2006 BMW 330I: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 18, 2025 · Engine · 101,000 miles · IN · fire

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 33I. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming into the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact noticed fire coming from underneath the hood. The contact exited the vehicle. The contact stated he had to leave the vehicle abandoned for about a month. The contact stated the vehicle had been towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was then towed to the contact’s residence. The contact stated that a certified independent mechanic diagnosed the failure as thermal damage due to the federal safety agency recalls. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an oil leak that caused the fire. The contact was informed of a recall the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V683000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer for further investigation. The contact stated that the manufacturer initiated an investigation, and after the investigation was performed, the case was closed. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

Filed Aug 2, 2022 · Electrical · 190,000 miles · AL · fire

The contact owned a 2006 BMW 330i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the air conditioning unit suddenly shut off and smoke began to come out of the air conditioning vents. After the contact exited the vehicle flames were present coming from under the passenger side dashboard. The fire and police departments were called to the scene and the flames were extinguished. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A fire and a police report were taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The local dealer was notified of the incident. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 190,000.

Filed Apr 26, 2022 · Engine · 100,000 miles · TX · fire

The contact owned a 2006 BMW 330i. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving 65 mph, he heard an abnormal noise coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road and exit before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The driver saw the fire starting under the transmission. The driver stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The driver stated the fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The driver stated the police did arrive at the location and filed a police report. The vehicle was not drivable. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact towed the vehicle to the record yard. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V119000 ( Engine and Engine Cooling) on 4/25/2022. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. Consumer stated her vehicle hit a donkey head on but none of the airbags went off.

Filed Apr 26, 2022 · Electrical · CA · fire

My car was just sitting in my driveway and my roommate noticed she said is there is your car supposed to be on fire and we went out there had to break the windows and it was already on fire and totally ruined from any repair. I didn't receive a recall until a year after it had already caught on fire. The car is totaled in my backyard. And is beyond repair because of the fire

Filed Apr 24, 2019 · Engine · 180,000 miles · MA · fire

My 2006 bmw 330i caught fire in my driveway 2.5hrs after being drivin. The car did not indicate any warning prior to the fire.

Filed Feb 25, 2019 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · CO

I have a 2006 bmw 330i e90, the VIN# is [xxx]. My pcv valve has failed and absolutely melted through. The plastic housing is entirely melted, and the electrical connector and wires are melted through. Luckily I live in colorado and it is very cold here in february and the car did not catch on fire. I started doing research on the internet on the part and found bmw recall 17v‑683. I found the attached recall document and highlighted the relevant section in green, where on page 11 ( or page 1 of the faq section) it says the recall is for e90 models produced starting in july 2006; my car was produced june 13, 2006. I called bmw customer service center and was told that my car was not in the recall and it was a coincidence that the exact same part melted, as what was being recalled for cars built only two weeks later. I don't think so. How can bmw say that because my car was built two weeks prior that they know for a fact, that a good pcv valve was installed in my car? What we do know is that the bad pcv valves are melting. And I can certainly prove that mine has melted. So, a responsible company would see this as a safety concern and not a coincidence. I guess we will see how bmw handles but since they now have documented proof that this issue affected a vehicle built prior to july, I urge them to change the recall date from july 2006 to june 2006. Beside me wanting my car repairs covered, there could be other 2006 vehicles built mid-june that will have this issue and seeing the amount of melting this did to my car, it could cause a fire in the vehicle and cause harm to innocent people. I am more than happy to take the car to a bmw dealership for them to confirm the failed/melted pcv valve. I just want my car fixed and the recall date change to june 2006 from july 2006, so that others are made aware of the danger. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 23, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw 330i. When the engine was started and the defroster was activated, a popping noise was heard under the hood and an unusual odor emitted from the vents. The contact immediately turned the engine off and exited the vehicle. Within seconds, flames appeared under the hood. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A fire report and a police report were filed. The contact stated that the fire spread and damaged the plastic tail light cover and paint of another vehicle parked in the driveway. The fire department determined that there was an electrical failure near the motor. The vehicle was driven from the scene. There were no injuries. An unknown dealer stated that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle per the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v676000 (electrical system:wiring). The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Aug 3, 2016 · Airbags, Seats · 120,000 miles · MO · fire

Front passenger seat caught fire and burnt a hole from bottom up, took to the mechanic and he said it was from the airbag sensor that caught it fire, I was getting hair done at6 pm in evening, came out I hour later and smelt fire, looked and there was hole in seat, turned on air and rolled down windows, waived a magazine over it and made sure it was out. Drove home about 10 minutes away and air bag light came on. Tried to call bmw they were closed, went to my mechanic next morning he told me it was faulty to call bmw, I called bmw plaza and they told me tough they wouldnt do anything. I hated the hole so went to autozone to get something to repair it which made it look worse...been looking on line for seats very expensive. My boss told me as well that should be directed to attorney general which I messaged from missouri and us attorney general. This could of been worse, if I would of been longer arriving to my car it could of caught fire possibly or even worse my daughter could of been there and burnt. If this would of been winter with the heated seat on she could of been severely burnt, maybe dead. This should of never happened.

Filed Dec 11, 2015 · Fuel system · 175,000 miles · FL

I am filing this safety vehicle complaint on my 2006 bmw 330i. What first began as a smell of fuel inside the car escalated to a strong smell of gas, after looking at the undercarriage of the vehicle I discovered fuel leaking down the driver's side gas tank inches away from the hot exhaust. Tracking where the leak was coming from, I removed the passenger rear seat and discovered that the fuel pump plastic housing developed cracks all around causing the fuel to escape below the passenger seat down the gas tank. The vehicle operates fine and there are no dash lights indicating that there are any failures of fuel, however, it seems the fuel has broken down the plastic housing of the fuel pump over time, resulting in an enormous loss of fuel when the vehicle is running. I am very glad I discovered this issue, which I believe is an enormous safety issue and consider myself lucky that I didn't catch on fire on my last drive. I will follow-up with bmw's hotline because I am certain there are other drivers that own the i90 series that may be having the same issue and hope the federal safety agency can put this on their bulletin and open an investigation on the serious issue.