Manufacturer: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC Mfr's Report Date: AUG 25, 2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V438000 Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL Potential Number of Units Affected: 241,000
Summary:
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING.
Consequence:
INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy:
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
I have a 2002 bmw 330ci and have this same issue. I had a tail light out a week after I bought the car. Then again two months later. Then again about a month ago when it was at bmw to get the car inspected. Bmw said my bulbs all needed replaced. I did the replacement only to see the left ones are either out or loosing the brightness. Would be great if they would have fixed this issue years ago.
Go to your local dealer or your mechanic and ask them if they can fix it. Pay for it and than get refund if you get recall.
This is exact reason I did not want to wait, connector was melted.
If you can solder,you can fix the problem very easily!
Mine was not part of the recall(2 months too early apparently:thumbdwn but I fixed it in about 30 min. As long as the prongs are not too burnt up.
I took my 2005 325i in for this recall since the warning light has been on for 2 years. They fixed the wiring assembly, but informed me that the entire rear tail light neede to be replaced for the fix to work ($80). The wiring fix would not work without the new tailight assembly according to BMW. Unfortunately they do not consider this to be part of the recall even though the recall says they will FIX the problem. I'm not very pleased with BMW. It is charges like these that they slide in underneath a recall that make me consider purchasing a different vehicle in the future.
I took my 2005 325i in for this recall since the warning light has been on for 2 years. They fixed the wiring assembly, but informed me that the entire rear tail light neede to be replaced for the fix to work ($80). The wiring fix would not work without the new tailight assembly according to BMW. Unfortunately they do not consider this to be part of the recall even though the recall says they will FIX the problem. I'm not very pleased with BMW. It is charges like these that they slide in underneath a recall that make me consider purchasing a different vehicle in the future.
Ridiculous, if not illegal under recall rules, unless they have uncovered a completely unrelated problem. Needless to say, I would be on the phone with BMW NA without delay...and perhaps NHTSA also.
My light connector is melted and tail light stays off more than on called BMNA and they said my 2003 sedan's vin # stated i was not part of the recall and i would have to file a complaint with nhtsa.gov // kind of sad really that they are splitting hairs on the vin # since its the correct model year/ issue is the same but they did say i was free to correct this issue at my own expense if i felt unsafe driving and at some time in the future if enough people in the same vin# range have same issue and they admit they need to repair they "may" would refund monies paid (i guess if i get a lawyer and pay him 3 times what i paid for the repair) :thumbdwn:
It is not entirely unusual for NHTSA or a manufacturer to expand the scope of a recall as new owner's just outside the limits of the recall report identical problems.
You can also research the original NHTSA investigation documents (Google: NHTSA defects investigations) to see if the manufacturer had submitted warranty/repair data for this issue for your car.
I'm scheduled with the dealer on Jan 4th to have this taken care of. They have wireless network in the lobby, so I'll do some work from there while I wait for it. Supposedly 45 minutes to fix it.
I just recieved my recall notice for the taillights so i called my local BMW dealer to make an appointment, they took my name and number and told me they would call me when BMW finalized the class action suit - then they will fix the problem- whats up with that ?
Hi I'm a newbie with maybe a dumb question - is there any way a short like this could affect other parts of the electrical system?? yesterday my alternator died -- while waiting for BMW to approve me for an appt to go to the dealer...
I heard about the recall last fall just about the time my taillights really started acting up on my 2002 325i. My usual mechanic tried replacing the bulbs and other things but it was shorting occasionally and showing false warning lights on the dash. Then around November I noticed one of the left taillight bulbs was on, while the car was off with no key in the ignition. I couldnt get it to turn off so i yanked the bulb and drove around for a few months with less taillights than i should have... while waiting for bmwusa to finally send me a "certified letter" in the mail. [still haven't seen the letter by the way]
yesterday i was driving to work and sitting at a red light, when all kinds of warning lights started to go on. brake, oil, whatever. totally crazy. as i was driving (in automatic mode) the readout showed D and a gear icon. then it stopped shifting correctly and without being able to technically describe it, it started driving as if it had not enough electricity. the window rolled up slow. things were totally haywire. when i got to where i was going and shut it off, i figured the battery was dead or something - and then the car wouldnt start again.
anyway sorry i type too much - I got towed to the dealer after they said my VIN matched the recall. i had them diagnose the totally dead car and they came back with "your alternator's dead but the battery is totally normal" and of course that's like $1200.
Any way this otherwise simple thing could lead to these bigger problems? I only have 80k miles and the car was running just fine until this point. I dont suppose I could ever prove it but I can't afford this kind of work right now...
thanks if you know anything! and for the rest of you call your dealer service and tell them your VIN to get in there now!
anyway sorry i type too much - I got towed to the dealer after they said my VIN matched the recall. i had them diagnose the totally dead car and they came back with "your alternator's dead but the battery is totally normal" and of course that's like $1200.
Any way this otherwise simple thing could lead to these bigger problems? I only have 80k miles and the car was running just fine until this point. I dont suppose I could ever prove it but I can't afford this kind of work right now...
Try calling some independent shops in your area...I think you will be surprised at how much less they will charge for the same job. You can search these forums for an independent in your area or check out http://www.bimrs.org, and additionally check reviews on yelp.
Re: 2011 Recall due to Faulty Ground Wire in Tail Lights, 2002-2005 BMW325i
Does anybody else have an issue with the 8-pin connectors and bulb carriers not being covered by the December 2011 Recall???? Mine were burned out by the faulty ground wire, and I had them replaced in October 2011 by a non-dealer mechanic (using BMW parts) at a cost of $270. BMW replaced the ground wire at no cost, but the Corporate Office in New Jersey will not reimburse me for the other parts damaged by the defective wire. I have found in the "Final Rule" passed by the NHTSA in 2002 that "If it was appropriate to inspect, adjust, repair or replace the original part OR SYSTEM in order to correct a performance problem, the manufacturer MUST reimburse the owner for that work." (Note: emphasis is mine.) I have quoted this law to Customer Relations people at BMW of North America only to be completely blown off. Furthermore, NHTSA regulations state that the Recall Notice MUST contain language about the possibility of reimbursement for repairs prior to the recall, which is not to be found in BMW's December Notice of Recall. I had to write letters and make phone calls asking about reimbursement and was given a complete run-around. One dealer told me I was the first person to ask the question! Thinking of starting a Class Action.....
Here's the response I got from BMW customer service:
>>>
If you have previously paid repairs, you may be eligible for reimbursement under the TREAD Act. Please present copies of owner notification letter and the previously paid invoice to your local authorized BMW center.
>>>
I don't know the details of the TREAD Act, but based on what I've seen here, it looks like it has to be within a certain number of years prior to the recall. I don't think I qualify.
I never recieved the letter but just called and gave the dealership my VIN....I am covered. Scheduled to drop car off on Monday at Princeton BMW and have a loaner for the day....hmmm...maybe I should take the day off from work.
Didn't get the letter but I was covered. BMW of Honolulu did a great job with no questions asked. Very fortunate for this recall. My tail lights were almost completely disfunctional due to the connection of the ground wiring being burnt out.
Just took mine in today and got it done. They only had to do one side because I had already done the other. They took a photocopy of the invoice of the work that I had done and said they would submit it to BMW. By the time at got my car back, it was lunch time and the service folks were out, so I didn't get a chance to find out how to check on the status of the reimbursement.
Just got my notice in the mail, taking the car in on Tuesday to be fixed. Hoping I can talk my way into a loaner for the day, would mind a chance to drive a new 1 Series around!
Yeah, I wouldn't hold your breath on that one; the fix takes 20 minutes. That is unless you're like me and they take it in gladly for the quick fix but find something unrelated that warrants actual time and $$ for them to ding you for.
Just want you let all know, if you had the repair done before the 12/2009 date, try for a refund. I had my local dealer do the repair for both sides 11/19/2009 at a cost of $534 + tax. I contacted BMW corp. who told me to take it back to the dealer for them to go over the work that had been done and the dealer would take care of any refund. Well I took it back Jan 25, 2012 and they added 1 wire to the work they already had done and I just got my refund :banana: check in the mail yesterday. WOOOHOOOOOO:clap:
Well I took it back Jan 25, 2012 and they added 1 wire to the work they already had done and I just got my refund :banana: check in the mail yesterday.
I have a 2001 325i and have the issue with the tail light indicator is on all the time, it sometimes goes off when i turn on my lights but then as soon as I turn them off the indicator light comes back on.
Hi everyone I'm Trying to reprogram my key its diamond shape I've tried every way on here but it still just does nothing I got the car just before Xmas and the buttons worked when the felt like it I've changed the fzv under the spoiler and put a new rechargeable battery in the key I know the parts work as I took them from a working car from a scrap yard where I work. Any ideas can someone help cheers
I definitely had the symptoms for this and just got around to dealing with it. The problem started probably 2 years ago for me, but the dash light was very infrequent. By the time I brought it in, the error showed itself 75% of the time upon start-up.
Took about an hour to fix. Stealer tried to tell me I had an oil leak and wanted $118 to diagnose for an hour. I lol as I left.
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