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: exterior lighting
196 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Jan 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, BOTH PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHT LENSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Exterior lighting, Dec 26, 2014
BI-XENON PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS HAVE VERY POOR ILLUMINATION OUTPUT AND ARE UNSAFE. APPARENTLY, THE UNIT USES A PLASTIC REFLECTIVE BOWL THAT BURNS OVER TIME DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE LIGHT BULB THEREFORE LOSING ITS REFLECTIBILITY. THE STANDARD HALOGEN FOG LAMPS IN THE LOWER BUMPER MUST BE USED AS HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE ALMOST NON EXISTENT OUTPUT OF THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHTS. THE ONLY THING THE BI-XENONS ARE GOOD FOR AT THIS POINT IS SHOWING THAT A LIGHT IS INDEED ON SO THAT THE POLICE WONT ISSUE A CITATION. BUT AS FAR AS ILLUMINATING THE ROAD, THEY DO NOT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 12, 2014
THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS ON THIS CAR (AND OTHER OF THIS YEAR MODEL) ARE MANUFACTURED BY ZKW AND THEY HAVE FAILED CAUSING VERY LOW, UNSAFE LEVELS OF LIGHT OUTPUT. THE REFLECTORS ARE BURNT AND CRACKED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANY REASONABLE OR SAFE LIGHT OUTPUT FOR NIGHT DRIVING IS TO USE THE FOG LIGHTS AND/OR TO HOLD ON THE PASS TO FLASH LIGHTS. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND I AM SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG SOME BUT MOST USERS WILL NEVER REALIZE WHAT IT CASING POOR, UNSAFE LIGHTING AND PROCEED WHILE UNKNOWINGLY ENDANGERING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 6, 2014
MY ZKW HEADLIGHTS DO NOT REFLECT LIGHT ANYMORE. BMW OFFER NO REPLACEMENT REFLECTOR BOWLS FOR THE HEADLIGHT, SO NO FIX IS AVAILABLE EXCEPT REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE SAME FAULTY ASSEMBLY FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER. HEADLIGHTS PRODUCE TOO MUCH HEAT AND MELT THE REFLECTORS DEEMING THEM USELESS AND AN EXTREME DANGER. RECALL NEEDED FOR EXTREME SAFETY REASONS. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT ANYMORE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 30, 2014
THE INTERNAL WIRING IN THE ADAPTIVE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS GETS BRITTLE AND CRACKS WITH THE RISK OF SHORT CIRCUITS, POTENTIAL FIRE AND HEADLIGHT FAILURE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 30, 2014
WIRE LOOSING COATING ON INSIDE OF ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING SHORTS OR BROKEN WIRES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS AND OR TURN SIGNALS WILL FAIL TO WORK. WIRE IS VERY BRITTLE AS THIS IS ALSO ROUGHLY 20 GAUGE WIRE. THIS CAN BE AN EXTREME HAZARD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING BMW'S 3/5/6/ SERIES FROM AT LEAST 2004 TO 2008 FROM MY INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. MANY PICTURES AND COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS BMW FORUMS TO DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I LOST ONE HEADLIGHT ON MY WAY HOME IN THE DARK AND AN INDICATOR CAME ON TO IDENTIFY A FAULT IN THE HEADLIGHT. ORIGINALLY I THOUGH IT WAS A BULB, CHANGED BULB AND IT STILL DID NOT WORK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LED TO A BROKEN WIRE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I FIXED THE BROKEN WIRE AND THEN NOTICED TWO MORE WIRES WHERE THE COATING ON THE WIRE SEEM TO HAVE FLAKED OFF CAUSING BARE WIRE. I ALSO FIXED THOSE WIRES AND ALL WAS WELL. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE INDICATOR CAME ON AGAIN POINTING TO THE SAME HEADLIGHT. THIS TIME THE TURN SIGNAL WAS OUT. I OPENED THE ACCESS PANEL TO CHECK THE WIRING AND NOW A FORTH WIRE HAS BEEN SEVERED, HOWEVER I CAN NOT FIX IT AS IT IS DOWN PRETTY FAR INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT AND TO REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE REMOVING THE HEADLIGHT AND TAKING IT APART. APPARENTLY BMW USED BIODEGRADABLE WIRE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS?? SOURCE OF THE HEADLIGHT IS BELIEVED TO BE HELLA. SUPPOSEDLY BMW KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT UNWILLING TO FIX UNLESS YOU PURCHASE A $800-1500 NEW HEADLIGHT. THIS IS CRAZY FOR A CAR THAT IS 10 YEARS OLD AND WELL MAINTAINED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU WILL CAN LOOSE A HEADLIGHT IN THE DARK AND MAYBE BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT, PLUS THE FACT OF BARE WIRES THAT CAN SHORT AND CAUSE A FIRE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 2, 2014
REFLECTOR BOWLS IN XENON HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BURN AND DISCOLOR, MAKING LOW BEAM LIGHTING ALMOST NEGLIGIBLE. DOESN'T EVEN SEEM LIGHTS ARE ON. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT HIGH BEAMS ON. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 25, 2014
THIS CAR SUFFERS FROM THE KNOWN BURNT XENON LOW BEAM BOWLS, ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING AT NIGHT AND IS NOT SAFE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY BMW IMMEDIATELY, HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED PROPERLY AND NEW BULBS WERE PUT IN AND DOES NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. ITS VERY COMMON FOR THESE XENON HEADLIGHTS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN ALOT OF 2003+ BMW 3 SERIES. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Aug 25, 2014
AS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS, THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER LIGHT UP THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW ON 2003-2005 BMW 330 MODELS. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ON THESE UNITS BURN OUT OVER TIME AND REDUCE THE HEADLIGHTS ABILITY TO REFLECT LIGHT. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS LITERALLY NO BETTER WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON OR OFF. I HAVE TO RELY ON MY FOG LIGHTS JUST TO SEE ANYTHING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS WIDE-SPREAD. REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHTS IS EXPENSIVE AT $1300 EA, THIS HAS TO BE RESOLVED BY BMW IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2014
THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER LIGHT UP THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW ON 2003-2005 BMW 330 MODELS. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ON THESE UNITS BURN OUT OVER TIME AND REDUCE THE HEADLIGHTS ABILITY TO REFLECT LIGHT. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS LITERALLY NO BETTER WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON OR OFF. I HAVE TO RELY ON MY FOG LIGHTS JUST TO SEE ANYTHING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS WIDE-SPREAD. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE PAST THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Exterior lighting, Jun 12, 2014
THE ZKW XENON LIGHTS IN THE BMW E46 CHASIS HAVE DECREASED LIGHT OUTPUT. THIS MAKES NIGHT TIME DRIVING DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE REFLECTOR BOWL (THAT REFLECTS LIGHT ONTO THE ROAD) IS BECOME BADLY BURNT. THIS COULD ALSO START A FIRE, AS THE PIECE IS PLASTIC. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 1, 2014
THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE XENON HEADLAMPS HAS MELTED AWAY DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE BULBS RESULTING IN DRASTICALLY REDUCED HEADLIGHT EFFECTIVENESS AT NIGHT. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN 2003-2005 E46 BMW 3 SERIES AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. BMW KNOWS THIS IS A DEFICIENCY AS THEY CORRECTED IT IN THEIR LATER MODELS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 18, 2014
ON ZKW-HEADLIGHT EQUIPPED BI-XENON BMW 3-SERIES, THE LOW BEAM PROJECTOR BOWLS ARE COATED WITH FAULTY REFLECTING MATERIAL THAT IS BURNED OFF OVER TIME, DRAMATICALLY REDUCING THE OUTPUT OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 5, 2014
THE BOWL OF THE OEM ZKW HEADLIGHT BURNS OUT. IT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A SAFETY HAZARD. BMW HAS PRODUCED COUNTLESS CARS THAT ARE AFFECTED, SPECIFICALLY ANY 3 SERIES WITH THE UPGRADED XENON HEADLIGHTS. NOT ONLY WAS THIS AN ADDITIONAL OPTION BUT THE COST TO RECTIFY LIGHT OUTPUT TO A SAFE LEVEL IS HIGH. OEM HEADLIGHTS COST $1200 EACH AT THE DEALERSHIP. I FEEL AS THOUGH THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO APPROACH THIS SINCE HEADLIGHTS CORRELATE DIRECTLY WITH NIGHT DRIVING AND SAFETY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 29, 2014
MY 2004 BMW 325CI RECENTLY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT (TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT) INTERMITENTLY DOES NOT WORK. A LEFT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE ALSO SHOWS ON THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC DISPLAY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITENT AND WITH NO WARNING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A BMW RECALL FOR MODEL YEARS 2001 THRU 2005 FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE RECALL SPECIFIES 325 SEDAN MODELS, MY MODEL IS A 325CI (COUPE). I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SAY MY PARTICULAR MODEL IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I ARGUED THAT I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL SUGGESTS, AND MY VEHICLE FALLS INTO THE MODEL YEARS SPECIFIED. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOLEDGE THE PROBLEM AS PART OF THE RECALL. BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B63 06 11 LIGHTS) FOR THIS ISSUE IN JANUARY OF 2012. A RECALL (ID # 71087) WAS ISSUED AUG. 26, 2011. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY BMW OF EITHER THE SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I DRIVE THIS CAR WITH OUR 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, AND THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 28, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG BURNING ODOR WHILE IT WAS PARKED. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT CABLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Exterior lighting, Dec 12, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS WAS EXTREMELY DIM. THE REFLECTOR WAS DISCOLORED AND BURNED, CAUSING IMPROPER ILLUMINATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. MAIL OUT 01/13/15*LJ
Exterior lighting, Dec 7, 2013
THOUGHT I HAD A LIGHT PROBLEM FIXED IT FIRST TIME. SIGNAL ON THE DASH DID NOT GO AWAY BUT THE LIGHT WAS ON. WENT TO A DIFFERENT PLACE AND FIXED IT AGAIN. AND THE SIGNAL STILL WOULD NOT GO AWAY. THE LIGHT WORKS BUT STILL SHOW ON THE DASH AS IF IT'S BROKEN. I'M AFRAID BY TIME IT'S TIME TO GET A NEW REGISTRATION STICKER THAT IT WILL NOT PASS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 21, 2013
HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM WHEN COMPARED TO ORIGINAL BRIGHTNESS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 4, 2013
THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS INCLUDE THE BI-XENON OPTION. ZKW WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER FOR THESE HEADLIGHTS. THE REFLECTIVE HOUSING SURROUNDING THE BULB SUFFERS FROM SEVERE DEGRADATION AND TOTAL LIGHT OUTPUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. OVERALL NIGHTTIME VEHICLE VISIBILITY AND SAFETY IS GREATLY AFFECTED. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AND OPTION PACKAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 30, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Exterior lighting, Sep 24, 2013
RECENTLY PURCHASED SAID VEHICLE AND IT CAME WITH ZKW HID BI-XENON LIGHTING SYSTEM WHICH APPEARS THE INNER PLASTIC BOWLS ARE BURNT TO A CRISP WITH DETRIMENT LIGHT OUTPUT MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEARLY SEE UNLIT ROADS AT NIGHT, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND SOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER AS IT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I'M AFRAID THE REDUCED LIGHT OUTPUT MIGHT APPEAR TO OTHER DRIVERS AT NIGHT THAT MY VEHICLE IS FURTHER AWAY THAT IT IS IN REALITY GIVING THE POSSIBILITY OF THEM CROSSING INTO MY TRAVEL PATH INCURRING AN ACCIDENT. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN REVIEWING THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME BUT WE NEED A RESOLUTION SOON... THANK YOU. *JS
Exterior lighting, Sep 20, 2013
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 155XXX MILES ON IT AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT SUFFICIENTLY LIGHT UP THE ROAD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE XENON PROJECTOR-BOWL HOUSING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNT. LIGHT OUTPUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. THE LIGHTS ARE MANUFACTURED BY "ZKW" *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 12, 2013
HEADLIGHT OUTPUT BEGAN TO DIM. REPLACED BULB AND HAD CLEAR LENS COVER CLEANED. THIS DID NOT HELP. CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAT FROM THE BULB HAS MELTED AND DISCOLORED THE REFLECTOR FOR THE HEADLIGHT. ONLINE INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A CHRONIC SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF BMW. *TR