2003 BMW 325I: engine stalls while driving

Filed Feb 24, 2018 · Engine, Suspension · CA

Stall limps

Filed Feb 10, 2018 · Airbags, Electrical · 120,000 miles · CA

Stalling, electrical issues, dead batteries, swerving

Filed Mar 3, 2016 · Engine · 92,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 3251. The contact stated that while driving at various speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. In addition, the contact noticed a strong abnormal odor from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the coil cylinder needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed Oct 13, 2011 · Lights · 65,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 325i. The contact stated that the tail lights failed intermittently and would shut off while driving without warning. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v438000 (exterior lighting:tail lights) but was advised by the dealer advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 73,346 and the approximate failure mileage was 65,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Aug 12, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 33,500 miles · TX

Our 2003 bmw 325i has had repeated stalling events occurring at increasing frequency. While idling at stop lights or at highway speed warning lights on the dashboard (eml, hazard and brake) light and the engine loses power, and RPM's drop. After the first occurrence, the bmw was taken to advantage midtown bmw in houston, tx for diagnosis/repair. Bmw replaced the throttle controller which they said was defective. 1-2 months later the problem began occurring again with increasing frequency. The car stalled at a traffic light with the same warning lights/symptoms. The car was returned to advantage bmw and left for several days. Initially the service staff at advantage bmw told us that the computer had failed and needed to be replaced and was under warranty. However, after discussions with the bmw corporate office, advantage bmw did not replace the computer instead stating the that the problem may be due to low voltage in the system. I asked them what would cause this since I did not want to drive the car when it intermittently could stall. Advantage kept the car a few more days and then returned it to us with the explanation that the low voltage was due to insufficient charge on the battery. I was advised to purchase a float charger. Since then the car has been kept fully charged via a ctek float charger. However last weekend the engine stalled repeatedly while my family and I were driving on interstate 10 at freeway speeds. This forced me to pull to the shoulder of the highway and drive with reduced power. After stopping the car and restarting, the engine reset and functioned again for a while. Since this time the problem has repeated itself 5 times in 1 week. I feel that bmw returning the car to me in the condition where intermittent stalling is occurring is unsafe - I stated this to advantage bmw when I had it in for service during the second instance of these problems. I have service scheduled again at advantage bmw for august 14, 2010.

Filed Sep 13, 2006 · Electrical · MA

Ltr fm (ma) concerned about the stalling tendences in model years 2001-2004 bmw 325i and 323i passenger cars. *ts the stalling problem was eleminated by installing an update released about july 2004 by bmw ag headquarters in munich. An independent repair facility downloaded the update from the bmw-siemens website in the u.k. And installed it in the consumer's bmw. Since the software has been updated the vehicle has only stalled twice since updated, once when in the wrong gear, and once when the emergency brake was set.

Filed Jul 17, 2006 · Electrical · MA

2003 bmw 325i stalls frequently because of instability. *kb the vehicle stalled about seven times after being driven off the lot on the date if purchase. From dec 2003 to june 2005 the vehicle had only been drive 11,000 because the dealer was unable to alleviate the stalling condition. The dealer believed the stalling was due to driver error. The consumer believes the stalling is due to instability and that this problem could be easy fixed by updating software. An independent repair facility downloaded the update from the bmw-siemens website in the u.k. And installed it. Since the software has been updated the vehicle has only stalled twice since updated, once when in the wrong gear, and once when the emergency brake was set.

Filed Dec 12, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · 13,000 miles · CA

The engine has been stalling intermittently while driving since 11/2004, and has had 6 documented services. After last service on 11/18/05, it stalled again on 12/01/05 when driving on freeway. I had not driven it since then and had it towed and returned to the dealer on 12/10/05.

Filed Feb 22, 2005 · Electrical · 30,000 miles · NJ

I've had this car for only 2 years and the ignition coils have been replaced three times now. The events include the "service engine soon" light coming on and the car vibrating and idling rough. The car eventually stalls and cannot be driven and must be towed. Bmw is aware of this problem with the ignition coils because they have an internal service bulletin on the problem. Even after replacing all 6 coils the second time, the problem has happened again for the third time. There is a definite design issue with this car that bmw has refused to address.

Filed Aug 23, 2004 · Electrical · IL

Bmw 325i purchased new in april 2003. After a couple of weeks I started to experience problems. My car would jerk very hard when approaching to a stop. My car started to stall out while driving or sometimes it did not even start. In june 2003 a little over a month after I initially purchase it, I took it to the dealer. They could not duplicate the same problem and it did not register any faults in the computer. A month later took it back for the same problem and they could not duplicate problem. Another month passd took it back for the same problem and this time they were able to find out what caused the jerking problem. Bmw tech said that they needed to upgrade the computer software which they did and the jerking stopped. But the most important problem that has not been fixed is my car stalling. Since purchased date my car has been in the shop several times now and my car continues to die out on me. Sometimes the car would not even start, I had to tow it back to the dealer once. Summarize current problems: randomly does not want to start and sometimes my doors does not unlock when using the key remote.

Filed Jun 21, 2004 · Engine · FL

While driving 60 MPH vehicle stalled. Dealership could not duplicate the problem.

Filed May 11, 2004 · Electrical · 3,000 miles · TX

Intermittent severe engine miss. Engine hesitation/failure to accelerate. Engine surges and has very rough idle. Transmission failure to up shift (maximum speed is approximately 50 MPH). Service engine soon light illuminates, but not always (intermittent). With less than 9,000 miles this car has been towed in three times for this and other failures which have left the car undriveable. Bmw dealership service personnel have replaced many parts, without success, as far as we know (more later). These engine events can occur spontaneously, and are not always indicated by a "service engine soon" light illumination. The most dangerous situations are when it occurs as one comes to a stop before entering high speed traffic or when making a left turn. Because the problem can occur spontaneously, if the engine were to stall or begin to run on less than its full complement of cylinders, it could leave one exposed to oncoming traffic with no way to accelerate. Very dangerous. Internet seaching after the latest "repair" attempt has exposed a "secret" bmw bulletin regarding bremi ignition coils. (apparently, this is the same coil brand used in the vw/audi cars with similar problems two years ago.) all six ignition coils, spark plugs, and a host of other parts have been replaced thus far. Unknown if these attempts were successful as this car is no longer being driven--it's fate awaits a possible law suit against bmw. I strongly urge the federal safety agency to recall every bmw with these coils, in addition to addressing bmw's efforts to not publicize this information more readily. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions. Mark peters [email protected]