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
550.0%
Wiring
220.0%
Front Underhood
110.0%
Module
110.0%
Rear Compartment/Trunk
110.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 120,000 milesChester 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 milesSnook, 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 milesNewport 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 milesNewport 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 milesNewport 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, CA1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIRE. NO OTHER DETAILS WERE PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #10142677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,700 milesWinston-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.