BEFORE I START EXPLAINING, I SHOULD MENTION THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH MAJORITY OF THE PARTS BEING GENUINE BMW. THE CHASSIS HAS 110,XXX MILES AT THE MOMENT, AND THE ENGINE HAS 78,XXX MILES. THE ENGINE HAD A FAILURE IN 2006 DUE TO A ROD BEARING FAILURE (RECALLED FROM BMW), AND A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE HAS BEEN INSTALLED BY BMW TECHNICIANS AT A BMW DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IN VIRGINIA. RECENTLY MY 2004 BMW M3 HAD A FAILURE INSIDE THE ENGINE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT 2011, AS I WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION, I HEAR A VERY FAINT RATTLING NOISE UP IN THE ENGINE BAY. I WAS CONTEMPLATING RATHER I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, OR FIX IT MYSELF. BUT PRIOR TO THIS, I'VE READ MANY UNSATISFYING EXPERIENCES PEOPLE HAD AT THEIR LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIPS. I WORRIED THAT SINCE THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING, I DECIDED TO DO THE WORK MYSELF. I REMOVED THE VALVE COVER, AND NOTICED THE EXHAUST SIDE HUB ON OF THE BMW DOUBLE VANOS HAS FAILED. A MECHANISM DESIGNED TO IMPROVE TORQUE AND FUEL CONSUMPTION. THE HUB HAD ONE OF THE 2 TABS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. LUCKILY THE BROKEN TAB WAS STILL STUCK INSIDE THE OIL PUMP. IF INSTEAD THE BROKEN PIECE CAME OUT OF ITS LOCATION, AND MOVED AROUND IN A ENGINE THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. RANGING ANYWHERE FROM APPROX $15,000 REMANUFACTURED ENGINE REPLACEMENT TO POSSIBLY A HIGH SPEED COLLISION IF THE CAR WAS IN MOTION DURING THE FAILURE. WITH A DAMAGED ENGINE, IT IS DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW THE MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH ON THE LOCAL FREEWAY. THE TOTAL REPLACEMENT PARTS IN MY SITUATION COSTS WELL OVER $3000 USING BMW PARTS. UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN WITH THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM BMW, THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE FIXED SINCE THE CURRENTLY NEW PARTS HAVE JUST AS MUCH CHANCE OF FAILING AS THE OLD. *JS
2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. I LIVE IN LANCASTER, CA AND WHEN THE SUMMER COMES AROUND IT GETS REALLY HOT REALLY QUICK. MY BMW M3 2003 WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AN SMG KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT CAUSES MY TRANSMISSION TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY BY SHIFTING TO "NEUTRAL" AUTOMATICALLY. TODAY, ON MY WAY BACK FROM WORK I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY TRANSMISSION CHANGE AUTOMATICALLY FROM 3RD GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO CRASH ONTO MY VEHICLE. 2. THE SMG LIGHT KEEPS TURNING ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE "HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) WITH PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR" WHICH IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I NOTICE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS USUALLY DURING THE HOT WEATHER SINCE IT ALSO HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR AROUND THE SAME TIME. MY BMW MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS WOULD COST ME ON OR ABOUT $3,000 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. I GOT ONLINE AS SOON AS I GOT HOME TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS I AM, FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER BMW M3 SMG E46 (2001-2006) OWNERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE, I FEEL MY LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ARE AT HIGH RISK IF MY TRANSMISSION CHANGES FROM ANY GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS MALFUNCTION. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND DISCOVER ONLINE, BMW NORTH AMERICA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WANTS ALL BMW M3 SMG E46 OWNERS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HCU WHICH AS STATED BEFORE COST ON OR ABOUT $3,000 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. THIS WILL ONLY FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY SINCE THE PROBLEM WILL PERSIST AS THE WEATHER CONTINUES BEING ABOVE 85-90 FAHRENHEIT. I DON'T BELIEVE IS FAIR FOR ALL BMW M3 SMG E46 OWNERS TO PAY SUCH AMOUNT WHEN CLEARLY WON'T FIX SUCH PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE FAIR IF BMW TOOK CHARGE AND RECALL THIS ISSUE THAT IS PUTTING EVERY CITIZEN IN DANGER DUE TO THEIR MISTAKE IN THE HCU FOR ALL BMW M3 SMG E46 VEHICLES. *TR
