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: exterior lighting
76 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 17, 2011
ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO NOTED MY TAIL/TURN SIGNAL LIGHT OUT INDICATOR ON DASH, BUT ALL BULBS WERE GOOD. PROBLEM INTERMITTENT AT FIRST, BUT THEN BECAME CONSTANT ON LEFT LIGHT INDICATOR. WENT ON BMW INTERNET FORUM AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO 3-SERIES ASCRIBED TO GROUND NOT GOOD ENOUGH, BURING PIN/PORT ON CONNECTOR. INDEED THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING/CONNECTOR. I SPLICED ANOTHER GROUND WIRE TO THE ORIGINAL AND CONNECTED TO THE HOUSING AS DESCRIBED IN THE ONLINE FORUM AND SEEMS TO WORK FOR NOW, BUT I FEEL NOT HAVING AN OPERABLE TURN SIGNAL ON THE REAR OF THE CAR COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 27, 2011
2002 BMW 325I SEDAN, 48,000 MILES WHEN BROWN WIRE AT PLUG ON REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY CORRODED OUT AND FORMED BLACK BURNED RESIDUE, AFTER RE ATTACHING THE WIRE, SYMPTOM RESURFACED AT 74,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT IN A FIRE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 3, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL WAS CORRODED AND EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DEFECT IN DESIGN AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOUSING FIXTURE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 11, 2011
I HAVE A 2003 BMW 325XI BUT THERE ISN'T A 2003 YEAR TO ENTER FOR SOME REASON. BOTH TAIL LIGHTS AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT MULTIPLE TIMES. HAZARD LIGHT AND MAIN LOCK NEXT TO HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY, DASH WARNING LIGHT HAVE ALSO GONE OUT BUT HAVE SINCE BEEN FIXED WITH FUSES. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. HE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO FUNCTION UNTIL HE REMOVED THE REAR LIGHTING COVER IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE WIRES. HE ALSO INTERMITTENTLY RECEIVED A MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS WERE BLOWN OUT. WHEN HE EXAMINED THE BULBS HE WOULD NOTICED THAT THEY WERE FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Exterior lighting, Oct 19, 2010
THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TAIL LAMP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A FAST DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BLINKER AND REDUCED ILLUMINATION OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LAMP. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THIS IS PROBLEM IS DESCRIBE IN THE INVESTIGATION ACTION NUMBER: EA09019. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 21, 2010
2002 BMW 325I REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRING COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. BMW AMERICA SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THESE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLES ARE 8 YEARS OLD. IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 29, 2010, fire
2002 BMW 325I SEDAN, ELECTRICAL FIRE IN LEFT REAR TRUNK DUE TO SHORT IN REAR DRIVE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, BROWN GROUNDING WIRE MELTED HOUSING, UNIT NOT WORKING. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 18, 2010, fire
2002 BMW 325I, TURN SIGNAL FAILURE RESULTING IN SMALL FIRE. 1- SYMPTOMS: CAR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. 2- UPON REMOVAL OF HOUSING I NOTED THAT THE LIGHT OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED ME TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. UPON REMOVAL OF THE PLUG OR WIRING HARNESS I NOTED THAT THE BROWN WIRE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF MELTING OF BOTH WIRE AND METAL MALE PLUG END WITH BLACK RESIDUE. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT BMW ISSUED SIB NUMBER 63 03 06 TO MECHANICS. I HAVE NOT FOUND A RECALL FOR THIS HAZARDOUS FAILURE, HOWEVER, DID FIND A FORUM WHERE SEVERAL OWNERS NOTED THE SAME FAILURE. INTERNET ADDRESS TO THIS FORUM IS: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2002/BMW/325I/EXTERIOR+LIGHTING 3- I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE BUT PLAN ON INVESTIGATING THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. PER THE INFORMATION I FOUND I HAVE NOTED THAT IT SEEMS THAT A FAULTY GROUND WIRE IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FAULTS. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 8, 2010
WHILE UNDERGOING A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE REVIEW ON MY 2002 BMW 325I, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS. APPARENTLY, THE LIGHTS ARE NOT PROPERLY GROUNDED AND THERE IS A RISK OF OVERHEATING AND FIRE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND HAS OVER 76,000 MILES, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 3, 2010
THE TAIL LIGHTS ELECTRIC CONNECTOR MODULE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. IT IS BURNED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT, BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL. THIS FAILURE HAS PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS AS WELL. THE CAUSE WAS SIMILAR. THE GROUND CABLE AND ELECTRIC CONNECTOR WERE BURNED OUT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 8, 2010
8-PIN CONNECTOR AT REAR TAIL LIGHTS IN 2002 BMW 330XI HAS PARTIALLY MELTED, CONTACTS APPEAR CORRODED. "LIGHT OUT" INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH TURNS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY.
Exterior lighting, Feb 2, 2010
APPROX TEN MONTHS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE LIGHT BULBS...WITHIN TWO DAYS THE ENTIRE LIGHT FIXTURE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOUR MONTHS LATER. BOTH LIGHT FIXTURES HAVE NOT WORKED (TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT) SINCE SEPTEMBER 2009. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX BOTH TAIL LIGHTS WAS $450.00. I WAS TOLD EVENTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED SO I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE THE COST ESTIMATE. I REQUESTED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE, WHICH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAND WROTE ON A PIECE OF PAPER (DEALERSHIP USUALLY PRINTS OFF COMPUTER). I KEEP THIS IN THE GLOVE BOX TO SHOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WHENEVER THEY PULL ME OVER FOR INOPERABLE REAR LIGHTS. I READ THAT BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO ADD GROUND WIRES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT $450 IS AN UNREASONABLE FEE TO BE CHARGED TO ADD GROUND WIRES TO AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 30, 2009, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE DRIVER- SIDE HEADLIGHT ON THE VEHICLE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE WIRE FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE GROUND WIRE HAD BURNED. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY AT AN EXPENSE OF $600. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Exterior lighting, Dec 17, 2009
FORMAL PETITION FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF A SAFETY-RELATED DESIGN DEFECT: BMW 325XI 2002 DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHT. TAIL LIGHT CONNECTIONS BURN OUT DUE TO LACK OF PROPER WIRING. BMW HAS NOW ISSUED A CORRECTION FOR THIS BUT WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 15, 2009, fire
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE CAME ON IN MY 2002 BMW325I. I WENT OUT TO LOOK FOR THE FAILED BULB, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ALL WORKING. I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT SIDE, REAR LIGHTS WERE MUCH DIMMER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE. I WENT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME A BURNT WIRE AND MOLTEN PLASTIC CONNECTOR FROM THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER. HE SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE BMW DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH GROUND TO THE CLUSTER AND OVERTIME THE EXTRA HEAT GENERATED BY THE CURRENT WILL BURN THE WIRE AND CONNECTOR. AT OTHER TIMES, HE SAID, THE CONNECTOR WILL SHORT THE GND PIN TO THE PINS AROUND IT AND CAUSES SMALL FIRES. BMW HAS A SIB NUMBER 63 03 06 OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS $400 TO REPAIR THEIR OWN MISTAKE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY VIOLATION AND I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY FIXING ALL THE CARS OUT THERE WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. TODAY, I SAW THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO A 2008 BMW 550 AT THIS LINK: HTTP://FORUMS.5SERIES.NET/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=90746&ST=0&P=1073957&#ENTRY1073957 PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THANK YOU.*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
Exterior lighting, Jul 22, 2009
REAR TAIL BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF, HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT AND THIS DIDN'T FIX IT. HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT ARE TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED ASAP . SAW THAT BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR STARTED FAILING 2 MONTHS AGO AND EACH TIME I OPEN TRUNK AND REMOVE BULB -IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR A WHILE THEN OUT AGAIN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 22, 2009
CONSUMER IS INQUIRING ON THE STATUS OF THE MARK PETERS DEFECT PETITION DP09002. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE REAR LAMP EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURES. HE ALSO STATED THAT A REAR LAMP WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTOR MAY OVERHEAT LEADING TO REAR LAMP BULB FAILURES.*JB
Exterior lighting, Apr 13, 2009
REAR LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE CONNECTORS SHORTING OUT. I READ ONLINE THAT IT IS A BMW DESIGN DEFECT AND IS GROUND WIRE PROBLEM COMMON TO E46 MODEL BMWS. *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.
Exterior lighting, Jun 10, 2008
FOR SEVERAL YEARS PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF WITH THE BMW E46 ('99-'05 3 SERIES) HAVE COMPLAINED OF INTERMITTENTLY DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN. THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES DOCUMENT A MERE FRACTION OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS LIKELY TO AFFECT WARM STATES MORE THAN COOLER AREAS. IN MY CASE, IN HOT WEATHER THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT CLUSTER WILL FAIL TO ILLUMINATE--NO TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT OR TAIL LIGHTS ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. THE REASON: BMW USED A GROUNDING WIRE WHICH WAS FAR TOO SMALL TO CARRY THE CURRENT, THUS RESULTING IN MELTED WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS ON BOTH TAIL LAMP CLUSTERS. FOR DETAILS, PLEASE SEE THE MANY PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT AT THESE WEB SITES: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=244598&HIGHLIGHT=TAILLIGHT+WIRING AND HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=533309&HIGHLIGHT=MELTED+TAIL+LIGHT AND HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=0FEDAEF77A3622F393734BA4B57ADD7C&T=512469&PAGE=2 BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT INCLUDES A WIRING MODIFICATION: HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM DESPITE AT LEAST 4 VISITS TO VARIOUS BMW DEALERS WHILE UNDER MY CAR'S FOUR YEAR WARRANTY, THEIR SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM NEVER LASTED LONG. FURTHERMORE, NO BMW DEALER EVER INSTALLED THIS SPECIAL WIRING KIT FROM BMW. NOW THAT I'M OUT OF WARRANTY A LOCAL BMW DEALER IS MORE THAN WILLING TO CHARGE ME $600 TO INSTALL THIS SPECIAL WIRING KIT SO THAT REAR LIGHTS WILL CONSISTENTLY WORK. FMVSS 108 IS PRETTY CLEAR: FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES CARS TO HAVE WORKING LIGHTS. WHEN THERE ARE SYSTEMIC FAILURES OF A SAFETY SYSTEM SUCH AS BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC., AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A VOLUNTARY RECALL, IT THEN BECOMES TIME FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET INVOLVED. FOR DETAILS ON FMVSS 108, PLEASE REFER TO THE VARIOUS LINKS HERE: HTTP://FMVSS108.TRIPOD.COM/ *TR
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
Exterior lighting, Jun 8, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT A TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS MELTED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,626 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.