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I have a 2003 325i. On the console, where you put the car in gear (PNDR) the light for P stays on when you turn the car off. The dealer does not know if it should stay lit or go off. It did not do this when I first got the car, and it doesn't do it every single time. Also, the fuse for the passenger side rearview mirror keeps blowing. Could these be related problem somewhere in the circuitry? Is the light for P supposed to stay on when the car shuts off?
Answer -
The P should not stay lit when the car is off. Without testing the vehicle, I would have to say the ignition switch is bad. I reccomend on the mirror problem, to remove the door panel and unplug the mirror to see if the fuse blows then. If not there is a problem in the wiring in the mirror assembly. If it does blow it, check the wiring for a short to ground from the mirror to the comfort control unit. Please get back to me with your results. Thanks. Just about a month ago we had the car into the dealer and they replaced all the ignition coils because of sputtering in the car on a startup. It helped, but did not clear out all of the sputtering. This car is still under warranty, but when the warranty is up, we are thinking of trading it in for an American car. The car had 11,000 miles on it when we bought it a year ago (it had been a loaner at the dealership) and we have had tire problems, fuel pump, injectors replaced, plus service bulletin wiring problems(it stalled when you backed up). I have been disappointed in the car; to my understanding it is a car made to be driven,yes, but not far from the dealership. I do love the way it handles and the quick response, but I am not a hot-rodder, and we have put a sensible 19,000 miles on it. It is not driven "hard". The dealer will not say if the repairs have been out of the ordinary for this make, but I think they are. We traded in a 2002 Taurus for this, and never had any problems in over a year with that. I can not complain too much because everything has been covered by the warranty, but we are wondering if we can afford it after the warranty runs out. Also, we had a 2005 X3 for a loaner and it had the same problem with the light on the P staying on. Thank you so much for your input. At least now I can talk to the dealership with a little more knowledge. P.
AnswerAssuming the year and model, I take it that it was built in Giorgia rather than Germany. Sad but true, statistics don't lie that BMW's, Mercedes, etc. that are built in the United States have a much higher failure rate then the ones built in their own origin. Don't let one bad experience ruin it for you ever owning another BMW. Try owning one that was built in Germany and then see what you think. I, myself own an older BMW with almost 300,000 and aside from the regular maintenece it has been an absolute joy to own and drive. I wish you the same.
