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
558 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Jun 28, 2012
FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT AT NIGHT I'VE BEEN HAVING A REAL HARD TIME SEEING AT NIGHT WHILE I AM DRIVING. FOR A WHILE I THOUGHT IT WAS MY EYES GOING BAD UNTIL MULTIPLE PEOPLE STARTED ASKING IF MY LIGHTS WHERE ON, ( I WAS LIKE GOOD IT'S NOT MY EYES) IT GETS REAL BAD ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAIN OR THE ROADS OR WET WHICH IS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT CAUSE LIVE IN HAWAII AND IT RAINS ALL THE TIME. BUT OF COURSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING BETTER IT'S GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY FOG LIGHTS AT NIGHT. I WENT TO THE DEALER THINKING IT WAS THE BULBS AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY RIGHT AND LEFT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE SO I STARTED TO SEARCH THE NET AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Equipment, Engine, Jun 20, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED; HOWEVER WITHIN FIVE MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A CRACK. THE VEHICLE MAY POSSIBLY BE REPAIRED FOR THE DEFECT. IN 2007, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL AND AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Equipment, Jun 20, 2012
IN 2004, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR BURNED UP. A SECOND TIME, IN 2008, IT FAILED. A THIRD TIME, IN 2010, A FIREBALL EXPLODED FROM UNDER THE TRUNK. AGAIN, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAD FAILED, AFTER WE RECEIVED IT FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE SHOP. *JS
Visibility, Jun 18, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MONOCHROMATIC COATING ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE SELF DIMMING FUNCTION HAD BECOME INOPERABLE AND THE REFLECTION OF THE LIGHTS FROM OTHER VEHICLES WAS EXTREMELY BRIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE AND THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. ..UPDATED 08/01/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FAILURE OF COATING CAN CAUSE NIGHTTIME HEADLIGHT GLARE FROM FOLLOWING CARS. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS FAILURE IS COMMON AFTER 7-8 YEARS ON CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE DEFECTIVE MIRROR. UPDATED 08/02/2012 *JS
Engine, Jun 17, 2012
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE AND WATER WAS ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $12,000. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 MILES. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2012
SECURITY LOCK SYSTEM FAILED TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND THE PASSENGERS HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE WINDOWS TO EXIT. IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY (E.G. CAR DROVE INTO DEEP WATER) THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO EXIT THE CAR. SEEM LIKE A SERIOUS FAILURE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Jun 4, 2012
THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WITH BI-XENON AUTO LEVELING HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE LIGHT OUTPUT OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS BELOW ANY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON THE ROAD. CARS THAT ARE OVER 20 YEARS OLD HAVE BRIGHTER HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AND IT HASN'T HELPED. LOOKING AT IT FURTHER, BROWN SCORCH MARKS ARE VISIBLE IN THE PROJECTOR WHEN THE HEADLIGHT IS ON. THE REAR OF THE PROJECTOR IS COMPLETELY BROWN AND BURNT. AT NIGHT, IT IS BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. AT THIS POINT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, May 31, 2012
BONJOUR, LES RFLECTEURS ZKW DE MES FEUX XNON SONT BRULS. MES FEUX N'CLAIRENT PLUS. *TR
Visibility, May 17, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAME DISTORTED AND BEGAN TO LEAK. THE LIQUID BURNED THE GEAR SHIFT CONSOLE PLASTIC. THE DEALER STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS AUTOMATIC DIMMER CONSIST OF A LIQUID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000. ....UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/21/12
Power train, May 9, 2012
AN ALMOST FATAL CRASH. CAR WAS BACKED UP FROM GARAGE IN THE MORNING INTO THE STREET, PUT IN D POSITION BUT THERE WERE NO POWER TO THE WHEELS FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 SECONDS. CAR APPROACHING FROM BEHIND ON THE STREET NEEDED TO SWERVE TO AVOID REAR ENDING MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD (SITTING FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS). THERE IS A DELAY OF ABOUT 10 SECONDS FOR POWER TO ENGAGE IN D POSITION. ACCORDING TO ONLINE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND BMW DEALER, THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE IS RELATED TO A SOFTWARE ISSUE IN THE TRANSMISSION. A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN APPROACHING BMW FOR THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE, THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR FREE AND THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $360 TO UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE SIMILAR FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Exterior lighting, Apr 26, 2012
FRONT OPTIONAL HID (XENON) HEADLAMPS WERE NOTICED A BEING EXTREMELY DIM. THE HEADLIGHT HAS A REPLACEABLE PLASTIC LENS. LENS WAS FIRST POLISHED AND THEN WHEN NO LIGHT IMPROVEMENT WAS OBSERVED, BOTH LENSES WERE REPLACED. LIGHT OUTPUT REMAIN VERY POOR. BULB WERE ORDERED TO REPLACE ORIGINAL HOWEVER WHEN BEGINNING TO REPLACE THE BULBS IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE BOWL HAD AN OBSERVED SCORCH OR BURNED SPOT ON THE PROJECTOR BOWL AND I CEASED CHANGING THE BOWL. AFTER READING FORUMS IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURING DEFECT INVOLVING A SAFETY ITEMS THAT REDUCES VIABILITY AND MAY POSSIBLY BURN THROUGH ON THIS MODEL YEAR WITH THIS OPTION. A PHOTO IS AVAILABLE IF NECESSARY. *TR
Visibility, Apr 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE GLASS, DISTORTING THE CONTACTS VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000.
Exterior lighting, Apr 11, 2012
XENON HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE. VERY LOW VISIBILITY AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. *TR
Visibility, Apr 9, 2012
I'VE NOTICED SOME DARK TO LIGHT BROWN SMEARS OR SQUIGGLY LINES ON MY REARVIEW MIRROR. I TRIED TO CLEAN IT WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE FAULT IS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE MIRROR. I CALLED THE DEALER AND BECAUSE THE CAR ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY IT ISN'T COVERED YET THE PART CAN COST UP TO $700.00 WITHOUT LABOR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUTO DIMMING FLUID LEAKING/FAILING IN THE MIRROR. I CALLED BMW USA AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE NO PLANS TO RECALL THE PART. I'M DISMAYED BECAUSE I HAVE A CHEVY TRUCK WITH AN AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR THAT IS MUCH OLDER THAN THE CAR THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AS THE ABILITY TO SEE WITH THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE. I'VE READ ON FORUMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ONLY THEIRS IS WORSE BECAUSE THE FLUID HAS LEAKED OUT OF THE MIRROR AND PROCEEDED TO EAT THROUGH ANY PART OF THE INTERIOR THAT IT DRIPS ON. DOESN'T THAT MAKE THIS A POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD AS WELL SINCE THE AUTO DIMMING FLUID IS OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF ACID WHICH COULD ALSO CAUSE A FIRE IF IT HITS ANY WIRING? I HOPE THAT SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THIS AS I'VE GOTTEN NO WHERE WITH BMW. THANKS! *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 28, 2012
MY CAR IS SUBJECT TO RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 11V-438: LAMPS IN REAR QUARTER PANEL. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ON 10/28/11 AT MURRAY MOTORS IN GLENDALE COLORADO. THE INVOICE # IS[XXX] AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR IS [XXX] (303-759-4646). I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE DOCUMENTATION. I HAD THIS REPAIR DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED BMW CENTER, SUBMITTED THE INVOICE DETAILING THE COST AND NATURE OF THE REPAIR TO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN WESTWOOD, NJ VIA US MAIL, AND THEY REFUSE TO PAY IT. I RECEIVED ONLY A PHONE CALL FROM "[XXX]" AT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAYING THAT THEY WON'T PAY IT. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT BMW REFUSES TO ABIDE BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE IN GETTING BMW TO ABIDE BY FEDERAL LAW. THANKS! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Mar 25, 2012, crash
HEADLIGHTS OF 2004 BMW 330I WITH XENONS ARE MADE BY MANUFACTURING COMPANY "ZKW" AND BOUND TO FAIL. VISIBILITY AND LIGHT OUTPUT BECOMES EXTREMELY POOR, THAT YOU MUST DRIVE AROUND WITH EXTRA LIGHTS, OR HIGH BEAMS ON. WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE REFLECTIVE CASE, YOU WILL SEE THAT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE BURNT BOWLS, WHICH DO NOT ALLOW ANY LIGHT OUTPUT AT ALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, I HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE FAR DISTANCE AT NIGHT. PLEASE ADDRESS AND INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 24, 2012
MY BMW 325I XENON HEADLIGHT BOWLS HAD MELTED AND DIMMED TOA DANGEROUS POINT, THEY ARE ALL ORIGINAL AND UNALTERED. *TR
Power train, Mar 18, 2012
MY VEHICLE IS A BMW 325, 2004 AND I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY REVERSE. WHEN I PLACE MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT DOES NOT MOVE. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM IN BMW VEHICLES FROM 2000 - 2005. MOREOVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THAT WAS SETTLED IN NJ. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IF THE NHTSA IS PURSUING AND INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 15, 2012, fire
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES WHEN WE WERE ALERTED BY THE FIRE ALARM IN OUR CONDO BUILDING. UPON EVACUATING THE BUILDING, WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR 2004 BMW 325I WAS ON FIRE. WE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY SPECIFIC CAUSE FOR THE FIRE, EXCEPT THAT IT WAS PROBABLY ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. SPECIAL AGENTS FROM OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WERE ALSO CALLED IN, WHO, IN TURN, CALLED IN TWO MORE EXPERTS. EVIDENCE WAS BAGGED AND THE CAR WAS SHRINK WRAPPED TO BE TAKEN TO A LOT WITH AT LEAST THREE OTHER BMW'S WHICH HAD ALSO CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN TO US. WE ARE POSTING THIS HOPING IT CAN HELP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR
Suspension, Mar 12, 2012
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO ATTENTION OF NHTSA THAT MY CAR'S REAR COIL SPRINGS CRACKED DUE TO RUST. I CAME TO KNOW ABOUT IT WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR OIL CHANGE AT BRIDGEWATER NJ BMW DEALERSHIP. I GOT THE PART REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS THE DEALER'S QUOTE WAS WAY HIGH. I HAVE THE REMOVED PART IF NHTSA WANT?S FOR ANALYSIS. I HAVE DONE SOME ONLINE SEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO KIND OF PAINT AND COATING BEING USED FOR THE SPRINGS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY A RECALL AND REQUEST NHTSA TO URGE BMW NA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE COMPONENT IN QUESTION AS IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 7, 2012
PURCHASED A USED 2004 BMW 330I. THE HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS VERY DIM, AND UPON RESEARCH INTO THE MATTER, HAVE LEARNED THAT THE SUPPLIED ZKW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES CONTAIN PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWLS THAT ARE PRONE TO MELTING AND/OR BURNING. I INSPECTED MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND FOUND THIS TO BE THE CASE. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS IN MY HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNT, AND CONSEQUENTLY MY HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT NEARLY AS BRIGHT AND EFFECTIVE AS THEY SHOULD BE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD - NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY A MANUFACTURER. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 3, 2012
BI-XENON HEADLAMP PROJECTOR BACK-BOWLS ARE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND HAVE HAD THEIR REFLECTIVE COATING BURNT OFF OF THEM FROM NORMAL HEADLIGHT USAGE. DUE TO THE LACK OF REFLECTIVITY ON THE PROJECTOR BOWLS MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIM OVER TIME AS MORE OF THE REFLECTIVE COATING IS BURNING OFF. IT HAS BECOME HARDER AND MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE SEVERE LACK OF LIGHT MY HEADLIGHTS NOW PRODUCE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 1, 2012
BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM BMW DEALERSHIP & AFTER ABOUT 5 YEARS OF HAVING MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT MY XENON HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT SHINING AS BRIGHT AS THEY USUALLY DID. OVER TIME I EVENTUALLY HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT IN ORDER TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT REPLACED AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN NOV 2010 & RECENTLY WENT TO HAVE THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT CHECKED TO SEE WHY IT WASN'T ILLUMINATING AS IT SHOULD BE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROTECTIVE SHEATH COVERING THE WIRES IN THE HEADLIGHT HAD DRY ROTTED/DESINTEGRATED & THERE WAS HARDLY ANY SHEATH COVERING THE WIRES, DUE TO THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE XENON LIGHT. IN ADDITION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROJECTOR BULB REFLECTOR HAD MELTED & BURNED OUT, ALSO DUE TO THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE XENON LIGHT & IS WHY THE LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATES AS IT SHOULD. I CONTACTED BMW DUE TO MY FINDINGS & BECAUSE MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES & BMW HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE LIGHT DESIGN GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT ZKW & BMW HAS SINCE CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE XENON HEADLIGHT IN NEWER MODELS & THE NEWER DESIGN DOESN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. BMW NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DESIGN DEFECT & REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT WITH THE NEWER DESIGN BECAUSE REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT COSTS OVER $1200 DOLLARS EACH LIGHT & BEING THAT THE REPLACEMENT LIGHTS HAVE THE SAME DESIGN DEFECT YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY 4 TO 5 YEARS BECAUSE IT TO WILL BURN OUT AND THE PROJECTOR BULB REFLECTOR IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY & THE ENTIRE LIGHTS HAS TO BE REPLACED. I CAN VISIBLY SEE AREAS ON THE REPLACED HEADLIGHT WHERE THE PROJECTOR BULB REFLECTOR HAS ALREADY STARTED TO MELT & BURN & I HAVE ONLY HAD THAT LIGHT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 29, 2012
BOUGHT MY BMW BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER ABOUT 5 YEARS OF HAVING MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT MY XENON HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT SHINING AS BRIGHT AS THEY USUALLY DID. HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT IN ORDER TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. AFTER HAVING ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT REPLACED DUE TO COST. HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN A DASH WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES NO HIGH BEAMS. HAD LIGHTS CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HIGH BEAM WAS NOT GETTING POWER IN THE LIGHT THAT WAS REPLACED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A BRAND NEW HEADLIGHT WITH WIRING HARNESS. AFTER HAVING OTHER LIGHT CHECKED, IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL THE WIRES IN THE LIGHT HAD DRY ROTTED AND ALL THE PROTECTIVE COVERING HAD JUST ABOUT COME OFF THE WIRES OBVIOUSLY DUE TO THE HEAT THAT IS GENERATED BY THE XENON LIGHT. CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA REGARDING THE MATTER AND GOT NO RESOLUTION DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE IS CLEARING A DEFEAT IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND IT'S WIRING. HAVE HAD THE IGNITER, BALLAST AND CONTROL BOX CHECKED BY SWITCHING IT OUT WITH THE NEW HEADLIGHT PARTS AND THE UNREPLACED HEADLIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED DIM AS IT DID BEFORE SWITCHING OUT THE PART. *TR