2006 BMW 330XI

“The PCV valve heater (positive crankcase ventilation heater) on my 2006 BMW 330xi failed and caused an engine bay electrical fire. This component is under an active BMW safety recall for fire risk. The failure happened suddenly while driving, with no prior warning lights or symptoms. Smoke began coming from the engine area, followed by visible flames. My safety was put at risk, and I immediately exited the vehicle. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed by the City of Chicago. The car has since been declared a total loss due to the fire. The vehicle is currently in the city impound and available for inspection upon request. The problem has not been inspected by a dealer yet because the vehicle was destroyed before I received the recall repair.”

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

ON 6-3-2016 MY 2006 BMW 330XI STARTED ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. AS I PULLED MY CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PARKED THE CAR, SHUT IT OFF AND I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW SMALL FLAMES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF. I NOTICED THAT SOME ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE BURNED AND MELTED. AT THE END OF THE WORKDAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AVA RESTORATION IN DUBLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY COMPLETED THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE PCV VALVE HEATER(ALSO REFERRED TO AS AN ANGLE CONNECTOR) AND IT HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WIRING HARNESS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR. I CONTACTED BMW IN JANUARY 2018 AFTER LEARNING THAT THEY RECALLED 2007 MODELS FOR THE SAME COMPONENT FAILURE. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM AND TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO COVER 2006 MODELS ALSO. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT GETTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR COSTS. THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET MY CAR EXAMINED AT A LOCAL BMW DEALER AND THAT SOMEONE FROM THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY WOULD CALL ME ABOUT THE MATTER. THE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DEALERSHIP WERE LESS THAN HELPFUL AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE LEFT ME A MESSAGE AT 8:45 PM ONE NIGHT AND THEN NEVER CALLED ME BACK AFTER I TRIED TO REACH HER SEVERAL TIMES AND GOT ONLY VOICE MAIL. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW RECENTLY SAYING THAT MY CAR NOW HAS A RECALL ON THE PCV VALVE HEATER, RECALL 19V-273. I BELIEVE THAT BMW KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND DID NOT ADDRESS IT, WILLINGLY PUTTING VEHICLE OWNERS AT RISK. IN ADDITION, THE OWNER OF AVA RESTORATION TOLD ME HE REPAIRED A NUMBER OF BMWS THAT HAD FIRE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE SAME MALFUNCTION.

UPON TEST DRIVING ON CITY STREET THIS VEHICLE WITH A FRIEND AND MY BROTHER WE REALIZED IT HAD A HARD LIMP TO THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. AFTER RETURNING IT TO THE LOT THE SALESMAN INFORMED US IT NEEDED A SWAY BAR REPLACE TO LEAVE IT A COUPLE DAYS AND HE WOULD HAVE IT REPAIRED. AFTER PICKING IT UP DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET I REALIZED NOT ONLY DID IT HAVE A LEAK BUT THERE WAS A NOISE INVOLVED THIS TIME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE CAR LOT AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME THAT IT WAS ONLY A MUD FLAP RUBBING THE TIRE. AFTER TAKING IT TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND THE ENTIRE UNDER CARRIER WAS DAMAGED AND IT WAS A MIRACLE IT WAS MOBILE. QUOTED PRICE FOR PARTS 280.00 AND LABOR 2100.00. WHEN TAKING IT TO ROADSHOW BMW THEY STATED THERE WASN'T ANY RECALLS. BOTTOM LINE IS PARTS FELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY EXITING THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: FOG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE, SMALL GRILL ON SAME SIDE, LARGE BOLT (NOT SURE WHERE IT GOES OR WHERE IT CAME FROM), AND ANOTHER PIECE OF MEDAL. AT THIS POINT OIL BEGAN TO RUN OUT.THIS CAR LEANS TO THE RIGHT NOW AND AFTER OWNING IT FOR 4.5 MONTHS IT WAS MOBILE FOR MAYBE 3 WEEKS? OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION THE TRACKER STALLS THE CAR UPON OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING. I'VE REQUESTED FOR MY TITLE VIA PHONE TWICE, VIA CERTIFIED LETTER AND FAX. I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTS UPON REQUEST. HOWEVER, I DON'T OWN A SCANNER BUT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO FAX IF YOU GIVE ME YOUR FAX NUMBER. I'VE PAID MY CAR BALANCE OFF WITHOUT A TITLE?