2001 BMW 318I Recalls & Complaints

Filed: April 1, 2002

I AM BLINDED BY THESE NEW HEADLAMPS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THEY ARE VERY IRRITATING EVEN DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING. IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT AN ELECTRIC WELDING ARC. THEY CONTAIN TOO MUCH UV LIGHT. UV LIGHT IS VERY HARMFULL. HOW CAN THESE POSSIBLY BE LEGAL? I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN ONE NIGHT WHEN I WAS BLINDED BY A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THESE LIGHTS. I'M AFFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT NOW. HOW CAN I FIND THE VEHICLE THAT BLINDED ME IF I HIT SOMEONE? THIS SITUATION NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IF SOMEONE BLINDS ME LIKE THAT AND A PEDESTRIAN IS STRUCK I HAVE NO WAY TO IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS. THEY CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT. THESE LIGHTS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED. I CAN GET A SUMMONS FOR RIDING WITH MY BRIGHTS ON. THE BRIGHT BLUE HEADLAMPS ARE BRIGHTER THAN MY HIGHBEAMS. ON SOME SUV'S THEY SHINE RIGHT INTO MY BACK WINDOW AND ILLUMINATE THE INSIDE OF MY CAR SO BRIGHTLY THAT I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE. WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER THEY HAD LITTLE VIOLET LENSES THAT WENT INTO THE TAIL LAMPS. THEY WERE AND PROBABLY STILL ARE ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY ARE IRRITATING TO THE EYES. I DON'T SEE HOW THE ULTRA BRIGHT HEADLAMPS CAN POSSIBLY BE LEGAL BECAUSE THEY EMIT SO MUCH UV LIGHT. SOMEONE MUST HAVE RECEIVED A REAL BIG PAYOFF TO LEGALIZE THESE. TRY WATCHING SOMEONE ARC WELD FOR A WHILE AND TELL ME THAT UV ISN'T HARMFULL! YOURS, BLINDED. *AK

Incident: July 10, 2001 · Filed: September 29, 2001

2001 BMW 3 SERIES ENGINES HAVE AN ELECTRONIC DRIVE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE MECHANISHM. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS AN ELECTRONIC SENSOR, WITHOUT A DIRECT MECHANICAL LINKAGE TO THE ENGINE. THIS PEDAL HAS A STICKY, JERKY MECHANISM THAT IS MUCH WORSE IN HOT WEATHER. THIS RESULTS IN SURGES OF ACCELERATION AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO FINELY CONTROL THE CAR'S SPEED. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT STATES THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IN ORDER TO DEFLECT ANY CRITICISM OR URGENCY. THEY WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IF THE OWNER INSISTS, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. BMW MUST BE FORCED, THROUGH EXTERNAL PRESSURE, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE AND IMPLEMENT A RAPID REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.

Filed: July 7, 2001

I HAD 2 TIRES GO SUDDENLY FLAT ON THE SAME DAY. CAR HAD ONLY 4500 MILES AT THE TIME. NO OBVIOUS PUNTURE OR DAMAGE. REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AT LOCAL TIRE DEALER BECAUSE BMW DEALER DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK. 1 WEEK LATER, I READ ABOUT NHTSA RECALL #00V383 AND CONTACTED BOTH DEALER AND BMW USA AFTER DEALER REPLIED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL. AFTER HAVING HIM RESEARCH FURTHER, I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT MY BMW 330XI, MANUFACTURED DURING THE QUESTIONED TIMEFRAME WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I GOT THE SAME FROM BMW USA. I QUESTION HOW 2 VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW TIRES WOULD BOTH GO FLAT ON THE SAME DAY AT THE SAME TIME? I CONTACTED CONTINENTAL TIRES WHO WERE ALSO UNAWARE OF THE RECALL AND AFTER EXPLAINING THEM THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY READILY AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME $100 AS A GOOD FAITH GESTURE. I PAID OVER $400 FOR THE TIRES, PLUS BALANCING, PLUS HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK SINCE BMW AND LOCAL TIRE CENTER DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK. I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT BMW HAS FAITHFULLY RESOLVED THIS ISSUE WITH ME, SINCE THEY DID NOT EVEN INSPECT THE WHEELS AFTER MY NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED. I DON'T THINK THEY COULD TELL WHETHER OF NOT THE FIRST SET WERE MOUNTED PROPERLY OR NOT AND HAVE SIMPLY DISMISSED ME WITHOUT ANY ASSURANCE OR VERIFICATION THAT MY BMW WASN'T POSSIBLY AFFECTED BY THIS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT 630-620-7348 IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN PROVIDE OR FOLLOW UP ON TO TRULY SEE WHETHER I AM OWED NEW WHEELS, REIMBURSEMENT, ETC. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, BARRY GLUSTOFF. *AK (TIRESIZE: 17)

Incident: May 3, 2001 · Filed: May 17, 2001

COOLING FAN FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STRAND PASSENGERS AT SIDE OF ROAD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *AK