2002 BMW 3 Series Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE TAIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BROWN WIRE CONNECTED TO THE TAIL LIGHT HAD MELTED. THE DEALER (BMW OF FAIRFAX, 8427 LEE HWY, FAIRFAX, VA 22031) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 242,266.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR LIGHT PANEL AND PLUG FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,722.

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB ON ZKW LABELED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED REFLECTOR BADLY. REMOVED HEADLIGHT BULB DUE TO CHANCE OF CATCHING FIRE. HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND UNABLE TO MOUNT HEADLIGHT BULB. ISSUE NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHERE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT STARTED LOOSING BRIGHTNESS AND SHINING TOWARDS RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. HOUSING IS BLACK FROM BURNING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR LIGHTS WOULD NOT OPERATE. AFTER REPLACING THE LIGHT BULBS, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WHILE CHANGING THE LIGHT BULBS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BURNED AND CHARRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

UNDER RECALL 11V438000 , BMW FOUND THE DEFECTIVE REAR LIGHTS. THEIR REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE A SINGLE GROUND WIRE WITH A LARGER GAUGE WIRE. THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AND NOT A CORRECTIVE MEASURE. THE ULTIMATE CAUSATION OF THE LIGHT ISSUE IS THE TRUNK DOOR PINCHING THE HARNESS LEADING TO THE LIGHT, WHICH CAUSE THE WIRES INSIDE THE HARNESS TO BREAK. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE MECHANIC WHOM SAID WAS NOT COVERED BY THIS CAMPAIGN. HE SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAD TO ULTIMATELY PAY OUT OF POCKET AND FIX THIS MYSELF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I BOUGHT MY 2002 BMW 325I FROM SAN FRANCISCO BMW IN 2003, SO FAR I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY ONE NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE REAR LIGHT. I WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR A YEAR, DURING THAT PERIOD THEY DISCOVERED A FAULTY IDLE AIR VALVE AND THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT TRYING TO SAVE MONEY UNDER WARRANTY. I COMPLAINED MANY TIMES TO THEM ABOUT THE STALLING OF MY CAR ON THE STREETS, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I E-MAILED TO THE MANAGER WHO IGNORED MY COMPLAINT. FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE AND SAFETY I DARE NOT DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. I CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE AIRBAGS, THEY SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR, I ASKED THEM TO SEND ME E-MAIL TO CONFIRM, THEY NEVER DID. THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK. THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE SHOULD BE SUSPENDED. *TR

NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL IS OUT AT TIMES. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET ARE BURNT. FAULT 36 (TURN INDICATOR, FRONT LEFT, FAULTY) IS SET IN FAULT MEMORY. CHECKED LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET ARE BURNT. REPLACED FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS HAD FAILED.THE CONTACT THEN DISCONNECTED THE WIRES FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE OF $1,300. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HAD BECOME VERY DIM. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE LIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE WIRES THAT HAD BECOME MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

I FOUND THAT MY REVERSE LIGHT WAS OUT LATE IN JULY AND TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I'VE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THE E46 MODEL AND I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF RECALL OR COMPENSATION FOR THE INADEQUACY OF THE REAR LIGHTS IN THIS MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL ALSO REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT RESPONDED AND FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED, BUT IT WAS UP TO THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY THAT WAS BURNED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS UP TO THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE HOUSING ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET AND WIRING MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS) BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH LIGHT BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,751.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY INCLUDING THE HAZARD LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL NUMBERS: 11V438000 ( EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS), 11V438000 ( EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS), AND 11V438000 ( EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE GROUND WIRE WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THAT HE SHOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE TO THE ASSEMBLY. IN ADDITION, THE GROUND WIRES MELTED THE CONNECTOR HOUSING AND THE CONNECTORS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

2002 BMW 325 XI. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIR COST *TGW THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 11V438000. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, TOO MUCH CURRENT/ELECTRICITY WAS FLOWING THROUGH THE VEHICLE TO THE REAR PANEL. BECAUSE OF THE VOLTAGE FLUCTUATION PROBLEM, THE REAR WARNING LAMP LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY TRIGGERED. THE INVOICE STATED THE CONTACTS, CONNECTORS AND WIRING WERE BURNT, THE CONNECTORS NEEDED TO REWIRED, AND THE CARRIERS AND REPETITIVE GROUNDS WERE REPLACED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD MALFUNCTION ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT, AND THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I FIXED IT WITH ELECTRICIAN'S TAPE. TODAY, WENT IN TO HAVE THE FIX PRESCRIBED BY RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-438000, WHICH EXACTLY ADDRESSED MY ISSUE. BMW'S RECALL LETTER DATED DECEMBER, 2011 INCLUDES "THE LAMPS WILL ALSO BE CHECKED FOR PROPER FUNCTIONALITY. IF THEY ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THEN THEY WILL BE REPAIRED WHICH COULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THE LAMP'S 8-PIN CONNECTOR HOUSING, IF NECESSARY". THUS, BMW IS COGNIZANT OF THE INESCAPABLE NEXUS BETWEEN A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE CONNECTOR AND DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING. WELL, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, ONLY THE FIXING OF THE GROUND CONNECTION IS COVERED BY THE RECALL AND BMW WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPLACING THE RUINED HOUSING (AND WITH THE WARRANTY "FIX", MY LIGHTS WOULD NO LONGER WORK BECAUSE MY REPAIR HAD BEEN ELIMINATED, PRESUMABLY BY THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW CONNECTOR WHICH WOULD NO LONGER INTERFACE WITH THE DAMAGED HOUSING). WHILE AT THE DEALER, CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND ULTIMATELY SPOKE TO "BOBBY". SHE VERIFIED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE HAD GONE UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AS APPROPRIATE, GOTTEN THE DENIAL, AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF RECOURSE WITH RESPECT TO BMW: BMW WOULD NOT BE LIABLE. HAVING GIVEN THEM THEIR SHOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AM NOW TAKING THE NEXT STEP (NOTIFYING YOU). SINCE I COULDN'T DRIVE AROUND W/O PROPER FUNCTIONING REAR SIGNAL LIGHTS, I PAID FOR THE NEW HOUSING. THE DEALER ATE SOME OF THE COST SO ONLY CHARGED ME $39.32, FOR $41.68 WITH TAX. UPON GETTING HOME, GOOGLED THE PART # AND GOT A PRICE OF ~$28. SO, THIS IS NOT HUGE DOLLARS (AND FOR ME ITS JUST A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE) BUT BMW SHOULD BE TOLD TO BEHAVE LOGICALLY AND FAIRLY, ADHERE TO THEIR OWN WORDS IN THEIR LETTER, AND REPLACE ANY HOUSINGS DAMAGED BY THE ISSUE CAUSING THE RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD DISCONNECT AND RECONNECT THE PIGTAIL WIRE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL TO FUNCTION. THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY BUT AFTER SOME TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT NOTICED ONE OF THE CONNECTING WIRES HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL HOUSING WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PIG TAIL WIRE CONNECTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE LIGHT BULB. UPDATED 12/15/11. UPDATED 01/03/12*LJ UPDATED 01/11/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE REAR LIGHTS FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED INTERMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BWW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS BURNT. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE BRAKE AND TAILLIGHTS FAILED BECAUSE THE WIRING WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT WAS ADVISED BY A PERSONAL FRIEND THAT IF HE COULD GROUND THE WIRES AND KEEP THEM SEPARATED FROM THE HARNESS, THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE RESOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.