FaultScore

2000 BMW 323I electrical problems

10 of the 459 complaints about the 2000 BMW 323I are about the electrical system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 47,588 miles.

B

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 5 50.0%
Wiring 2 20.0%
Front Underhood 1 10.0%
Module 1 10.0%
Rear Compartment/Trunk 1 10.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 120,000 miles Chester Springs, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK IF THEY ARE PARKED IN THE SUN IN TEMP. IN EXCESS OF 80-85 DEGREES. THE DOOR CENTRAL LOCKING DOES NOT WORK WITH EITHER THE KEYS (TWICE CLICKS TO UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS). ONCE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS OPENED IT TAKES 1/2 HOUR OF AIR CONDITIONING BLAST TO HAVE THE SYSTEM COOL DOWN AND ALLOW THE UNLOCKING WITH THE BUTTON OR THE REMOTE.

NHTSA complaint #10513883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 121,000 miles Snook, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER HAVING THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED AND A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT COMPLETED AT A BMW SERVICE DEALERSHIP IN TYLER, TX, APPARENTLY THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN) FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THIS SENSOR FAILED, ALL THREE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CEASED TO WORK. ACCORDING TO THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO RE-CALIBRATE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AFTER AN ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETED. ADDITIONALLY, PER THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE REPLACING STEERING ANGLE SENSORS IN A VARIETY OF BMW AUTOMOBILES AT "3 TO 4 PER WEEK". ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS BETWEEN $500 - $1000.

NHTSA complaint #10444910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DOOR LOCKS OF MY CAR ARE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VIA REMOTE AND A BUTTON ON MY CENTER CONSOLE. THE GM5 DOOR LOCKING MODULE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES, ONE OF WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS WHILE YOU ARE IN THE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT ONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE UNLOCK BUTTON OR REMOTE.

NHTSA complaint #10428445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Newport Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

LTR FROM (CA) RE 2000 BMW 323I, DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION CAUSE COMPUTER FAILURE WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER & DECELERATION AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER THE EMI, CHECK ENGINE SOON, AND DSC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10175355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,588 miles Newport Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2000 BMW 323I - EML, CHECK ENGINE SOON AND DSC LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR POWERED DOWN ON THE FREEWAY (BRAKED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE). NEEDED TOW TO DEALER. CAR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND PROGRAMMED THE DME (DIGITAL MOTOR ELECTRONICS) . THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM - THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM AND AFTER PICKING UP CAR AT DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS REQUIRED THE RELAY TO BE REPLACED. THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS PICKED UP THE DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE GENERAL MODULE. TOTAL REPAIR TIME - APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH.

NHTSA complaint #10166054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,588 miles Newport Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

2000 BMW 323I - EML, CHECK ENGINE SOON AND DSC LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR POWERED DOWN ON THE FREEWAY (BRAKED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE). NEEDED TOW TO DEALER. CAR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND PROGRAMMED THE DME (DIGITAL MOTOR ELECTRONICS) . THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM - THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM AND AFTER PICKING UP CAR AT DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS REQUIRED THE RELAY TO BE REPLACED. THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS PICKED UP THE DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE GENERAL MODULE. TOTAL REPAIR TIME - APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH.

NHTSA complaint #10166054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corona, CA 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TIRE. NO OTHER DETAILS WERE PROVIDED.

NHTSA complaint #10142677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,700 miles Winston-Salem, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

DECK LID WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO WORN/CUT WIRES. THE CAR IS A 2000 BMW 323CIC WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN OPERATED SINCE NEW ONLY BY MY WIFE. THE CAR IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND HAS BEEN SERVICE BY BMW ONLY. A BACK UP LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT APPEARS EVIDENT THAT THE DECK LID HARNESS WAS EITHER IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY OR WAS OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. I WAS CONCERNED THAT CUT WIRES COULD HAVE PRODUCED A FIRE IF NOT CORRECTED IN A TIMELY FASHION. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT OUR LOCAL BMW DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10127093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mound, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT." DEALER HAD REPLACED ONE SENSOR UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT/ONE SENSOR ON THE DASHBOARD, AND RE-ATTACHED THE WIRING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10040488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyvale, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, INDICTATING A DEFECT. DEALER CLAIMS COMPUTER NEEDS TO UPDATED.

NHTSA complaint #857855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2000 BMW 323I problems

← Full 2000 BMW 323I report