BMW Reviews

Took vehicle home and had same problem plus vehicle started hesitating when accelerator was engaged. Car would then lunge forward throwing myself and passengers back into seats. Warning light came on a few days later saying transmission was slipping and to take it to a dealer. Before I could get it to the dealership, another warning light came on saying transmission problem, "drive with caution". I decided at that point the car was unsafe to drive to the dealership and had it towed instead. Tow truck driver could not get car to go into drive or reverse.

Ironically, this tow truck driver told me he had the same exact problem with his BMW which was a 2000 model. I have had this car 59 days and was told it needs a new transmission. I have about 2000 miles on the vehicle. It had 70 miles on it when I purchased it. I questioned the sales manager about this when I received the car and he explained that this was not unusual. I have complained about this problem to the dealership, customer service survey team, customer service in New Jersey. And I requested to talk to a field rep. I was told that the field reps don't speak to customers. How's that for service?

I no longer want this vehicle as I am concerned that the transmission may fail me again and cause a safty issue. I voiced these very same concerns to all of the above as I seriously felt that a passenger could get hurt trying to exit the vehicle. I am also concerned that I will have to disclose the transmission problem when I go to resell the vehicle, drastically reducing the value. I have requested a replacement vehicle (less the mileage) So far this request has been denied. I also requested that the dealership NOT replace the transmission until I know what my rights are.

I drink a lot of water and I had finished the water, there was approximately 1/4" of water in the bottle and I threw it onto the back seat. After the visit that lasted around 1 to 2 hours my daughter noticed the car smoking and ran to the back. She immediately picked up the bottle and underneath was a depression in the seat that was smoking very extensively.

As we picked up the bottle, flames engulfed the seat. My husband brought the car to BMW in Ramsey and three service mechanics looked at the car. Our question was, "has there been any recalls of any convertibles on BMW's starting up on fire in the heat with any kinds of bottles laying on the back seat?" Their answer was that they had "never seen anything like it." They had no answers for us, but said do get in touch with your insurance company because the seat is going to cost you $1,500.00. (on top of the $64,000 we just paid for the vehicle.)

Our answer was that the water bottle acted like a magnifying glass and set the leather seat on fire; which tells me that the leather seats are combustible at certain temperatures. I then brought it to BMW in Woodcliff Lake to Mr. Brian Babcock and told him of the situation. He said he would get back to us. He wrote us a letter and his response was - I will give you a few quotes - "Since the damage to your seat appears to have been caused by an outside source and is not a defect in material or workmanship the repair cannot be covered by your new vehicle warranty."

My question is, Is this a safe vehicle to drive? What if you're stuck in traffic or at the beach? And if it is the case to keep water out of the back seat then their should be a warning telling you that fires could be a hazard if left with the convertible top down. If there is any help you can give me, I would appreciate it.

For now I am left with a 5 month old $64,000 car with a burnt up back seat that BMW is telling me they are not responsible for. If I knew the sun would do such damage I wouldn't have gotten a convertible, actually to tell you the truth, I will change my brand of cars!

The sun is very hot, Ellen. Also, leather, cloth and other materials used in upholstery will burn if they get hot enough (as will just about everything else). The lesson to be learned from this is that nothing should be left on the seats of a car, convertible or otherwise, that's parked in bright sunlight. We agree with the BMW dealer that Ellen should contact her insurance company.

Service Manager said that BMW would do nothing because of being out of warranty. I complained and asked for regional service manager ... never responded. Sent letter to BMW and no response. Guess what, now at 86K miles transmission #3 is starting to act like the previous two lemons. The car is low miles and treated like a princess even though 10 years old. At a price of $63K I expected to own a masterpiece that would be trouble-free; instead I got a lemon drive-train and cold shoulder from BMW. After 5 new Bimmers you would expect a little support from those who propound to manufacture "the ultimate driving machine".

High-performance cars are expensive to maintain. If that prospect is daunting to him, Nathaniel should get rid of the BMW and buy a Honda, Toyota or something similar.

It would seem to me that a $75,000. automobile owner deserves a little more than a politically correct answer. As I told BMW in my e-mail, Hyundai offers a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty on a vehicle costing about one-fourth what the 740il does.

Other problems: both driver and passenger side window motors needed to be replaced as well as the stereo, and the thermostat and housing and the power steering line. Is this normal? The service managers tell me yes it is and basically every BMW needs these type repairs. I am not rich and work hard for my money. I saved for months so I could have a down payment to buy myself this car and the disappointment with the performance of "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE" makes me so upset and frustrated that i feel sick. No one can help me and i get the runaround from BMW of North America as well as the dealerships.

First I was two turns from getting on to Rt. 21 when this happened. And I am literally afraid to drive -- as I turn the vehicle the feeling that my steering will feel haunts me.

Based on my experience I believe there is a defect in the operation of the 2000 323i power windows. My hope is that I can get out of the second 2000 323i without too much of a financial strain and find another make and model that is more reliable.

We took the vehicle to BMW and were provided a loaner vehicle to use until a decision was made about what would be done. Our vehicle has 52,500 miles on it (2,500 miles past the 50,000 mile warranty). Apparently, the 50,000 mile warranty includes the 13,000 miles which were already on the vehicle when we purchased it. As a result, the factory has stated that the factory defect on the vehicle is actually our responsibility and has offered to pay half of the $4,600 repair in what they referred to as a "good faith" offer. We should not be responsible to pay $2,300 to repair a factory defect and be forced to continue paying on a vehicle whose floor pan will have been weakened by cutting and welding.

In typical arrogant BMW fashion, they blew me off as usual. I contacted the BMW executive line and was promised the world and that they would call me back with a solution. Of course they never called. Then a service manager had the gall, or ignorance, to call me and recommend a $600 tune-up and inspection even though the car has only 45,000 miles. After I told this idiot this he added, "Well sir, I get paid to sell parts." Now I know that BMW stands for "big money wasted."

After many phone calls it turns out that BMW and Motorola made a phone switch and I recievd one of the last cars with the old phone harness but there are no longer any old phone available and I would have to wait for the new wire harness. I have contacted BMW's Custoer Service Hotline, I called the BMW headquarters and spoke to several people, I even asked to speak to the President and CEO who as you can quess was not available.

The result of this I am unable to use any of the communication systems whih was the big selling feature on this vechical. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

So much for customer service, they have done and said nothing. I have faxed over pages and pages of service history done on the vehicle and they keep telling me that they will get back to me. They don't seem to know what the problem is and don't seem to care either. I don't know when I will get the car back from service, but I do know that I want my deposit back and I do want to be credited my car payments for all the times the car has been in the shop. I am not paying $1300 a month for a rent a car. I am at my wits end and don't know how or who to complain to anymore, I want this problem resolved.

I drive clients around and have not been able to do that, because they give you a rinky-dink rental. I am afraid to travel long distance in fear that the vehicle will stall on me at anytime, the warning lights are constantly going off. Just stressed out by not getting any answers or even some compasion from BMW relations.

The car is disabled and the engine ruined. This is a very expensive repair and has left me without the use of my car for a lengthy time.

My payments are 547.00 per month. I have problems with the wiondow rattle, total computer went out on me..had to be towed, etc. Nothing compared to what I soon found out!

This last Nov. I took my daughter to buy a Dodge through some friends that I have worked with. I asked the used car manager to " appraise" my car as well. He proceeded to ask me if I had been in an accident? When I said NO, the car I had only had for about 9 months or so. He showed me where the car had been totally "RE-PAINTED" about 3/4 of the way. He showed me where there was "bondo" bubbles in one of the fenders.

The car is silver and it is hard to match. He showed me where there was "over-spray"...and told me my car was virtually worth about $13,000, then take $2,000 away for smog and saftey and then however much to paint the "WHOLE" car about $3500.00, making my car worth about $8-10,000. I paid almost 30,000, and still owe 26,000.

I called the dealership IMMEDIATLY and went there by myself to meet with the manager in sales.
After I got there, I was met by "Sam Chaalan, Service Director" who led me into his office after checking the car.

He let me know "he understood how upset I was", please wait til Monday and come back and he will "get me out of the car". I asked for this in writing and he refused so, I refused to leave with the car, so he called the sales manager. He basically told me, he could do nothing, but sell me a NEW car. I told him, after the down $ on this one , and all the payments I can not afford to buy another car from them!

I then asked to speak with the General Manager and was met with Mr. Chip Irwin. He and MR. Chaalan left the office to once again look at the car, I could see them through Service dept. camera's. (not much checking of the car), plus I was told to stay put!

By this time, I was crying alot out of frustration. They came back to the office I was in and Mr. Iriwn, shrugged his shoulders and said it was not "that bad!". I said to him it is not that bad, it is not his car he paid all this $$$ for. We went back and forth about the value being nothing to what I paid, how it is supposed to hold value due to the car being a BMW! I asked to please take the car back and I would walk away. I did not ask for any $ back, just get the car back, let me please walk away. He was cold, condescending, and smirked at the request. He flat out refused to help.

So, I reqested the owners name, he replied " I REPRESENT THE OWNER". I once again asked for the owners name, he refused it.
I told him, i would be contacting an Atty., the DMV, and anyone else to get this matter resloved. I told him I felt they mis-represented the car to me and my husband.

He told me "this conversation is over!". So I left.

As i got into my car...i turned to get in, and Mr,. Irwin and Mr. Chaalan were walking out of the office. Mr Irwin was actually laughing! I was totally appalled.
I then contacted BMW of North America, stated my complaint and got the name of the Owner Mr. Damon Shelly. (located at Long Beach Mercedes and Irvine BMW)

Afer 4 messages left for Mr. Shelly he finally returned our calls. He reqeusted we once again meet with Mr. Chaalan and his General Manager of the Body shop on the following Monday. I agreed. This time, my husband took the day off.

Prior to this meeting I took the car to another reputable BMW Dealer here in Orange County. I had the Used Car manager there appraise my car! (plus got a body est. of $3500.00 to repaint whole car from a body shop)...he proceeded to look at the car with a "paint diameter" tester and told me BMW paint should be between 3.5 and 4.0 in diameter. The hood of my car was 13.0! Right side was 12.0 and the rest was anywhere from 8.0 to the left side which was actually (driver door) 4.0.

That is sick! He showed me where the hood had been re-aligned and was not lined up correctly, that there was possible "under carriage" damage.

They told me a BMW dealer should have never sold this car retail, it should have been wholsesaled, because of the condition. He gave me a written estimate of about the same as the Dodge dealer. I have both written estimates.

That Monday we went to our meeting. The GM of Body shop did the same test,and some results were the same. I will imagine they will not be the EXACT same, might cost them.

At this time, Mr. Irwin, came into the picture ( I had requested to NEVER meet with him again after the way I was treated!), and introduced himself to my husband.

My husband said to him "Yes, I heard how you treated me wife", GM could not say alot..my husband also told him "and you refused to give her the Owner's name", Mr. Iriwn stood there and lied until I quoted him VERBATIM, what he said, and then he changed it to "ohhhhh I thought you meant the owner of the car". We both told him he was lying he knew whose name I wanted.

After once again "checking out" the acr, the 3 Manager's went to an offcie to decide what should be done...
They called my husband and I in and the GM Mr. Irwin inform uys they were not taking the car back that was HIS FINAL decision!
My husband said, that is it? He and yes and we left.

I have since written 1 letter to the owner about disappointed I was and how badly we were treated, and recieved a letter form Mr. Irwin that ended with a very strong THREAT to me.

I doi have any atty. and the process in in place....I want to let any and all know what a horrible place this has been to do business.

I was in the car bus. for 14 years and have recommended alot of dealership's and helped people buy cars for years, my husband works for the OC Sheriff's Dept, and I have helped at least 100 or so form there.....NEVER would I recommend this place, and word of mouth says alot in this business!!!!

My car is in the dealer waiting for investigation. BMW is denying malfunction. I suffered bruises and cuts on my left arm and my left thigh. My back hurts and I am scared to drive.

However, over the past six months, I have noticed that the paint has begun to fade and peel in certain spots. I've consulted two auto detailing experts about this problem, and both of them have said that this is an unusual problem with a BMW and indicates a flaw in the original paint job. They suggested that I take the car back to BMW and request that BMW repair the damage.

I took my car to the Stevens Creek BMW dealership in Santa Clara, CA, because that is where I have my car serviced. The customer service manager recognized that there was a problem with the paint, and asked the detail manager to try to buff out the blemished paint. That technique proved ineffective, so they said that they would have to have a BMW Corporate manager look at the car to get special permission to repair the paint damage. The BMW Corporate manager denied the request, saying that the car was out-of-warranty and over mileage and that the problem was mine to deal with. To add insult to injury, they scratched my existing paint finish as they were trying to buff out the damaged paint. They have so far been unresponsive to my requests for remediation.

I am furious! The reason I bought a BMW was to get a car that would hold up well over time. I wanted a car that I could keep for 10+ years and that would hold its value. Instead, I ended up with a car that's no better than a Chevrolet. Had I known that, I would have saved myself the money and just bought the Chevy. For a company that claims to be so customer service oriented, I am very disappointed by BMW's unwillingness to correct a flaw in the original paint job. Now, I am stuck with an expensive car that isn't worth a dime unless I spring for an expensive new paint job. I am so angry! They have lost a customer. Not only will I never purchase a BMW again, I will also never recommend BMW again to my family or friends.

The Z3 was a rolling lemon. I owned this car for a year and had only 3000 miles on it because every time I drove it it ended up in the shop. I finally went to the dealer, Leith BMW in Raleigh, NC and asked they do something about the car. They insisted that I pay $5000.00 on the existing loan in order to get a new car. I felt they should have replaced the car, but to no avail. BMW representatives were unprofessional, rude and obnoxious and not willing to back up their product. I was very surprised to see a lot full of the same year Z3 that had been traded or turned in.

I finally traded the car for a Mercedes, but the problem is this, we recently went for a refinance on our home and were turned down for this loan because BMW says we are past due 3 months payments on the Z3 and have been late several times on one or the other car. They are also saying we have not paid property tax on the Z3, which BMW is responsible for paying. First, we do not own the Z3 anymore, and have not had the car for 4 months. We contacted BMW and the representative says we do own the car and said we would have to prove that we do not own the car anymore in order to fix the credit problem regarding the Z3 as well as the misapplied payments during the past 3 years.

When we were having the problem with BMW misapplying payments, we furnished them with cancelled checks, received an apology and were told this would not affect our credit. It has. What a mess. We cannot get the loan through until we get this straight and it looks like we will have to get an attorney in order to do so. I am very disappointed in the way BMW has chosen to handle this situation, we have done nothing wrong.

The sales manager inspected the car and asked me if the car had ever been wrecked or repainted. I stated that the car had never been wrecked, but that it had been repainted. He stated that the car was worthless and that BMW would not buy back the car. I asked how if a BMW shop repaired the vehicle that BMW considered the car to be worthless. "You are telling me that your bodyshop does shoddy work?" I asked. He shot back "I never said that!" and then demanded that I leave.