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, Interior lighting, Aug 25, 2011
THE XENON HEADLAMPS ON MY 2004 BMW 330I COMPLETELY FAILED. THE HEADLAMP REAR PROJECTOR BOWL ON THIS MODEL IS PRONE TO OVERHEATING WHICH LEADS TO THE DELAMINATION OF THE PROJECTOR REFLECTIVE MATERIALS RESULTING IN COMPLETE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY FAILURE. REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES FROM THE DEALER LIST AT ~ $600 FOR EACH SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS A COMMONLY KNOWN ISSUE IN THE BMW ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITY - I HAVE ALSO WITNESSED THE PROBLEM FIRSTHAND ON TWO OTHER BMW 330IS OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR. WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED TO ME, I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY AT NIGHT AS THE ONLY ILLUMINATION AVAILABLE WAS FROM THE PARKING LIGHTS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND A PRODUCT DEFECT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 8, 2011
BOTH TAILLIGHTS HAVE BEEN OUT DUE TO CORROSION IN THE 8 PIN CONNECTOR. THIS HAS PREVENTED THE SIGNAL AND OCCASIONALLY THE BRAKE LIGHT TO WORK. WHILE MAKING HIGHWAY TURNS I HAVE COME CLOSE TO ACCIDENTS NUMEROUS TIMES. I CANNOT MAKE A TURN WITHOUT TAKING MY EYES OFF THE ROAD. THE BULB WARNING IS ALSO ON DISPLAY ON THE DASH. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 28, 2011
LOW-BEAM HID HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR BOWLS ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR HAVE BURNED AND MELTED CAUSING VERY LOW LIGHT OUTPUT AND DANGEROUS NIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ARE ZKW BRAND AND APPEAR TO BE MADE OF PLASTIC OF SOME KIND. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 19, 2011
DRAMATICALLY REDUCED HEADLIGHT OUTPUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE FACTORY COMPONENTS. *KB
Exterior lighting, Jul 12, 2011
BMW ZKW HEADLIGHT DEFECT. BURNT BOWLS CAUSING UNSAFE NIGHTLY ILLUMINATION. *TT
Exterior lighting, Jul 11, 2011
2004 BMW 330I SEDAN: XENON HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR BOWLS (ZKW BRAND) ARE SCORCHED PRACTICALLY ELIMINATING ANY LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE HEADLIGHT. *TT
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Jul 10, 2011
1. BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ZKW BOWL REFLECTIVE MATERIAL DEFICIENT. 2004 BMW 330I ZHP. 2. CAN'T SEE SAFELY AT NIGHT TO DRIVE. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE...AS REPLACEMENT OEM LIGHTS ARE $1000.00 EACH. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 10, 2011
THE REFLECTOR PORTION OF THE VEHICLE'S XENON HEADLIGHTS APPEAR BURNED/DISCOLORED, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THEIR BRIGHTNESS THEREBY REDUCING NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 5, 2011
2004 BMW 325I - SAFETY DEFECT. REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRING, MISSING ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE TO AVOID BURNING BULB CARRIER. BMW SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN ISSUED 2/2007 REVEALS BMW WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND FAILED TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS. PURCHASED CAR CPO IN MARCH 2007 AND WAS NOT TOLD. REPLACED SEVERAL TAILLIGHT BULBS DUE TO INTERMITTENT FALSE INDICATOR LIGHTS. FINALLY IN 2011, 1 YEAR AFTER CAR CAME OUT OF WARRANTY...REMOVED THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE BULB CARRIER AND FOUND IT TO BE MELTING. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT COULD DEFINITELY START A FIRE IF LEFT TOO LONG. BMW DEALER ALSO STATED THIS IS A DEFECT ON CARS PRODUCED FROM 2001 TO 2005. AFTER DOING RESEARCH FOUND THAT BMW HAS USED FAULTY WIRING AND THERE IS A ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE NEEDED TO FIX. NEEDLESS TO SAY , HAD TO PAY 300.00 TO HAVE PEACE OF MIND AND REPAIR. *KB
Exterior lighting, Jul 5, 2011
HAVING RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 2004 BMW 330I WITH XENON HEADLAMPS, I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE CAR AND ANY RECALLS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED OR ARE ONGOING. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE XENON HEADLAMPS DESIGNATED ZKW WERE UNDER POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION FOR SCORCHING WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY THAT CAN LEAD TO DECREASED LIGHT OUTPUT AND POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO NIGHTTIME DRIVING. I CONFIRMED THAT MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH THE ZKW HEADLAMPS, AND NOTED THAT SOME DISCOLORATION WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY WAS OCCURRING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PROBLEM IS SUFFICIENTLY DOCUMENTED SO THAT A PROPER INVESTIGATION CAN LEAD TO THE RESOLUTION TO THIS RELATIVELY COMMON OCCURRENCE. *KB
Exterior lighting, Jul 5, 2011
HEADLIGHTS HAVE INADEQUATE LIGHT OUTPUT DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *KB
Exterior lighting, Jul 1, 2011
THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS CAST VERY LITTLE LIGHT ON THE ROAD, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE FOG LIGHTS TO AUGMENT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 30, 2011, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL USED FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BURNED AND SCORCHED BY THE HEAT OF THE BULBS USED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE COVERING BEFORE AND WITHIN A YEAR, IT BURNED THROUGH AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAND COVERING THAT WAS FAILING WAS THE ZKW BRAND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Exterior lighting, Jun 25, 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. UPDATED IVOQ 07/26/11 *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 27, 2011
TAIL LIGHT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY IN BMW 2004 325 4 DOOR SEDAN. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 9, 2011
TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE SHORTED OUT ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE 2 TIMES EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. HAPPENS TO BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR, BUT ONLY IN THE REAR. IT KEEPS BURNING THROUGH THE PLUG / CONNECTOR AND SHORTING OUT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 3, 2011
2004 BMW 330I - TAIL LIGHT WIRING FAILURE. TAIL LIGHT BULB SOCKET (PART NUMBER W0133-1663035 FAILED DUE TO OVER HEATING AND MELTING OF CONNECTOR. RESULTS IN LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTION. PROBLEM COMMON TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. PURCHASING NEW PART TO TRY TO CORRECT PROBLEM HOWEVER PROBLEM MAY ALSO INCLUDE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTOR (FEMALE) ON THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. OVER HEATING APPEARS TO BE DUE TO UNDERSIZING OF CONNECTOR/WIRE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH E46 BMW'S (3 SERIES). PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY,...THEY DID NOT FIX IT. CONTACTED CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS,...THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. (REF. EA09-019). *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 14, 2011
2004 BMW 325XI SEDAN; TAILLIGHT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY ACCORDING TO DASHBOARD INDICATOR, THEN FAILED SOLID. THE WIRES MELTED INSIDE THE CONNECTOR TO THE LIGHT HOUSING AND MELTED HOUSING POST - NO EASY WAY FOR HOME REPAIR AS THIS IS NOT JUST A BAD LIGHTBULB. BMW HAS SERVICE BULLETIN ON REPAIR, BUT IS A PURE DESIGN DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. THERE IS NO OWNER-INDUCED PROBLEM HERE. THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS OR RECALLS. A "GOOGLE" REVEALS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH BMW 3-SERIES AND SOME 5-SERIES CARS. THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE CARS FOR REPAIRS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 30, 2011
REAR TAIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY SHOW FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION, APPEARS CONNECTION SHOWS SIGNS OF PREMATURE WEAR AND BURNING/OVERHEATING DUE TO INADEQUATE GROUNDING. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 29, 2011
2004 BMW 325I WITH THE FACTORY BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE LIGHTS HAVE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REFLECTIVE BOWLS SUCH THAT THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS QUITE DIM. THIS IS APPARENTLY A WEEL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THESE LIGHTS BY THIS MANUFACTURER. NO REPLACEMENT IS AVAILABLE OTHER THAN COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AT $1000 PER LIGHT OR RETROFITTING ANOTHER TYPE OF PROJECTOR IN ITS PLACE. BMW REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *LN
Exterior lighting, Jan 14, 2011
THE TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2004 BMW 325I WERE MELTING. THE DEALER CHARGED ME CLOSE TO $800 TO REPLACE THEM. ALTHOUGH I REPORTED THE PROBLEM BEFORE, I DID SO BEFORE KNOWING ABOUT THE $800 PRICE TAG TO FIX THE ISSUE. BMW SHOULD PAY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE (POORLY ENGINEERED) SAFETY COMPONENT. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH OF 'AN INVESTIGATION' FROM THE NHTSA TO MAKE BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 10, 2010
MY 2004 BMW 325I REAR LEFT LIGHTS GO OUT EVEN WHEN THE LIGHT BULBS ARE GOOD. I CANNOT SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS WHEN I NEED TO CHANGE LANES. PROBLEM STARTED SEPTEMBER 2010. STARTED TO OCCUR SPORADICALLY, BUT IT IS CONSTANT NOW. DASH INDICATOR SHOWS INCORRECTLY THAT BULBS ARE BROKEN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 8, 2010
THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL BMW CAR. AT JUST UNDER 45K MILES, THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS AT TIMES FAIL TO WORK. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ETC. I GET NOTIFIED FROM THE INSIDE DASH BOARD. HOWEVER, AT TIMES IT IS A FALSE POSITIVE (DASH SAYS IT DOESN'T WORK BUT IN FACT IT IS WORKING). THEN AT TIMES THE WARNING LIGHTS SWITCH FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS. I AM NOT SURE WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING - THIS IS DANGEROUS AND BMW SHOULD FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO POOR MATERIALS USAGE (CORROSION PROBLEM) AND GROUNDING LIKE THE OTHER POSTS HAVE MENTIONED. APPARENTLY THERE IS A CLASS LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW FOR THIS. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR FIXING B/C FAILURE TO SIGNAL WHEN CHANGING LANES IS A VIOLATION BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 31, 2010
DOCUMENTED FAILURE OF 2004 BMW 325I REAR BRAKE LIGHT, PARKING LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY. OCCURRED ON MY PERSONAL BMW ON OR ABOUT 6/2010. OCCURS SPORADICALLY, RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE OF ALL THREE LIGHTS ON LEFT SIDE AND ALSO RIGHT SIDE. DASH INDICATOR SHOWS THAT BULBS ARE OUT BUT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Electric, Structure, Oct 24, 2010
2004 BMW 330XI SEDAN (E46) REAR TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO TAIL LAMP FAILURE. ONLINE COMMUNITY FORUMS REPORT THAT THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO GROUND WIRE SHORT IN THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. COST OF REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED AT $700. CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA AS EA09-019, BUT I'M WARY OF BEING OVERCHARGED BY DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR