Body Class: Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Displacement CC: 2979.1682352
Displacement CI: 181.8
Displacement L: 3.0
Doors: 4
Engine Cylinders: 6
Engine HP: 300
Engine KW: 223.7100
Fuel Type Primary: Gasoline
GVWR: Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Make: BMW
Manufacturer: BMW MANUFACTURER CORPORATION / BMW NORTH AMERICA
Manufacturer Id: 968
Model: X3
Model Year: 2011
Other Restraint System Info: Head Inflatable Restraint for Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Outboard Driver-side and Rear Outboard Passenger-side.
Knee Inflatable Restraint for Driver.
Pretensioners for Driver and Front Passenger.
WE WERE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER AND ACTIVATED THE SEAT WARMERS ON THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDES WHEN WE DETECTED AN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING AND SMOKING. WE STOPPED AND GOT OUT OF OUR SUV AND DISCOVERED A BURNT HOLE/SPOT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT, LOWER LEFT SEAT BACK BOLSTER. ON TAKING IT OUR BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SEAT WARMER WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE BURNT HOLE/SPOT ON THE SEAT BACK, I.E., "FAILED COMPONENT 3". FURTHER WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR SUV WAS TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WOULD COST $2,900. WE HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS ON BMWS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT WARMERS. FURTHER, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAT WARMER SYSTEM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT TOO BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS A CLEAR CASE FOR BMW TO ABSORB THE COST OF REPAIR, SINCE THIS SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTION HAS A HISTORY OF OCCURRENCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION REGARDING THIS CASE.WV
2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS, IE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE, THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, THE HORN HONKS PERIODICALLY, THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN TO FACILITATE REPLACEMENT OF FUSES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE A CRUCIAL SAFETY ITEM IN THE PACIFIC NW AS ARE HEADLIGHTS. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN BELLINGHAM, WA. BMW OFFERED LITTLE ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS UNDER BMW'S WARRANTY. *TR