2003 BMW 325I transmission problems

Filed Dec 18, 2019 · Transmission · 146,000 miles · NC

Driving on 12/12/2019 on interstate highway about 65mph, going straight, when all of a sudden rear wheels (this is rwd - 2003 bmw 325i) locked up completely - the vehicle went forward at about 45 degrees sideways before it straightened out when the speed dropped. Thankfully I did not hit anybody, and no one hit me although there was quite a bit of traffic on this multi lane interstate. I got aaa tow it home. He had to drag it onto the truck bed as the rear wheels continued to be locked up. When I removed and opened the differential tapered roller bearing rollers were in the oil space. Looking to see where they jammed the system up I noticed marks on the carrier. It appears rollers jammed up in between the carrier and the inner wall of the differential box - see photographs. They may also have jammed up in between the gearing but I did not notice marks on the teeth but did not have time to spend to look more closely.

Filed Feb 24, 2018 · Engine, Suspension · CA

Stall limps

Filed Apr 22, 2017 · Driver assistance, Suspension · 150,000 miles · IN

I have a 2003 325i when coming to a stop with the foot on the brakes (lightly), as the transmission downshifts I can hear a thud/clunk coming from the rear end of my car along with a increase in the RPM's. I also hear it as soon as I let off my foot of the gas pedal or accelerate causing my car to not drive properly and my transmission to hit my suspension very hard. So, I've searched this issue and other bmw forums and found that other people had the same complaints and this exact problem which is dangerous & very scary.

Filed Mar 19, 2016 · Transmission · 39,800 miles · NJ

Bought 2003 bmw 325i brand new. After driving it for 4 years (39,800milies) it started making a thumb sound and started losing transmission power and the gear indication light turns on. Brought to dealership and I thought it was fixed. It was always happening until the warranty expired. I can not use the car specially during cold weather. This problem was happening on the highway and city street while in motion. Most of the time the car is in the garage. I can not believe that at only 39,800 miles, this car is going to have such a major problem. But I believe this a transmission issue. This car still looks mint because of rare usage.

Filed Sep 16, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 49,000 miles · CA

Xenon lights went out shortly after the 50,000 mark. Shortly after car kept going into fail safe mode, kept getting low voltage readings on diagnostics. One bmw dealers kept telling me I needed to rebuild transmission. All they would do is plug the car into the computer and see the tranny reading on the scanner. The reason there was a tranny reading was because the car was in fail safe mode. I eventually had the tranny rebuilt and I still had the same issue. I would cycle the ignition and restart the car and car would drive fine. It keeps going into fail safe mode everytime I start the car. Its harder to get it out of fail safe mode in the winter with colder starts.

Filed Feb 15, 2011 · Transmission · CA

Went to go into reverse after coming home from a shopping spree and the car simply would not reverse. After a few days it finally went into reverse. Engine light stays on and there are transmission codes on the indicator from this. Can't afford to fix this problem but there are several reports on the 325 I bmw.

Filed Nov 3, 2010 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · PA

My 2003 325i bmw has a defect in the transmission which caused it to, without warning, lose its ability to go into reverse. I was returning to philadelphia from nyc several days ago. I pulled over for gas. When I put the car into reverse, the transmission acted like it is in neutral. The engine would rev but was not engaged. The car has only 70k miles on it. The problem is widespread in owners of early 2000 bmws and results from a reverse drum that is poorly manufactured and not sufficiently thick around the edges. Apparently, bmw corrected the manufacturing problem in 2003. It never shared info about the issue with prospective owners, in effect selling cars under false pretense. Please visit www.noreverse.org and you will see hundreds of complaints about this issue. It is a safety issue because the driver may be in a dangerous position and need to reverse for get out of harm's way. Bmw should have recalled all of these defective transmissions. I cannot afford to repair the car and so it is simply sitting on my street.

Filed Jan 21, 2010 · Engine, Lights · 90,000 miles · GA

Own a bmw 3251, rear end started making popping noise when put in reverse and when turning curves. When on interstate rear end locked up while driving causing my car to skid through all lanes of traffic. After having car inspected the rear end had broke, we replaced the rear end. Also having trouble with head lights staying on and blinkers. Right rear tail light over heated and burnt items in trunk. Radiator has broke and driverside window regulator and clutch fan.

Filed Mar 20, 2009 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · PA

I went to start my vehicle in the morning and it started and then turned back off on its own. This happened about 3 times,before it stayed on. I then drove the vehicle about 40 miles and the transmissions started to thump. The vehicle only has 100k miles. I kept up on all its maintenance. I took the vehicle to the dealership and the transmission light and check engine light both came on. I was informed it would cost 6,500 to repair my transmission.

Filed Apr 10, 2008 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · CA

I have a formerly pristine bmw 325i 2003 with 70kmi that had a sudden, catastrophic transmission failure for unidentifiable reasons while being driven near sacramento. The car was towed to a bmw dealer in sacramento who claimed they had "never seen anything like it", yet consumeraffairs.com has over 20 pages of complaints about this specific problem. Unfortunately, though we were able to locate a used transmission, the dealer refused to install anything other than a brand new unit at the cost of $6,000. Clearly there is something defective in these transmissions. It appears that bmw of north american has refused to accept any responsibility.