2004 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 558 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 26 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 29 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
19 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 10, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE AND WATER WAS ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE OF $10,000. THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 31, 2011
IN 2005 WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, THE CAR BEGAN PULLING UNEVENLY, JERKING GENTLY ON ACCELERATION UP A HIGHWAY BRIDGE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Feb 23, 2010
THE VEHICLE IS A 330CIC WHICH A PURCHASED IN 2007, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM & OXYGEN SENSORS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 15, 2008
THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON ALL E46 330 M54 ENGINES WITH THE ZHP(PERFORMANCE PACKAGE) THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO BMW NA ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AT 2000 - 3000 RPMS THE ENGINE RATTLES LIKE A COFFEE CAN FULL OF MARBLES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BMW BUT THEY STATED THAT THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. BMW IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THE DUAL VANOS UNIT THEY PUT INTO THE M54 ENGINE IS USING BELRIN BUSHINGS AND THEY ARE FAILING. THERE IS A COMPANY CALLED DR. VANOS THAT FIXES THIS ISSUE BY REBUILDING THE OEM VANOS WITH UPGRADED BUSHINGS. THIS UNIT COST $500, WHICH I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND AS I HAVE A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM BMW. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 11, 2006
BMW 2004 330CI. THE OIL LIGHT COMES UP EVERY 400-500 OR 700-800 MILES DEPENDING IF IT IS DRIVEN IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAYS. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS CHECKED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR, CRANKCASE VENT VALVE, VENT PIPE, VENT HOSE, RETURN PIPE, WASH PUMP SO FAR BUT THE CAR STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. CAR GOES TO THE DEALER ONCE A MONTH APPROX. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 25, 2005
2004 BMW 330CI UPON START UP THE ENGINE OVER REVS AND SOMETIMES STALLS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THIS MALFUNCTION HAS ALSO OCCURED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 21, 2004
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OF 20 MPH OR LESS. THE HAS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Jun 4, 2004
ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON 2004 BMW 325IC. *MR THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON, THEN THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. THIS ALL OCCURRED WITHIN SECONDS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A WATER PUMP WAS NEEDED AND THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS OIL LEAK. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINDOWS DID NOT MOVE INTO THE LOCK POSITION. *SC *JB
Engine and engine cooling, May 8, 2004
WHILE STOPPED, ENGINE SPEED WOULD DROP NEAR OR BELOW IDLE. HAPPENED AFTER COLD ENGINE START OR WHILE WARM AFTER DRIVING (BOTH NO-TRAFFIC AND HIGH-TRAFFIC). TWICE THE CAR ACTUALLY STALLED (IN GARAGE AND AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). ROUGH IDLE CAN BE FELT IN PEDALS AND (6-SPEED MANUAL) SHIFTER. SEE ALSO ODI IDS 10064475,10062056,10064439.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, May 7, 2004
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLE WHICH CAUSE IT TO STALL AT INTERSECTIONS, STOP LIGHTS, ETC... *PH *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 27, 2004
2004 BMW 330CI 6 SPEED MANUAL - 3.0L INLINE 6 CYL. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - IDLE BECOMES ERRATIC AND CAR STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROX 6-8 TIMES OVER 8 MONTHS/5000 MILES. NORMALLY HAPPENS ON WARM DAYS AND AT A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN. IT ONCE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS SEEN THE CAR 3+ TIMES AND UPDATED IDLE CONTROL VALVE, AND ENGINE SOFTWARE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND DOESN'T THROW ANY COMPUTER FAULT CODES.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 11, 2004
BMW 330I EXHIBITS FREQUENT ERRATIC IDLE WHEN STOPPED, AS WELL AS ENGINE STALLING. ERRATIC IDLE IS IN THE FORM OF ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 400-500 RPM. STALLING SOMETIMES OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THESE IDLE SPEED DROPS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG RECENT 330 MODEL BMW'S, AND APPARENTLY THERE IS NO KNOWN SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Apr 4, 2004
ENGINE POWER FAILURE AND HEAVILY DISTORTED WINDSHIELD ON A 2004 BMW 330CI. REPEATED FAILURE OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING (TWICE IN AN ITERSECTION). BMW REPLACED ENG. COMPUTER, THEN INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE AFTER SECOND INCIDENT. ROUGH IDLE AND SURGING CONTINUES AND GAS MILEAGE IN CITY DROPPED TO 12.6-13 MPG. ADDITIONALLY THE WINDSHIELD IS HEAVILY DISTORTED. BMW REPLACED IT WITH AN EQUALLY DISTORTED ONE AND THE FSE SAID"ALL 3 SERIES WINDSHIELDS ARE DISTORTED,WORSE ON THE X3". IT IS LIKE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITHOUT WIPERS. IN BOTH CASES THE BMW FSE HAS STATED THE " THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO BE DONE". THIS IS THE REAL BMW WARRANTY SERVICE. THIS LEMON IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Apr 3, 2004
THE CAR (2004 330I ZHP) OFTEN SHUDDERS AT START UP WITH AN ERRATIC IDLE AND CONTINUES TO DO SO EVEN WHEN WARM. THERE ARE NO COMPUTER FAULT CODES AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT FEELS AS IF IT IS READY TO STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITH SEVERE IDLE FLUCTUATIONS OF 100-200 RPM'S DURING STOPS. PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ACROSS DOZENS OF ZHP (PERFORMANCE PACKAGE) OWNERS AS WELL AS MANY 2003 AND 2004 3 SERIES CAR OWNERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2004
CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AT RED LIGHTS. RPM DROPPED WITH NO WARNING. ALSO EXPERIENCE ROUGH IDLING WHEN AT COMPLETE STOP. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 28, 2004
I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 330XI AND HAD TWO PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY BRUSHED OFF THE COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE CAR WAS NEW AND IT WOULD "SETTLE" GIVEN TIME. HOWEVER, AFTER THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP WHO, UPON INSPECTION, TOLD ME I SIMPLY NEEDED SOME NEW PARTS. ONE BEING A TRANSMISSION (WHICH I THINK IS MORE THAN JUST A PART). APPARENTLY, THERE IS A DIRECTIVE TO BMW DEALERSHIPS HIGHLIGHTING THE PROBLEM, BUT TO DEAL WITH IT ONLY UPON CUSTOMER COMPLAINT. I FIND THIS VERY TROUBLING GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM(S) AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAIL. THE ISSUES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. AFTER ONLY 2,000 MILES, I HAD PUT AN ADDITIONAL 7 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE VEHICLE. APPARENTLY, THE OIL VALVE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 2. WHEN FIRST OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE OFTEN WOULD NOT BEGIN TO MOVE UNTIL THE RPM'S REACHED ANYWHERE FROM 3-5K RPM'S. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE BMW DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE "PART". THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL FILTER MAKES SENSE AS IT IS A PART. THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, DOES NOT. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT THESE ISSUES CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEREFORE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 12, 2004
I HAVE A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION 330CIC AND WHEN I PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AT A STOP THE ENGINE RPM WOULD DIP DRASTICALLY AND STALLS SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC. PERIODICALLY THE ENGINE RPM WOULD DIP SO RAPIDLY THAT THE ENGINE STALLS FROM IDLE POSITION. THIS CAN HAPPEN IN THE DRIVEWAY OR ON A ROAD AT AN 4-WAY LIGHT. BASICALLY ANYTIME THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR STALLING. I EXPERIENCED STALLS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS WELL AS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 24, 2004
CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AT LOW, INTERMIDIATE AND HIGH SPEED. CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY, SPUTTERED, THEN BECOME UNDRIVABLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD CAR HAS MISFIRED. DEALER PROCEEDED TO REPAIR PROBLEM BY REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER CHIP PER MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN. WAS TOLD THE CAR IS FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. 200 MILES AND ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. WAS TOWWED BACK TO THE DEALER NAD WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR AND SOEMTHING ELSE WAS THE ISSUE. REPLACES BOTH PARTS. REPAIR ENGINEER THINKS THAT THERE IS A 99% LIKELYHOOD THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. I AM NOT SO SURE SINCE THAT SAID THE SAME THING LAST TIME. SINCE THE CAR IS NOT ON THE LIST, IT IS A BMW 530I SEDAN.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 16, 2004
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE ENGINE RATTLED AND THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE CAR BECAME IMMEDIATELY UN DRIVABLE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS IN THE CAR MISFIRED AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, SENDING THE ENGINE INTO A COMPLETE UNBALANCE. *CB