2003 BMW 3 Series 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BMW 330XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S JOB, THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE, BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE REPAIR CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, BUT NOT TOWED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ONCE A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, THEY COULD DISCLOSE SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 3251. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ABNORMAL ODOR FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325XI. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND FILLED THE DRIVER'S CABIN. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED OIL BETWEEN THE VALVE GASKET AND THE HEAD GASKET AS WELL AS OIL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE OIL DIP STICK WAS REMOVED, HOT OIL SHOT OUT ONTO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS BURNED, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCV SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF AND CONTINUES TO DO SO EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. SO, MY BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL DME MS45 - FC28B2, 28AA, 28AC; INTERNAL RAM FAULTS MODEL E46 M54 WITH MS45.1 FROM 9/00 TO 7/06 E83 M54 WITH MS45.0/MS45.1 FROM 9/03 TO 9/06 E85 M54 WITH MS45.0 FROM 10/04 TO 1/06 E60 M54 WITH MS45.1 FROM 9/03 TO 3/05 SITUATION CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT A CRANK/NO START OR A ROUGH START SITUATION. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT" OR THE DSC LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, AND ONE OF THE 3 SCENARIOS MAY APPLY: FC 28B2 "RPM LIMITING RESET " IS STORED IN THE DME TOGETHER WITH ONE, OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FAULTS WHICH ARE CAUSED BY THE 28B2: FC 28AC - "NOMINAL TORQUE", FC 2796 - "THROTTLE FLAP: ADAPTATION WRONG", FC 27A1 - "THROTTLE FLAP: START CHECK", FC 2869 - "DME SELF DIAGNOSTIC: RAM CHECK FAILED". FC 28AA "IDLE SPEED REGULATOR" IS STORED IN THE DME. FC 28AC "NOMINAL TORQUE" IS STORED IN THE DME. CAUSE FAULT CODES 28B2, 28AA AND 28AC INDICATE AN INTERNAL DME RAM FAULT. PROCEDURE PERFORM THE APPROPRIATE DIS/GT1 TEST MODULES FOR THE 28B2, 28AA OR 28AC. REPLACE THE DME IF PROMPTED BY THE DIS/GT1 TEST MODULE RESULTS. IMPORTANT: DO NOT REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY FOR THE THROTTLE FAULTS, STORED IN CONJUNCTION WITH FC28B2, EVEN WHEN THE TEST PLAN RECOMMENDS TO DO SO. PLEASE CAN I GET THIS REPAIRED AND COVERED FOR ALL THE COST BEFORE I KILL MYSELF OR MY GRANDCHILDREN... AT COURTESY MOTORS CHICO 2520 COHASSET RD. CHICO,CA 95973 THANK YOU KINDLY *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V280000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

THE BMW E46 3-SERIES (1999-2006) SUFFERS FROM A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. PLASTIC PARTS IN THE COOLING SYSTEM FAIL AS SOON AS 4 YEARS AND 80,000 MILES FROM MANUFACTURE DATE, OFTEN FAILING CATASTROPHICALLY AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. CONTINUED DRIVING OF THE CAR IN THIS SITUATION LEADS TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND LOSS OF POWER (INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES), POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TYPICAL FAILED PARTS INCLUDE THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK, RADIATOR END TANKS, AND WATER PUMP IMPELLERS OR BEARINGS. (BMW CAME UP WITH AN IMPROVED WATER PUMP DESIGN AROUND 2004 THAT IS MORE RELIABLE.) CARS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ALSO SUFFER FAILURES OF THE MECHANICAL FAN CLUTCH AND THE TRANSMISSION COOLING THERMOSTAT. FAILURE OF THE FAN CLUTCH (FOUND ONLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS) CAN CAUSE THE FAN BLADES TO BREAK OFF AND DAMAGE THE RADIATOR, SERPENTINE BELT, AND WATER PUMP, AS WELL AS THE CAR'S HOOD. AT HIGHER MILEAGES (>150,000 MILES) THE PLASTIC COOLANT PIPES OFTEN FAIL, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND REQUIRING MAJOR WORK TO REPLACE. ON MY CAR THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK AND RADIATOR BOTH FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. THE THERMOSTAT ALSO STUCK OPEN RESULTING IN LOWER GAS MILEAGE UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED. NOW ONE OF MY PLASTIC COOLANT PIPES IS LEAKING. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR FAILED PLASTIC COOLING SYSTEM PARTS ON THE E46 3-SERIES WITH HIGHER-QUALITY PARTS DESIGNED TO LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES FROM MANUFACTURE DATE. *TR

BROUGHT IN MY CAR TO LOCAL MECHANIC THREE TIMES FOR OIL LEAK (OIL ON DRIVEWAY, OIL LIGHT SENSOR ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED). IN EACH CASE, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT AFTER TWO WEEKS THE DASHBOARD OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I THOUGHT MY MECHANIC WAS INEXPERIENCED WITH BMW'S, SO I TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALER AND ALL SEEMED FINE ($1,000 REPAIR) UNTIL TWO WEEKS LATER WHEN THE OIL LIGHT YET AGAIN APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. I AM TAKING IT BACK TO THE BMW DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR A SECOND TIME. I BELIEVE EVERY POSSIBLE GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED - REMEMBER IT'S BEEN "REPAIRED" FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOUR TIMES NOW, SOON TO BE FIVE. THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR. I HAVE PLACE UPWARDS OF 15 QUARTS OF OIL (ONE QUART OF OIL A WEEK AT TIMES) IN BETWEEN MECHANIC REPAIRS JUST TO SAVE UP MONEY TO BRING IT BACK IN FOR YET ANOTHER REPAIR. NOBODY, INCLUDING BMW SEEMS TO KNOW WHY OR WHERE THE OIL LEAK IS HAPPENING. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS AND AS A CONSUMER AM GETTING TIRED OF IT. *TR

ENGINE VAPOR SEPARATOR, HOSES, DIPSTICK, AND VANOS LINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PART SEPARATES THE WATER VAPOR FROM THE OIL TO REMOVE CONDENSATION SO IT DOESN'T CIRCULATE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH A FAULTY VAPOR SEPARATOR AND CAN CAUSE ENGINE VAPOR LOCK IF IT FAILS. THE REPAIR WAS ABOUT $1,400. *TR

THE OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET FAILS ON BMW CARS. IT IS A MESH GASKET BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE BLOCK WHERE THE OIL ENTERS/EXITS THE FILTER. THE REPAIR IS ABOUT $600 AND FAILS FREQUENTLY ON THESE CARS. IT CAUSES OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE BLOCK AND GIVES A STRONG BURNING OIL SMELL. OIL CAN ACCUMULATE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE LEAK. OIL BLOWS AND COVERS THE OIL FILTER HOUSING AND THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD WITH A SPRAY OF STICKY OIL. *TR

THE COOLING FAN BROKE LOOSE SPONTANEOUSLY AND FLEW THROUGH THE AIR CUTTING THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND RIPPING THROUGH THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MOMENTS PRIOR THE HOOD HAD BEEN OPEN WITH PEOPLE STANDING AROUND LOOKING AT THE HOSES. HAD THE FAN BROKE LOOSE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED PEOPLE. *TR

CAR RAN PERFECTLY, THEN I TURNED OFF, THEN I RESTARTED 5 SECONDS LATER TO REPOSITION IN GARAGE. ENGINE THEN REVVING FROM 800 TO 1200 RPM RHYTHMICALLY, APPROX ONCE PER SECOND, EML LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT ON, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON, VERY HARD TO STOP CAR, HAD ANYONE BEEN CLOSE I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. ENGINE REVVING CONTINUED FOR 2 DAYS, THEN WENT AWAY ON OWN. I THEN TOOK OFF AIRBOX TO INSPECT MAF, FILTER. CODES ON 3RD DAY: P1632 THROTTLE, PENDING: P0102, IATS. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS OF RESTARTING ENGINE TO HAVE EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLE, ALSO CLEARED ON ITS OWN, BUT NEVER SURGING LIKE THIS. *TR

THE CAR HAD NO SYMPTOMS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. CAR WAS IDLING IN PARKING LOT TO WARM UP AND RANDOMLY TURNED OFF. WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP. FOUND OUT THAT THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM FROZE CAUSING OIL PRESENT IN ALL SIX CYLINDERS. SYSTEM WAS REPLACED ONCE THE MECHANIC HAD ACCESS TO THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. MECHANIC WAS SURPRISED TO SEE BMW HAD NO RECALLS FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW SINCE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN MOVING WITH 2500-3500 RPMS, MUCH MORE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED WITH ANYWHERE FROM PISTON RINGS TO ENGINE BLOCK IN ADDITION TO AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATH OR INJURY. *TR

DOUBLE VANOS SYSTEM ON SEVERAL MODELS OF BMW FROM 1999 TO 2006, HAVE DEFECTIVE VANOS SYSTEMS. THE E39 DOUBLE VANOS (VARIABLE VALVE TIMING UNIT) HAS A MALFUNCTION PROBLEM. THIS DOUBLE VANOS CAN BE FOUND ON 6-CYL ENGINES M52TU, M54, AND M56, FOUND IN SEVERAL MODEL CARS, E39, E46, ETC, YEARS 99-03. THE MALFUNCTION SYMPTOMS ARE ALMOST ALL SUBTLE AND MOSTLY GO UNNOTICED. THEY INCLUDE LOWER GAS MILEAGE, LOWER PERFORMANCE, DEGRADED EMISSIONS CONTROL, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. THE M52TU ENGINE (99-00) HAS ONE FURTHER MALFUNCTION SYMPTOM WHICH IS FAR FROM SUBTLE. IT OCCURS ON COLD WEATHER COLD ENGINE STARTS AND TAKES THE FORM OF REPEATED ENGINE ATTEMPTED STALLS AND POSSIBLY A COMPLETE ENGINE STALL. THE ENGINE RPMS DROP DRAMATICALLY AND THEN RECOVER. THIS THEN REPEATS AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF STEADY IDLE. THE PROBLEM CAN BE MORE DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSED BY DISCONNECTING THE VANOS INTAKE OR EXHAUST SOLENOID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

I AM EXPERIENCING A STALLING PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 BMW 330I. AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE AND HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING ON ALMOST EVERY 330I, AS EVIDENCED ON NUMEROUS INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS (INCLUDING BIMMERFEST.COM AND BIMMERFORUMS.COM) BUT BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE STALLING AS LEFT ME STRANDED AT AN INTERSECTION IN THE PAST WITH TRAFFIC FLOWING AROUND ME AS I ATTEMPT TO RESTART. *AK

WHEN PULLING OUT THE DIP STICK AFTER VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR A WHILE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE DIP STICK. OIL SPREAD IN VARIOUS PLACES ON THE DIP STICK. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BMW 3.0L ENGINE WHERE IDLING ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARMED-UP IS USUALLY VERY ROUGH IN THE RANGE OF 500-700 RPM. THERE IS ALSO A TENDENCY TO DIP BELOW 500 RPM AND STALL OUT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 700 MILES ON IT. I CONSIDER THE STALL A FAILURE.

CAR HAS STALLED TWICE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR HAS CONSISTENT ROUGH IDLE AND VERGES ON STALLING AT TIMES.

NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE CAR WILL RANDOMLY STALL WHEN STOPPED. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. BMW CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROBLEM

MY 2003 BMW 330I ZHP HAS A ROUGH IDLE AND OCCASIONALLY STALLS. I'VE HAD IT SERVICED 3 TIMES, BUT ISSUE STILL NOT RESOLVED.*AK

2003 BMW 330I, I HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN THE COASTING TO A STOP, OR SITTING STATIONARY, AND WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED. ENGINE ALSO EXHIBITS UNEVEN/ODD ACCELERATION BEHAVIOR, OFTEN LAGGING NOTICEABLY AT SPEED. I'VE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ON 4 OCCASIONS IN THE PAST YEAR (19K MILES) WITH ZERO RESOLUTION. BECAUSE THE CAR ISN'T THROWING AN ERROR CODES, I GUESS THAT I HAVE TO JUST "LIVE WITH IT". NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BMW FINALLY STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I JUST SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IN THIS DAY IN AGE, AND WITH A MASS-PRODUCED CAR. *AK

2003 330I ZHP (PERFORMANCE PACKAGE) : 6K MILES... CAR IDLE'S ROUGH AND STALLS OCCASIONALLY. DEALER / SERVICE HAD NO ERROR REPORTS IN THE COMPUTER, SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. PROBLEM CONTINUES... *NM

CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE IDLES IT SHUTS OFF. DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK