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.
Electrical system, Feb 20, 2004
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED TRUNK WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
Power train, Feb 18, 2004
2003 BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE IN THE MORNINGS. AFTER PARKING CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE CAR IS PUT WENT INTO REVERSE AND BACKED OUT WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS (DRIVEWAY IS SLOPED). AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE CAR LAGS ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 10 SECONDS BEFORE THERE IS ANY POWER TO DRIVE. THIS IS SPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS TRAFFIC.*AK
Equipment, Jan 15, 2004
THE COMPUTER FIRST FAILED ON MY 2003 BMW 325I ON JUNE 15, 2003, (THREE WEEKS AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BMW OF MANHATTAN), CAUSING ME TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE HAPPENED TO BE A VERY SMALL SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT; PARTICULARLY, BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD NO WAY TO DETECT THAT MY CAR WAS ONLY COASTING. THE NJ STATE TROOPERS HAD TO SHUT DOWN NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC IN ALL 4 LANES OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN ORDER TO REMOVE MY CAR FROM THE PARKWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER, SO THEY SENT IT TO MONTVALE, NJ TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON JUNE 20, 2003. ON JUNE 25, 2003, THE COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS TIME, I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE AND ANOTHER CAR NEARLY SLAMMED INTO ME ON THE EXIT RAMP. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE TOP OF THE RAMP AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, (NOT AN EASY TASK DURING RUSH HOUR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN!), BUT THE CAR LURCHED REPEATEDLY AND WAS UNABLE TO GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BMW OF MANHATTAN HAS NOT OFFERED ME A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION OR SOLUTION. THE CAR CLEARLY HAS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT, WHICH COULD EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES; YET, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INSISTS THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO FAIL.
Visibility, Equipment, Jan 15, 2004
JUNE 9, 2003 DEAR BMW, I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2003 BMW 325CI ON NOVEMBER 8, 2002 FROM ASSAEL BMW DEALER IN MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA. AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING IT, THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. WHEN I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR/ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER, AND IT?S AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION! THIS REALLY FRIGHTENED ME BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. A NEW CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH PASSENGERS, AND THIS TIME NOT ONLY DID THE SAME SPUTTERING PROBLEM OCCUR WHEN I BRAKED AT A STOP, BUT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THE IGNITION. THE SAME INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES, WITH THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF. THE SPUTTERING INCIDENT WITHOUT THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES FROM DECEMBER UNTIL THE DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, WHICH WAS MAY 14, 2003. I DIDN?T TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICING IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT DIDN?T SEEM LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. BUT THE PROBLEM GOT CONSISTENTLY WORSE, AND AFTER RECEIVING THE BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN LETTER NO. 03V-124: 3-SERIES DME IDLE CONTROL LETTER IN APRIL, 2003 (SEE ATTACHED), I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE ASSAEL BMW DEALER FOR SERVICING. THE RECALL LETTER STATES THAT THE REPAIR RELATED TO THE RECALL WILL CONSIST OF A ?REPROGRAMMING OF THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT AND WILL REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. I TOOK MY CAR IN ON MAY 14, 2003. ON JUNE 13, ONE MONTH WILL HAVE PASSED SINCE MY CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE, AND AS OF NOW MY CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED! I AM VERY UPSET AND DISSATISFIED WITH ASSAEL BMW SERVICE. EVERY TIME I ASK THE THEM WHY MY CAR IS NOT FIXED YET, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT, AND THAT IT COMES FROM GERMANY, THUS THE LONG WAIT TIME. I DON?T KNOW IF THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THE TRUTH OR NOT.
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
Electrical system, Dec 1, 2003
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 BMW 325 IN JULY, 2003 FROM PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL, NC. THE IGNITION COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED TODAY ON THE #2 CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 8,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BY MEL, THE SERVICE TECH AT PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL, NC, THAT BMW HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION COILS ON THE 2003 AND 2004 MODELS AND THAT BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS BMW HAS SWITCHED VENDORS FOR THESE IGNITION COILS AND NO LONGER USES THE VENDOR THAT SUPPLIED THE PARTS FOR MY CAR. SINCE THERE A 6 IGNITION COILS IN MY CAR, THAT MEANS THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME ANY ONE OF THE OTHER 5 IGNITION COILS COULD FAIL AND LEAVE ME STRANDED AS HAPPENED TODAY. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REPLACE ALL THE IGNITON COILS IN MY CAR THAT WERE SUPPLIED BY THIS VENDOR SEEING AS I AM A FEMALE WHO TRAVELS FREQUENCTLY FOR BUSINESS THROUGH RURAL AREAS WHERE IT WOULD BE EASY FOR ME TO BE STRANDED. THE DEALER REFUSED SAYING THAT THE OTHER COILS HAVE NOT YET FAILED SO THEY CANNOT REPLACE THEM. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS PRODUCT, FOR WHICH BMW IS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT.*AK
Tires, Oct 1, 2003
LEFT/REAR AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES HAD DEVELOPED A LARGE "BUBBLE" IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. BRIDGESTONE TURANZA, ER30 225/45ZR17, DOT NO. K9701ER3OU2, ORIGINAL TIRES. *AK *JB
Power train, Jul 22, 2003
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2003 325I JERKS WHEN DOWNSHIFTS WHILE BRAKING. A LAUD THUD CAN BE HEARD ON LOWER SPEEDS.
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Equipment, Jul 3, 2003
1. TRANSMISSION: AFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIR, CONSTANT HARD DOWNSHIFTING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN D AND S D MODES. VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD WHEN DECELERATING BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 42 TO 35 MPH (USUALLY WHEN DRIVEN BEFORE WITH SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR). ALSO, AFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIR, CONSTANT LOUD THUMPING NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP 2. ENGINE:INTERMITTENT LOUD ENGINE REVVING AND IMMEDIATE TORQUE LOSS OCCURRING WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP.INTERMITTENT DELAYED ENGINE START OF UP TO 3 SECONDS AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION .INTERMITTENT PRM IDLE FLUCTUATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE SHUDDERING 3. BRAKES:LOUD BREAK SQUEAKING WHEN COMING TO A STOP 4. FUEL TANK / FUEL PUMP:AFTER DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK/PUMP REPLACEMENT, RECURRENCE OF LOUD WHINING NOISE ( CONFIRMED WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA) 5. CD PLAYER: INTERMITTENT BUILT-IN BUSINESS CD PLAYER SKIPPING 6.STEERING WHEEL: STEERING WHEEL CREAKING WHEN TURNING.*AK
Electrical system, Jun 26, 2003
THE COMPUTER FIRST FAILED ON MY 2003 BMW 325I ON JUNE 15, 2003, (THREE WEEKS AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BMW OF MANHATTAN), CAUSING ME TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE HAPPENED TO BE A VERY SMALL SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT; PARTICULARLY, BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD NO WAY TO DETECT THAT MY CAR WAS ONLY COASTING. THE NJ STATE TROOPERS HAD TO SHUT DOWN NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC IN ALL 4 LANES OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN ORDER TO REMOVE MY CAR FROM THE PARKWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER, SO THEY SENT IT TO MONTVALE, NJ TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON JUNE 20, 2003. ON JUNE 25, 2003, THE COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS TIME, I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE AND ANOTHER CAR NEARLY SLAMMED INTO ME ON THE EXIT RAMP. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE TOP OF THE RAMP AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, (NOT AN EASY TASK DURING RUSH HOUR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN!), BUT THE CAR LURCHED REPEATEDLY AND WAS UNABLE TO GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.BMW OF MANHATTAN HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY TELEPHONE CALLS. THE CAR CLEARLY HAS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT, WHICH COULD EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 23, 2003
CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE IDLES IT SHUTS OFF. DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Power train, Feb 26, 2003
THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED VERY HARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND JUMPED FORWARD WHEN DECELERATING.*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 29, 2003
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT INTO THE STREET WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ON. PH
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.