2006 BMW 325I body problems

STRUCTURE

THERE IS A CLEAR MANUFACTURING DEFECT CONCERNING THE ALUMINUM SCREWS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE ALUMINUM HEAD BOLTS ON 2006 BMW 325I'S. THE NHTSA HAS RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. THE ALUMINUM SCREWS/BOLTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED SINCE DISCOVERING THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. BMWNA HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SERVICE ISSUES RELATED TO THESE DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM SCREWS/BOLTS. THEY HAVE OPENLY ADMITTED THAT THE SCREWS/BOLTS IN QUESTION WERE DEFECTIVE IN NATURE AND PRODUCTION, AND THAT THE SCREWS/BOLTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED TO AVOID FUTURE FAILURES. SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS INCLUDED, AND RESULTED IN, VEHICLES LEAKING OIL IN THE ENGINE AREA, POTENTIALLY CAUSING FIRES IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEFECTIVE SCREWS/BOLTS POSE A SERIOUS POTENTIAL RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES, AS WELL AS TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO SHARE THE ROADWAY WITH THEM. IT IS MY STRONG BELIEF THAT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY RISK CANNOT GO ON ANY FURTHER WITHOUT PROPER INTERVENTION FROM THE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WE EMPLOY AS TAXPAYERS. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT BMWNA ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF THE BMW 2006 325I'S AFFECTED BY THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IF BMWNA DECLINES TO ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. I HAVE LEARNED THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM SCREWS/BOLTS, AND HAS ISSUED AN INTERNAL "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" (TSB) TO FOREWARN DEALERSHIPS OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND THE STEPS TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. I HAVE DILIGENTLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE AS PRESCRIBED BY THE SERVICE MANUALS, AS WELL AS THE ON BOARD COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE. MY CONTENTION IS EXTREMELY CLEAR; THE ALUMINUM BOLTS ARE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER!

NHTSA complaint #10678988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

WINDSHIELD MOLDING DISINTEGRATING INTO PIECES , DEFECTIVE MATERIAL - CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK OR COME LOOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10572620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS PARKING AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. USUALLY I JUST NEED TO PULL THE HANDLE TWICE AND IT OPENS BUT THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED THE ELECTRIC REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND IT DID NOT AFFECT THE LOCKS. I TRIED THE PASSENGER DOOR AND IT DID NOT OPEN EITHER. I HAD TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE BACK DOORS. I DETERMINED A FUSE WAS BLOWN AND REPLACED THE 15A FUSE WITH A 20A FUSE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BMW FORUM AND IT NOW WORKS FINE. THE CONCERN IS IF I HAD TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE FRONT DOORS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED.

NHTSA complaint #10551586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

MY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED IN THE GARAGE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS EITHER FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED AND THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10523593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

SMALL CRACK HAS DEVELOPED IN THE MAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP IS ON. NHTSA RECALL BULLETIN INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL (REFERENCE NUMBER 08V384000) ON THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS; HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED. CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE THEY HAVE A RECALL ON OVER 200,000 VEHICLES AND I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. ESTIMATED REPAIR IS $1,500. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10498285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

NUMBER OF DEATHS? NONE YET, BUT TBD FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION. 2006 BMW 325I DOORS LOCKS FAIL TO OPEN, AND ALL INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES ARE INOPERATIVE. ALL DOORS ARE INOPERATIVE IF ONE FUSE (#57) FAILS OR IF THE BATTERY FAILS. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY. IF THERE IS A CRASH OR FIRE, PEOPLE CAN DIE INSIDE THE VEHICLE IF THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED. WHEN THIS FUSE FAILS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES DON'T FUNCTION. THE ONLY WAY TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE VEHICLE IS TO REMOVE THE HIDDEN KEY FROM THE FOB, OPEN THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THAT WILL ALLOW THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO OPEN BUT NONE OF THE OTHER DOORS WILL OPEN. IS THIS ALLOWABLE UNDER NHTSA SAFETY REGULATIONS? I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT IT IS. THIS IS NOT AN OBSCURE OCCURRENCE EITHER. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR A FEW TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON BMW OWNER'S FORUMS AND ON NHTSA COMPLAINT FORMS. LINKS BELOW: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2006/BMW/3_SERIES/LATCHES_LOCKS_LINKAGES/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-342620.HTML

NHTSA complaint #10456872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKS FAILED BY USE OF THE KEY AND THE REMOTE. THE FRONT DOORS WERE STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE REAR DOORS WERE STUCK IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT EVERY DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA complaint #10432192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I HAVE A 2006 BMW 325 I WITH ONLY 34K ON IT,ALL ITS DOORS EXCEPT THE DRIVER DOOR CANT BE OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE,ONLY DRIVER DOOR OPEN. IT IS A GREAT DANGER IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FIRE PEOPLE FROM PASSENGER SIDE OR FROM REAR SEATS CAN GET STUCK .

NHTSA complaint #10345747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE CAR DOOR CAN'T BE OPENED FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AND THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS USING THE MANUAL KEY FROM OUTSIDE. THIS IS A BIG ISSUE IF THE DRIVER IS LOCKED INSIDE DURING A HAZARD. THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS MANY OF CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. PLEASE REFER TO THIS FORUM. HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=160062.

NHTSA complaint #10334554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE PAINT PEELING. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONSOLE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE PEELING PAINT. IN MARCH 2007 THE STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED TWICE. IN ADDITION, THE SUN ROOF FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUN ROOF WERE BOTH CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SPEED AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NOT FACTORS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 15,000 ,AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA complaint #10188932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

REGARDING HIS DEFECTIVE 2006 BMW 325I CUSTOMER IS SEEKING FULL REIMBURSEMENT, REPLACEMENT OF THE CAR OR UPGRADE**CC THE SUNROOF AND DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, THE BRAKE PADS WERE FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE HOOD WAS VIBRATING. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND DISCOVERED THE HOOD WASN'T LEVELED. THE DRIVER SIDE DIDN'T SEEM TO FULLY ADHERE TO THE BODY OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10182688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.