8.3

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,000 miles

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problem #1

Jul 262008

M3

  • 4,000 miles
On Saturday, July 26th, I drove a short distance from my home (after a long cranking start) and the car seemed drive normally until I turned to enter a shopping center(fortunately, a short distance from my home, as it turns out). While driving into the shopping center entrance (10 or 15 miles per hour) I felt a jolt and the car slowed dramatically. I checked the rearview mirror to see if I had been hit by another car, but had not. I then realized that the engine was not running, put in the clutch and coasted to a stop at a stop sign. I attempted to re-start the car but was unable to. The engine 'turned over' but would not start. There were no warning lights or messages before or after the failure or at any other time. At this point, I used BMW assist to get help since I was partially blocking a busy intersection within the shopping center. A tow truck arrived about 45 minutes after my call to BMW assist. When the tow truck arrived, the driver pointed out a leak and puddle/stain on the asphalt coming from the front of the car. The stain was about 2 by 3 feet. There was also a smell of gasoline. When the car was towed to the dealership, the service advisor also noticed gas still leaking from the front of the car and dripping on the ground. A loaner car and I was on my way. On Monday, July 28th I called the sa to check the status of the car at about 3:00 pm. I was told that the high pressure fuel pump and a connecting hose needed to be replaced. He said the parts were ordered and should be on hand by Wednesday, July 30 to be installed. I asked about the hose, and the resulting gasoline leak and he commented about the large amount of gas that had been sprayed out in the engine compartment due to the failure of the hose. There easily could have been a catastrophic fire due to the magnitude of the gasoline leak. The dealership will repair the pump and hose under warranty. The car is a BMW 335I.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA