2002 BMW 325I: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Engine · 168,000 miles · CA · fire

The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. The contact stated that upon exiting the store, he observed fire emerging from the driver's side dashboard. The vehicle spontaneously combusted and was engulfed in flames. There was no warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The fire department was able to successfully extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was still in the parking lot where the incident occurred. A police officer was on the scene, but no report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the automated system confirmed there was no recall coverage. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2023 · Body, Electrical · NC · fire

On Tuesday June 20, 2023 at 7:20am I was awakened by my neighbor who informed me that my car was on fire. A report was done by the fire department and they did not believe it was done on purpose but something with my car. My car was totally consumed with fire nothing but ashes.

Filed Oct 24, 2018 · Airbags, Electrical · 168,000 miles · KY · fire

On wednesday, seotember 26 2018 - my car had been parked outside since friday, sept 21. It had rained a great deal that weekend. At 1:00 in the afternoon, I went to get in the car and the windows were black from the inside. I had been smelling a strange electircal bruning smell all day. I did not open the door. I called the fire department.they arrived and investigated. The inside of the car on the drivers side dash was completely melted and the dash was still on fire inside. The pillar airbag had exploded and melted and had spewed plastic on the front seats. The upper driver side corner area of the windsheild was broken from the inside as though something had cataplulted into it from below. The pillar bag inflator was found on the floor of the car and was burnt in the bottom. The driver door panel had deployed. The car was a total loss

Filed Jan 29, 2016 · Lights · 70,000 miles · WI

Passenger side headlight bulb on zkw labeled headlight assembly melted reflector badly. Removed headlight bulb due to chance of catching fire. Headlight reflector damaged beyond repair and unable to mount headlight bulb. Issue noticed while driving on interstate where passenger headlight started loosing brightness and shining towards right side of vehicle. Pulled over and smelled burning plastic. Housing is black from burning.

Filed Apr 8, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 104,900 miles · MI · fire

Car was driven approximately 50 miles and parked in a restaurant parking lot. Weather was wet and rainy, the defroster was running on the car for most of the trip. After sitting 25-30 minutes a resident near the restaurant called to notify that the car was on fire. Employees of the restaurant attempted to put out the fire with hand held extinguisher but was unable to completely do so. Emergency personnel showed up on the scene a short time later to unpower the car and put out the flame. Police and fire teams were on the scene. The fire seems to have originated from the auxiliary A/C fan in front of the condenser as that is where the heaviest damage is.

Filed Jun 26, 2009 · Engine · 98,000 miles · MN · fire

I was driving my car when I saw smoke from under the hood. The car was not overheating and I pulled over, opened the hood and the wires connecting to the cooling fan had caused the plastic to start on fire. Luckily I was paying attention and had access to a fire extinguisher and was able to put out the flames.