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
442 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 18, 2009, fire
MY SON PARKED HIS 2002 BMW 330XI IN A PARKING LOT EARLY AM TO SLEEP. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF HOURS WHILE IDLING, KILLING HIM. HE WAS LAYING DOWN IN FRONT SEATS. EVENT WAS CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE CAMERA, NO FOUL PLAY WAS DETECTED. CLAIMED TO BE "ACCIDENTAL FIRE" BY POLICE REPORT. NOTICED 2001 BMW 3-SERIES HAD MAJOR RECALL FOR SAME TYPE OF EVENT WITH FAILURE OF COOLING FANS. *TR
Service brakes, Air, Sep 21, 2009
I HAVE CONTACTED BMW 3 TIMES ABOUT NHTSA ID#02V088000 AND THEY WILL NOT CONTACT ME. I WANT TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR
Suspension, Service brakes, Air, Structure, Sep 9, 2009
NEVER CONTACTED BY BMW ABOUT BMW 325XI RECALL #02V088000. ALSO, BOTH FRONT AXLES HAVE GONE OUT AT 77,000 MILES. *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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 26, 2009, fire
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN I SAW SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING AND I PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD AND THE WIRES CONNECTING TO THE COOLING FAN HAD CAUSED THE PLASTIC TO START ON FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND HAD ACCESS TO A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. *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
Visibility, Jun 15, 2009
REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND WINDOW WAS REPAIRED AT DEALER. OPPOSITE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. FRONT WINDOW OPERATORS MOVE THE WINDOW SLOWLY AND WINDOWS NEED MANUAL ASSISTANCE (PUSH ON GLASS) TO CLOSE. INVESTIGATED WHETHER NEW WINDOW REGULATOR DESIGN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. DETERMINED THAT REPLACEMENT WINDOW REGULATORS ARE IDENTICAL TO ORIGINAL. THE DESIGN PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE ATTACHMENT OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR CABLE ENDS INTO PLASTIC RETAINERS. OBVIOUSLY, DURING THE CYCLES OF WINDOW OPERATION, THE PLASTIC IS OVER-STRESSED AND FAILS. PLACED WRITTEN COMPLAINT WITH BMW USA TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FIRST WINDOW FAILURE WAS AROUND 50K MILES. REMAINING WINDOW FAILURES WERE AROUND 90K MILES. *TR
Power train, May 16, 2009
BMW 325 2002 UNDER 100K MILES WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. JMK SPRINGFIELD BMW SAID HEY COULD FIX FOR $500 I AGREED TO GO AHEAD. AFTER THE WORK COMPLETION THEY CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME PROBLEM STILL EXISTS BUT THEY STILL CHARGED ME $540. THEY SAY I NEED TO PAY ANOTHER $700 TO TRY THE NEXT 'GEAR SELECTION SWITCH CHANGE' SUGGESTION. AND IF THAT FAILS THEY'LL CHANGE THE GEAR BOX FOR $5K. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. GEARBOX SHOULD NOT FAIL ON ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE UNDER 100K MILES. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 4, 2009
2002 BMW 325 XI HAVING NEW WATER PUMP AND FAN CLUTCH REPLACED AND OIL CHANGE (4/27/09). AFTER 15 MINUTES DRIVE ON I-90 (4/28/09) THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF I-90 NEAR EXIT 11A. NEAR COLLISION WITH A BIG TRUCK THAT CAUSE TRAFFIC STOP. MANAGE TO GET INTO THE MASPIKE TOLL PLAZA, THE ENGINE DAMAGE AND OVERHEATED. CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAVE THE OLD PUMP, NEW PUMP, FAN CLUTCHES (OLD AND NEW). THE CAR NEARLY GOT HIT BY A TRUCK THAT MAY CAUSE FATAL. THE ENGINE THAT HAVE THE PARTS REPLACE TO PREVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEAT OVERHEATED. NO REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE ENGINE FAILURE. *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
Service brakes, Electric, Apr 24, 2009
BRAKE LIGHT GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED UP AND IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOUSING AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FIRES AND/OR WRECKS TO OCCUR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO THE BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR
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.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 5, 2009
BMW 2002 325XI AT LOW TEMPERATURES LIKE 5 OR 6 F. THE CRANKCASE VENT VALVE FROZE AND THE HIGH PRESSURE BUILT UP CAUSED THE VALVE TO BLOW AND COUPLE OF GASKETS BURNT. OIL SPILLED OVER TO THE EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF DRIVEN COUPLE OF MORE MILES THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE. THE CAR JUST HAS 67000 MILES WHICH IS FAIRLY LOW MILES AND NEW CAR. ALL THE MECHANICS I TALKED TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND ASKED ME NOT TO DRIVE AT ALL. THEY SAID IT CAN CATCH FIRE IF DRIVEN LITTLE MORE. ITS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST OF THE MECHANICS RECOGNIZE AND FREQUENCY IS HIGH BUT IN COLD STATES NOT IN WARMER STATES. *TR
Seats, Feb 2, 2009, fire
PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNING THROUGH LEATHER SEAT COVER INTO MY PANTS AND BURNING THE UNDERSIDE OF MY THIGH. THERE WAS VISIBLE SMOKE AND A VERY STRONG BURNING SMELL. *TR
Visibility, Dec 31, 2008
THE REARVIEW MIRROR LEAKED AND IT IS BLURRY NOW IN MY 2002 BMW M3. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF BMW'S. DEALER WON'T REPLACE AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MIRROR IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ITEM AND OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR
Tires, Oct 27, 2008
TIRE REQUIRED CHANGE. USED JACK FOR CAR ON LEVEL SURFACE AS DESCRIBED. JACK FAILED. LUCKILY I HAD A SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT AMPUTATION OF MY ARM WHEN JACK FAILED. *TR
Visibility, Oct 23, 2008
PROBLEM SUMMARY: WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEY FAILURE. ON OR ABOUT MAY 2008, DEPRESSED SWITCH TO LET DRIVERS FRONT WINDOW DOWN. UPON DEPRESSING, A LOUD CRACKING NOISE OCCURRED. SEEING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, I DEPRESSED THE SWITCH AGAIN TO GET THE WINDOW UP. THE WINDOW WOULD NOT COME UP, ONLY THE LOUD NOISE COULD BE HEARD.. THE WINDOW WAS PULLED UP MANUALLY AND STAYED IN THIS POSITION UNTIL REPAIR. THIS ISSUE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON JUNE 6, 2008 AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS (QUOTE) "'LEFT WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEYS FAILED. REPLACED LF WINDOW REGULATOR AND NUTS'". ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2008, WHILE RIDING ON A CALM WEATHER DAY, I CHOSE TO LET ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN. WHEN THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS DEPRESSED, I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AS IF THE WINDOW HAD CRACKED. WHEN I STOPPED TO EXAMINE, I TRIED TO LET IT UP AND REALIZED IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. I REALIZED I HAD THE SAME ISSUE THAT OCCURRED IN LATE MAY08 WITH THE FRONT WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS MANUALLY PULLED UP. TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. ON OCTOBER 10, 2008 WHILE RIDING OUT, I CHOSE TO LET THE 3 WORKING WINDOWS DOWN TO ENJOY THE AIR. AROUND 5:30PM, OCT. 10, 08 I PRESSED THE REAR PASSENGER LEFT WINDOW AND ALL I GOT WAS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AS IF THE WINDOW HAD CRACKED. I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REALIZE THAT I NOW HAVE A 3RD WINDOW THAT HAS NOT HELD UP IN DURABILITY. MY PARENTS HAVE HAD A CAR FOR 20 YEARS WITH POWER WINDOWS AND NEVER HAD SUCH AN ISSUE. I PERSONALLY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR 11 YEARS THAT HAD POWER WINDOWS AND NEVER HAD SUCH AN ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR PULLEY USED FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE AS THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD UP TO NORMAL WINDOW USAGE. THIS LEFT REAR WINDOW HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. *TR
Structure, Sep 16, 2008
SUNROOF TABS BROKE, LEAVING THE SHADE TO GET STUCK ALMOST ALWAYS LEADING TO THE WINDOW TO JAM. I KNOW THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A 325I HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS I. *TR
Power train, Aug 25, 2008
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, REVERSE GEAR DOESN'T WORK. *TR
Power train, Jul 7, 2008
BMW 2002 325 I WITH 92,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE, SAME SITUATION MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH 99-2004 MODELS. *TR
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
Suspension, Tires, Equipment, May 23, 2008
TODAY, AFTER FILLING UP GAS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2 MONTHS, SINCE I PURCHASED THIS NEW USED 2002 BMW 325CI, MODEL WITH NOW 45,000+ MILEAGES. I LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF RED LIGHT STOP. AS I STOPPED TODAY, AT AROUND 9AM, AFTER THE GAS STATION, MY BREAK NOISE SQUEAK, AND THEN IT WOULD NOT STOP. AS I DRIVE AND STOP ON THE RED LIGHT, MY CAR WOULD JUMP, " BOUNCE FORWARD THEN STOP" BEFORE IT CAN IT FULLY STOP. AS I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN I COME TO A STOP, IT WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY, THE CAR JUMPS COUPLE INCHES THEN STOPS. I AM FEARING FOR MY SAFETY, AND MY 30DAYS WARRANTY CONTRACT EXPIRES, HOWEVER THE " DEALERSHIP" HAS NEGLECT AND MIS INFORM ME THAT THE CAR HAS SOME MINOR PROBLEMS. IT IS A DISHONEST, AND I HAVE TOLD THEM FROM THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT, THAT, THE BACK WHEELS MAKES NOISE, " SHOCKS, SPRINGS NEEDS TO CHANGE" BUT THE MANAGER, AND SALES MANAGER DISAGREE, AND SAID, "I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING". AS WELL AS " YOU REMEMBER IT IS A USE CAR"... TOTALLY IGNORE MY REQUEST. I CALLED MANY TIMES AND SPOKE TO THEIR ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK AS THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK SOON, WHEN THE MANAGER IS IN, ITS BEEN HOURS BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK AND I CALLED TWICE. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AT " MIKEHONDAHARVEY.COM" IN BURLINGAME CA. *TR
Visibility, Structure, May 14, 2008
THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT OPERATE THE SUNSHADE ON MY 2002 325I HAVE BROKEN FOUR TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2003 REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE DEALER COVERED IN FULL UNDER THE CPO WARRANTY, WHICH RAN OUT IN MARCH 2008. OUT OF WARRANTY COSTS ARE $350 TO REPAIR. TRIED TO GET THE DEALER TO COVER THIS LAST REPAIR, WHICH I REPORTED JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT THEY REFUSED. *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