The complaint was filed on behalf of the contact's mother. The contact's mother owned a 2005 BMW 325i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the contact's brother noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The contact's brother used a nearby water hose and extinguished the fire. The Fire Department and the Police arrived. A fire report and a Police report were filed, however the Police report information was unavailable. In addition, the contact was informed that the light module was the source of the fire. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
The worst 2005 BMW 325I problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags33
- Lights18
- Electrical11
- Transmission4
- Acceleration3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags33
- Lights18
- Electrical11
- Transmission4
- Acceleration3
- Brakes3
- Visibility3
- Tires2
- Engine1
- Fuel system1
- Locks1
- Wheels1
Recalls 4
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 20V018000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 14V428000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V‑348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.
Recall number 15V318000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: turn signal
- What is wrong
- Bmw is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi vehicles manufactured from september 1, 2001, through march 1, 2005. Over time, resistance in the electrical contacts may cause one or more rear lamp functions (tail light, brake light, and/or turn-signal), within the vehicle's body panel, to stop working.
- Risk
- Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions. This could cause a vehicle crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on february 15, 2012. Owners may contact bmw customer relations and services at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 11V438000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 2005 BMW 325I
Defect investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492
EA15001
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with consistently high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly, ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016, four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016, four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The PE is now closed/upgraded to an Engineering Evaluation (EA15-001) to include all manufacturersand vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's EA investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The recalls related to this PE are: 14V343, 14V344, 14V348, 14V351, 14V353, 14V655, 14V700, 14V701, 14V752, 14V763, 14V770, 14V773, 14V787, 14V802 and 14V817.The number of vehicles affected are an estimate since some vehicles may have both the driver and passenger side inflators recalled. The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492
PE14016
Rear Lamp Illumination
In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electrical contact points.This can lead to intermittent or permanent loss of the rear lamp functions which include tail, brake, and turn signal operation.The recall consists of modifying the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel by adding a secondary ground connection in parallel to the existing primary ground connection.An 8-pin connector that attaches the primary ground wiring to the rear lamp assembly will also be inspected and replaced if necessary.BMW will complete dealer notification in September 2011 and will begin owner notification in October 2011.All 3 series sedans (except for the M3 sedan which utilized a different rear lamp assembly) that were built between September 1, 2001 and March 1, 2005 are included in this recall, totalling approximately 241,000 vehicles.The action taken by BMW is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
EA09019
Rear lamp illumination
Odi has received complaints from consumers stating that their tail light assembly is not properly illuminating.the tail light assembly consists of a turn signal lamp, a tail lamp and a brake lamp.the complainants have indicated that the issue is with an 8 pin connector and associated ground wiring.these components are allegedly overheating and melting due to excessive electrical current that runs through the system.bmw issued a technical service bulletin (tsb) sib-630306 on february 2007 to address the condition by adding supplementary ground wiring to the tail lamp assembly.odi is upgrading to an ea to further investigate the issue.
PE09036
Rear lamp illumination
In march 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) received a petition from mr. Mark peters requesting an investigation of rear lamp failure in model year 2002-2005 bmw 3-series vehicles.an information request letter was sent to bmw in april 2009, and odi received bmw's response in june 2009.the tail lamp assembly contains lighting for the brake lamps, tail lamps, and turn signals.a technical service bulletin (tsb) was issued by bmw in january of 2007 instructing service technicians to examine an 8 pin electrical connector for heat-related damage and to incorporate additional ground wiring to the connector.complainants have alleged that significant thermal damage to the connector and associated ground wiring has occurred.this condition can result in intermittent or total loss of all lighting (brake, tail, and turn signal) for the effected rear lamp assembly.odi will open a preliminary evaluation to further examine this issue including further evaluating bmw complaints and related warranty data.
DP09002
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 BMW 325I 33
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few...
- Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal...
- Service action
- Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been...
- E46 SULEV/PZEV: FUEL TANK DISPOSAL PROCEDURE: E46 M56 vehicles, in addition to meeting the SULEV (Super...
- Takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs
- Takata class action settlement
- For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?)...
- For the above-referenced vehicles with passenger?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW...
2005 BMW 325I fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17-19 | 25-28 | 20-22 |
What 2005 BMW 325I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2005 BMW 325I. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag warning illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V018000 (Air Bags) and related the failure to the recall. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 325i. The contact stated that there was a drastic reduction in speed while operating the vehicle. The contact was uncertain if the fuel system, electrical system, or engine was the source of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate and fail to start intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and stated that the fuel pump assembly may be the cause of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 325i. While the contact's daughter was driving 65 MPH, the driver side curtain air bag and front driver's side door air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to bmw of ontario (1350 auto center dr, ontario, ca 91761), but the cause of the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The dealer stated that bmw was not at fault, there was no recall, and they could not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 bmw 325i. The contact received notification of a manufacturer's recall for the drivers side air bag. The dealer stated that the parts were available and completed the recall repair. The contact also received a notice for a passenger side air bag recall. The dealer did not state if the parts were available. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The federal safety agency campaign numbers were not provided. The contact was not experiencing a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 bmw 325i. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags). The contact stated that the dealer reported that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 325i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 14v428000 (air bags) and 15v318000 (air bags); however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.
"takata recall" I received a letter on july 2015 that driver side front air bag module had a recall notice. I contacted the bmw peter pan in burlingame, ca immediately. They said that they would call me when they had the parts available. I have been calling numerous times and had even bmw of north america call the dealer. I am frustrated as 15 months delay has not solved the problem. I am afraid to use the car. Please advise what can be done.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 bmw 325i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags) in june of 2015. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 325i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 14v428000 (air bags) and 15v318000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
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Questions about the 2005 BMW 325I
Is the 2005 BMW 325I reliable?
Owners have filed 71 complaints about the 2005 BMW 325I, fewer than a typical 325I model year.
What is the 2005 BMW 325I year score?
The 2005 BMW 325I scores 84 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW 325I: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 BMW 325I?
Airbags, with 33 complaints, typically around 101,000 miles. Next is lights (18).
How many recalls does the 2005 BMW 325I have?
4 recalls, covering air bags and exterior lighting.
Was there a recall on the 2005 BMW 325I airbags?
Yes, 3 recalls: 20V018000, 14V428000, 15V318000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW 325I have bad airbags?
The BMW 325I model years with the most airbags complaints are 2006 (241 complaints), 2003 (62 complaints) and 2004 (62 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2005 BMW 325I get?
Official estimates for the 2005 BMW 325I range from 20 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 17-19 city and 25-28 highway.
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