2006 BMW 3 Series Electrical System

CAR LOST POWER ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH IN TRAFFIC. UPON LOOKING INTO THE REARVIEW MIRROR, SMOKE WAS APPEARING FROM THE TRUNK. WE OPENED THE TRUNK AND SAW PART OF THE CARPET, WHICH COVERED THE CAR BATTERY, WAS BURNED. THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE SOMEHOW SHORTED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE, CAUSING THE CARPET AND ACTUAL BATTERY TO BURN. AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED, THE BATTERY CABLE HAD A SMALL SLIT IN IT AND THE COPPER CABLING HAD TURNED TO AN OXIDIZED WHITE COLOR. LUCKILY NOONE WAS HURT, BUT WE SPENT OUR OWN MONEY TO HAVE IT TOWED AND REPAIRED. WE COMPLAINED TO BMW NORTH AMERICA BUT THEY SIMPLY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. WE HAD TO BUY OUR OWN EXPENSIVE CABLE FROM A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. IT TURNS OUT BMW JUST RECENTLY STARTED A POSITIVE BATTERY RECALL PROGRAM ON VARIOUS CARS, BUT THE 2006 325I IS NOT IN THAT LIST. THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO US LAST YEAR IS SIMILAR, IF NOT WORSE, THAN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THEIR DETAILS OF THE CURRENT BATTERY CABLE RECALL. *TR

IBS SENSOR WITH NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FAILED AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THE IBS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TR UPDATED 07/09/13*LJ UPDATED 07/11/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT HIS RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ELECTRICAL CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW, UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NOT ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 76 MPH. AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL FAILED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INFORMATIONAL SYSTEM FAILED TO NOTIFY THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOW AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION. THE ABS AND THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER INFORMATIONAL SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,162.

DOOR LOCKS BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, EITHER WHEN ACTIVATED VIA THE KEY FOB OR THE INTERNAL DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON. DOORS ARE UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE INSIDE. PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT. ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED AND ONLY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR COULD BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,220 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,225. THE DEALER INSTALLED TWO NEW LATCHES AND A HIGHER AMP FUSE. TO THE FRONT DOORS.

THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING NEAR THE PORT FOR THE IPHONE CHARGER ON THE DASH (LIGHTER.) THE PORTAL WAS COLD TO THE TOUCH. AFTER ABOUT MORE 20 YARDS THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING FINE AND WAS QUICKLY PULLED TO AN EMPTY PART OF THE PARKING LOT AND WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER PULLING THE HOOD RELEASE I JUMPED FROM THE CAR AND SHUT THE DOOR -- I IMMEDIATELY TRIED RE-OPENING IT TO LET THE SMOKE FROM THE COCKPIT AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN BY TOUCH OR WITH THE KEY FOB. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE LOOKED CLEAN. TO THE FAR RIGHT (MY LEFT) ON PASSENGER SIDE, AGAINST THE FIREWALL SMOKE WAS COMING OUT IN A THIN LINE AND THEN I SAW A SMALL FLASH OF FIRE SO I RAN 20 TO THIRTY YARDS AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I CALLED 911 AND WITHIN 3-5 MINUTES IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT HAD BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALER IN APRIL 2011, FOUR MONTHS EARLIER. IT HAD NO HISTORY OF ISSUES AND WAS REGULARLY SERVICED. *TR

I DRIVE A 2006 BMW 325I. PARKED MY CAR AND GOT OUT JUST FINE HOWEVER MY 3 PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO OPEN THERE DOORS. THE CENTRAL UNLOCKING BUTTON ON THE CAR'S DASH WOULDN'T UNLOCK THE DOORS AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY BUTTON WOULDN'T UNLOCK THE DOOR EITHER. ALL THE PASSENGERS HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE WINDOWS. AFTER DOING SOME QUICK RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 3 SERIES HOWEVER IT'S A PROBLEM THAT BMW REFUSES TO FIX UNLESS THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HAVING PASSENGERS BECOME UNEXPECTEDLY TRAPPED INSIDE THEIR CAR DUE TO A COMMON DEFECT IS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S A PROBLEM BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT BATTERY SYSTEM CORE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME OUT TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

BMW DOORS WILL NOT OPEN WHEN LOCKED IF ELECTRICAL POWER IS LOST. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, BMW HAS AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THAT SEPARATES THE BATTERY FROM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONCE POWER IS LOST, THE DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT OPERATE TO OPEN LOCKED DOORS AND THE ELECTRICAL WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN A FUSE, #52 ON A 2006 325I, BLEW AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. LUCKILY ONE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED IN THE BACK AND MY DAUGHTER HAD TO CLIMB INTO THE BACK SEAT TO GET OUT. ADVISE FROM DEALERSHIP WAS TO CARRY A DEVICE IN THE CAR THE BREAK OUT THE WINDOW IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. *TR

MI NOMBRE ES [XXX]. SOY DE PUERTO RICO Y POSEEO UN BMW 325I 2006. EL MISMO EL DIA DE AYER REPENTINAMENTE COMENZO A SALIR UN HUMO ENTRE EL DASH Y TODA LA PARTE INTERIOR DEL VEHICULO. EN MENOS DE 2 MINUTOS SE ENCENDI EN LLAMAS,ACTIVAMOS AL 911, CUANDO LLEGARON LOS BOMBEROS EN CARRO SE HABIA QUEMADO EN SU TOTALIDAD. ENTRE OTRAS COSAS QUE HIZO MIENTRAS SE ESTABA QUEMANDO. NECESITO QUE ME ORIENTEN AL RESPECTO DE LO QUE DEBO HACER. MI EMAIL ES [XXX]. MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM FROM PUERTO RICO AND I OWN A 2006 BMW 325I. THE SAME DAY YESTERDAY SUDDENLY A SMOKE BEGAN BETWEEN THE DASH AND THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. IN LESS THAN 2 MINUTES IT LIGHTED IN FLAME, WE ACTIVATED 911, WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED BY CAR IT HAD BURNED IN ITS ENTIRETY. AMONG OTHER THINGS HE DID WHILE HE WAS BURNING. I NEED TO BE GUIDED ON WHAT TO DO. MY EMAIL IS [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

SINCE I PURCHASED MY BMW 325I (2006) IN AUG. 2007 NEW, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A 10% INACCURACY OF THE SPEEDOMETER, THAT THE DEALERSHIP RELUCTANTLY REPLACED (WITH NO IMPROVEMENT) AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FINALLY ADMITTING THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND I WAS STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. THE SPEEDOMETER IS 10% OFF AN ACTUAL READING. SO IF YOU WANT TO 65 MPH AND SET THE SPEEDOMETER AT 65MPH YOU ONLY GO 58 MPH. IN ORDER TO GO 65MPH YOU HAVE TO DRIVE AT 73 MPH ON THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AFTER RESET AND UPON INITIAL COLD START. *JB

CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, CAR INTERIOR, DELIVERS 110 DEG F AIR TO FLOOR VENTS WHEN IN AUTOMATIC MODE. THE REQUESTED TEMPERATURE IS 70F AND THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE IS 79F. THIS IS A CONSTANT DEFECT, NOT A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE. BMW ADVISES THE SYSTEM WORKS AS DESIGNED. 2006 BMW 325XI, CAR MILEAGE - 850 MI. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED WHILE PARKED AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVER. THE ENGINE WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE HORN NOT TO WORK IF THE ENGINE WAS NOT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT ANOTHER DEALER FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

I JUST PURCHASED A BMW 330 WITH AN OPTION CALLED "COMFORT ACCESS". THIS OPTION ALLOWS THE DRIVER (WITH THE KEY ON HIS/HER PERSON) TO UNLOCK & START THE CAR AS WELL AS AND KILL THE ENGINE (BY PRESSING THE START/STOP BUTTON) & LOCK THE VEHICLE, ALL WITHOUT USING A KEY....JUST NEED IT IN YOUR POCKET ETC. THE RISK IS THAT YOU CAN EXIT THE VEHICLE AND LOCK THE DOORS W/O KILLING THE ENGINE. MY CONCERN IS BEING DISTRACTED OR FORGETFUL AND LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING IN OUR GARAGE AND HAVING EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE HOUSE! A SIMPLE FIX WOULD BE TO HAVE THE ENGINE STOP RUNNING WHEN THE DRIVER EXISTS THE CAR AND/OR LOCKS THE DOORS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM