Table 1 shows three common engine and engine cooling related problems of the 1999 BMW 323.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Engine Cooling System problems | |
| Check Engine Light On problems | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling problems |
Numerous ball joint replacements. The clock bulb, thermostat, convertible top tensioner and power steering intake were replaced.
At approximately 64,000 miles the engine began running poorly. Engine would quit when accelerating from a stop unless the clutch was slipped and would misfire intermittently during acceleration. After a hundred plus miles of driving the engine warning light illuminated. A check of the fault codes indicated misfires on cylinders no. 1, 2, & 6. A check of the ignition system revealed vertical cracks in the insulators of all six, 100,000 mile, factory BMW ngk r5 spark plugs. This problem was reported to service departments at both BMW northwest & BMW seattle. I was told by both that BMW would not help.
My 1999 323i caught fire immedietly after turning off the ignition switch once parked. There was a loud "snap", followed by large flames coming from around the hood and front wheel wells. The police and fire department arrived within 5-7 minutes (fortunately they are both located less than 1 mile away). Once the fire was put out, my car's front 1/2 was melted into my parking space. It was a complete loss and I am expecting that my auto insurance will pay very little; regardless that the car was in very good condition prior to this incident.