Front discs warped and below service limit at 15000 miles.
2 safety recalls, brakes airbag.
Coolant disappears, approx 1 litre every 2 months.
Multiple airbag faults, wiring loom parts replaced continually.
Airbag main control module replaced.
Prop shaft replaced.
Wiring faults on CD changer.
Front suspension lower arms bushes replaced.
Rear suspension top mounts replaced, twice.
Rear boot interior re-sprayed 3 times
due to mastic sealant leakage.
Front electric window regulators replaced.
Slow warm up of engine, fault to be diagnosed.
Engine stalls when put in reverse, intermittent, awaiting diagnosis.
Various creaks and rattles from car interior, many fixes attempted, some successful.
Rainwater leak to front passenger footwell, modified door membrane.
Gearlever gaitor split.
Great drivers car and handling is superb.
Very cheap to run.
Worst reliability in 15 years of BMW ownership.
Dealer backup pathetic until threats of legal action.
BMW GB offered free 4 year warranty to show confidence in its product.
I'm on my second BMW 3 series (99 model) in less than 6 weeks. Dealer finally replaced original purchase with another car of the exact model. Cooling fan failed on first long journey - resulting in a 3 hour delay - airbag fault, front electric window failed, numerous squeaks and creaks, instrument cluster needed replacing, and dealer backup was extremely poor. Still not entirely happy with the exchange - squeaks appearing etc, so am changing for an Audi A4.
Are by any chance the guy who worked for Audi some time back? got some strange feeling in the things you say.
I also had a problem with my airbag. The warning light came on after 20,000 miles.
My friends 03 reg car has done less miles and now has an airbag warning. Could this be a common fault?
My local BMW dealer had car for three days and eventually just replaced the entire airbag because they didn't know what the problem was, that cost me over £400.
As my car was an import I didn't have three years warranty so had to cough up myself, also they offer you a grand less if your part ex at BMW because it's an import, despite having a certificate of confirmation.
I also have a rattle at low revs from the engine that BMW want to charge over £300 to fix. It's the exhaust manifold rattling apparently. Another common fault I believe.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed 
is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site