1999 BMW 323I: fire, smoke or burning smell

7 of the 136 complaints about the 1999 BMW 323I describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 7
of this car's complaints: 5%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 3 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2010
1
2008
1
2007
1
2001
1
1999
7
1998
1

What owners say

Filed Nov 22, 2019 · Electrical · 182,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 bmw 323i. Approximately four hours after the vehicle was parked, flames appeared inside the vehicle near the driver's side dashboard. The flames were extinguished by the contact before the fire department that was called to the scene. A fire report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined as of yet but the contact believed that the failure was due to a defective light control module. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 182,000.

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Body, Engine · 148,000 miles · FL · fire

My 1999 323i caught fire immediately after turning off the ignition switch once parked.there was a loud "snap", followed by large flames coming from around the hood and front wheel wells. The police and fire department arrived within 5-7 minutes (fortunately they are both located less than 1 mile away). Once the fire was put out, my car's front 1/2 was melted into my parking space. It was a complete loss and I am expecting that my auto insurance will pay very little; regardless that the car was in very good condition prior to this incident.

Filed Sep 3, 2009 · Locks · 170,000 miles · CA · crash · fire · 3 injuries

Auto accident results in death of a passenger due to the inability to unlock car doors in an attempt to exit auto which caught fire short after an intersection accident, the passengers were unable to open door latch, unable to pull on door lock knobs that are flush to door panels and unable to press on main door lock switch which would otherwise have allowed them to exit vehicle quickly and safely. Three passengers exited through a broken window but unfortunately one was not so lucky. Bmw chose to ignore all requests for a recall on a "general module 5 - door relays" for 1999 bmw 323i's due to unwanted costs to the auto maker, unfortunately this time the cost was paid by a family who had to endure the loss of a loved one. Many complaints have been filed in regards to this door lock module yet no action has been taken to correct this default. Hopefully a police report, a death certificate, and letters from the victims family members will be enough to shed light to this deadly issue.

Filed Feb 12, 2007 · Seats · 97,000 miles · WI · fire

Heated car seat in a 1999 bmw started on fire--seat and coat damaged.

Filed Sep 27, 2002 · Seats · NY · fire

Consumer states that while driving seat caught on fire from defect in seat heater. Dealer was notified.

Filed May 2, 2000 · Electrical · PR · fire

While consumer has been inside of vehicle trying to turn headlights to high beam vehicle caught on fire without prior warning. *ak

Filed Apr 26, 2000 · Electrical · AR · fire

On the morning of march 22 my bmw model 323i caught fire immediatly after turning on the high beams. Black smoke started coming into the cabin through the dash and the air conditioner. Immediately after fire started coming in through the front part of the dash, giving me hardly enough time to come out of the car. Fortunately the car was not running at the time. My life was put in danger and it has been 5 weeks and I have not received any written information regarding what caused the fire.