I OWN A 1993 325IS WHICH HAS A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENT MEET. CAR WAS NOT MODIFIED IN ANYWAY. I JUST NOTICED THIS LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL OR REAR AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS TORN APART. LUCKY IT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE HIGHWAY OR I WOULD I …
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I OWN A 1993 325IS WHICH HAS A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENT MEET. CAR WAS NOT MODIFIED IN ANYWAY. I JUST NOTICED THIS LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL OR REAR AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS TORN APART. LUCKY IT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE HIGHWAY OR I WOULD I HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PROBABLY GET KILLED. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED HE SEEN MANY BMW'S WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE SEARCH AND CONTACTED OTHER BMW'S AND IT LOOK LIKE ITS A COMMON FAILURE IN EARLY BMW'S BETWEEN 1992-1995'S E36. NEWER MODEL SEEMS TO HAVE THE SUBFRAME REINFORCE WITH THICKER BRACKETS AND NEW SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR $3600 LABOR AND PARTS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10147111
142,450 miles · Jul 19, 2004
Structure
THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT POINTS HAVE RIPPED IN AT LEAST ONE PLACE FROM THE UNIBODY RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. I CAUGHT IT EARLY SO NO INJURY HAS RESULTED. THIS IS A COMMON (UNACCEPTABLE) PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS (BMW E36). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082218
139,829 miles · Jul 16, 2004
Structure
MY 1993 BMW 325IS HAS A FAILURE OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN FEELING FUNNY FOR WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS UNTIL ONE DAY THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN TAKING A TURN AND ACCELERATING OUT OF IT. FROM THAT DAY ON THE CAR FELT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM MY STEERING INPUTS, IT WAS OBVIOU…
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MY 1993 BMW 325IS HAS A FAILURE OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN FEELING FUNNY FOR WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS UNTIL ONE DAY THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN TAKING A TURN AND ACCELERATING OUT OF IT. FROM THAT DAY ON THE CAR FELT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM MY STEERING INPUTS, IT WAS OBVIOUS SOMETHING WAS WRONG. HAD I NOT CAUGHT IT WHEN I DID, MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL DAMAGE WOULD HAVE SURELY OCCURED; AFTER ALL, THESE ARE WHAT HOLD THE WHOLE REAR OF THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN THE THE CHASSIS. AFTER SHELLING OUT OVER $1500 FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF A CHASSIS MEMBER, NEW BUSHINGS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND OTHER SMALL MISC ITEMS. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS ALL TO COMMON. IF THE REAR RUBBER SUBFRAME MOUNTS BECOME WEAK IT PUTS EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE UNITBODY. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE CHASSIS WILL EVENTUALLY TEAR, LEAVING THE SUBFRAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR. THE LATER MODEL BMW M3'S CAME WITH REINFORCEMENT PLATES, INDICATING BMW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS UNETHICAL TO LET SUCH A DANGEROUS AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM GO UNATTENDED. BMW NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10081226
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2001
Structure
REAR SUB FRAME TORN AT 2 RIGHT POINTS, AND CRACKED AROUND THE LEFT FORWARD MOST MOUNT POINT. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN ABUSED, DRIVEN OFF-ROAD, OR ON A RACE TRACK. ALL ORIGINAL WHELL, SUSPENSION AND DRIVELINE COMPONENTS WERE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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