1998 BMW 323i recalls & problems
The 1998 BMW 323i has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 16 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (11 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints16filed by owners
Crashes · fires7 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 BMW 323i.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
323i Convertible
21mpg combined
| City / highway | 18 / 27 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
323i Convertible
20mpg combined
| City / highway | 17 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags Frontal; Side/window | 11 | 134,000 mi |
| Structure Body; Body › Door | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, other Storage › Tank assembly › Filling/charging | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control Cables | 2 | — |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | — |
| Engine | 2 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine | 1 | — |
| Unknown | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Jun 8, 1999 · crash · 1 injuryAir bags
REPORT#2:06/08/1999, MY LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER,CAUSING MY CAR TO SPIN. I REGAINED MY CORRECT DRIVING PATH. TO AVOID ADDITIONAL COLLISIONS, I DEPARTED THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT NON-CURBED WET GRASSY ROADSIDE. TO AVOID STRIKING A WOOD TELEPHONE OR ELECTRICAL POLE, I TURNED SHARPLY RIGHT. I FIRMLY BRAKED & MY CAR SLID ON WET GRASS, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, MAKING FRONTAL LOW IMPACT WITH A BRICK ROADSIDE WALL. MY CAR FORTUNATELY HAD A AUTOMATIC FRONT SEAT-BELTING SYSTEM FOR MY CLOSED-TOP CONVERTBLE. MY 2 DAUGHTER PASSENGERS & I WERE ALL SEAT-BELTED. MY 10 YRS OLD, IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT & MY 4 YR OLD WAS IN THE REAR LEFT PASSENGER SEAT, DIRECTLY BEHIND… - Jun 8, 1999 · crash · fire · 1 injuryAir bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MOVED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL AT THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRAIN LESION, THE FACIAL BONE WAS FRACTURED, THE RIGHT EYE SOCKET HAD TO BE REBUILT, THE UPPER LIP WAS NUMB, 21 TEETH WERE DAMAGED, ALL THE WISDOM TEETH WERE EXTRACTED,… - Jun 8, 1999 · crash · 1 injuryAir bags
A DRIVER, ON A 5 LANE ST, IN A CENTER TURN LANE, DRIVING THE SAME DIRECTION AS MYSELF STRUCK MY CAR ON IT'S LEFT-SIDE, CAUSING MY CAR TO SPIN. ATTEMPTING TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY IN EARLY AM TRAFFIC, I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY VEER TO THE FAR RIGHT AT A REDUCED SPEED OF 3 MPH, AND COULD NOT STOP ENOUGH TO PREVENT COLLISION WITH A STATIONARY BRICK WALL. I REMEMBER MAKING IMPACT AND THE AIRBAG POPPING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN LIKE A SMALL PILLOW, THEN SUDDENLY ERUPTING WITH PAINFUL MAGNIFICENT FORCE THROWING BY HEAD AND CHEST BACK, THEN MY FALLING TO THE RIGHT-SIDE ARM-REST. I MANAGED TO UNBUCKLE MY SEATBELT, AND MURMUR AS BEST I COULD TO MY TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR WITH ME, TO GET MY CELL… - Dec 10, 2013 · 151,000 milesAir bags
CONTROL DISPLAY THAT THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, BRAKE CIRCUIT, HAS FAILED. ON MY DASHBOARD THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS ARE ON: AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE PAD WEAR, ABS, AND THE ASC+T LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. NOTHING HAPPENED TO MY CAR, NO WRECK, NO QUICK STOPS, I AM AN EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. ALL THESE THINGS START TO OCCUR OUT OF NO WHERE, - Jul 13, 2014 · 70,000 milesEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. - Sep 8, 2012 · 95,400 milesService brakes
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILS WHICH PREVENTS THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR IS BRAKE. SUBSEQUENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL CANNOT BE DISENGAGED BY THE BRAKE ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE BRAKE THE DEPRESSED THE CAR SPEEDS UP COMPENSATING FOR THE LOST SPEED. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE CHANCE FOR A HIGH SPEED CRASH BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR - Sep 13, 2009 · 134,000 miles · crashAir bags › Frontal
I HAVE A 1998BMW 323IS AND I RECENTLY MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON SUNDAY 9/13/2009. MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT CRASHED VERY BADLY. THE WHOLE FRONT PORTION IS GONE AND CAR IS REUSABLE. WHAT SURPRISES ME IS THE AIRBAGS NEVER CAME OUT. ONLY THE SIDE AIRBAG(DRIVERS SIDE) JUST CAMEOUT1/2. IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS IN A CRASH?HOW CAN I TRUST CARS IN THE CRASH? *TR - Apr 5, 2008 · 102,501 miles · crashVehicle speed control › Cables
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, AND THE VEHICLE RPM'S - ON THEIR OWN - SUDDENLY INCREASED TO A VERY HIGH RPM. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS I WAS BACKING UP, CAUSING ME TO REAR END A PARKED CAR ACROSS THE STREET. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.