2002 BMW 3 Series Exterior Lighting

LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE, FOUND SHORT IN SOCKET HOUSING, NO GROUND CONNECTED TO LEFT OR RIGHT REAR HOUSING UNITS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED BY THE END OF OCTOBER FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS), 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS) AND 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL) BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OF THE MENTIONED RECALLS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V438000... CONFIRMATION NUMBER 10435174.... SOME IF NOT ALL BACK UP, BRAKE, TURN SIGNALS DO NOT MOST OF THE TIME.... MY VIN.# IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I HAVE ALL THE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE DOING THE RECALL ON. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAYS MY CAR IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL... I AM VERY UPSET. ..PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TAIL LIGHT WARNING APPEARED ON DASH, INDICATING REAR TAIL LIGHT OUT BUT ALL LIGHTS WERE WORKING AS EXPECTED. I REPLACED ALL LIGHT BULBS AND WARNING LIGHT ON DASH WOULD APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. FINALLY MY REAR BLINKER STOPPED WORKING; I REMOVED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, AND DISCOVERED A BURNT SOCKET WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE BROWN WIRE, SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A SHORT PERHAPS CONNECTION WASN'T PROPERLY GROUNDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTINGLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING TAIL LIGHTS), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL ON PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED. BULBS AND WIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED REPEATEDLY, HOWEVER THESE CHANGES HAVE NOT SOLVED THE ISSUE. FAR TOO MANY EXPERIENCES WHERE COLLISIONS HAVE ALMOST OCCURRED DUE TO THE FAILED REAR EXTERIOR LAMPS. *TR

TAILLIGHT ELECTRICAL FAILURE. BRAKE AND TAILLIGHT FAILED AS A RESULT OF MALFUNCTIONING GROUND. *TR

DASHBOARD INDICATOR REPORTS RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING THOUGH LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONING. REAR RIGHT TAILLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION TWICE SINCE PURCHASE ON 10/10/11. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THIS CAR NOT COVERED BY CURRENT RECALL (11V438000). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 5 MPH, HE NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT WOULD INFORM HIM THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER FOR THE WIRING IN THE TAIL LIGHTS.THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN A FIVE YEAR TIME SPAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

REAR TAILIGHT BULB OUTAGE APPEARED ON DASHBOARD ALTHOUGH LIGHTS WERE OK. BMW MASTER MECHANIC DIAGNOSED TAIL LIGHT GROUND WIRING ISSUE: INSPECTION REVEALED THAT WIRES WERE MELTED INSIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT HOUSING AND COULD CAUSE FIRE. RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH TAIL LIGHT COMPONENTS BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL GROUND, CARRIER REPLACEMENTS FOR BULBS. REPLACEMENT SUPPLIES ON WORK ORDER INCLUDED SOCKETS, INSULATION HOUSING, CONNECTORS, SHRINKING HOSE. BECAUSE I WAS AWARE OF MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, NEGOTIATED A REDUCED PRICE FOR WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATE THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL WAS CORRODED AND EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DEFECT IN DESIGN AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOUSING FIXTURE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IN THIS CURRENT RECALL. : HTTP://WWW.BLOOMBERG.COM/NEWS/2011-09-01/BMW-RECALLS-241-000-CARS-IN-U-S-FOR-REAR-LIGHT-MALFUNCTION-2-.HTML I HAVE CALLED IN TO BMW, BUT THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A 2002 325I, WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE. APPARENTLY THEY ARE ONLY COVERING SPECIFIC VIN'S EVEN THOUGH MY MODEL YEAR WAS MENTIONED. 1. CAR TAIL LIGHTS PERIODICALLY DO NOT TURN ON WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON. SO MY CAR HAS THE TAILLIGHTS OFF IN THE DARK WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. 2. THE FAILURE AT FIRST WAS INTERMITTENT, NOW IS LIKELY PERMANENT. CARS BEHIND ME CAN NOT SEE ME SIGNAL IN TURNING SITUATIONS AND CAN NOT SEE ME AT NIGHT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. OPENING UP THE HOUSING SHOWS THE CONNECTORS BURNED AND PARTS OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING FOR THE CONNECTOR IS BURNED. THE ISSUE HAD TO DUE WITH THE CONNECTOR, WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT HAS TOO MUCH CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND BURN OUT THE HOUSING AND THE CONNECTOR. 3. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED, I JUST SWITCHED THE LIGHT BULBS. APPARENTLY THIS WAS NOT THE REAL ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. HE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO FUNCTION UNTIL HE REMOVED THE REAR LIGHTING COVER IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE WIRES. HE ALSO INTERMITTENTLY RECEIVED A MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS WERE BLOWN OUT. WHEN HE EXAMINED THE BULBS HE WOULD NOTICED THAT THEY WERE FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TAIL LAMP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A FAST DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BLINKER AND REDUCED ILLUMINATION OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LAMP. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THIS IS PROBLEM IS DESCRIBE IN THE INVESTIGATION ACTION NUMBER: EA09019. *TR

2002 BMW 325I REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRING COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. BMW AMERICA SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THESE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLES ARE 8 YEARS OLD. IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

2002 BMW 325I SEDAN, ELECTRICAL FIRE IN LEFT REAR TRUNK DUE TO SHORT IN REAR DRIVE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, BROWN GROUNDING WIRE MELTED HOUSING, UNIT NOT WORKING. *TR

WHILE UNDERGOING A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE REVIEW ON MY 2002 BMW 325I, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS. APPARENTLY, THE LIGHTS ARE NOT PROPERLY GROUNDED AND THERE IS A RISK OF OVERHEATING AND FIRE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND HAS OVER 76,000 MILES, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

8-PIN CONNECTOR AT REAR TAIL LIGHTS IN 2002 BMW 330XI HAS PARTIALLY MELTED, CONTACTS APPEAR CORRODED. "LIGHT OUT" INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH TURNS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY.

2002 BMW 325I, TURN SIGNAL FAILURE RESULTING IN SMALL FIRE. 1- SYMPTOMS: CAR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. 2- UPON REMOVAL OF HOUSING I NOTED THAT THE LIGHT OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED ME TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. UPON REMOVAL OF THE PLUG OR WIRING HARNESS I NOTED THAT THE BROWN WIRE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF MELTING OF BOTH WIRE AND METAL MALE PLUG END WITH BLACK RESIDUE. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT BMW ISSUED SIB NUMBER 63 03 06 TO MECHANICS. I HAVE NOT FOUND A RECALL FOR THIS HAZARDOUS FAILURE, HOWEVER, DID FIND A FORUM WHERE SEVERAL OWNERS NOTED THE SAME FAILURE. INTERNET ADDRESS TO THIS FORUM IS: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2002/BMW/325I/EXTERIOR+LIGHTING 3- I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE BUT PLAN ON INVESTIGATING THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. PER THE INFORMATION I FOUND I HAVE NOTED THAT IT SEEMS THAT A FAULTY GROUND WIRE IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FAULTS. *TR

THE TAIL LIGHTS ELECTRIC CONNECTOR MODULE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. IT IS BURNED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT, BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL. THIS FAILURE HAS PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS AS WELL. THE CAUSE WAS SIMILAR. THE GROUND CABLE AND ELECTRIC CONNECTOR WERE BURNED OUT. *TR

APPROX TEN MONTHS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE LIGHT BULBS...WITHIN TWO DAYS THE ENTIRE LIGHT FIXTURE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOUR MONTHS LATER. BOTH LIGHT FIXTURES HAVE NOT WORKED (TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT) SINCE SEPTEMBER 2009. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX BOTH TAIL LIGHTS WAS $450.00. I WAS TOLD EVENTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED SO I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE THE COST ESTIMATE. I REQUESTED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE, WHICH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAND WROTE ON A PIECE OF PAPER (DEALERSHIP USUALLY PRINTS OFF COMPUTER). I KEEP THIS IN THE GLOVE BOX TO SHOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WHENEVER THEY PULL ME OVER FOR INOPERABLE REAR LIGHTS. I READ THAT BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO ADD GROUND WIRES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT $450 IS AN UNREASONABLE FEE TO BE CHARGED TO ADD GROUND WIRES TO AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE DRIVER- SIDE HEADLIGHT ON THE VEHICLE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE WIRE FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE GROUND WIRE HAD BURNED. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY AT AN EXPENSE OF $600. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.