BMW 325I loss of power problems

Filed Sep 15, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NY

The Valvetronic Actuator malfunctions. The malfunction may have been caused by a Battery Positive Cable that has corroded over time. The result is that the vehicle stops unexpectedly during acceleration. Driver safety and that of others is put at risk due to the vehicle suddenly losing power and stoping while being driven. The vehicle was evaluated by the dealer. Warning lamps were intermittent and inconsistent. To my knowledge there is no Valvetronic Actuator or Battery Cable specific warning lamps or messages. There was a 2017 recall for the Battery Positive Cable, but my specific VIN was not covered (by a few months). My VIN (1986 325I) should have been included in the 2017 recall.

Filed Jul 19, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 154,000 miles · NC

I was traveling to a local store. My car suddenly jerked,radio turned off while lights on dash flickered on and off. I lost power temporarily and I began smelling wires. I also notice a 'pop' as I attempted to pull over and notice no brake operations so I had to coast to a stop with my 2 year old in the backseat. I started my flashers and turn off car to search for smell. It seems like dash but I didn't see any smoke. I get back in car and attempt to start it and nothing! I still have power so I was confused, I check trunk ultimately and remove battery cover and this is what I found! This is a safety issue and very dangerous. I got the car towed home and won't drive until it is repaired obviously. I am upset but even happier me and my kid made it home safely, something keeps telling me today was a blessing we made it.

Filed Jul 31, 2019 · Engine · 16,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw 325i. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to release smoke from the engine and overheat. The vehicle also began to lose engine power. As a safety precaution, the contact pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder. Once the vehicle reached a complete stop, it would not restart and was left on the side of the road overnight. The following day, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine failed. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 16,000.

Filed Oct 15, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 172,000 miles · GA

Engine suddenly shot off complete stall - lost power steering on freeway while going 70 MPH

Filed Dec 11, 2015 · Airbags, Brakes · 84,000 miles · CA · crash

Takata recall: I am currently in communication with state farm agent, terry wood [(434) 872-2813]. She has assured me that an investigation is underway at this time. We are stating that my bmw's side airbags suddenly deployed and unexpectedly causing me to lose power steering and braking ability. As I approached and entered a right turn lane in an street intersection located in stockton, california, my passenger side airbags suddenly deployed. Startled, I tried to pull over to the side of the road, but, with the loss of power steering, I was not able to safely control the vehicle. After making contact with the curb, I had to use all my strength to correct from it and try to make the upcoming right turn, but without power steering, I was not able to make the turn sharp enough leading me to make a wide turn into the oncoming lane. And without the ability to brake properly and safely, there was no way to avoid the impact. Additionally, the main area of the car with all the damage (driver's front) failed to deploy the appropriate airbag. Terry wood is my point of contact with this investigation. We hope to have bmw take some (if not, all) blame in the incident due to faulty airbags and/or unexpected deployment of airbags.

Filed Nov 21, 2015 · Engine, Steering · 125,000 miles · GA

Belt tensioner bolt broke off causing serpentine belt to slip off causing engine to fail. Car was being driven when car started to lose power and power steering stopped working. I have no documentation yet because car has just been diagnosed and is in repair shop now. I found online that this has happened to others as well.

Filed May 17, 2013 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · TX · fire

Car lost power abruptly while driving approximately 40mph in traffic. Upon looking into the rearview mirror, smoke was appearing from the trunk. We opened the trunk and saw part of the carpet, which covered the car battery, was burned. The positive battery cable somehow shorted and caused a small fire, causing the carpet and actual battery to burn. After the smoke cleared, the battery cable had a small slit in it and the copper cabling had turned to an oxidized white color. Luckily noone was hurt, but we spent our own money to have it towed and repaired. We complained to bmw north america but they simply said there was no recall. We had to buy our own expensive cable from a local bmw dealership and have it installed. It turns out bmw just recently started a positive battery recall program on various cars, but the 2006 325i is not in that list. The incident that happened to us last year is similar, if not worse, than what was described in their details of the current battery cable recall.

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 Jan 6, 2010 · Airbags, Engine · 75,536 miles · VA

1-air bag warning light would not turn off after start up. Took vehicle to local bmw dealer. Was informed that I needed to fix this problem so air bag would deploy properly on passenger seat . Was told this is a 'common' problem on e46 models! Very costly to repair..not to mention that the parts that needed replacement are well stocked at all bmw dealers that I called..very rarely has anyone sat on passenger seat..the defect in the seat sensor is discussed in internet web sites as far back to the e39 series models as well as the e90 series models. 2- radiator expansion tank fails too often on this series model. I developed a anti-freeze leak on a return vacation trip. No warning was given.. Parked car in garage in the evening, noticed a fair amount of anti-freeze on ground. Again, was told this is common on this series e46 model.. Since when is equipment failure a standard for the safe operation of any motor vehicle? The parts that fail in this vehicle can cause great injury to its occupants especially the passenger in the case of air bag deployment. In the case of the radiator expansion tank,for this part to fail without warning can be catastrophic to the engine, which will cause severe damage. If engine is not operational, one can lose power steering or brake capability, or both.

Filed Jan 15, 2008 · Acceleration · 71,500 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw 325i. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The vehicle began to decelerate to an unknown speed. There were no warning indicators prior to the failure. The failure only occurred when the vehicle was warm. The dealer stated that the wires for the accelerator pedal malfunctioned and the pedal and associated components needed to be replaced. No repairs were made. The failure mileage was 71,500 and current mileage was 72,000. Updated 03-04-08 *bf updated 03/04/08