BMW

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BMW • Airbags • "Certified, pre-owned" BMWs • Cooling fan failure • Flaming seats • Flooded trunk • Paint problems • Steering failure • Transmission problems • Warranties • BMW Financial Services • Miscellaneous problems • 740 Series • 740 cell phones --- News • BMW Owners Suffer Reversal of Fortune • BMW Plans Price Hike • Transmission Failures Plague BMW Owners • New BMW to Burn Hydrogen and Gasoline • Gay Automotive Website Takes on BMW

Big Money Wasted? We think that's going a little far. The BMW is a great car -- if you like high-strung racing cars in street garb. Unfortunately, lots of everyday consumers buy these things thinking that because they're expensive, they must be reliable and trouble-free, which is about as far from the truth as Stuttgart is from Santa Monica.

All cars require maintenance and high-performance cars require lots and lots of very expensive routine maintenance. Also they're notorious for being afflicted with all kinds of exotic problems. If you're really into cars, understand them and are willing to lavish time, money and attention on one, the BMW may be for you. If you're looking to raise your self-esteem by buying something really expensive, we recommend real estate.

A few of the more recent complaints ...

carl of stenson fields , United Kingdom July 27, 2009

i have a bmw 530d sport registered on 25/03/2003, at the end of june i noticed on the near side rear door ther was a slight appearance of rust at the base of the door. after a closer inspection on the inside of the door there was more rust. i drove it straight to a dealer the next day. they told me to take it to one of there approved bodyshops. he took pictures and said i will post this claim off straight away as it was 3 months out of its anti corrosion warranty, hoping they would approve it i was dissapointed when it was refused, to me the rust was growing before it expired as it doesnt appear overnight they still said no BMW dont do good will gestures, thanks very much BMW £34,000 of car that is rusting more than an old triumph what a waste of money

david of richmond, VA July 25, 2009

I have had nothing but problems with my BMW. When i first purchased the vehicle, i was told i could install a bluetooth system. Once i purchased the vehicle, they told me, oh, your car was made a few months before the kit was made available, so they can't install it. fast forward 3 years. I purchased the extended warranty. I heard a clicking and took it in to get checked out. apparently, the CV boot got cracked which damaged the axle. they said the warranty does not cover CV boot, and since that is what failed, it is not going to cover the axle. they managed to " talk it over" with the insurance and i have to pay 1/2. a few months later, i hear a clicking on the right. turns out to be a bearing broken in the suspension. once again, it is not covered under the warranty. what good is the warranty if it never covers anything that breaks.???

Derek of Seattle, WA July 22, 2009

I bought a 33,000 pre-owned certified BMW from an auto consultant. The first month I owned the car I had to get a 2000 brake job and the navi screen went out which was another 3500. BMW wouldn't cover any of this even though I had just bought the car and it was still under warranty. Then 6 months later I had to have 3000 worth of engine work, which again wasn't covered under warranty. I was out a car for over a week while it was being fixed. The next day after I picked the car up, the transmission went out, which was quoted at 7000. I couldn't afford to have this fixed due to all the other repairs, so I had to have it towed to my house, were it has been sitting, collecting dust. I'm still making monthly payments on it even though it's not drivable. I have tried to contact BMW of North America, but they will not responed.

Shafiek of Cape Town, CO July 13, 2009

We bought a 335i and used it for eight months. The management light starting going on and the car losing power. Auto Atlantic claims that BMW does not know whats wrong with the car. Its been five months and they have replaced many parts on my engine but not the entire engine. I am paying for my car everymonth but do not have the usage thereof. until now they still do not know whats wrong with the car. They keep telling me that there is a problem with the 335i pre-facelift but I have not seen it published anywhere.

Mark of Arlington, TX July 10, 2009

2001 BMW 740iL - Purchased from dealer as Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. OnBoard Navigation system went blank and radio cuts off every 1 min 43 secs. (This screen/system also is the access to other essential electronic features in car which are now not controllable). Diagnosed twice by BMW Authorized Dealer as defective NAV System. Presented in detail to BMW of North America and they refuse to offer any assistance in replacing this critical defective part. Car had CPO warranty up to 100K. but this critical part isn't covered - and several other reports of this unit being defective have similarly been denied by BMW.

abhishek of gurgaon, India July 10, 2009

i bought a bmw 320i in year 2007.it worked fine initially but now the car is giving me problems.it has only done 8000kms.it has electrical problems that even the service people are not able to understand.the car is trash.i went to my work and parked the car and the doors got jammed.i actually had to come out of the window of the car.this happened 3 months back aswell.bmw service centre fixed the car and gave it to me.around 6 months back the couldnt start because of some electrical problem.the fuses of the car keep getting short.dont knw wat to do with the car.

Omar of Hacienda Heights, CA July 6, 2009

Entered my car and put key in ignition,turned ingnition and noted that it was to easy to turn and car would not start. Started to get out of car and all doors were locked and try as I may they would not unlock, leaving me trapped in vehicle. I could not lift inside lock and the rt. passenger window was down about 3 inches and I gave my friend the key to try from outside. Doors would not open or unlock from outside or inside the car. I was in the car already 15 minutes before road service was called. . I was trapped in the car for about 25 full minutes. Temperature outside of car was about 92 degrees. I was sweating and heart was pumping rapidly. My friend called my wife who was inside the house and asked her to call AAA road service. The AAA representative called a assistant and ask how he should get me out of the car.

Edward of Westampton, NJ July 2, 2009

My wife was driving her 2009 328i (only had it a few months). Was pulling into a parking space at a shopping center, applied the brake and the car lurched forward with a sudden unintended acceleration. The car jumped the curve, hit a store door and kept going until it hit a lamp post and finally came to a stop. Trying to ascertain if this is a defect with the car??

SL of Flushing, NY July 1, 2009

325i's engine was suddenly on fire within 15 mins. of driving.

Ryan of Miami Beach, FL June 27, 2009

Immediately after my software upgrade in my 2006 X5, the cars shifts hard down going from 2-1 as I slow to a light. It sounds like the transmission is bottoming out. Any downshift whatsoever the car jerks hard forward.

Car has been in the shop for 2 months. According to BMW USA, it is a computer software issue which is hampering them from determining problems for the car. Meanwhile, I'm driving around in a POS loaner while I continue to make large monthly payments on the car.

The car has 4 months left on its lease - the dealership won't give me a new car, only end my lease early. That doesn't work for me as I put a large sum down just to enter the lease in the first place. Florida statutes only cover the lemon law for 2 years. I'm screwed.

After scouring the web, I have seen others that have had the same exact issue and some that have had transmission problems in general.

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