27 of the 326 complaints filed about the BMW 330CI are about the engine — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
27
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
ENGINE
THE COOLING FANS EXPLODED AFTER I STARTED MY CAR UP FOLLOWING COOLANT FLUID LEAKING OUT THE BOTTOM OF A HOSE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS SHOWING THE CAR OVER HEATING IN THE END RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #11350004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THIS ISSUE IS WITH THE PISTON RINGS OF THE BMW M54 ENGINE. IT BURNS OIL AT A CRAZY RATE AND ONLY NOW ARE PEOPLE FINALLY FIGURING OUT THAT THIS IS THE ISSUE. BMW LISTS SEVERAL OTHER FIXES FOR THE OIL BURNING ISSUE, BUT NONE OF THEM SOLVE THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE OWNER TO SEEK REPAIRS THAT DON'T SOLVE THE ISSUE. BMW STATES THAT IT IS "NORMAL" FOR THE M54 ENGINE TO BURN UP TO 1 QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 1000 MILES. THIS ENGINE IS IN MANY DIFFERENT BMW MODELS AND MANY OWNERS ARE EFFECTED. MY CAR NOW BURNS ABOUT 1 QUART FOR EVERY 500 MILES I DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11066685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE SPARK PLUGS AND COILS THAT WHERE INSTALLED IN MY BMW AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER DID NOT WORK PROPLERLY OR WHERE INSTALLED PROPERLY THEY DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A WARRANTY TIME FRAME IT ONLY RAN 4,000 MORE MILES SINCE THEY DID A SERVICE ON IT MY CAR JUST STOPED WORKING IT WOULDN'T TURN ON ANYMORE I DON'T WANT THIS HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK AND ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME OR AROUND IT COULD HAVE JUST STOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BUT THANKFULLY I WAS AT A PARKING LOT I JUST WOULD LIKE THE BMW SERVICE CENTER TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND TO REPAIR MY CAR THE RIGHT WAY THEY USED PARTS THAT STOPED WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #11063908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I BOUGHT A USED 2001 BMW 330CI 2DR COUPE ON THE DATE OF MAY 5TH 2017. I HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME APPROXIMATELY 7 WEEKS TIME. THE TAKATA AIR BAG WAS PRESENT IN THIS MODEL, ON TOP OF THAT THE WELL KNOWN OVERHEATING ISSUE CAME MY WAY. MY MODEL WOULD OVERHEAT AT THE POINT WHERE THE AUXILIARY ELECTRICAL FAN WOULD NOT KICK IN TO AVOID OVERHEATING. ELECTRICAL STABILITY WAS AT LOST DUE TO THESE PRESENT ISSUES. ODDLY ENOUGH THE FAN WOULD ACTUALLY RUN IN REVERSE POLARITY PUSHING AIR OUT OF THE ENGINE WHEN IT SHOULD BE PULLING THE AIR IN. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET MY CAR OVERHEATED CAUSING ME TO BREAK DOWN, A THERMOSTAT ISSUE COULD BE PRESENT ALL OF THIS OCCURRED IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #11023362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE SET AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON.
NHTSA complaint #10484083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT FAN MALFUNCTIONED AND AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COOLANT FAN AND OTHER BELTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10472016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR WAS DRIVEN DAILY. PARKED IN GARAGE AT 6:30PM. AT 7:20AM THE FOLLOWING DAY IT WAS NOTICED THAT A WHITE VAPOR/SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT GRILL OF THE BMW 330CI. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STARTED SINCE BEING PARKED THE EVENING BEFORE. WITHIN MINUTES, THE WHITE VAPOR TURNED INTO HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. (FLAMES WERE VISIBLE FROM BENEATH THE CAR AS IT WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE) THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AT THE FIRST NOTICE OF VAPOR AND FIREMEN ARRIVED 12 - 18 MIN. LATER, AT WHICH TIME THE FIRE WAS FULLY ENGAGED. TWO EXPLOSIONS EMANATED FROM THE CAR. THE FIRE AND ITS SIGNIFICANT HEAT CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO A PORTION OF THE HOME, INCLUDING A BENT LOLLY COLUMN AND BURNED FRAMING. IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OVER 2 HOURS TO FULLY EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHICH LED TO MAJOR SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10463253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. IN ADDITION, THE COOLING FAN WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #10459867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 BMW 330CIC. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE GEARS DO NOT ALWAYS SHIFT DOWN WHEN NEEDING TO STOP, OFTEN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD AND CONTINUE AT THE SAME SPEED. *TGW THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE VANOS UNIT WHICH CONTROLLED THE CAMSHAFT AND IS PART OF THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10373126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2:00 PM I LEFT GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO TO GO TO A MEETING AT 49TH AND NOME STREET. I ARRIVED AT MY MEETING IN MY BMW AT APPROXIMATELY AT 2:30 WITH NO PROBLEMS OR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS. 4:00 PM I LEFT THE MEETING. THEN I SMELLED SOMETHING WITH A DISTINCT ODOR 4:08 PM I DROVE ONTO EAST BOUND I-70 AND CONTINUED ON I-70 UNTIL THE RAMP TO SOUTHBOUND I-225, APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE OR SO. I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AT THIS TIME. MY WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP AND I HAD THE RADIO ON. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ON INSIDE THE CAR. THE ODOR GOT A LOT WORSE AS I ENTERED ONTO THE RAMP. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE BMW FRONT VENTS AND THEN A FLAME CAME FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS NOW ON I-225 HEADING SOUTHBOUND AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. AS I WAS MOVING OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP. A LOT OF SMOKE CAME OUT FROM ALL OF THE FRONT VENTS, AND ESPECIALLY THE FRONT DEFROSTER. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT AND IT WAS NORMAL. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS RUNNING FINE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THEN MORE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. THEN, FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND FRONT DEFROSTER. 4:10 PM THE ENGINE WAS STILL TURNED OFF. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. FLAMES AND BLACK SMOKE WENT THROUGH THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF STRAIGHT UP. 4:20 PM THE AURORA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MORE AURORA POLICE CAME.. THEY TOWED THE CAR AWAY TO THE IMPOUND LOT. THE INVESTIGATOR SAID MAYBE HEADLIGHT CONTROL MODULE IS THE PROBLEM. ALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE AT BMW SERVICE AND NOTHING RECENT. CAR IS TOTALED. NO AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES.
NHTSA complaint #10319267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE IS A 330CIC WHICH A PURCHASED IN 2007, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM & OXYGEN SENSORS.
NHTSA complaint #10313030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I WAS NOTIFIED BY A MECHANIC THAT MY CAR'S COOLING SYSTEM HAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT ... FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING AND WOULD SIMPLY PUT ANTIFREEZE IN IT AND PROCEED. WELL MY COOLING SYSTEM FINALLY DIED ON JAN 23, 2009 ON ME AND MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT I AM ELIGIBLE TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER SINCE THEY HAD A RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR MY CAR'S MAKE/MODEL. I CONTACTED BMW TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALL AND CITEDFOR THEM THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING AS WELL AS THE RECALL NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULDNT' FIX MY CAR AND THAT I WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL (THE RECALL #'S ARE: 02V138000 AND 01V206000).
NHTSA complaint #10256925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330CI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE COOLING FAN MOTOR FAILED. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #10238053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON ALL E46 330 M54 ENGINES WITH THE ZHP(PERFORMANCE PACKAGE) THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO BMW NA ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AT 2000 - 3000 RPMS THE ENGINE RATTLES LIKE A COFFEE CAN FULL OF MARBLES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BMW BUT THEY STATED THAT THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. BMW IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THE DUAL VANOS UNIT THEY PUT INTO THE M54 ENGINE IS USING BELRIN BUSHINGS AND THEY ARE FAILING. THERE IS A COMPANY CALLED DR. VANOS THAT FIXES THIS ISSUE BY REBUILDING THE OEM VANOS WITH UPGRADED BUSHINGS. THIS UNIT COST $500, WHICH I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND AS I HAVE A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM BMW.
NHTSA complaint #10227863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW 2004 330CI. THE OIL LIGHT COMES UP EVERY 400-500 OR 700-800 MILES DEPENDING IF IT IS DRIVEN IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAYS. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS CHECKED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR, CRANKCASE VENT VALVE, VENT PIPE, VENT HOSE, RETURN PIPE, WASH PUMP SO FAR BUT THE CAR STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. CAR GOES TO THE DEALER ONCE A MONTH APPROX.
NHTSA complaint #10175786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2004 BMW 330CI UPON START UP THE ENGINE OVER REVS AND SOMETIMES STALLS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THIS MALFUNCTION HAS ALSO OCCURED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10134559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE STOPPED, ENGINE SPEED WOULD DROP NEAR OR BELOW IDLE. HAPPENED AFTER COLD ENGINE START OR WHILE WARM AFTER DRIVING (BOTH NO-TRAFFIC AND HIGH-TRAFFIC). TWICE THE CAR ACTUALLY STALLED (IN GARAGE AND AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). ROUGH IDLE CAN BE FELT IN PEDALS AND (6-SPEED MANUAL) SHIFTER. SEE ALSO ODI IDS 10064475,10062056,10064439.
NHTSA complaint #10068498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2004 BMW 330CI 6 SPEED MANUAL - 3.0L INLINE 6 CYL. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - IDLE BECOMES ERRATIC AND CAR STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROX 6-8 TIMES OVER 8 MONTHS/5000 MILES. NORMALLY HAPPENS ON WARM DAYS AND AT A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN. IT ONCE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS SEEN THE CAR 3+ TIMES AND UPDATED IDLE CONTROL VALVE, AND ENGINE SOFTWARE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND DOESN'T THROW ANY COMPUTER FAULT CODES.
NHTSA complaint #10067889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW 330I EXHIBITS FREQUENT ERRATIC IDLE WHEN STOPPED, AS WELL AS ENGINE STALLING. ERRATIC IDLE IS IN THE FORM OF ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 400-500 RPM. STALLING SOMETIMES OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THESE IDLE SPEED DROPS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG RECENT 330 MODEL BMW'S, AND APPARENTLY THERE IS NO KNOWN SOLUTION AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10065933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE POWER FAILURE AND HEAVILY DISTORTED WINDSHIELD ON A 2004 BMW 330CI. REPEATED FAILURE OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (TWICE IN AN ITERSECTION). BMW REPLACED ENG. COMPUTER, THEN INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE AFTER SECOND INCIDENT. ROUGH IDLE AND SURGING CONTINUES AND GAS MILEAGE IN CITY DROPPED TO 12.6-13 MPG. ADDITIONALLY THE WINDSHIELD IS HEAVILY DISTORTED. BMW REPLACED IT WITH AN EQUALLY DISTORTED ONE AND THE FSE SAID"ALL 3 SERIES WINDSHIELDS ARE DISTORTED,WORSE ON THE X3". IT IS LIKE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITHOUT WIPERS. IN BOTH CASES THE BMW FSE HAS STATED THE " THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO BE DONE". THIS IS THE REAL BMW WARRANTY SERVICE. THIS LEMON IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10064510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.