2002 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 442 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 18 involved a crash and 31 involved a fire. 22 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
68 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Apr 8, 2010, fire
CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AND PARKED IN A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. WEATHER WAS WET AND RAINY, THE DEFROSTER WAS RUNNING ON THE CAR FOR MOST OF THE TRIP. AFTER SITTING 25-30 MINUTES A RESIDENT NEAR THE RESTAURANT CALLED TO NOTIFY THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. EMPLOYEES OF THE RESTAURANT ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH HAND HELD EXTINGUISHER BUT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETELY DO SO. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE A SHORT TIME LATER TO UNPOWER THE CAR AND PUT OUT THE FLAME. POLICE AND FIRE TEAMS WERE ON THE SCENE. THE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE AUXILIARY A/C FAN IN FRONT OF THE CONDENSER AS THAT IS WHERE THE HEAVIEST DAMAGE IS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 18, 2009
2002 BMW 325I REAR TAILLIGHTS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH SIDES DUE TO THE WIRING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARNESS HAVE EITHER MELTED AND GROUND TO THE OTHER WIRES OR MELTED THE TABS OFF OF THE MALE PLUG. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 4, 2009
THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 30, 2009
2002 BMW 325 XI THE WARNING LIGHT FOR A BULB-OUT OR THE FAST BLINK FOR THE TURN SIGNALS COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE GROUNDING OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE WIRING HARNESS MELTS. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX OUTSIDE WARRANTY. CHARGE TO REPAIR - $450. BMW SERVICE BULLETIN: SI B 63 03 06 PARTS NEEDED: 12 52 7 519 956 8-PIN CONNECTOR HOUSING 12 52 0 007 171 BLADE CONTACT SLK 2.8 WITH A WIRE LENGTH OF 500 MM, 1.0 MM 12 52 1 433 217 BLADE CONTACT SLK 2.8 WITHOUT WIRE FOR A CABLE CROSS SECTION OF 1.5 MM 61 13 8 353 747 CRIMP CONNECTOR 1.0 MM 61 13 1 379 833 SHRINK SLEEVE 61 13 1 393 718 COMB-TYPE CONNECTOR (HOUSING) 3-PIN 61 13 1 387 150 COMB-TYPE CONNECTOR (CONTACT STRIP) 61 13 1 387 144 FLAT CONTACT FOR COMB-TYPE CONNECTORS 07 11 9 975 531 FLAT PLUG-IN SLEEVE 4.8-2.5 SOURCE LOCALLY BROWN WIRE, 1.5 MM, LENGTH APPROXIMATELY 120 MM. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 23, 2009
SAFETY RELATED DEFECT WITH BMW E46 MODELS; PETITION FOR FORMAL INVESTIGATION PURSUANT TO 49 U.S.C. 30162 AND 49 CFR PART 552 *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE E46 MODELS AS WELL AS HIS 2002 330I HAD PROBLEMS WITH TAILLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND/OR TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 14, 2008
THIS IS FOR A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR POSSIBLE REAR END ACCIDENT DUE TO A KNOWN FAILURE IN THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE TAIL LIGHTS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 27, 2007
FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR PARKING LAMPS OF THE 1999-2005 BMW 3 SERIES ("E46"). ALSO NOTED ARE FORWARD TURN SIGNAL LIGHTING FAILURES. THE PROBLEM MAY INVOLVE TWO UNRELATED COMPONENT FAILURES: CHRONICALLY OVERHEATING/PARTIALLY MELTED 7-PIN WIRING CONNECTORS (AT THE REAR LAMP CLUSTER) AND CORRODED BULB SOCKETS (AT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS). (THE FIRST PROBLEM MAY BE MORE COMMON IN WARM WEATHER STATES.) BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I HAVE OWNED THREE E46 MODEL BMW'S, ALL PURCHASED NEW. ALL HAVE HAD REPEATED, YET INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEMS. MOST RECENTLY I NOTED ANOTHER INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE LEFT REAR LAMP CLUSTER OF MY 2002 BMW 330I WITH ~48,000 MILES. AFTER ANOTHER CAREFUL INSPECTION, TO INCLUDE REMOVING EACH BULB AND CHECKING ITS FILAMENT, RESISTANCE AND CONNECTION CLEANLINESS, I FOUND SOMETHING I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY NOTED--THE 7-PIN WIRING CONNECTOR WAS MELTED AT TERMINAL #2, THE TERMINAL THAT APPEARS TO BE THE COMMON GROUND FOR ALL THE LAMPS IN THE CLUSTER. THE CAR'S WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR (FEMALE) AND THE MALE PIN (#2) BOTH SHOW EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE/HEAT DAMAGE. I HAVE REMOVED IT FROM MY CAR AND TAKEN SOME PHOTOGRAPHS FOR SUBMISSION VIA AN EMAIL ACCOUNT TO MR. AJIT ALKONDON AT DOT. THE PART AS INSTALLED IN MY CAR HAS THE FOLLOWING IDENTIFICATION: 63.21-6 907 935 DATE CODE: 19.9.01 (FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2001) TIME CODE: 15:54 AS AN ASIDE, A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP HAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE REAR BULB CARRIER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. WHILE IT HAS HELPED, I AM STILL LEFT WITH CHRONIC, YET HIGHLY INTERMITTENT, LAMP FAILURES, (AS INDICATED BY THE CAR'S WARNING SYSTEM) FOR _BOTH_ REAR LAMP ASSEMBLIES. AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR, ALL THREE E46'S I OWNED HAVE HAD FORWARD TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS REPLACED FOR CORROSION, USUALLY WITHIN THE FIRST FEW YEARS OR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 25, 2007
DASH INDICATED TAILLIGHT WAS OUT WHEN IT WASN'T, THIS WAS RANDOM ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE DASH PANEL INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. AS I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I STOPPED, AND NOTICED THE MELTED WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS. AS I LOOKED AT THEM I COULD SEE THEM SPARKING WHEN CERTAIN MOVEMENTS OCCURRED., VERY DANGEROUSLY AND ERRATIC. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SIDES MELTED. I HAVE NOTICED THE OTHER SIDE WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS, RANDOM INDICATIONS OF A TAIL LIGHT OUT WHEN THERE WAS NONE. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION , SAVAGE BMW, AS WELL AS BMWNA. I BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO, AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT, AND DIDNT TAKE MUCH CONCERN INTO THE MATTER. THEY WERE E CHARGING ME $400+ TO FIX JUST THE ONE SIDE. *AK
Electrical system, Apr 22, 2007
I AM LEASING A 2002 BMW 745LI . I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS GONE TO THE BMW SERVICE CENTER A TOTAL OF 33 TIMES FOR SERVICE MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. A FEW TIMES CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THIS VEHICLE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA VIA PHONE, EMAILS, AND LETTERS, THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE? THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER SHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS BMW MODEL YEAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT HEADACHES AND PROBLEMS FOR THEM. I FEAR FOR THE WELL BEING OF MY FAMILY WHEN THEY ENTER THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS MODEL HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR FROM ITS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I AM PAYING FOR A PIECE OF METAL! THIS VEHICLE IS ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I DEMAND THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM ME. THE MANUFACTURER (BMW OF NORTH OF AMERICA) BUILT A PRODUCT THAT HAS DEFECTS. THEIR OWN TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIX THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT BMW SERVICE CENTERS. I HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS. AGAIN I DEMAND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO RELIEVE ME FROM THIS VEHICLE! *TR
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2007, fire
AFTER DRIVING MY 2002 BMW X 5 FIVE BLOCKS FROM MY HOME, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PARKED THE CAR. FROM THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO GET OUT AND WALK TO THE REAR OF THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND IN SHORT ORDER THE CAR BURNED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND HIRED AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN VEHICLE FIRES AND CAUSATION. THE CONCLUSSION OF THE REPORT WAS THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, ORIGINATING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THIS SITUATION WITH BMW FIRES ON DIFFERENT WEB SIGHTS, INCLUDING ROADFLY, AND HAVE FOUND TO MY SHOCK, THERE ARE WAY TO MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS OUT THERE WITH A SIMULAR SITUATION. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE SOMEONES LIFE. IF MY GRANDCHILD OR ELDERLY MOTHER HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WITH ME, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT IN TIME! I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU, HOPE PESSIS. *NM
Electrical system, Jun 7, 2005
DT: WHEN VEHICLE HAD ONLY 33 MILES EVERY SINGLE DUMMY LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND DIED OUT. IT HAD BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS IN DIFFERENT STATES , AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WHILE GOING 65 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE STOPPED. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND VEHICLE ALMOST HIT SOMEONE. *AK
Electrical system, Sep 11, 2004
(1) PARKED AT A LIGHT. (2) LIGHT CHANGED, I ACCELERATED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, VARIOUS DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, I NURSED THE CAR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, AND PULLED OVER. TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AFTER TALKING WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE. WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON BUT ENGINE POWER WAS BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME. (3) DEALER RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EXPLAINED THE ENGINE FAILURE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAULT INVOLVING "DEFECTIVE CRIMPING" IN THE THROTTLE MOTOR, RESISTENCE FLUCTUATION DUE TO PIN CONTAMINATION, OR "FAULTY CRIMPING OR DEFECTIVE FEMALE PINS" ON A CONNECTOR. WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE MOTOR WERE REPLACED.*AK
Electrical system, Dec 5, 2003
A/C BLOWS EXTREMELY HOT WHEN SET ON MAXIMUM COOLING POWER ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME (INTERMITTENTLY). PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INHERENT IN THE MODEL...BMW SAYS IF THEY CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT A SERVICE CENTER IN FRONT OF A TECHNICIAN, THEN IT MUST NOT EXIST. *JB
Electrical system, Sep 25, 2003
FROM DAY ONE , I ALREADY EXPERIECED A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AT FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING, SHELLY BMW TOOK CARE OF IT FOR OVER A WEEK , THEY SAID THERE IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE COMPUTER, AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE ALARM GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING ,I TOOK THE CAR TO CUNNINGHAM BMW BECAUSE I LIVEDHERE IN SAN DIEGO IT TOOK THEM ALMOST A WEEK BUT THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEYNEED MORE TIME TO FIGURE WHAT REALLY THE PROBLEM AND WHAT CAUSING THE ALARM SIREN GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING .I TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT BMW DEALER TO SAN DIEGO BMW, AFTER TWO DAYS SAME PROBLEM OCCURED ALARM SIREN GOES OFF EVERY 4 MINUTES OF DRIVING. NEXT PROBLEM IS THE BRAKE LIGHT COMNES ON , THEY CHANGED THE BRAKEPAD AND ROTOR, THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE , THEN A DAY AFTER THE DSC LIGHT COMES ON , THE EML LIGHT COMES ON , THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE CAR HAVE NO POWER NOT RESPONDING, ITS FEEL LIKE THERES SOME BLOCKING ON THE WHEEL WHEN I ACCELERATE, SO I TOOK IT AGAIN TO THE DEALER , THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS, THE DAY AFTER THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON STEADY . I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS CAR AND YET IT'S NOT EVEN A YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. PRESENTLY THE CAR HAS 34,000 MILAGE.IT HAS 20,000 MILAGE WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT.
Electrical system, Jul 10, 2003
THE SEAT BELT LATCH TRIGGERED THE AIR BAG DEFAULT AND THE AIR BAG HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE SERVICE CHECK FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE SYSTEM WAS CLEARED, DEFAULT/INOPERATIVE AIR BAG OCCURRED WITH THE NEXT SEAT BELT LATCH. (MODEL 325XI) *JB *SCC *JB
Electrical system, May 1, 2003
ELECTRICAL HARNESS FAILURE
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2002
APPARENTLY MY CAR HAS A PROGRAMMING DEFECT WITH THE COMPUTER. IT ONLY RELATES TO 2002 325XI'S WITH SPORT PKG, MANUAL TRANS. AT ONE TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WERE ONLY 4 WITH MY SET UP IN THE US. ALL CARS WITH MY EXACT COMPUTER SET UP I'M TOLD ARE HAVING THIS FAILURE. THEY CLAIM TO BE WORKING ON MY PROBLEM IN GERMANY BUT I REALLY FEEL MY CAR IS UNSAFE. WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY WHEN WHEN YOU STOP ACCELERATING TO WHEN THE CARE STOPS ACCELERTATING. LOW GEARS AT HIGH RPM'S THE CAR BASICALLY GOES OUT OF CONTROL FOR A SECOND. I THINK BECAUSE SO FEW CARS HAVE MY SET UP THAT BMW IS NOT RESOLVING THIS QUICK ENOUGH. TWO E-MAILS TO THE BMW ON LINE CUSTOMER CARE SITE. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE REGIONAL AFTER MARKET REP FROM BMW WHO CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. WHERE ELSE DO I TAKE THIS TO GET MY CAR OPERATING SAFELY?*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Structure, Mar 19, 2002
DOOR LOCKS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHILE IN SERVICE AT THE DEALER. WHEN THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HE WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH ALARM SYSTEM, BUT IT IS MISSING NOW. *YH