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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 1,040

Of the 2007 reports, 29 involved a crash and 61 involved a fire. 24 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system288 reports · 28% of complaints
Owner complaints1,040Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system288
  2. Air bags226
  3. Engine163
  4. Fuel system124
  5. Steering116
  6. Gasoline113
  7. Latches/locks/linkages93
  8. Engine and engine cooling66

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  1. Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 22, 2009

    SUBSTANTIAL POWER LOSS, MANY EPISODES (5 AT LEAST), BMW DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS THIS HAS HAPPENED AT 70MPH, CAR BOGGED TO 20MPH. BARLEY GOT OFF FREEWAY LAST TWO TIMES . *TR

  2. Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 21, 2009

    ALL DOORS ON A 2007 BMW 328I, 4-DOOR, WOULD NOT UNLOCK FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. ALL PASSENGERS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE WINDOWS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TR

  3. Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 20, 2009

    CENTRAL LOCKING FAILURE CAUSING ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO BE OPERABLE. THE PASSENGER AND REAR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. IN THE EVENT OF FIRE PASSENGERS COULD NOT LET THEMSELVES OUT OR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE 3 DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. *TR

  4. Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 7, 2009

    UNABLE TO OPEN FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR DUE TO FAILURE OF FUSE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW AS SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. AS A TECHNICAL EXPERT IN THIS FIELD I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MODE IS UNSAFE AND CAN OCCUR DURING DRIVING, IF FAILURE OCCURS DURING DRIVING PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKING SYSTEM DOES NOT COMPLY TO FMVSS206 S4.1.3 AS THERE IS NO ABILITY TO UNLOCK THE MECHANISM ONCE THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND THE FUSE FAILS. *TR

  5. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 3, 2009

    BMW 335I MASTER BRAKE AND ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WITHOUT PARTS AVAILABLE IN USA, CANADA, NOR EUROPE TO EFFECT REPAIR. BMW WILL NOT EXPLAIN THE ABSENCE OF PARTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE CANNOT BE CURRENTLY SERVICED WITH NO ESTIMATE FOR PART AVAILABILITY. SUSPECT AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET SURFACED. *TR

  6. Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 2, 2009

    MODEL: 2007 BMW 328I. THE ELECTRONIC "DOOR ACTUATORS" FAILED. AS A RESULT, IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN ANY DOOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSIDE, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. WHEN THESE ELECTRONIC DOOR ACTUATORS FAIL, PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE, AND ARE EXPOSED TO INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR IF THE VEHICLE BECOMES SUBMERGED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP (WEATHERFORD BMW, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA) SUGGESTED THAT EVEN IF THE ELECTRONIC DOOR ACTUATORS WERE DISABLED THE DOORS COULD STILL BE OPENED BY PULLING TWICE ON THE OPENING LATCH. HOWEVER, WHEN THIS WAS TRIED, THE DOORS STILL COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE SERVICE ADVISORS DID COMMENT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED IN OTHER 328I MODELS; AND, IN FACT, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. IN VIEW OF THIS EXTREMELY SERIOUS DEFECT WHICH APPARENTLY EXISTS WITH THE 328I MODEL, RESULTING IN TRAPPING PASSENGERS IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTROLLING THE DOORS FAILS, WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THIS DEFECT BE INVESTIGATED, AND THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BE RECALLED SO THAT THE DEFECT CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE DEATHS OR INJURIES OCCUR. *TR

  7. Steering, Sep 28, 2009

    DASHBOARD INDICATES, "ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED". CAR IS CURRENTLY DRIVABLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF BMW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN UNTIL THE CAR WILL NO LONGER TURN ON. THE MALFUNCTIONING FEATURE (STEERING WHEEL LOCK) HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SUBSEQUENT MODELS, INDICATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZES THE MALFUNCTION. REPAIR INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1300. *TR

  8. Suspension, Tires, Sep 16, 2009

    TIRE CUPPING ON 3 SERIES BMWS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER STATES ITS A TIRE ISSUE. IF ONE LOOKS ON ANY OF THE CAR FORUMS ONLINE, YOU QUICKLY CAN DETERMINE THERE IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH TIRE CUPPING ON THESE VEHICLES. I OWN A 2007 335I BMW. I'M HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIRES @ 19K MILES. *TR

  9. Tires, Aug 25, 2009

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A SET OF BRIDGESTONE RUN FLAT POTENZA TIRES ON A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT RELATED RUN FLAT TIRE COMPLAINTS AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT FORM OF TREAD SEPARATION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ASSUME THE REPAIR COST.

  10. Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 18, 2009

    THE FUEL PUMP/ INJECTOR PROBLEM IN BMW335I TWIN TURBO CHARGED ENGINES. THE CAR SUDDENLY GETS INTO A LIMP MODE(DROP POWER AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS ON) WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAYS/RAMPS ETC. FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN IN 2 MONTHS. FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED. DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

  11. Air bags, Aug 15, 2009

    PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR IS FAULT CAUSING MY AIRBAG SENSOR TO GO OFF WHICH INDICATES THAT THERE IS A "FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINING SYSTEM." ONE DAY THE LIGHT WAS OFF - THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS ON. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED ON MY 2007 BMW 328XI. THERE ARE SIMILAR RECALLS ON 2009 BMWS? IS THERE ONE FOR THE 2007 MODEL? *TR

  12. Engine and engine cooling, Aug 12, 2009

    I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM FLORIDA TO NEW MEXICO AS PART OF A MILITARY CHANGE OF STATION. I WAS ON MY SECOND DAY OF THE TRIP, FROM FORT WORTH, TX TO PORTALS, NM, WHEN I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER 5 TIMES IN A 200 MILE DISTANCE (NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH). TWICE, THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF SUDDENLY, DISABLING THE POWER STEERING, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. ONCE WAS AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE; THE OTHER WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SMALL TOWN. THANKFULLY IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EITHER TIME. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED REGARDING THESE INCIDENTS. IT IS A 90 MINUTE DRIVE ON VERY DESOLATE ROADS TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IN LUBBOCK, TX, SO I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE CAR BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AS IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. I AM AWAITING A RESOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. *TR

  13. Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 20, 2009

    CAN NOT UNLOCK DOORS USING THE KEY FOB! ONLY DRIVER DOOR CAN BE OPENED MANUALLY USING THE KEY INSIDE THE KEY FOB! NO OTHER DOORS COULD BE OPENED EVEN MANUALLY USING THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES! (THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED OTHERWISE IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ISSUES IF PROBLEM OCCURS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD MAKE EXITING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE ). *TR

  14. Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 9, 2009

    HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED ON MY CAR TWICE 1ST INSTANCE - 3000 MILES ON CAR - 2 MONTHS OLD - OCTOBERISH OF 07 - SYMPTOMS WERE LONG CRANKING - TAKING 5-10 SECONDS TO START - OCCASIONALLY 20-30 SECONDS. (COMPLAINT WAS NEVER FILED - DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY) 2ND INSTANCE - JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO - NO WARNING - DRIVING AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, PULLING INTO A BUSY STREET, SUDDENLY ALMOST NO POWER, AND ALMOST STALLED, AND WOULD HAVE IF I DIDN'T GET THE CLUTCH IN AND FOOT ON THE GAS AS QUICK AS I DID. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. HAD TO ABUSE THE CLUTCH JUST TO GET IT TO MOVE WITHOUT STALLING, FELT LIKE IT HAD MAYBE 50 HORSEPOWER IF I WAS LUCKY. NO EXAGGERATION. - WOULD OCCASIONALLY STALL AT IDLE AT THIS POINT. BARELY LIMPED A FEW BLOCKS HOME. (THIS FUEL PUMP WAS THE 2ND IN THE CAR, HAD ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT AND ABOUT 1.5 YEARS). *TR

  15. Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Jul 2, 2009

    2007 335I COUPE - CAR EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. CAR OMITS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS CAR HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN NOW AT LEAST 3 TIMES. THE PREVIOUS TWO TIMES BMW DEALER FOUND FAULTY FUEL PUMPS AND REPLACED. NOW, BMW DEALER CLAIMS THE CAR NEEDS NEW CAM SHAFTS IN THE CAR, MEANWHILE ENGINE HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY TO ATTEMPT THE REPAIR. IT SEEMS LIKE BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CAR HAS MAJOR ISSUES.*TR

  16. Power train, May 29, 2009

    FACSIMILE FROM SENATOR BOB CORKER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2007 335I TRANSMISSION BMW. *NJ IN DEC 2007, PART OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE PART KNOWN AS THE FRICTION PAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AND SMOKE WISPING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER STATED HE INHALED THAT MATERIAL IN ITS SMOKE FORM, NOT ITS DUST FORM. HE WAS ALSO TOLD, THE SLAVE MASTER CYLINDER'S FLUID ALSO PRODUCED ADDITIONAL SMOKE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE COMPLAINED OF AN OVERPOWERING INTENSE BURNING RUBBER SMELL AS THE FIRST EXPOSURE. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD, THE SEEPING FLUID WAS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

  17. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Apr 20, 2009

    MY VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHUTS DOWN WHEN IM STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT IT ON IN THE MORNING, THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN FIVE OR SIX TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND THEY REFRESH A COMPUTER THEY SAY. ALSO THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

  18. Engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2009

    PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE. HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4875087&POSTED=1#POST4875087 BMW HAS A TICKING PROBLEM WITH ALL 2007 AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES. BMW HAS A TSB TO "BLEED" THE VEHICLE. BMW IS AWARE THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BMW NEEDS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD TO FIX THE DEFECT. BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE 2009 CYLINDER HEAD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BMW IS PUTTING ITS CONSUMERS THROUGH A FRAUDULENT SCHEME TO ATTEMPT FRIVOLOUS REPAIRS WHILE KNOWING A FULL CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. ACCORDINGLY, I ASK THAT THIS GOVERNMENT SERVICE DEMAND BMW ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT TO ITS 2007 AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES VEHICLES. *TR

  19. Engine and engine cooling, Apr 5, 2009

    SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 6 WEEKS. I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED THE DEALERSHIP TO RESET THE COMPUTER PROGRAM, REPLACE A PURGE VALVE, AND EVENTUALLY HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS HAS RESULTED IN 5 VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE. *TR

  20. Tires, Mar 29, 2009

    SIDEWALL BULGE ON TIRE. UNKNOWN CAUSE. *TR

  21. Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 15, 2009

    PURCHASED A BMW 335I COUPE FROM BMW OF MANHATTAN AND IT HAS BROKEN DOWN HALF A DOZEN TIMES AND SPENT OVER 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AT THE SERVICE DEPT. WHEN IT BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME DUE TO FAULTY FUEL PUMP THAT I WAS TOLD IS ON BACK ORDER THEN BROKE DOWN FEW MORE TIMES DUE TO SIMILAR PROBLEMS INCLUDING RECENTLY CAR DYING ON ME DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR MALFUNCTION. 23K MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

  22. Equipment, Mar 5, 2009

    BMW AUTO JACK PART # 71 10 6 773 536 USED WITH 2007 BMW 328I SPORT WAGON. THIS FLOOR JACK IS AN ACCESSORY FOR BMW AUTOMOBILES AND AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM BMW DEALERS. ALTHOUGH SOLD AND MARKETED BY BMW, IT APPEARS TO BE MANUFACTURED BY BILSTEIN. THIS JACK FAILED ON ITS 4TH USE. THE MAIN SCREW MECHANISM STRIPPED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE FALLING. THE JACK WAS ON A SECURE GARAGE FLOOR, WAS SECURELY LOCKED INTO THE BMW JACK POSTS ON THE VEHICLE, AND WAS USED ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS IN EVERY RESPECT. THE CAR WAS SECURE AND THE JACK WAS IN A PROPER VERTICAL ORIENTATION. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE THREADS IN THE MAIN SCREW-TYPE MECHANISM HAVE STRIPPED. I WILL ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT FROM BMW. *TR

  23. Engine and engine cooling, Feb 20, 2009

    2006, 2007, AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES HAVE A METALLIC TICKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. *TR

  24. Tires, Feb 18, 2009

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AT 18,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWERVING TO THE LEFT AND THE TIRES FELT HARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND ALL FOUR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES ARE CALLED "FLAT" TIRES AND NO SPARE TIRE WAS AVAILABLE. IF THE "FLAT" TIRES EVER GO FLAT, SHE CAN STILL DRIVE ON THEM FOR AT LEAST 125 MORE MILES. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE TWO OF HER TIRES FOR FREE, BUT THE OTHER TWO MUST BE PURCHASED AT THE COST OF $625. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,025.

  25. Fuel system, Other, Latches/locks/linkages, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 29, 2009

    I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 BMW 335I FROM BMW OF HONOLULU IN JAN 2007. 4 MONTHS LATER THE CAR STALLED WITH MY WIFE AND SON IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CAR WAS TOWED IN TO BMW AND REMAINED THERE FOR OVER A MONTH. BMW COULD NOT GIVE ME A STATUS AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON, NOR DID THEY TRY TO CONTACT ME. EVENTUALLY, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH I WOULD THINK WOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS UNTIL CARS WERE TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR SOME OTHER ISSUE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED IN 3 TIMES AND DRIVEN IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS 7 OTHER TIMES IN 2 YEARS. THIS HAS COST ME TO MISS WORK AND MOST OF ALL AN INCONVENIENCE TO MY FAMILY. USUALLY THERE IS NO LOANER AVAILABLE, SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SHUTTLE WHICH DRIVES ALL OVER THE ISLAND DROPPING OFF EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS THERE HAVING THEIR 335I WORKED ON. I HAVE COMPLAINED WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY FINALLY AGREED TO PAY A MONTHS CAR PAYMENT AND INSURANCE. I HAVE RECENTLY SUBMITTED ANOTHER ONLINE COMPLAINT WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. SPOKE WITH BMW OF HONOLULU MANAGEMENT AND THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING BACK THE CAR AND TRYING TO PUT ME IN ANOTHER 335I. DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO DO THAT. WHAT KILLS ME IS THEIR RELUCTANCE TO KEEP ME INFORMED OF ANYTHING. THEY TELL ME, I WILL GET THIS INFORMATION TO YOU ON A CERTAIN DAY AND I DON'T HEAR FROM THEM FOR DAYS AT A TIME. THE ONLINE BLOGS ARE AMAZING. THEIR COMMENTS SOUND EXACTLY LIKE MINE. I JUST RETIRED FROM THE U.S. NAVY AND I WORK WITH JAGS AT A JOINT HEADQUARTERS COMMAND IN HAWAII AND THEY HAVE DIRECTED ME TO SEEK ADVICE FROM A CIVILIAN ATTORNEY. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SUE BMW FOR ALL THEY HAVE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY THROUGH. BEING THAT THEY KNEW OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE NOT INFORMED THE CUSTOMERS I AM SURPRISED THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR