2001 BMW 3 Series engine and engine cooling problems

“PURCHASED THE CAR USED, IN JANUARY 2011, WITH APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL STORED ENGINE CODES, PO0300,171,174,1345,1351,1353; MOSTLY RELATING TO OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE MAF. ALL ENGINE HOSES, THE MAF, ALL 4 OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE IGNITION COIL PACKS WERE REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF NORMAL DRIVING, ALL CODES HAD RETURNED. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE POINTS OF FAILURE FOR THESE ISSUES AND BMW DENIES ANY EXISTING PROBLEM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT, TURNS ON AND OFF, RANDOMLY, WHETHER SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE, OR NOT. FAILURE OF THE SENSOR COULD CAUSE THE AB NOT TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL, INJURY. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, DOES NOT REPLACE/REPAIR. DOOR LOCK/WINDOW/WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE, KNOWN AS GM5, FAILS RANDOMLY AND OFTEN. IT HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR. SINCE IT DISABLES THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS, I WAS TRAPPED IN MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THANKFULLY, I HAD THE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN FAR ENOUGH TO PASS MY KEYS TO SOMEONE ON THE OUTSIDE, SO THEY COULD UNLOCK THE DOOR. IN AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS COULD BE STUCK, KEEPING EMERGENCY WORKERS FROM…”

“THE SECONDARY COOLING FAN FAILED CAUSING THE EXPANSION TANK ON OUR 2001 BMW 330XI SPLIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. WE REPLACED THE EXPANSION TANK AND MANY RELATED PARTS INCLUDING THERMOSTAT. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. WE BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS CLOSE TO, BUT NOT THE SAME AS, THE FAN FAILURE THAT YOU REPORTED ON MAY 16, 2002. (02V138000 , 01V206000 ). *TR”

“2001 BMW 325I. ATTORNEY WRITES ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS REGARDING VEHICLE RECALL REPAIRS *TGW WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 140,000 MILES IT BEGAN RUNNING UNUSUALLY LOUD WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING AN INTERMITTENT BEEPING SOUND. ACCORDING TO AN INVOICE, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE DECLINED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO EXERCISE HIS RIGHT TO HAVE THE RECALL REMEDIED DUE TO THE VEHICLE POTENTIALLY CATCHING ON FIRE. RECALL NUMBERS 01V206000 AND 02V138000 WERE MENTIONED IN THE LETTER. *JB UPDATED 05/12/11. *JB”

“ENGINE STALLS ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEED, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY RE-START THE ENGINE EVERY TIME BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASH OTHERWISE. THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER 2008 (AND AFTER 60K MILES), BOTH AT LOW SPEED ON LOCAL ROADS AND AT 45 ~ 55 MPH ON HIGHWAYS, SUMMER OR WINTER CONDITIONS, WITH OR WITHOUT AC TURNED ON. OCCURRENCES ARE INFREQUENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. REPORTED TO MY BMW DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. OTHERWISE, THE VEHICLE DRIVES PERFECTLY FINE AND I LOVE IT.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE FANS BEGAN RUNNING UNUSUALLY LOUD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY LOUD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO MAKE A BEEPING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”

“THE EXPANSION TANK ON OUR 2001 BMW 330XI SPLIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 48,000 MILES OF USE. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AND MANY RELATED PARTS INCLUDING THE EXPANSION TANK AND RADIATOR. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE CAR WAS IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP. WE BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS CLOSE TO, BUT NOT THE SAME AS, THE FAN FAILURE THAT YOU REPORTED ON MAY 16, 2002. *TR”