1999 BMW 328I suspension problems

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED AND HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BUSHING HAD SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

NHTSA complaint #10983102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A MAINTENANCE CHECK WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOUNT FOR THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR AXLE AND SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS WON IN JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT THE TIME FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE REPAIR HAS ELAPSED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

NHTSA complaint #10419875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

BMW 328I YEAR 1999. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A REPUTABLE TECHNICIAN WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH REAR SUB-FRAM SEPERATION AND CRACKING. HE MENTIONED THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHCILE TO LOSE CONTROL. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAVE ONGOING PROBLEM. AFTER ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON WEB, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SAME MODEL YEAR(S) 1999-2002 3 SERIES BMW CARS. I HAVE OVER 200 NAMES MYSELF, OF LOGGED COMPLAINTS ON A BMW BLOG SITE. HERE IS MY COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA AT ABOUT 112K MILES I NOTICED A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAS MULTIPLE STRESS FRACTURES AND SEPERATIONS AT THE POINT WHERE THE MOUNT IS WELDED TO THE UNI-BODY. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINT. INSPECTIONS AT NORMAL INTERVALS. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY 90% OF THE TIME AND THE REST IN RESIDENTIAL STREETS. IT IS A FAMILY CAR AND HAS HAD NO MODIFICATIONS PERIOD. THE CAR WAS PRUCHASED WITH A BMWNA CPO WARRANTY THAT HAS SINCE EXPIRED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO COVER ANY REPAIR COSTS ( ESTIMATED AT >3000 DOLLARS) BMWNA HAS IGNORED REPEATED REQUESTS FROM OWNERS TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. IN FACT, BMW GERMANY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND COVERS THE COST OF REPAIRS, THEY EVEN HAVE A METHOD OF REPAIR. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THE SUSPENSION SHOULD NEVER SEPERATE FROM THE BODY BECAUSE OF TORSIONAL FORCES FROM THE TRANS/DIFF. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I PERSONALLY HAVE A LIST OF OVER 100 NAMES WITH DOCUMENTED SUBFRAME CRACKING/FAILURE OF THE E46 BODY YEARS 1999-2000. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THESE HAVE SUBFRAME DAMAGE AT THE SAME REAR DRIVERS SIDE DIFF MOUNT, IN OTHER WORDS, OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE FAILURE POINTS, THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE IS NEARLY ALWAYS THE FAILURE POINT !! PLEASE I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10321555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

1999 BMW 328I (E46) - DESIGN DEFECT IN THE REAR SUSPENSION LEADING TO A CRACK IN THE CHASSIS FLOOR WHERE THE REAR SUB-FRAME ATTACHES TO THE CHASSIS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE REAR SUSPENSION IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THERE ARE AT LEAST 50 INSTANCES OF THIS, OCCURRING ON 1999 - 2000 BMW E46 CARS AND ALMOST ALL OCCUR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET. SIMPLY DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR: "BMW E46 REAR SUBFRAME CRACKS". BMW HAS AGREED TO PAY 75% OF THE REPAIR COST BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CLEAR SITUATION REQUIRING A RECALL TO FIX AND/ OR STRENGTHEN THE SUSPENSION IN THESE CARS. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING TO FIX WHAT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF THIS MODEL (E46). MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR WITH MY THREE CHILDREN AGES 6, 5, AND 2!

NHTSA complaint #10135682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

REAR SUBFRAME TORN AWAY FROM CHASSIS CAUSING NOISY AND MISALIGNED SUSPENSION PARTS AND A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN FOR COMPLETE FAILURE. COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 WEBSITES DETAILING IT. TIME FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

NHTSA complaint #10119686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CAMBER, TOE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10100997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. EALER STATES:RUBBER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH UPDATED POLY URETHANE ONES. COST:$448.00.

NHTSA complaint #10074771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

RIGHT AND LEFT REAR SPRINGS BOTH BROKE AT SAME SPOTS. CAR HAS 92,000 MILES. CAR NEVER 'BOTTOMED OUT" OR HIT LARGE HOLE TO CAUSE SUCH A BREAK IN SPINGS.

NHTSA complaint #10020930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

CONSUMER RETURNS CAR TO SERVICE STATION BECAUSE OF A SENSATION OF SHIMMYING WHILE BRAKING AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #563946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CON, WHEN MANUFACTURER FINDS HAVE A REMEDY HE WILL ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #852108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.