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
489 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Equipment, Jul 12, 2011
ON 2003-2004 BMW 3 SERIES E46 SEDANS WITH OEM ZKW MANUFACTURED XENON (HID) HEADLIGHTS, THE REFLECTIVE BOWL FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME DISCOLORED AND NON-REFLECTIVE AFTER NORMAL USE WITH OEM BULBS. OVER TIME, THE HEAT FROM THE OEM BULB WILL SCORCH THE REFLECTIVE BOWL AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCE LIGHT OUTPUT TO UNSAFE LEVELS FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING. BMW HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE DESIGN FLAW, AND NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE OTHER THAN THE ENTIRE EXPENSIVE, NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT WILL SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THOUGH BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AN ISSUE EXISTS, BMW CHANGED THE XENON HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DESIGN FOR LATER MODEL YEARS TO A METAL REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY THAT DOES NOT DEGRADE WHEN EXPOSED TO THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES OF THE OEM XENON BULBS. THESE NEWER DESIGNED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES TO NOT SUFFER FROM ANY REDUCTION IN LIGHT OUTPUT WITH USE. *TT
Air bags, Jul 8, 2011, crash
MY 2003 BMW 325I SEDAN WAS T-BONED ON DRIVERS SIDE DOORS, AND SENT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND SMASHED INTO UTILITY POLE ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRAME. NO SIDE OR CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. OTHER DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND NEVER HIT THE BRAKES. MY HEAD SLAMMED TO THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR WHERE AN AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE BEEN, CAUSING SWELLING AND NUMBNESS TO THIS DAY. THE DOOR SLAMMED INTO MY ENTIRE LEFT SIDE WHERE THE AIR BAG IN THE DOOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE CAR IS TOTALED. BMW IS SENDING AN ENGINEER TO EXAMINE THE CAR IN A FEW DAYS. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 5, 2011
THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK IN MY 2003 325I 4 DOOR SEDAN. APPARENTLY, A MODULE GOES BAD AND COULD TRAP PEOPLE IN THE CAR WITH NO WAY TO GET OUT. *KB
Air bags, Jun 24, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DETECTION MATT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN IN REGARDS TO DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,606. UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BMW AGREED TO SHARE THE COST WITH THE HIM. UPDATED 07/28/11
Exterior lighting, Jun 18, 2011
BMW E46 3-SERIES SEDANS WITH THE ZKW-BRAND XENON HEADLAMPS HAVE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. THE PROJECTOR REFLECTOR BOWLS BURN OUT, REDUCING LIGHT OUTPUT, MAKING THE CAR LESS SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. AS FAR AS I KNOW, ALL THE E46 SEDANS WITH ZKW-BRAND XENON HEADLAMPS SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM TO ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER. REPLACEMENT WITH NEW OEM PARTS TYPICALLY RUNS MORE THAN $800 PER SIDE. MY CAR HAS THE BURNED ZKW PROJECTOR BOWLS, THOUGH IN MY CASE IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY SPECIFIC ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND BMW SHOULD REPLACE ALL DEFECTIVE XENON PROJECTOR HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 8, 2011
GROUND WIRE ON REAR LIGHT WIRING HARNESS HAS BURNT THROUGH DAMAGING PLUG AND SOCKET. POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 18, 2011, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE TAIL LIGHT SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE PLASTIC WHERE THE LIGHT BULB WAS LOCATED AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC WAS MELTED AND CORRODED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED THE CONTACT A DISCOUNT FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,800.
Exterior lighting, Mar 10, 2011
MY CURRENT VEHICLE IS A 2003 BMW 325I WITH BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, THE LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE XENON HEADLIGHTS HAD DROPPED TO THE POINT WHERE I GET ALMOST NO NOTICEABLE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT (IN AVERAGE CITY LEVELS OF STREET ILLUMINATION). I TURNED TO USING MY FOGLAMPS TO BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON ONLINE FORUMS, I EXAMINED THE HEADLIGHTS MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE PROJECTOR BOWLS SEEM BURNED. THEY ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND PAINTED WITH REFLECTIVE PAINT, BUT THE UPPER ~40% OF THE BOWL IS NOW BROWNED AND NONREFLECTIVE. APPARENTLY THIS IS DUE TO AN INABILITY OF THE PAINT TO WITHSTAND THE HIGH TEMPERATURES GENERATED BY THE XENON BULBS. ALSO, THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON TO MANY/ALL ZKW BRAND HEADLIGHTS UTILIZED IN 2003-2004 MODEL YEARS OF 3 SERIES (E46) BMW VEHICLES, ACCORDING TO POSTINGS ON THE BMW-OWNER FORUMS. FOR NOW, I HAVE TRIED TO REMEDY THIS BY LINING THE BURNT PORTION OF THE BOWL WITH ALUMINUM FOIL AND CAN NOW NOTICE SOME ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT. THIS FURTHER ARGUES THAT THE BURNING/LOSS OF REFLECTIVE COATING IS WHAT CAUSES THE LOSS OF LIGHT OUTPUT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 27, 2011
BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS RANDOMLY NOT WORKING. 2003 BMW 325I. REPLACED LIGHT BULBS AND NOTICED BURNT WIRES AND LIGHT SOCKETS. RESEARCHED REPAIR AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF SAME YEAR AND MAKE VEHICLE WITH SAME ISSUE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 23, 2011
RECENTLY I BOUGHT A 2003 BMW 330I WITH XENON PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS. THE LOW- AND HIGH-BEAM OUTPUT OF THESE LIGHTS IS VERY POOR, WITH VERY LITTLE USABLE LIGHT WHEN DRIVING ON LIT OR UNLIT ROADS AT NIGHT. COMPARED TO STANDARD HALOGEN LAMPS ON MY OTHER CARS (1990 BMW 525I, 2004 SATURN ION) I WOULD RATE THEM AT 40% AND 30% OUTPUT RESPECTIVELY, AND BOTH OF THE OTHER CARS USE STANDARD HALOGEN LAMPS. RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE FOUND THE HEADLAMP REFLECTOR USED BY BMW FOR THESE LIGHTS (ZKW BRANDED) IS MADE OF PLASTIC INSTEAD OF METAL AND BEGINS TO OVERHEAT AND MELT OVER TIME, REDUCING LIGHT OUTPUT AND EVENTUALLY FAILING COMPLETELY. BMW DOES NOT OFFER REPLACEMENT REFLECTORS, PLASTIC OR OTHERWISE, AND THE ONLY OPTION USING MANUFACTURER PARTS IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2000 (FOR THE PAIR). I FIND THIS COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE CONSIDERING THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT, AND A $2K 'WEAR PART' IS GROSSLY EXCESSIVE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Feb 21, 2011
WHILE TRAVELLING ON ROUTE 50 IN MARYLAND AT 55MPH ENGINE CUT OUT COMPLETELY. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART IT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE IT WITHOUT AT LEAST $1100 WORTH OF WORK (THEY THINK ITS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM). AFTER $1100 THEY STATE IT WOULD BE AN EASY $200 FIX OR A SUBSTANTIAL $6-8000 FIX. I WILL BE BRINGING IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION. I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND COULD PULL OVER SAFELY.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Feb 15, 2011
I BOUGHT MY 2003 BMW 325I NEW. SHORTLY AFTER THE SALE I NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS XENON LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHT BACK ON, IS TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS WORKS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IS A FALSE INDICATION THAT MY TAILLIGHTS ARE OUT. THIS IS VERY SPORRATIC AND ANNOYING. A THIRD ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING IS VERY DANGEROUS RELATING TO MY DRIVERS SEATBELT. THE SEATBELT MAY SEAM LOCKED, BUT IF YOU PULL WITH A BIT OF FORCE, THE SEATBELT WILL COME OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION.
Power train, Feb 15, 2011
WENT TO GO INTO REVERSE AFTER COMING HOME FROM A SHOPPING SPREE AND THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT REVERSE. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT FINALLY WENT INTO REVERSE. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THERE ARE TRANSMISSION CODES ON THE INDICATOR FROM THIS. CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON THE 325 I BMW. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 26, 2011
CAR RAN PERFECTLY, THEN I TURNED OFF, THEN I RESTARTED 5 SECONDS LATER TO REPOSITION IN GARAGE. ENGINE THEN REVVING FROM 800 TO 1200 RPM RHYTHMICALLY, APPROX ONCE PER SECOND, EML LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT ON, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON, VERY HARD TO STOP CAR, HAD ANYONE BEEN CLOSE I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. ENGINE REVVING CONTINUED FOR 2 DAYS, THEN WENT AWAY ON OWN. I THEN TOOK OFF AIRBOX TO INSPECT MAF, FILTER. CODES ON 3RD DAY: P1632 THROTTLE, PENDING: P0102, IATS. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS OF RESTARTING ENGINE TO HAVE EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLE, ALSO CLEARED ON ITS OWN, BUT NEVER SURGING LIKE THIS. *TR
Power train, Jan 21, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO PUT HER VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE IT MADE A LOUD NOISE BEFORE PROCEEDING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 101,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 31, 2010
GOT A WARNING FROM POLICE ABOUT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BEING OUT. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. BULB REPLACED. IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR SHOP THEY PULLED THE LIGHT PANEL OUT LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE OFF AND THE INSIDE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT IF THE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Dec 29, 2010
LENS COVER FOR HEAD LIGHTS ON BMW 325 I WITH ONLY 65K IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE SEVERELY OXIDIZED LIMITING VISION AT NIGHT. CALLED BMW AND BASICALLY STATED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 27, 2010
2003 BMW 325I REAR TAIL LIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY AND REPEATEDLY QUIT WORKING. LIGHT BULBS REPLACED AND WORK WELL. IT APPEARS TO BE A WIRING ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 8, 2010
CENTRAL LOCKING WONT WORK, THE KEY DOES NOT OPEN THE DOORS LIGHT COMES ON TO SAY DOOR OPEN BUT THEY DON'T AND ALSO DRIVER DOOR OPENS WITH KEY THE INTERNAL BUTTON ALSO DOES NOT OPEN THE DOORS, INTERMITTENT FAULT. *TR
Visibility, Dec 2, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WINDOW REGULATORS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FAIL. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, THEN THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW AND MOST RECENTLY, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V160000 (VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS).THE CONTACT STATED THAT BECAUSE HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME FAILURE, HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Exterior lighting, Nov 12, 2010
AROUND NOVEMBER 2009 I STARTED TO NOTICE THE UNMODIFIED FACTORY XENON HEADLAMPS IN OUR CAR SEEMED DIM. OVER THE NEXT YEAR THEY SEEMED TO DIM CONSIDERABLY AND AFTER THE RECENT END OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MY NIGHT-TIME DRIVING, I HAVE FOUND THE HEADLAMPS TO PROVIDE NEARLY NO PROJECTED LIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT BMW BUILT THESE HEADLAMPS USING A CHROME-COATED PLASTIC REFLECTOR TO DIRECT THE LIGHT FORWARD TO THE ROAD. IT APPEARS THE DESIGN USED PLACED THE BULB TOO NEAR THE REFLECTOR OR USED PLASTIC WITH INADEQUATE TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE AND THE BOWL ITSELF HAS GRADUALLY BURNT TO THE POINT WHERE IT NO LONGER REFLECTS LIGHT. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FIRE AT THIS POINT BUT THE PLASTIC APPEARS TO BE FAILING STRUCTURALLY NOW (BURN THROUGH) AND I FEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I ALLOWED IT TO PROGRESS FURTHER. THE LIGHT PROJECTED WITH LOW BEAMS ON NOW IS SO INADEQUATE THE CAR CANNOT BE SAFELY USED FOR NIGHT DRIVING. BMW DOES NOT SELL REPLACEMENT REFLECTOR BOWLS TO ALLOW REPAIR OF THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY AND THE ONLY OPTION TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE IS TO PURCHASE A PAIR OF NEW HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES AT APPROXIMATELY $1,200 EACH. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND BMW CARS NORTH AMERICA AND NEITHER HAS OFFERED AN ENGINEERING OR CUSTOMER SERVICE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
Power train, Nov 3, 2010
MY 2003 325I BMW HAS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED IT TO, WITHOUT WARNING, LOSE ITS ABILITY TO GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS RETURNING TO PHILADELPHIA FROM NYC SEVERAL DAYS AGO. I PULLED OVER FOR GAS. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION ACTED LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 70K MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD IN OWNERS OF EARLY 2000 BMWS AND RESULTS FROM A REVERSE DRUM THAT IS POORLY MANUFACTURED AND NOT SUFFICIENTLY THICK AROUND THE EDGES. APPARENTLY, BMW CORRECTED THE MANUFACTURING PROBLEM IN 2003. IT NEVER SHARED INFO ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH PROSPECTIVE OWNERS, IN EFFECT SELLING CARS UNDER FALSE PRETENSE. PLEASE VISIT WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG AND YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DRIVER MAY BE IN A DANGEROUS POSITION AND NEED TO REVERSE FOR GET OUT OF HARM'S WAY. BMW SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THE CAR AND SO IT IS SIMPLY SITTING ON MY STREET. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 25, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE BRAKE LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR BULB SEVERAL TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2010
I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN OUR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT FAILS TO WORK AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT OF FAILURE IS SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD. THE LIGHT WILL WORK THEN STOP WORKING IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH SOME SUCCESS WHILE OTHER TIMES NOTHING HELPS. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Suspension, Oct 4, 2010
REAR SPRINGS ON 2003 BMW 325X1 BOTH BROKEN--YET SHOCKS FULLY OPERATIONAL. MECHANIC AT LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP SAID THIS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING(CAR HAS 47,000 MILES) BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR DEFECT. *TR