23 problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 2006 BMW 3 Series. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While driving the vehicle the glove box department caught on fire.
Tl- takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 3 Series. The dealer (one source motors, 10633 northland dr ne, rockford, mi 49341, (616) 951-7068) who sold the vehicle, made no mention of the two recalls. The contact was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v071000 (air bags), the dealer ( sharpe BMW (1010 28th st se, grand rapids, mi 49508, 1-(616) 452-5101) scheduled an appointment and indicated that the repair was completed. The dealer, sharpe BMW has not yet addressed NHTSA campaign number: 17v676000 (electrical system) due to the manufacturer not yet providing a time frame to provide the remedy and part to the dealer. In addition, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The dealer sharpe BMW (1010 28th st se, grand rapids, mi 49508, 1-(616) 452-5101) stated that the floor mat sensor needed to be replaced. The dealer and the manufacturer both stated that the vehicle was not included in any air bag recalls to cover the floor mat sensor failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was waiting to determine the remedy to repair the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available dyd.
Complete loss of electrical power while driving, usually from 30 to 70 mph, on a city street, country road and interstate highway. This has happened multiple times since buying the car second hand in July 2017 to the present January 2018. We will no longer drive the car since it is quite frightening to lose power while driving 70 mph on the highway in traffic. Also, several times there is no electrical power at all in the car after stopping the car and trying to restart it. The battery has been tested and is charged and working normally. There is a recall for the positive battery connection and cable to the terminal connection at the cabin fuse box which can wear out and fail for Bmws starting in 2007 that cause the same problems. Our car has the same problem but why is it not included in the recall ?.
Electronic steering wheel lock malfunctions without notice and renders the car incapable of starting. A yellow steering wheel icon (or red in some instances) appears in the informational panel on the dashboard. The accompanying error code is cc-id 187. This condition when it occurs, will not energize (disables) the ignition system and prevents the car from being started. Drivers will become stranded wherever they happen to be once the car is turned off as the error notification appears only when the car is switched off or back on. There are literally hundreds of similar and identical cases on the internet when performing a google search on this issue.
Takata recall. The front passenger seat sensor in my 2006 BMW is defective making the passenger airbags turned off during the event of a crash when car is on or running airbag and seatbelt light turn on. Many other 2006 Bmws like mine are affected with this issue. A recall has been done for Bmws for models 2007 and newer but not for the 2006 model year. A recall needs to be done for this year make to insure the safety of people and passengers riding in this car. I use this car as a daily driver with my 5 year old daughter. Please update new info ASAP.
Car has automatic door locks, uses a fob. Parked the car, locked the doors with the fob. When I tried to unlock the doors with the fob, it only clicks - did not unlock. Used the key to unlock the drivers door, but found that once locked, no doors will unlock, not even manually from inside the car. The only door that will lock or unlock is the driver's door, and then only with the key from the outside. The post that pops up and down to indicate that the door is locked is impossible to pull up, and pulling the inside door handle does nothing. This is obviously very dangerous. At the very least, they should redesign the locks so that they can be opened from inside manually in case of an electrical failure!!!!.
Passenger doors would not unlock. All passengers needed to exit through the drivers door. This would be a safety issue if in an accident and passengers could not open door to exit vehicle.
All doors lock up but only the driver side has a manual override. Passengers cannot exit the vehicle in case of crash or fire.
The doors to the vehicle locked automatically and could not be opened from inside the vehicle. I had to open the driver side window and use the key from the ignition fob to open the driver door from outside. All other doors remained locked and could not be opened from inside or outside. I consider this a safety issue because vehicle occupants could be trapped in the car with no way to exit besides crawling through a window. I believe BMW should issue a safety recall to remedy this defect.
Yesterday, the doors on my 2006 325i wouldn't unlock with the key fob. I used the actual key to enter the car and the central locking/unlocking button does not unlock the doors. The door to the gas tank is also locked. There is no way to unlock any of the passenger doors which poses a safety hazard. In reading through online forums, this is a common problem that should be addressed by BMW. Thank you.
I went to pick up my daughter from marching band practice on a Saturday afternoon. When I pulled into the parking lot at her high school and got out, I went to lock the doors. I heard a strange sound and noticed that the drivers doors were locked, the passengers doors were unlocked. The key fob would not work anymore on any of the doors but would work on the trunk. I got in the front passenger door and crawled over to the driver side and tried the door and it would not open from the inside. The central lock button also would not work. I crawled out and tried the drivers side door with the key. It did unlock with the key. None of the other doors would respond from the inside. After I got the drivers side door to unlock with the key, my key fob would work on the drivers side door only. Because my kids decided to "help mom" by pushing the locks down manually - now all of the doors are locked and won't budge except the drivers side. I effectively can't use the car for anyone except myself because no one can enter - and more importantly exit from the car except for crawling over seats. This is a dangerous situation. There should be someone way to open the doors manually. Judging by the number of complaints - BMW is aware of this issue but chooses not to issue a recall.
Power door locks failed. No way to open passenger door even with internal handle. Passenger trapped and had to crawl over to driver's seat. Would be a catastrophe in an accident.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 3 Series. While parked, the contact attempted to open the driver?s side door using the electronic key fob but the door would not open. The contact eventually opened the front driver?s side door with the handle and was able to enter the vehicle. The same failure occurred on all other doors. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The technicians stated that the door actuators on all doors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,700. Updated 05/31/12 the doors would not open from the outside or the inside due to the failure of the actuators. A mechanical override failed and the door handles would not work. The key only worked in the driver's door.
On may 2nd, during a rain storm, our 2006 BMW 3 Series' windshield wipers stopped. We were able to get home safely and immediately called our service center, and made an appointment for the next day. The service center's owner/mechanic informed us, that there were 3 other 06 3 Series in for the exact same problem. The invoice reads; work requested- diag wipers inop, work performed- replace jbe cont module(part# 63 21 5 897 528). A call was made to BMW, USA on may 11th and BMW does not have, to date, an open recall on the problem. This is disconcerting, since a small service center in the small town of bridgewater, MA. Had 4(including ours) 06 BMW 3 Series in for the same problem, and on the same date.
Will not start because of steering in lock position. Airbag and seat belt error (red icon) in passenger side.
Door actuator has failed to work. Alarm also being effected. Known problem to manufacturer, BMW. Saftey concern if unable to exit vehicle in case of emergency .
I own a 2006 BMW 330xi. I'm having problems with the steering column lock which prevents the car from starting. The problem starts with a yellow warning light that indicates the steering column is locked. The starting problem is constant. We are concerned we may get stranded or as some have reported the steering may lock with little or no warning . From what I can find on the internet it appears BMW is aware of the problem. Comments are bad steering column. The problem started in Feb. Of 2012 when the car only had 9000 miles and my extended warranty had just expired. The car now has 11000 miles. The dealer has not been able to help and suggested on several occasions that I contact BMW direct. The problem appears to be common from the comments posted on line by BMW owners of 2006 on. I recently contacted BMW and they suggested I have the dealership perform a diagnostic test. The test result was defective steering column. The fee for this test was $145. 91. The estimate they provided to replace the steering column is $1,467. 86 plus diagnostic fee of $145. 91. Total cost $1,613. 77. Your investigation will show the defective steering column is a common problem. As the problem persist the safety concerns become greater. Is a recall coming as this is serious highway safety concern?.
BMW door locks randomly and automatically engaged. This is one week after a service performed at the dealer for an electrical issue. Locks would not disengage except manually with emergency key (from outside). Driver's door is the only door that will open - others are inoperable. Fuel filler cap will also not open. Have researched and found this is a common problem. This should be researched by BMW and remedied at no cost to the consumer - this is definitely an inconvenience and could be dangerous or potentially fatal.
2006 BMW 330xi brake failure, acceleration, no steering. Occurred twice; BMW repaired by dealer new brakes, computer; second occurrence car did not stop until hit trees.
2006 BMW 330 xi when pressing on the brake the car accelerated with a loud noise, could not steer the car; crashed in trees. 24,323 miles still under new car warranty.
BMW 325xi does not provide a manual door locking override for their cars. This lack of design makes their car a trap for all passengers when electronic system fails. One year after purchasing a car ( new ) BMW 325xi, the doors and window system failed in very dangerous way. With my baby and my wife on the back sit, when I try to exit the car the door system start shutting down, the doors and window system just would not open. The only one that open was the driver side one. After this incident it happened three more time. Once all four doors locked and I had to lean out the window and open the door with the manual key. The latest one was with my 7 month pregnant wife climbing out of the car through the front of the car. Once I pulled up the door knob with a plier, but the door still locked. My complaint is not that I need to fix the car, but the fact that this car does not provide a manual override to open the door in case the electric system fails. Basically all passenger can be trapped in the car and almost impossible to escape in the case of an accident.
Twice in 6 weeks I have lost throttle response of the car at 70+ mph on highways. This is a manual transmission car and I had to shift into neutral to coast to the side of the road both times avoiding catastrophic accidents. The car behaves as if it has run out of gas but there was at least 1/4 of a tank of gas. BMW replace the fuel pump the first time in late March. It is currently in the BMW shop now. This is an extremely dangerous situation that should be investigated.
Service engine soon light continues to come on after reset and upon initial cold start.