2017 BMW I3

The vehicle has just over 35000 miles of light normal use as a second family vehicle. It developed a loud grinding noise from the etransmission that quickly progressed to a vibration. It was taken to BMW Seattle where it was diagnosed as a known issue of the main transmission bearings disintegrating due to the effect of the permanent magnet motors on the metal roller bearings. The bearings were quietly modified by BMW for the 2019 model year due to this in an effort to mitigate the problem and subsequently BMW abandoned the permanent magnet motor technology due to this . This information was from the various BMW service advisors. The repair is quoted as $7400 to replece the entire e transmission to the new design. If unrepaired there is a " significant risk the transmission will jam at highway speed causing a loss of control due to rear wheel lockup". Calls to BMW NA about this issue were replied with "BMW is unwilling to assist the customer with this issue." It is unconscionable that a vehicle with 35000m and a 4 year 50 000m warranty would have its transmission disintegrate with the potential of a catastrophic accident under light use due to a known manufacturer defect and BMW would not even attempt to assist their customers when they have the rectification available.

The car turned off while driving and presented a "drivetrain" error message. The car lost power but I was able to safely steer to the side of the road. Car was taken to BMW dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. Was informed that the EME (Electric Motor Electronics) Module was bad and would need to be replaced. The car is 5 years old and has 31,700 miles and has never been in an accident. The estimate to replace the EME was $7,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 BMW I3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT STRUGGLED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HE STEERED THE VEHICLE INTO A WOODED AREA WHERE HE HIT A TRASH DUMPSTER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A HEADACHE AND INJURIES TO HIS BACK AND NECK AREA. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE. THE POLICE WAS CALLED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF BUENA PARK (6750 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621) TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STATE WHAT THE INVESTIGATION FOUND; HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATION DID DEEM THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND AGREED TO PAY FOR A RENTAL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,680. *JS

A DAY AFTER THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE. WHILE DRIVING ON I 95 WITH RANGE EXTENDER, NOTICED THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION ALERT WITH RAPID DECELERATION NEEDING TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER QUICKLY. BMW ASSIST TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALER, WHO SAID IT WAS LACK OF ELECTRIC CHARGE, PLUGGED THE CAR IN CHARGER AND GAVE IT TO ME TO HEAD BACK HOME TOWN. FEW DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM AGAIN RECURRED. NOW THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER IN HOME TOWN.

THERE IS RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION GOING UP HILL. ANTILOCK BRAKES SLOW TO ENGAGE ON STEEP DECLINES AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THERE IS TOO MUCH POWER TO THE REAR WHEEL, THE CAR SKIDS ON PAINTED SURFACES SUCH AS CROSS WALKS AND PAINTED YIELD SIGNS ON ROAD SURFACES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. THE WHEELS SPIN ON CROSSWALK PAINT. THE CAR HAS A BUILT IN GYROSCOPE AND PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN STARTING FROM A PARKED POSITION AFTER PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS ON A HILL. THE PULLING CONTINUES FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS. THE CAR NEEDS A NEW SET OF TIRES AND ONLY HAS 10,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED TWICE BY BMW TECHNICIANS AT PETER PAN BMW IN BURLINGAME. WE WERE TOLD THE SURFACES SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND IN SAN FRANCISCO WERE REPLICATED IN BURLINGAME AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS.