I owned the car for a year before it started giving me problems. It first gave me a problem changing from reverse to drive. It slips and wont go into gear. The most dangerous is when im turning a corner and the car puts itself into neutral. At this time it is not drivable and I've researched it and it is common for this vehicle but I don't understand why there isn't a recall. Its dangerous! I've taken it to a mechanic and for a second opinion at BMW. The cost to repair my car is over $5,000, if I would have known that I would have bought the newer BMW. Now im without a car waiting to get approved for another loan just to pay for repairs.

- Center Moriches, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325xi. The contact stated the vehicle would not shift into drive in cold temperatures. When she was able to shift into drive and depress the accelerator pedal, there was a momentary delay and the vehicle would abnormally jerk forward before accelerating. The dealer advised that the failure was normal. The contact took the vehicle to a local repair facility for diagnostic testing but no failure codes were produced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000 and the current mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Bought the car new in Dec. Transmission failed almost immediately. Dealer talked us into having a clutch pack replacement after software upgrade attempts failed. Now the car has a noxious stinking smell emminating from the transmission. Independent transmission expert says the clutch is slipping and burning insulation. While attempting to merge onto highway with three passengers downshifted for more torque the engine revved as if it were in neutral. Terrifying experience. BMW dealer and bmwna are unwilling to address this problem. They say car is performing normally. Please help.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

I bought BMW 325xi 2004 on 03/04 and I noticed that it has problem with cold start. In the morning, when I put the car in "D", it doesn't move and then suddenly lurches with a jerk. First I thought, its just because its a new car but when I didn't drive it for 3 days and started it, it was worse. It wouldn't move at all for like a minute and then suddenly lurched forward with a jerk almost hitting the car in front of me. I took the car to the dealership and they told me that all 3 series manufactured between 03-03 to 11-03 have this problem and it is due to the transmission. What I don't understand is if there is a recall on that. They didn't tell me about this problem at all whereas now I read the message boards and there have been a lot of similar complaints. I wonder what my options are? I bought the car because there was a special deal on this car. May be the deal was because of this issue.

- Morgan Hill, CA, USA

My new car will not accelerate when I give it gas. Contacted my dealer and they said it was "normal for a break in period". the car hit 2 - 3,000 rpms without moving. Very scary. This has happened several times usually after not driving the car for several hours. The car has less than 2K miles and was purchased in December. The BMW message boards are filled with other victims of this known defect. Dealer said I have nothing to worry about and that the car is under warranty. This is ridiculous for a $45,000+ car to be unsafe. Will you please do something to alert other drivers before someone is killed. Thank you.

- Reston, VA, USA

I purchased a 2004 BMW 330xi and had two problems that surfaced immediately. When calling the dealership, they brushed off the complaint stating that the car was new and it would "settle" given time. However, after the problems continued, I brought the car into a dealership who, upon inspection, told me I simply needed some new parts. One being a transmission (which I think is more than just a part). Apparently, there is a directive to BMW dealerships highlighting the problem, but to deal with it only upon customer complaint. I find this very troubling given the nature of the problem(s) and the potential safety issue should the transmission completely fail. The issues are as follows: 1. after only 2,000 miles, I had put an additional 7 quarts of oil in the vehicle. Apparently, the oil valve is defective and needs to be replaced. 2. when first operating the vehicle, the vehicle often would not begin to move until the RPM's reached anywhere from 3-5K RPM's. in both instances, the BMW dealer stated this was due to a defective "part". the replacement of the oil filter makes sense as it is a part. The complete replacement of a transmission, however, does not. Although I did not have an accident, I believe that these issues can potentially lead to a major problem and therefore respectfully request an investigation.

- Geneva, NY, USA

The BMW 325xit (automatic transmission) which I purchased on 2/5/2004 developed a problem with forward gear not engaging on a cold start. The vehicle had less than 1000 miles on it when I first noticed the problem. Typically on a morning when I back the car out of the garage, and then shift the gears from reverse to drive, the vehicle fails to move forward for 3 to 4 seconds upon releasing the brake. I would have to press down on the gas pedal and watch the engine revv to anywhere between 3-5K RPM before the gear would engage. The vehicle creeps forward until the gear fully engages. The problem has no far been rather consistent - it happens quite predictably every morning. I have not however noticed a problem with gear engagement once the car is able to start.

- Closter, NJ, USA

I filed a petition for a defects investigation as well as a complaint about problems with a 2004 BMW 325xi with a defective transmission, resulting in delayed engagement as well as "lurching" of the vehicle when accelerating and/or braking. Vehicle went back for repair - after had slight delayed engagement again, part fell out of the steering column, loud flapping noise started in the right side of the dashboard, the transmission failure warning light has been coming on - 2300 miles on it and has been out of my possession 4 weeks of the 3 months. The va office of Consumer Affairs has suggested pursuing the state's lemon law. The bmwboard on-line has many similar complaints and a portion of my petition (the addendum) was posted, giving the impression that BMW is voluntarily recalling the affected vehicles... I was told that might happen, but I am not aware that it actually has happened. I have also been told that cars manufactured after December 2003 are free of the defect... from what I have been reading on this auto safety hotline and the bmwboard, that is not true. Beware. If I am the only one who has filed a petition, but you are reading this and you are having similar problems with your 3 series or X5, file a petition, too... that's the only way to get some action from BMW... this is a powder keg. I bought the car on Dec. 15, 2003 and have had problems from day 1. this is not going away... I have given it time; BMW has had the opportunity to correct the problem... with a lot of input from me... because they have told me basically that I'm imagining things... I'm not... and still I have a new problem every time I get in the car. This is wrong... please speak up. The dealerships seem to be uniformly "pooh-poohing" the problem. That is wrong.

- Reston, VA, USA

On cold starts vehicle does not move when transmission put in drive. It delays for 10 to 15 seconds to one minute. I was told by dealer that it has a defective part and they are currently replacing the transmission. Vehicle has 2000 miles on it. Also had problem with the steptronic transmission. Vehicle will not allow you to manually shift the gear when you select manual for the clutchless shift. It simply gets stuck and then shifts on its own. Dealer had not heard of this problem. Now I am driving 1 2004 X5 as a loaner from the dealer and it too has the same problem with the steptronic transmission when you select manual. I can shorten the delay by increasing the engine speed. The vehicle will then creeps forward until the transmission is fully engaged.

- Louisville, KY, USA

Cold morning start the vehicle revs to 2 -3K rpms with little or no forward motion. Drive is not engaging. Pulling out in traffic was terrifying. Dealer offered several reasons: 1) needed to be broken in 2) needs a software upgrade 3) needs a clutch pack part and finally 4) needs a new transmission.

- Reston, VA, USA

The steptronic transmission will not engauge in "D" for several minutes after sitting overnight. BMW replaced the transmission at 1100 miles and at 300 miles the "new" transmission is doing the same thing. The car goes in "R" and potentially could leave you in traffic without the ability to move out of the way.

- Sparks, NV, USA

Petition for defect investigation of the 2004 BMW 325xi due to hesitation in shifting of the automatic transmission when vehicle is in motion especially when accelerating after a full stop. When the consumer shifted from reverse to drive it experienced delays of from one half minute to two minutes before the transmission shifted into drive then the vehicle would move forward.

- Reston, VA, USA