BMW is recalling 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i and 330xi - 241,000 cars effected!

But i though it was free of charge, why is the 100-200 bucks? can you explain

Originally Posted by XtrlRulz

But i though it was free of charge, why is the 100-200 bucks? can you explain

Haahahahahah.......

While many warranty and "good policy" services are (relatively) free...... we have to remember the dealership is there for one reason and one reason only..... to make money. So...... if they can convince you that you should be paying for something, they will. And let's face it, they know more than we do and unless we are fully up to speed on the exact nature of repairs and services being offered by BMW North America, we are at their mercy......and usually end-up paying for something......one way or the other.

This and many other reasons I prefer to establish a long term relationship and patronize my local private BMW shop that stays on-top of what's happening in the BMW auto service world. Many times I've gone to them with a problem and they give me a copy of the BMW recall or service bulletin so I can understand the situation and be intelligent when I take my BMW to the dealership for specific work.......and not get fooled into paying for anything that I shouldn't.

Originally Posted by pointandgo

The DIY was simple for those so inclined (brown wire splice), but MANY payed $200 per side to have this fixed. BMW reported more than 30,000 dealership repairs...I estimate that it cost owners more than $6,000,000 in repair costs while BMW NA fought NHTSA tooth and nail for years to have this obvious defect become a recall as NHTSA sought. I'm very disappointed in BMW's attitude.

Concur. BMW AG should have fired the BMW NA folks responsible for the YEARS of delay and foot dragging on this. This lack of corporate responsibility is a black eye for BMW, and has caused me to start looking at other brands--and I'm a BMW CCA Life Member.

Other factors: So much cost-cutting! Let's compare our beloved E46 to our 2011 E90's (we have two as we didn't want to see how bad the F30 was going to get):

No trunk tie downs
Almost no way to get 12-volt power for GPS/Valentine 1 (they removed the ashtray/lighter)
Almost all the tools gone
Stunningly thin and cheap carpet
No underhood sound insulation pad
No flashlight
Glovebox so small that the owner's manual doesn't really fit
No spare tire (and the RFT's, frankly, suck)

And now the F30 has a so-so review in Car and Driver (EPAS, plus the loss of the beautiful aluminum parts in the suspension)?!? Geesh BMW, get back to being honest and responsible, and start making The Ultimate Driving Machine again, please!

Saved me 200$ thanks!!

My rt tail ground melted too, fixed it, bypassed plug

Hi, just saw this, but I have a 2002 330ci. Do I assume correctly that this body style is not affected? Some other questions, if I may about the "Service Engine Soon" light.

Mechanic went to reset code due to oil change and I was told my mass air sensor needs replacement. Before that, the codes indicated a module controlling heating/cooling needed replacement. And I have replaced the alternator. Since I am new the the BMW brand, are these codes reliable? The car has only 56,000 miles and am skeptical that I may be replacing stuff unnessessarily. Also any opinions on re-manufactured (with original BMW housing) mass air sensor?

Geez, I am asking a lot, so my apologies as a first timer!

Hello All,

I took my car through the car wash today and about 5-7 minutes after I left, I hear this

loud rumbling in the back of my car sounding like a helicopter. I actually cut my radio off

to make sure and indeed the sound was coming from the trunk area. Can someone tell

me what that could be???

Thanks in advance,

Milkyway1977

Originally Posted by sgrillo788

Hi, just saw this, but I have a 2002 330ci. Do I assume correctly that this body style is not affected? Some other questions, if I may about the "Service Engine Soon" light.

Mechanic went to reset code due to oil change and I was told my mass air sensor needs replacement. Before that, the codes indicated a module controlling heating/cooling needed replacement. And I have replaced the alternator. Since I am new the the BMW brand, are these codes reliable? The car has only 56,000 miles and am skeptical that I may be replacing stuff unnessessarily. Also any opinions on re-manufactured (with original BMW housing) mass air sensor?

Geez, I am asking a lot, so my apologies as a first timer!

According to this document, it looks like it only affects sedans.
http://test.resource.bmwusa.com/Pdf_...54021519c.arox

For your other questions, you're probably better off starting another thread...it might get more attention.

Would this recall have anything to do with affecting my lights flashing when I "lock" or "unlock" my doors remotely.
I do NOT hear a beep or see flashes like in any BMW's Ive owned. 2004 BMW 525i 5-spd.
Thanks

Originally Posted by jmansour

Would this recall have anything to do with affecting my lights flashing when I "lock" or "unlock" my doors remotely.
I do NOT hear a beep or see flashes like in any BMW's Ive owned. 2004 BMW 525i 5-spd.
Thanks

I doubt it. The flash/beeps happen only if the car is equipped with an alarm and if so programmed. I believe it is possible to get the programming done for flashing lights even without the alarm.

Does your car have an alarm?

Originally Posted by mr_clueless

I doubt it. The flash/beeps happen only if the car is equipped with an alarm and if so programmed. I believe it is possible to get the programming done for flashing lights even without the alarm.

Does your car have an alarm?

I'm going to be mr clueless right now and say "how do i know if it does"
I see a red flashing light on my radio. and my rear view has a red globe (light) under it, however i dont think that one is flashing.

Originally Posted by jmansour

I'm going to be mr clueless right now and say "how do i know if it does"
I see a red flashing light on my radio. and my rear view has a red globe (light) under it, however i dont think that one is flashing.

jmansour,
If you have not received a recall notice by now, chances are that your car is not covered. If you believe you car is, or should be covered, call your dealer or BMW NA. This thread is about cars covered in the current recall.

Originally Posted by jmansour

I'm going to be mr clueless right now and say "how do i know if it does"
I see a red flashing light on my radio. and my rear view has a red globe (light) under it, however i dont think that one is flashing.

The flashing light on the radio and the clown nose are both standard; i.e. even on cars with no alarm. Usually if the car chirps when you lock/unlocks, it indicates you have an alarm. There are probably ways to turn the chirping off, and if you bought the car used, it may be disabled. If you Google around, people have described ways to activate the alarm -- doing things like sitting in the car and locking it with the key, and then trying to open the door from inside, which would set the alarm off. In cars without an alarm, this would result in nothing. In cars with the alarm it would result in the clown nose blinking and the siren.

Anyway, you're on your own. Since your car is an E60, you can post to that forum and ask the question...people there might be able to respond. This is a long thread on the recall (and that too for E46 sedan only), so most people aren't even bothering to read it.

Originally Posted by pointandgo

jmansour,
If you have not received a recall notice by now, chances are that your car is not covered. If you believe you car is, or should be covered, call your dealer or BMW NA. This thread is about cars covered in the current recall.

I just bought the car maybe 2 months ago... could i just walk into a BMW dealer and asked them to check or is this a longer process?

Originally Posted by jmansour

I just bought the car maybe 2 months ago... could i just walk into a BMW dealer and asked them to check or is this a longer process?

I think you can just walk into the dealer and ask. BTW, your profile say you have a 325i, but your first post here says 525i. This recall is for 3 series, so I guess your first post was a typo.

Originally Posted by jmansour

I just bought the car maybe 2 months ago... could i just walk into a BMW dealer and asked them to check or is this a longer process?

Let's go back to the original NHTSA/BMW recall notice. Does your car qualify? If you have any doubts you can contact your dealer (yes, walk in) or call BMW NA with your VIN number. They'll quickly inform you if your car falls under the current recall:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls...intVersion=YES

I fixed this issue the first week I bought my bimmer!
I can deal with the ses light being on, but that giant orange car with a red butt-light had to go!

Originally Posted by jmansour

I just bought the car maybe 2 months ago... could i just walk into a BMW dealer and asked them to check or is this a longer process?

The fastest way to do it is to open your trunk, turn the black asterisk looking handle to the left all the way, then pull your rear housing off. unhook the harness and look at the grounding pins where the black wire goes in. If they're melting or burning, you should have and indicator on your instrument cluster telling you the bulbs are burnt out, even if they're not. If that's the case, and the black wire isn't tapped with an alternate grounding wire, you need to either take it in for a recall, or just fix it like most everyone else already has.

Originally Posted by mr_clueless

I think you can just walk into the dealer and ask. BTW, your profile say you have a 325i, but your first post here says 525i. This recall is for 3 series, so I guess your first post was a typo.

Originally Posted by pointandgo

Let's go back to the original NHTSA/BMW recall notice. Does your car qualify? If you have any doubts you can contact your dealer (yes, walk in) or call BMW NA with your VIN number. They'll quickly inform you if your car falls under the current recall:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls...intVersion=YES

1) that was a for sure typo.... Too many Bmw's at my house lol. Brain fart. My ride is the 325i

2) They look fine but ill walk in and see whats up next time im there, Ive been there allot trying to get the 540i running.

I just called BMW Canada Customer Service........and after giving them the full VIN of my 2004 325i, was told my car did not fall within the manufacturing date range of the affected product.
I asked "What IS the date range of the affected cars?"
She didn't know........and that was the way she ended the conversation.

I'm assuming MY car and any of the "American" cars (discussed and pictured, above) were all manufactured in the same factory...and I was also of the impression that ALL 2004 325i's supplied to North America were affected.

Am I wrong on both counts? Any follow-up, especially from anyone with a TSB number or experience with performing this fix in Canada, greatly appreciated!

Michael

Originally Posted by Pursang

I just called BMW Canada Customer Service........and after giving them the full VIN of my 2004 325i, was told my car did not fall within the manufacturing date range of the affected product.
I asked "What IS the date range of the affected cars?"
She didn't know........and that was the way she ended the conversation.

I'm assuming MY car and any of the "American" cars (discussed and pictured, above) were all manufactured in the same factory...and I was also of the impression that ALL 2004 325i's supplied to North America were affected.

Am I wrong on both counts? Any follow-up, especially from anyone with a TSB number or experience with performing this fix in Canada, greatly appreciated!

Michael

I'm in Canada (BC) and have a 2004 325i. Never rec'd a recall notice but when I asked to set up an appointment at the dealer's (suspension inspection) I was told there was a recall on my car for the taillights and they would do that while the car was in.

I aleady did the DIY repair but figured they may as well go in there and replace the parts. It's free and the car will be in there anyways.

Whoever you spoke to is blowing smoke!!

Wow I am glad I joined. Just purchased my 2003 325i and was getting pissed cause I had to keep taking my tail light out and jiggle the wires then 5 minutes later had to do the same thing. Definetly have a black melted looking mark on the harness...calling that number tomorrow hopefully they still honor it!

Mines an 01 325xi. Looks like I'm sol.. gonna be calling my ex-husband to see if he can fix it. Why doesn't BMW just include all the years in the e46 series? Its obviously an issue with models outside the recall?

Is it too late to get this done?

Originally Posted by zongie

Is it too late to get this done?

I doubt it...it's a recall, so as long as your car is covered by it, they will do the work.