18 of the 93 complaints about the 2002 BMW 325XI are about the engine — 19% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,891 miles.
18
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
IGNITION SELANIOD ISN'T WORKING. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR, THE IGNITION THINKS THE CAR HAS STARTED, BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T TURN OVER. IT TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET THE CAR TO START.
NHTSA complaint #11023601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR A CIRCUIT INTERMITTENT CAN GO BAD LEADING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF DRIVING ON THE ROAD
NHTSA complaint #10956936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED GOOD WITH VARIOUS SERVICE PROVIDERS YET VEHICLE HAD A PERSISTENT BATTERY DRAIN WITCH WOULD ONLY APPEAR AFTER CAR WAS ON THE ROAD AND DRIVING. AFTER CAR STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO LOW BATTERY IT THEN WOULD NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON UNTIL JUST A MINUTE OR TWO PRIOR TO ENGINE QUITTING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MONROVIA BMW IN MONROVIA CA AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY. INSTALLED NEW (NOT REBUILT) SPECIFIED ALTERNATOR AND NEW BATTERY AND 5 MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM CAME BACK. FURTHER OWN PERSONAL INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT BMW IS AWARE OF A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW AND I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT FROM BMW TECH'S AT TIME OF INSPECTION AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A SYSTEM PROBLEM WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL "BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR" OF "FINAL STAGE UNIT" (FSU) AND ITS INTERNAL RESISTOR FAILS. THIS PART HAS HUNDREDS OF WRITE UPS ONLINE FROM OTHER OWNERS AND HAS GONE BACK MANY YEARS. WHEN THE PART FAILS IT LEADS TO A WHOLE VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AFFECTED VEHICLE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FULL ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND LEAD TO A CRASH. MY VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING LOSS OF ENGINE COILS AND THESE ARE ALSO PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT COULD BE BEING IMPACTED BY THIS FSU / RESISTOR PROBLEM. FIRE AND OR OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10561222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE BELTS. BLEEDER SCREW WAS STRIPPED IN EXPANSION TANK. REPLACED THE WATER PUMPAND FILLED SYSTEM UPON BLEEDING THE SYSTEM FOUND THE BLEEDER SCREW STRIPPED OUT. REPLACED COOLANT EXPANSION TANK AND BLEEDER SCREW.
NHTSA complaint #10493113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
BATTERY WAS REPLACED A FEW WEEKS AGO BUT IT WENT DEAD AGAIN. TOOK THAT CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN ALTERNATOR. REPLACED ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10493109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
HEADLIGHTS CAME ON FOR BRAKE, ABS, TRACTION, ETC. AND CAR WENT DEAD. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN PERFORMED BATTERY AND DRAW TEST. NO DRAWS WERE FOUND SO BATTERY WAS DEEMED FAILED. REPLACED BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #10493110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
OIL LEVEL SENSOR KEEPS TRIPPING ALL THE TIME. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR TO BE FAULTY. FOUND FAULT 11 THERMAL OIL SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #10493114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A/C SYSTEM WHEN ENGAGED MADE A LOT OF NOISE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED AND FOUND NOISE COMING FROM A/C COMPRESSOR. REPLACED COMPRESSOR.
NHTSA complaint #10493119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED FAULT MEMORY AND FOUND CODE 190 O2S FAULT R/R LOWER SPLASH SHIELD R/R VALVE COVER AND INJECTORS. REPLACED SENSOR AND CLEARED FAULT.
NHTSA complaint #10493122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
HAD MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM VALVE COVER AREA. WAS PUTTING A QUART OF OIL INTO THE CAR EVERY 500 MILES. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP FOUND OUT THAT VALVE COVER WAS CRACKED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AND REPLACED THE VALVE COVER AND GASKETS.
NHTSA complaint #10492968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WAS PUTTING OIL INTO THE ENGINE EVERY 500 MILES FOR ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AND FINALLY DECIDED ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. NO ACCIDENTS WITH CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, TECHNICIAN PERFORMED LEAK DOWN TEST ON ENGINE AND NOTICED CYLINDER 1 READING AT 50 PSI AND #2 CYLINDER READING AT 5 PSI. PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST AND CYLINDER #1 AND #2 FAILED. COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AS REPAIRS COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED. COST WAS OVER $5000.
NHTSA complaint #10492969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 800 MILES. COMPRESSION TEST AND LEAK DOWN TEST SHOWED 220PSI. TECHNICIAN SUSPECTED CRANKCASE VENT VALVE. REPLACED CRANKCASE VENT VALVE.
NHTSA complaint #10492974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
COOLANT LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING. WENT TO DEALERSHIP - TECHNICIAN STATED THAT COOLANT TANK WAS EMPTY. PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST AND FOUND EXPANSION TANK AND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKING. REPLACED EXPANSION TANK AND UPPER HOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10492979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
HEARD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP - TECHNICIAN SAID THAT HE FOUND THAT THE ALT BELT TENSIONER PULLEY WAS FAULTY AND ALSO FOUND DEFLECTOR PULLEY DEFECTIVE. REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10492982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
NOTICED FAN BELT IS MAKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP FOUND FAULTY MECHANICAL STYLE ALTERNATOR BELT TENSIONER. REPLACED ALTERNATOR BELT TENSIONER WITH HYDRAULIC TENSIONER AND NEW BELT.
NHTSA complaint #10492983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
SAW OIL ON THE ASPHALT SO TOOK CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. TECHNICIAN LOOKED OVER THE CAR AND FOUND VANOS PROFILE GASKET IS LEAKING OIL. VALVE COVER GASKET IS LEAKING. REPLACED VANOS PROFILE GASKETS AND VALVE COVER GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #10492985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2002 BMW 325 XI HAVING NEW WATER PUMP AND FAN CLUTCH REPLACED AND OIL CHANGE (4/27/09). AFTER 15 MINUTES DRIVE ON I-90 (4/28/09) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF I-90 NEAR EXIT 11A. NEAR COLLISION WITH A BIG TRUCK THAT CAUSE TRAFFIC STOP. MANAGE TO GET INTO THE MASPIKE TOLL PLAZA, THE ENGINE DAMAGE AND OVERHEATED. CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAVE THE OLD PUMP, NEW PUMP, FAN CLUTCHES (OLD AND NEW). THE CAR NEARLY GOT HIT BY A TRUCK THAT MAY CAUSE FATAL. THE ENGINE THAT HAVE THE PARTS REPLACE TO PREVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEAT OVERHEATED. NO REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE ENGINE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10267676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW 2002 325XI AT LOW TEMPERATURES LIKE 5 OR 6 F. THE CRANKCASE VENT VALVE FROZE AND THE HIGH PRESSURE BUILT UP CAUSED THE VALVE TO BLOW AND COUPLE OF GASKETS BURNT. OIL SPILLED OVER TO THE EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF DRIVEN COUPLE OF MORE MILES THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE. THE CAR JUST HAS 67000 MILES WHICH IS FAIRLY LOW MILES AND NEW CAR. ALL THE MECHANICS I TALKED TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND ASKED ME NOT TO DRIVE AT ALL. THEY SAID IT CAN CATCH FIRE IF DRIVEN LITTLE MORE. ITS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST OF THE MECHANICS RECOGNIZE AND FREQUENCY IS HIGH BUT IN COLD STATES NOT IN WARMER STATES.
NHTSA complaint #10260856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.