COST. AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND THAT EVERYONE HAS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH BMW DENYING IT WAS THE WHEEL. THE CAR HAS 45,000+/- MILES ON IT. WHEN BROUGHT IN DUE TO RAPID AIR LOSS BMW STATES IT WAS THE DRIVING CONDITIONS NOT THEIR WHEEL. I DRIVE ON MOSTLY HIGHWAY ROADS AND SECONDARY ROADS TO MY HOUSE. I HAVE NEVER HIT ANY KIND OF POTHOLE OR CURB THAT WOULD CAUSE AN ALLOY RIM TO BE CRACKED. IN ALL 3 INSTANCES, THE CRACK IS EXACTLY THE SAME AND THE REPLACEMENT FOR THIS DAMAGE IS IN EXCESS OF $500 FOR THE RIM. IN TWO OF THE INSTANCES, I HAD TO GET A NEW RUN FLAT TIRE AS WELL AT A COST OF $400 A PIECE. ALL THREE OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST 5 MONTHS!! *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 29, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN HE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES; THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN DISPLAYED ABS AND DSC MALFUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 20, 2010
2007 BMW 328I DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK/UNLOCK. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 18, 2010
REDUCED POWER INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON DASH. SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. AT TIME OF EVENT, OWNER WAS 160 MILES FROM RESIDENCE. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY ALBEIT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED POWER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER SAID WHEN FUEL PUMP FAILED PREVIOUSLY (ON MARCH 11, 2010) THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS THE PREDECESSOR PART NUMBER. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 18, 2010
ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. WITHIN 1 MILE THE REDUCED POWER INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. SHUTOFF AND RESTARTED ENGINE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. DEALER REPLACED PUMP UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 10, 2010
THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO UNLOCK (WITH BOTH THE REMOTE ENTRY AND THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH LOCATED IN THE CAR) WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS RESULTED IN ALL PASSENGERS (INCLUDING SMALL CHILDREN) TO HAVE TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THIS COULD CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES FOR ALL OCCUPANTS. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE FUSE (TO A 20 AMP FROM A 15 AMP). AFTER RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE JUST A TEMPORARY FIX. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES THIS COULD CAUSE FOR OTHER FAMILIES. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 6, 2010
I HAVE A 1999 BMW 328I THAT I PURCHASED IN 2005 FOR $25,000 I JUST PURCHASED A 2007 BMW 328XI ON MAY WITH 54K MILES ON 11/1/10 IT TURNED OUT THAT I BOUGHT A $35,000 DEATH TRAP WITH THE DOORS NOT OPENING OR THE GAS TANK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO NOW IT JUST SITS THERE IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY 1999 WITH STILL DOES THAT SAME PROBLEM BUT OFF AND ON NOT LIKE THIS 2007 DEATH TRAP. I'M NEVER EVER BUYING A BMW AGAIN. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 26, 2010
I OWN A 2007 BMW 328I WITH 21,000 MILES ON IT. IN JULY 2009 I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL STEERING POWER, THE ACCELERATOR NO LONGER FUNCTIONED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, & THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE EJECTED. A BMW DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, SO THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. IN AUG 2009, AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND IT POWERED DOWN. AGAIN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE KEY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE EJECTED. THE SAME BMW DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID THEY INSTALLED SOFTWARE UPDATES. IN SEPT 2010 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON IT. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT EJECT ITSELF. MINUTES LATER, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT, AND AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. (I HAVE PHOTOS OF IT ON). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT BMW DEALERSHIP--BUT ONCE AGAIN, THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY TESTED THE FUEL--THE FUEL WAS FINE. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD INCENTIVE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SO THAT THEY COULD BE PAID. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW N. AMERICA SEVERAL TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. AT ONE POINT, I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO FIX THE CAR-- PERSONAL INJURY? PROPERTY DAMAGE? THE BMW REP SAID NO--BUT AGREED THAT I'D JUST HAVE TO WAIT IT OUT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. AFTER SENDING A LETTER TO BMW N. AMERICA THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID I WOULD NEED A LOCAL DEALER TO CONSENT TO HAVING AN ENGINEER LOOK AT MY CAR. HE SAID HE WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD GRANT ME CONSENT. HE NEVER CALLED. I HAD TO CALL ON MY OWN AND BEG THEM TO HAVE AN ENGINEER LOOK AT MY CAR. THE ENGINEER WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR KEEPS POWERING DOWN. HE DID HOWEVER INSTALL A SOFTWARE UPDATE. BMW WON'T HELP ME, SO MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO SELL IT. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 24, 2010
BMW 328I 2007. MY WHOLE FAMILY {4} OF US WERE LOCKED IN CAR. WE COULD NOT OPEN THE CAR FROM INSIDE. THAT IS MOST CRAZY THING EVER HAPPEN TO ME. THIS IS THE SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW NEED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES AND FIX PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS REALLY IN TROUBLE. I MADE SOME RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT MORE PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAD. I HAD TO PULL OUT MY CHILDREN TROUGH THE WINDOW TO GET THEM OUT OF CAR. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOME BIGGER ADULT WAS SITTING IN THE BACK OF CAR OR IF WE HAD CRASH ON OUR WAY HOME. THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR NEED TO BE RECALLED!! *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 11, 2010
THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY BUT WITHIN A MILE IT BEGAN TO SHUDDER ABOVE ~2.5K RPM. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. LATER THAT DAY SOON AFTER LEAVING THE PARKING LOT THE CAR DIED AT A STOP SIGN. SES AND OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON. I STARTED IT UP AND IT IMMEDIATELY DIED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY UNTIL I FOUND THAT IF I GAVE IT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF GAS AND KEPT IT UNDER A CERTAIN RPM I COULD OPERATE WITH VERY LIMITED POWER. THAT COMBINED WITH THE FACT IT WAS LARGELY DOWNHILL AND NOT VERY FAR TO MY HOUSE ALLOWED ME TO GET HOME SAFELY. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY (KEEPING IT WELL UNDER 2.5K RPM TO DO SO) AND THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 5, 2010
"ENGINE FAILURE" SIGN COMES ON MY 2007 BMW 335XI AND THE ENGINE POWER SIGNIFICANTLY CUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 3 TIMES. THE 1ST AND 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY, THE SIGN COMES ON AND I LOST SIGNIFICANT ENGINE POWER, HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANES, AS I HAD TO DROP MY SPEED IMMEDIATELY FROM 70MPH TO 55 OR LOWER. THEN I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED THE CAR. SOMETIMES THAT WORKED AND MY ENGINE GOT FULL POWER, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T AND I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH LOW ENGINE POWER. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME, 3 DAYS AGO, I WAS IN MY SUBDIVISION AND THE SAME LIGHT CAME ON, AND I LOST POWER. LUCKILY, IT WAS ONLY MY SUB, SO I STOPPED THE CAR AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE. FOR ALL THE TIMES THIS HAPPENED, I CONTACTED BMW AND I BELIEVE THE DID AND DRIVE UPDATE AND REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Tires, Wheels, Oct 4, 2010
I JUST PURCHASED A 2007 USED BMW 328XI WITH ~45K MILES. ONE WEEK TO THE DATE OF PURCHASE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR 5K MORE MILES) AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD A CRACKED RIM, "LIKELY DUE TO IMPACT." I HAVE DRIVEN IT ONLY ON ROADS UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, HITTING NO SIGNIFICANT POTHOLES OR OTHER ROAD OBSTRUCTIONS. THE RIM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST ~$500 TO REPLACE. I CHECKED THIS OUT INCIDENT REPORTS ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RIMS/RUN-FLAT TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 2, 2010
LONG CRANKING BEFORE MY 07 BMW 335I STARTS. ENGINE LOSES POWER AND GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE! DEALER REPROGRAMMED MY VEHICLE,BUT NOW IT HAS NO POWER! IT ALSO HAS A LOT OF TURBO LAG AT THE LOWER REV RANGE! *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 26, 2010
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN 2007 BMW 335I CONVERTIBLE @ 36K MILES. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL, 2010 WITH 32K MILES. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 21, 2010
HIGH POWER FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON 2007 BMW 335I SEDAN. VEHICLE BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE OUT THE BACK, AND RUNNING VERY ROUGH. ON A LATER RESTART THE ENGINE COULD NOT STAY RUNNING. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. HPFP WAS REPLACED AND INJECTORS WERE REPLACED, ECU SOFTWARE UPDATED. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 20, 2010
MY VEHICLE IS 2007 MODEL BMW 335I COUPE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY 405 GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR. THEN SUDDENLY AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" SIGN COMES UP WHICH LOWERS THE RPM AND THE SPEED OUTPUT OF THE ENGINE TO AROUND 30~ 40. I HAVE TO QUICKLY MERGE THE VEHICLE FROM THE INNER LANES TO THE RIGHT GOING ONTO THE CURB SINCE THERE WAS NO CURB ON THE INNER LANES. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AS I SLOWLY GUIDED MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN WITH STUTTERING SOUND AND ENGINE CRANKING. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE SUDDEN SLOW DOWN AND ENGINE SHUT OFF MIGHT HAPPEN WHEN I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND THE CARS BEHIND OR NEXT TO ME MIGHT EASILY HIT ME WITH TYPICAL FREEWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH. I CALLED THE TWO TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A BMW CENTER. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BELIEVED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS BAD AND WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FOR ME. IT APPEARS TO BE THAT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE APPEARED QUITE OFTEN TO A NUMBER OF 335I OR OTHER BMW MODELS USING THE SAME ENGINE, IN PARTICULAR TO THE 07 AND 08 MODELS. MORE OVER, A LOT OF THE CAR OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED TO THEM EVEN AFTER THEIR FUEL PUMP REPLACED ONCE OR EVEN TWICE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE FIX FOR SUCH ISSUE AND IT POSES AS A TREMENDOUS DANGER FOR BMW DRIVERS WITH THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE SINCE YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN WHEN HE PROBLEM WILL RE-OCCUR. SIMILAR COMPLAINS HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE ACTION CAN BE REFERRED HERE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE08032. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Sep 19, 2010
CAR STALLING AND NO POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. NO POWER TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS MAKING A U TURN, CARS WAS COMING AT ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND I COULDN'T GET POWER TO ACCELERATE. TRIED PULLING OVER SAFELY. CAR WAS OOZING POWER AND CANT RESTART NORMALLY. *TR
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 17, 2010
2007 BMW 328XI SEDAN; LOCKED VEHICLE WITH KEY FOB. RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN LOCKS. USED KEY FOB TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. INTERNAL BUTTON WOULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS. PULLING TWICE ON DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN DOORS. ACTUAL KEY WOULD UNLOCK DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY. DROVE CAR. TRIED INTERNAL BUTTON AGAIN, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. PULLING TWICE ON DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE WOULD UNLOCK THE DOOR. NO WAY TO OPEN ANY OF THE PASSENGER DOORS. ONLY WAY FOR PASSENGER TO EXIT IS TO GO OUT WINDOW OR THROUGH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. KEY FOB WOULD LOCK DOOR BUT NOT UNLOCK DOOR. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 2,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE IT TO DEALER/MECHANIC OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR MYSELF. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 15, 2010
I HAVE HAD MY 3RD HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) FAIL IN THE 3.5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY CAR. ALL THREE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN MY MODEL. ALMOST EVERYONE PEOPLE IN MY CAR CLUB WITH A 2007 OR 2008 MODEL YEAR 335I HAS HAD THEIR HPFP REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE. THE CAR BREAKS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND GENERALLY WHEN COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. UPON FAILURE, THE ENGINE WARNS OF MALFUNCTIONS AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE IN A "LIMP" MODE, OFTEN STALLING WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP...SHUDDERING DURING THE DRIVE UNTIL I AM ABLE TO BRING TO A DEALERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT ALL THREE FAILURE HAVE OCCURRED DURING LOW SPEEDS AND STALLING OCCURRING AT STOP LIGHTS AND NOT DURING HIGH SPEED OPERATION. IF IT WASN'T FOR MY BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON ONE OF THE THREE OCCASIONS. BMW KNOWS THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO RECALL. THEY HAVE ISSUED DEALER SERVICE BULLETINS AND HAVE INCREASED THE WARRANTY ON THE HPFP REPLACEMENTS FOR 100,000 MILES. HOWEVER, A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY DOES NOT FIX REPLACING THE HPFP EVERY FEW MONTHS (MY 2ND IN 4 MONTHS). BMW MUST ISSUE A RECALL AS THIS IS DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS THEIR IS NO SYMPTOMS FOR THE IMPENDING MALFUNCTION AND THERE IS NO USER ERROR. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 7, 2010
BMW E90 3 SERIES SEDAN, AFTER THE DOOR LOCK FUSES BLOW THERE IS NO WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE EXCEPT BY A WINDOW. IS A FAILING IN ALL THESE MODELS AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH BAD LATCHES THAT ARE BEING REPLACED AS THEY FAIL UNDER WARRANTY, THERE SHOULD BE A BACKUP SYSTEM FOR EXITING THE VEHICLE IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Aug 26, 2010
I OWN A 2007 BMW 335I. A FEW MONTHS AGO AFTER A SERVICE ISSUE FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM, MY VEHICLE DASH DISPLAY WENT HAYWIRE AND SHOWED AN ENGINE PROBLEM. I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT SPEED AND SUDDENLY NO POWER. THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ME. IT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO GET OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. AFTER SOME RECENT RESEARCH I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE, YET THERE HAVE BEEN NO MANDATORY RECALLS, MERELY REPLACEMENTS PUMP THAT IN MANY CASES FAILS AGAIN. I SEE THIS AS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE THAT IS WAITING TO OCCUR GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR