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, Oct 15, 2010
THE REAR TAILLIGHT FAILS ON MY 2004 BMW 330I DUE TO THE BULB HOLDER ASSEMBLY AND ISSUES WITH THE GROUNDING WIRE USED IN THE HARNESS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON E46 BMW'S AS NOTED IN MANY OWNER FORUMS ONLINE. THE GAUGE OF WIRE USED FOR THE BROWN GROUNDING WIRE IS MUCH LARGER THAN ALL THE OTHER WIRES AND EVENTUALLY THE HEAT MELTS DOWN THE CONNECTOR PINS OR EXPOSES THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE OTHER CLIPS IN THE HARNESS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 25, 2010
BMW TAIL LIGHT GROUND IS INADEQUATE FOR APPLICABLE CURRENT LOAD. HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SITUATION, WHERE THE BROWN GROUND WIRE CONNECTED TO THE MALE PIN OF THE TAIL LIGHT MODULE BECOMES OXIDIZED, EVENTUALLY CAUSING A SHORT, MELTING OF THE CONNECTOR PLUG, AND CAUSING BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. BMW SELLS A FIX PACKAGE FOR THE PROBLEM, SO THEY CERTAINLY KNOW IT EXISTS. AGAIN, THIS IS BEING REPORTED BY HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 4, 2010
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 330I ZHP, AND DROVE IT HOME. DIDN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT FOR SOME TIME, BUT WHEN I FINALLY DID, FOUND OUT LIGHTING IS VERY DIM, SO MUCH, I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I MUST USE FOGLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, AND HIGH BEAMS WHEN I CAN. FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I FEEL THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE BOWLS IS BAKED OFF. THESE LIGHT SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THE HALOGENS I HAD ON MY 325I, BUT THEY ARE NOT. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE REPAIRS ARE TOO COSTLY.....AND DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Electric, Aug 22, 2010
REAR TAILLIGHT,BRAKELIGHT CONNECTOR HAS MELTED CAUSING BRAKELIGHT NOT TO WORK. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 15, 2010, fire
I HAVE A MAJOR BMW PROBLEM. IT CURRENTLY HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN # SI B 63 03 06 LIGHTS BUT BMW WILL NOT FIX THIS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS WHEN MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET FULL SERVICES. I WANT A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 27, 2010
THE TAIL LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 2004 BMW 330I HAVE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY (NO TURN SIGNAL OR BRAKE LIGHTS) DUE TO A BURNED WIRE. THIS BEGAN ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT GOING OUT. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB, I REALIZED THE BULB WAS FINE. LOOKING CLOSER I SAW THAT A WIRE IN THE WIRE HARNESS HAD BURNED AND MELTED THE PLASTIC. IT ALSO MELTED THE METAL ON THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THAT THIS HAPPENED AND NOW THE RIGHT SIDE HAS DONE THE EXACT SAME THING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM WILL BE $350 PER SIDE. LOOKING ONLINE I SAW THAT BMW ISSUED A SERVICE REPORT (SI B 63 03 06) BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WOULDN'T BE A RECALL. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTRA $700 ON HAND TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH NO TURN SIGNALS OR BRAKE LIGHTS. IT SEEMS LIKE SINCE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY HAZARD, BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 28, 2010
2004 BMW 330XI SEDAN (E46) REAR TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO TAIL LAMP FAILURE. DEALER INDICATED IT WAS A BURNT CONTACT, AND SUGGESTED REPAIRING BOTH SIDES. COST FOR BOTH SIDES $254.67. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 24, 2010
THE ZKW BRAND OF HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS EQUIPPED IN THE E46 MODEL 3 SERIES BMW SEDAN HAVE A PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL IN THE PROJECTOR THAT HAS THE TENDENCY TO HAVE THE CHROME REFLECTIVE PLATING BURNT OFF RENDERING THE HEADLIGHTS ALL BUT USELESS. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 20, 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
Exterior lighting, May 10, 2010
THE BI-XENON HEADLAMPS HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE PROJECTOR BURNS OUT AND GREATLY REDUCES LIGHT INPUT. THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 21, 2010
2004 BMW 325I TAIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF. BMW DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE CAR TO HAVE A FAULTY GROUND WIRE - BMW S IB (SERVICE BULLETIN) 63 03 06 WHICH PREVENTS THE TAIL LIGHTS FROM WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 19, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS WERE DIM AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE AHEAD . THE CONTACT STATED HE REPLACED THE HEAD LAMP BULBS HIMSELF, BUT HE STILL FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 134,000. UPDATED 5/20/2010 *CN UPDATED 07/19/10*JB
Exterior lighting, Nov 10, 2009
UNRELIABLE TAILLIGHT/BRAKELIGHT/TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONING IN 2004 BMW 325XI. PROBLEM BEGAN IN EARLY 2008. LIGHTING INDICATORS KEPT COMING ON SUGGESTING TAILLIGHTS WERE OUT. REPLACED ALL APPLICABLE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR THEN FINALLY BROUGHT TO DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE INSTANCES WHERE THEY NEED TO REPLACE CARRIER, HARNESS AND ADD A GROUND WIRE TO FIX THE ISSUE IN ORDER TO GET LIGHTS WORKING AGAIN. DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY NO RECALLS, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM AND IF A DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO GO BACK IN AND CHANGE WIRING TO MAKE IT WORK, THAN IT'S SIMPLY A DESIGN FLAW AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, $700 LATER, I HAD TO GET IT FIXED TO ENSURE SAFE DRIVING. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 2, 2009
REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY (RIGHT SIDE). DASH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. ALL LIGHTS IN ASSY. WORK. REMOVE TAIL LIGHT ASSY, SCREW ALL BULBS OUT AND IN, REPLACE PLUG AND WARNING LIGHT IS OUT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY WAS INFORMED OF A SILL THAT APPLIED ONLY IF WIRING OR PLASTIC ASSY WAS OBVIOUSLY DAMAGED! FAULT OCCURS RANDOMLY AT VARIOUS INTERVALS FROM WEEKLY TO MONTHLY.. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 19, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE WIRE THAT PLUGS INTO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT HARNESS BURNED WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO ALERT OTHERS OF HIS INTENTIONS REGARDING DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND SPEED. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 10020856(EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) SUMMARIZES THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,770. UPDATED 12/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT GROUNDING WHICH CAUSED THE BURNOUT OF THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2009
THIS IS A FORMAL PETITION FOR A SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION. MY 2004 BMW 325XI HAS A LEFT TAIL LIGHT THAT DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE OF A POOR CONNECTION AT THE REAR LAMP CONNECTOR (THE GROUND WIRE RECEPTACLE AND HOUSING HAVE BURNT OUT BECAUSE THE GROUND IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE CURRENT). MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT STILL FUNCTIONS BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SIDE BURNING OUT AS WELL AND POSING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 63 03 06) WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND SAYS THAT THE CAUSE IS "MINOR CORROSION AT THE 8-PIN REAR LAMP CONNECTOR CREATES HIGH RESISTANCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTOR HOUSING." BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING TAIL LIGHT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 9, 2009
AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS DEFECTIVE LIGHT BULBS (ONE FROM TWO DIFFERENT SETS FAILED WHEN ONE SET WAS INSTALLED FOR MY TURN SIGNAL AND THE OTHER FROM MY BRAKE LIGHTS), BUT AS I BEGAN TO DO MORE RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING AN ISSUE SIMILAR TO MINE. THEY REPORTED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE CORROSION AND A LOOSE CONNECTION. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK MY CAR OUT AS WELL AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD AFFLICTED MY VEHICLE AS WELL. I THEN FOLLOWED THE LINK TO THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED BY BMW, AND THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING IS JUST AS THEY HAVE DESCRIBED. ONE OF THE 8-PIN REAR LAMP CONNECTORS HAS MELTED CAUSING A LOOSE CONNECTION AND MY CAR CONTINUING TO TELL ME THAT I HAVE A DEAD BULB, WHEN IN FACT IT IS THE CONNECTION. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 2, 2009
I HAVE A 2004 BMW 325I. THE REAR INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME THE LIGHT WAS OUT. THE LIGHT WAS NOT OUT. I HAD TO GET A STATE INSPECTION AS I LIVE IN VIRGINIA. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PASS MY CAR DUE TO THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR BEING ON. THE ESTIMATE WAS $367. I DECLINED THE WORK AND TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG ON MY OWN. I DISCOVERED YOU ALL STARTED AN INVESTIGATION ON 4/9/09 ON THIS ISSUE. I ALSO FOUND INTERNAL DOCUMENTS FROM BMW ON THE WEB DESCRIBING THE "DEFECT". THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GROUNDING WIRES AND IT CAUSES MELTING AND CORROSION. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ARE RIPPING OF THE PUBLIC FOR ROUGHLY $350 TO $400 A TAIL LIGHT TO FIX THE DEFECT. THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A PART NUMBER FOR THE EXTRA GROUND WIRE. THE SAY IN THEIR DOCUMENT TO PURCHASE "BROWN WIRE" FROM A LOCAL SOURCE AND CHARGE $1 TO $2 FOR IT. I HAVE LOOKED INSIDE MY TAIL LIGHT AND IT IS MELTING IN SPOTS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE AND FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY HAVE ADMITTED A DEFECT. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. HERE IS THE DOCUMENT HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 25, 2009
1. OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE THE XENON BULBS ARE HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR THAT SHINES THE LIGHT ON THE ROAD. AS THIS REFLECTOR BOWL BURNS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLE LIGHT OUTPUT IS SEVERELY DIMINISHED BY AT LEAST 60-70% THIS POSED A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. 2. THE HEADLIGHTS MADE BY ZKW WERE INSTALLED ON BMW SEDAN'S MODEL YEARS 2003-2004 ONLY. IT IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CANNOT SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT MY FOG LIGHTS. 3. I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE TWO NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE PRICED AT $1,000 PER SIDE. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE WHICH IS VERY TROUBLESOME FOR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS OF THIS MODEL YEAR CAR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 8, 2005
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING BMW 3 SERIES HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THE EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH. *TS (11/08/05) THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT THE EUROPEAN DESIGN BE MODIFIED WHERE THERE IS NO CUP HOLDER ADJACENT TO THE EMERGENCY FLASHER AND SWITCH TO THE USA DESIGN WHERE THE EMERGENCY FLASHER IS LESS THAN 1 INCH FROM THE CUP HOLDER. *SC
Exterior lighting, Nov 13, 2004
I FIND THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ON MANY CARS VERY DISTRACTING. I AM NOT SURE BUT I THINK THEY ARE ON GERMAN CARS. I AM TOLD THEY ARE WELL LIKED BY THE DRIVERS OF THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS BUT I FIND THEM HAZARDOUS FOR THE CARS WHICH ARE FACING THEM. THESE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO ME AS DANGEROUS AS SOMEONE USING THERE HIGH LIGHTS AGAINST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAVE YOU HEARD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE? IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE? THANK YOU FOR A RESPONSE. EDITH R. MARKS I FOUND YOU ON GOOGLE. *JB