2003 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 489 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 17 involved a crash and 21 involved a fire. 26 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
114 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Nov 10, 2009
MULTIPLE BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHTS PERIODICALLY MALFUNCTION ON MY 2003 BMW 325I. I UNDERSTAND FROM TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN INVOLVING THE GROUNDING OF THE LIGHT FIXTURES. FURTHERMORE, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD PAY TO HAVE REPAIRED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 2, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325XI. THE TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 17, 2009
REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, TO INCLUDE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT, ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. BMW ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN SYSTEM IN SI B 63 03 06, DATED FEBRUARY 2007 BUT TO DATE HAS REFUSED TO INITIATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT CAUSES THE LAMP HOUSING TERMINALS TO BURN AND BURNS THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC HOUSING. THIS CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD PARTICULARLY OF THERE IS FLAMMABLE MATERIAL IN THE TRUNK. OBVIOUSLY THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY IS AN OBVIOUS HAZARD. THE REPAIR COSTS APPROX $600 FOR BOTH SIDES. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 11, 2009
POOR CONNECTION AT REAR LAMP CONNECTOR. BMW. MODEL E46. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10020856 ). *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 3, 2009
FAILURE OF LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. CONNECTOR ON WIRING ASSEMBLY HAS MELTED. ONE OF THE PINS ON LIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY HAS DISINTEGRATED RENDERING ALL LIGHTS INOPERABLE. CONTACTED LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 15, 2009
FORMAL PETITION FOR SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION, AFTER REPLACING THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS IN ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE THEY CONTINUED TO BURN OUT, AFTER TAKING THE BULB HOUSING COVER OFF, I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THE BROWN WIRE IN THE UNIT HAD MELTED THE ENTIRE CONNECTION. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP THIS IS A KNOWN FLAW AS THE GROUND WIRE IS NOT ADEQUATE TO HANDLE THE POWER COMING THROUGH, THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE REAR-ENDED 4 TIMES WHEN THE LIGHT SUDDENLY WILL STOP WORKING BMW USA WHOM I CONTACTED IS AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION, AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR UPDATED 04/27/09. *JB
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 24, 2009
RIGHT REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, TO INCLUDE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT, ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. BMW ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT IN SYSTEM IN SI B 63 03 06, DATED FEBRUARY 2007 BUT TO DATE HAS REFUSED TO INITIATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 17, 2008
THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY KEEPS FAILING. AND I LOOSE THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN 2005 ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AND NOW IT HAPPENED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. *TR
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Equipment, Sep 11, 2007
FOUR TIMES SINCE I BUY A 2003 BMW 325I , I HAVE TO GET THE AUTO TO GUARANTEE SERVICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE STRUCT FRONT BUSHING, NOW , AFTER REPLACE THEM AT 32,000 MILES ABOUT FOUR MONTH AGO, MY CAR AT 37,000 MILES REQUEST A NEW BUSHINGS. THEY SAID ME THAT BMW WAS NO LONGER REPLACE THEM BY GUARANTEE BECAUSE OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS IN PUERTO RICO. WHEN I BUY THE CAR I PAID FOR A GUARANTEE AND I THINK THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT A CAR LIKE THIS , THE ULTIMATE DRIVE MACHINE REQUIRE EVERY FOUR MONTH TO REPLACE THAT PARTS. THEY SHOULD INSTALL A GOOD REINFORCED GENUINE PARTS AND NOT A REMANUFACTURED. I ALWAYS TRY TO AVOID THE HOLES, BUT I ASK WHEN IT'S RAINING IT START A RED LIGHT THAT INDICATED " PLEASE AVOID THIS HOLE" . *TR THE DEALER STATED REPLACED LENS AND COVER DISC FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS, NOISES COMING FROM BOTH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS, REPLACING ALTERNATOR DRIVE BELT TENSIONER, TENSIONER AND PULLEYS, AND REMOVING AND INSTALLING LEFT OR RIGHT RUBBER STRIP. UPDATED 10/24/07 *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 5, 2005
TAIL LIGHTS FAILED ON MY 2003 BMW 330XI. THE SHOP FOREMAN AT MY BMW DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT HE HAS BEEN SEEING A LOT OF TAIL LIGHT FAILURES BECAUSE THE WIRING WAS NOT DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE LOAD AND THEREFORE THE WIRES HAVE BEEN FRYING OUT. MY WORK ORDER STATES REPAIRS WERE DONE TO DIAGNOSE & REPLACE MELTED TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS AND WIRING. *JB
Exterior lighting, Dec 11, 2004
PASSENGER SIDE XENON HEADLIGHT OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. CAR HAD TO GO TO DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT PARTS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO FIX. FOR SAFETY I HAVE RESTRICTED VEHICLE TO DAYTIME DRIVING ONLY BECAUSE I CANNOT DEPEND ON THE HEADLIGHTS TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. *JB
Exterior lighting, Sep 17, 2004
YOU NEED TO GET THOSE STUPID, DANGEROUS BRIGHT LIGHTS OFF THE ROAD. NOT ALL OF US HAVE PERFECT EYES. EVEN A SMALL CATARACT CAUSEES A LOSS OF SIGHT AND THESE LIGHTS MAKE IT MUCH WORSE. CHECK WITH AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING. MY FRIEND HERE IN POORTLAND OREGON JUST GOT BACK FROM MINN. & WIS. AND HE WAS MAD AS HELL ABOUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS HE HAD TO CONTEND WITH. SO WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT AFTER THE FACT ON THE ACCIDENTS. WHY DON'T YOU GET THESE UNSAFE THINGS OFF THE ROAD. YOU NEED TO FORCE A SYSTEM ON VEHICLES THAT THEY CAN ONLY GO SO FAST ACCORDING TO THEIR WEIGHT. THIS STUPIDITY ABOUT PUTTING A SENSOR TO TELL THE DRIVER WHEN HE HAS A LOW TIRE IS STUPID AT BEST. WHY DON'T YOU FORCE SERVICE STATIONS TO GO BACK TO SERVICE STATIONS THE WAY THEY WERE IN THE 1950S. I CHECKED THOUSANDS OF TIRES, COOLENT LEVEL, & JUST BASIC STUFF UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL AS WASHED THOUSAND OF WIND SHIELDS. THE COUNTRY HAS GONE TO HELL IF YOU ASK ME. THE GOVERNMENT HAS RUINED ALOMST EVERY THING THEY GET INVOLVED IN. LET US KEEP SOME OF OUR MONEY & WE WILL DO IT OUR SELVES. STUDEBAKER & KAISER-FRAZER WERE VERY SAFE VEHICLES BUT THEY WERE EXPENSIVE FOR THEIR DAY. YOU CAN'T SELL SAFETY. I WENT TO GOGGGLE & PUT IN DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION. FOUND THIS SITE AS NO. ONE. THEN WIGGLED AROUND AND FOUND THIS SITE. IT IS WAY TOO HARD TO FIND. REX R. BAHR @ POORTLAND OREGON U.S.ALIENS. *AK
Exterior lighting, Dec 31, 2003
I WAS BLINDED TONIGHT BY THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS ON A CAR 100 OR MORE FEET FROM ME THAT WAS COMING OUT OF A GAS STATION. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE GAS STATION AND BECUASE O BEING BLINDED I DIDN'T SEE A ROAD DIVIDER. MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT IT A A LOW SPEED AND BLEW THE TIRE AND BENT THE RIM. OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER DRIVER DIDN'T KNOW I EXISTED OR HAD BEEN FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IMPACTED BY HIS HEADLIGHTS BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN SOME UNEXPLAINED FATAL ACCIDENT WILL HAVE THE SAME ROOTS. THANK YOU, DAN STERNBERG
Exterior lighting, Equipment, Dec 19, 2002
I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER WITH OVER 1 MIL ACIDENT FREE MILES. EVERY YEAR THE HEADLIGHTS GET AIMED WORSE, THE TECHNOLOGY GETS BRIGHTER AND SOMETIMES WIDER DISPERSION (BLINDING) AND MORE DRIVERS DRIVE FULLTIME WITH FOG LIGHTS (NON-LENTICULAR LENS). MANUFACTURERS ARE ENCOURAGING THIS PROCESS WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF AUTOS WITH BIG FOG LIGHTS AND FAILING TO LABEL THEM WITH RESTRICTIVE USE WARNINGS. IN ADDITION, THEIR ADVERTISING ALWAYS SHOWS VEHICLES WITH THESE LIGHTS ON IN THEIR ADVERTISMENTS. BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY I AM FORCED TO BLOCK OUT THEIR LIGHTS (AT THE RATE OF ABOUT ONE IN TWENTY-FIVE) WITH MY HAND, AND THEREFORE WILL HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT IF THEY CROSS THE CENTER LINE SINCE I CANNOT SEE THEM. POLICE IN EVERY STATE MUST BE TOLD TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AGAINST FULL-TIME FOG LIGHTS AND MUST REGULATE THE BRIGHTNESS AND AIM OF HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME EPIDEMIC.