2001 BMW M3

14 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

1. Filed Jul 17, 2018Failure Jul 3, 2018155,000 milesMesa, AZUnderbody shields, Suspension

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW M3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A SEVERE CRACK IN THE SUBFRAME THAT SUPPORTED THE REAR WHEELS AND SUSPENSION. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11111835
2. Filed Apr 19, 2016Failure Feb 27, 2016129,000 milesSanta ANA, CAPower train, Suspension, Wheels

   INSPECTION BY TWO MECHANICS SHOWS CRACKS IN THE SUBFRAME HOLDING THE BACK WHEELS. THERE WAS A LEGAL CASE INVOLVING THIS DEFECT THAT WAS SETTLED BY BMW WHICH WAS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF 3 SERIES BMW'S ABOUT THE DEFECT SO IT COULD BE FIXED. THEY NEVER INFORMED ME OF DEFECT AND HAVE STALED ON THE REPAIR.

   NHTSA complaint 10860335
3. Filed Aug 5, 2014Failure Aug 4, 2014155,000 milesFarmington Hills, MILatches/locks/linkages, Body

   PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED EITHER FROM INSIDER OR OUTSIDE. APPEARS LIKE THE DOOR IS DOUBLE LOCKED. LUCKILY BOTH DOORS ARE NOT DOUBLE LOCKED WITH PASSENGER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LOCK ACTUATOR WITHOUT WARNING OR FAILURE OF GM5 MODULE *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10619015
4. Filed Aug 29, 2011Failure Jun 13, 201178,311 milesEaston, PAStructure

   NORMAL DRIVING HAS WEAKENED THE SUB-FRAME TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10422443
5. Filed Sep 9, 2010Failure Sep 8, 201054,000 milesArlington, VARear

   LEFT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE WITH ONLY ABOUT 50K MILES. RESULTED IN NOISE, POOR SUSPENSION CONTROL OVER BUMPS. REPAIR SHOP IS REPLACING WITH A NEW ONE. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10354726
6. Filed Jun 17, 2009Failure Mar 1, 200945,000 milesAlexandria, VAVisibility

   AUTOMATIC DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR DEVELOPED A "BUBBLE," WHICH ITSELF IMPEDED REAR VIEW VISION, AND STOPPED DIMMING EFFECTIVELY, MAKING NIGHT TIME DRIVING DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10274159
7. Filed Dec 12, 2004Failure Oct 26, 200446,710 milesRiverside, CAManual transmission

   MY M3 CIC MAKES A LOUD GRINDING/CLATTER TYPE NOISE WHEN DISENGAGING THE 6-SPEED MANUAL CLUTCH IN BOTH 1ST AND REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AT ABOUT 1-2 MPH. BMW TECH'S SAY THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION, HOWEVER, I CAN'T DUPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEM ON A NEW M3 W/6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10102760
8. Filed Nov 8, 2004Failure Jul 20, 200215,000 milesPeoria, ILSide/windowCrash

   WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE GRAZED THE CURB AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, DRIVER'S VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED, AND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

   NHTSA complaint 10099589
9. Filed Dec 13, 2002Failure Nov 25, 200221,000 milesPalo Alto, CAEngine

   THE ENGINE OF THE BMW 2001 M3 HAD SERIOUS ENGINE FAILURES. THE REQUEST FROM THE BMW DEALERSHIP ON EXPLAINATION WAS REJECTED, NOR WAS THERE ANY EXPLAINATION FROM THE CONSUMER RELATIONS OF BMW NA. THE FAILURE WAS CONVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY ABNORMAL CAR IN THOUSANDS THAT WERE SOLD. FROM MY RESEARCH THERE WERE MORE THAN 100 DOCUMENTED CASES OF THE NEW E46 M3 ENGINE HAVING PROBLEMS RANGING FROM CRANKSHAFT FAILURE TO FULL ENGINE DETONATION AND OIL SPILLAGE. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS OF A $60K CAR IN THE DECREASE IN VALUE OF THE CAR AND ALSO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ONGOING PROBLEMS (THERE ARE COMPLAINTS THAT NEW "REPLACED" ENGINES ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS). THERE IS A VERY HIGH CHANCE A DEADLY ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR IF I DID NOT NOTICE THE PROBLEM EARLY, RANGING FROM OIL SPILLS TO FIRE. BMW IS NEGLECTING THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE BY NOT NOTIFYING THEM WHEN FIRST SIGNS OF PROBLEMS OCCUR. IRONICALLY BMW DOES KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPLACED ALL THE PARTS IN THE NEW ENGINE WHILE KEEPING QUIET TO CURRENT CONSUMERS, ALSO MECHANICS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE PARTS WHILE WORKING IN THE AREA OF THE ENGINE W/O TELLING CONSUMERS. MECHANICS AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH, WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF PROGRESS.

   NHTSA complaint 10000101
10. Filed Dec 6, 2002Failure Dec 5, 2002Ocean Side, CAGasoline

    CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR. ATHARY PLEASE PROVIDE THE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE. TS

    NHTSA complaint 8023903
11. Filed May 20, 2002Failure May 19, 2002Cambridge, MALinkage and cable, Bumpers

    WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING, THERE WAS RECALL (01V245000) FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THERE WAS A BOLT STICKING THROUGH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS LOOSE AND GRINDING AND THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED ON LOT. *YH

    NHTSA complaint 8010084
12. Filed Apr 30, 2002Failure Feb 13, 2002Miami, FLGasoline

    BMW M3 ENIGNES ARE BLOWING UP AT AN ALARMING RATE. MANUFC CLAIMS OVERREV. WHICH IS NOT TRUE . TOO MANY FAILURES. BMW IS IN COVER UP BY MAKING US SIGN COFIDETIAL/AND NO SUE AGREEMENTS. MANY OWNERS SUFFERING LOSSESAND NO COOP. FROM MANU. OR DEALERS. PLEASE HELP.!!!!. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 761360
13. Filed Jul 19, 2001KEY Biscayne, FLDriveshaft

    LOTS OF COMMON COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET SITE WWW.BIMMER.ORG E46M3 POST BOARD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 748736
14. Filed Jul 7, 2001Fayetteville, NYDriveshaft, Clutch assembly

    MY CAR EXHIBITS A LOUD CLUNKING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING, GOING ON/OFF GAS AND FROM RELEASING THE CLUTCH AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE SEVERITY IS INCREASING WITH MILEAGE. THE SERVICE CENTER THAT I AM USING: BURDICK BMW, 3904 BREWERTON RD., N. SYRACUSE NY 13212, 315-458-7590 HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE BEGUN RECEIVING REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM ULTIMATELY LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVESHAFT ATTACHMENT AT THE DIFFERENTIAL ON THEIR CARS. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME AND I CANNOT HELP BUT WORRY ABOUT THE SERIOUS SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM.

    NHTSA complaint 748053