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, Feb 29, 2012
THE BI-XENON PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR DO NOT PRODUCE THE FOCUSED LIGHT THAT THEY DID WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. INVESTIGATION HAS PRODUCED EVIDENCE THAT THE PLASTIC XENON REFLECTOR BOWLS HAVE LOST THEIR REFLECTIVE MATERIAL AND THAT THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL IS NOW DETERIORATED AND BROWN. THE PATTERN OF WHERE THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL HAS DISAPPEARED INDICATES THAT THE VAPOR DEPOSITED REFLECTIVE MATERIAL HAS FAILED DUE TO THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE HEADLIGHT BULB. OTHER HEADLIGHTS IN THE BMW 3 SERIES LINE HAVE METAL BOWLS AND DO NOT DISPLAY THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE SPOKEN TO MY BMW DEALER AND BMW OF AMERICA AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. IF THE PROJECTOR BOWLS WERE AVAILABLE AS REPLACEMENT ITEMS I WOULDN'T BE AS UN-HAPPY UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM IT REQUIRES THE CUSTOMER TO PURCHASE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT AROUND $1200.00 PER SIDE. AS I AM AN ENGINEER BY PROFESSION I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A DESIGN DEFECT DUE TO A POOR CHOICE OF MATERIAL CAPABILITIES AND/OR MATERIAL COMPATIBILITIES. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS OCCURS OVER TIME LEAVING THE OWNER OPERATOR WITH SLOW DETERIORATION OF LIGHT QUALITY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN HOLDING BMW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND OTHERS ON THE OUR HIGHWAYS. I HAD NOTICE THE REDUCED LIGHT QUALITY BUT WAS BLAMING IT ON THE CONDITION OF MY HEADLIGHT LENSES. BUT AFTER HAVING MY HEADLIGHT LENSES RECONDITIONED THE LIGHTING CONDITION CONTINUED. LEAVING ME TO INVESTIGATE AND FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH OTHER BMW 3 SERIES AUTOMOBILES. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD BEGIN TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Feb 24, 2012
THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WITH BI-XENON AUTO LEVELING HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE LIGHT OUTPUT HAS STEADILY DECREASED. LOOKING AT IT FURTHER, BROWN SCORCH MARKS ARE VISIBLE IN THE PROJECTOR WHEN THE HEADLIGHT IS ON. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THERE IS ALSO DISTORTION IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE PROJECTOR WHICH LOOKS ALMOST AS IF THE TOP HALF OF THE PROJECTOR HAS MELTED AND DISTORTED. THE LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE PROJECTORS HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A THIN BEAM OF LIGHT RIGHT BELOW THE CUTOFF, WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE BEING WORSE THAN THE PASSENGER. PARKED 6 FEET AWAY FROM A WALL, THIS STRIP OF LIGHT EXTENDS ONLY ABOUT 8-12" BELOW THE CUTOFF, PUTTING OUT VIRTUALLY NO LIGHT BELOW THAT. AT NIGHT, IT IS BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WITH NO LIGHT IN THE FOREGROUND; THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 21, 2012
THE BI-XENON ZKW LIGHTS KEPT GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER. BULB REPLACEMENT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHEN LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE FOUND OUT THAT THE ZKW PROJECTOR BOWLS HAVE BURNED UP AND DO NOT PROVIDE ANY REFLECTION FOR THE LIGHT OUTPUT ANYMORE. DRIVING AT NIGHT AT THIS POINT WITH LIGHTS ON IS ALMOST LIKE DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 21, 2012
MY 2004 BMW 330 EQUIPPED WITH BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS IS EXPERIENCING GREATLY REDUCED LIGHT OUTPUT. UPON RESEARCH ON BMW FORUMS, THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO PLASTIC REFLECTORS IN THE LIGHT HOUSING MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LIGHT OUTPUT DECREASES SLOWLY OVER TIME AS THE HEAT FROM THE XENON BULB BURNS THE COATING OFF THE REFLECTOR AND LEAVES A BURNT AMBER COLOR AS THE PLASTIC DEGRADES. BMW REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART UNDER GOODWILL OR CPO WARRANTY, AND CLASSIFIES IT AS A WEAR ITEM, WHICH IS INCORRECT. BULBS ARE WEAR ITEMS, NOT ANY NON-MOVING PART IN THE HOUSING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY FOR OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE DUE TO THE GRADUAL DEGRADATION OF LIGHTING QUALITY. *TR
Visibility, Feb 21, 2012
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE HEADLIGHTS DOES NOT GIVE ENOUGH LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACT AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTIVE PLASTIC HOLDER MELTED AND CAUSES THE LIGHT TO BE LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000. LI
Exterior lighting, Feb 16, 2012
FACTORY BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS GRADUALLY DIMMED. BY 77K MILES THE LIGHT OUTPUT WAS TOO DIM TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT. COMPARED TO A NEW MODEL AT DEALER WITH XENON LIGHTS AND FOUND VERY NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE. MECHANIC ANALYSIS FOUND METALLIZED PLASTIC REFLECTORS ON XENON BULBS HAD BURNED AND LOST THEIR REFLECTIVITY. REPLACEMENT REFLECTORS ARE NOT SOLD AS SERVICE PARTS BY BMW, SO REMEDY INVOLVES COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 16, 2012
THE ZKW PROJECTOR BOWLS ARE BURNED OUT ON THE HEADLIGHT FIXTURES, REDUCING LIGHT OUTPUT AND VISIBLITY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 11, 2012
THE XENON PROJECTOR BOWLS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC, WHICH EVENTUALLY BURNS. THIS DIMINISHES THE LIGHT OUTPUT SO DRASTICALLY THAT IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE "BURNING" OF THE PLASTIC BOWL ALSO SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT CAUSE THE BOWL ITSELF TO MELT OR CATCH FIRE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 8, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ONLY ILLUMINATE PARTIALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE CONVERTIBLE MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Electrical system, Jan 17, 2012
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW STSTING THERE WAS NOW A RECALL FOR THE BAD GROUND WIRE ON THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSED THE METLING OF THE CONNECTOR. I HAD ALREADY SPENT $400 FOR THE FIX, NOW THEY RECALL THE PART. BMW NORTH AMERICA TOOK TOO LONG TO DO THIS, AND I AM GOING INTO THE DELAERSHIP TO SEE ABOUT GETTING A REFUND FOR THE SERVICE I PAID FOR THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER.
Exterior lighting, Jan 12, 2012
HEADLIGHT LIGHT OUTPUT HAS STRONGLY DIMINISHED. IN 2003-2004 BMW USED ZKW HEADLIGHTS IN WHICH THE REFLECTOR BOWL BEHIND THE LIGHT-BULB WERE PRONE TO THE MELTING DUE TO HEAT CAUSING POOR LIGHT OUTPUT. BMW MUST HAVE RECOGNIZED THIS AS THEY CHANGED HEADLIGHT SUPPLIERS IN LATER MODELS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 8, 2012
I PURCHASED MY 2004 BMW 330I IN SEPT 2010, AT LEAST IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED AS HAVING FACTORY INSTALLED XENON LIGHTS AND I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED BRIGHTER HEADLIGHTS THAN OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED. WITHIN 3 MONTHS I WAS SO DISGUSTED WITH THE DIMNESS OF THOSE XENON'S THAT I PURCHASED 2 NEW D2S BULBS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED AT THE COST OF ABOUT $400. (I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN XENON'S "WEAR OUT" OVER TIME SO I FIGURED I WOULD BITE THE BULLET THIS ONE TIME) I FOUND RIGHT AWAY THAT THESE NEW BULBS WERE NO BETTER THAN I HAD BEFORE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE RIGHT SIDE LIGHTS SHINED AGAINST A WALL WERE ACTUALLY DIMMER THAN A D CELL FLASHLIGHT. I SUFFERED THOUGH TRYING TO DRIVE WITH MY PASSING LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT (YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO HOLD THE HIGH BEAM STICK IN TO GET THESE LIGHTS TO STAY ON ) FOR A YEAR BEFORE I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BUT NO-ONE SELLS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE XENON EQUIPPED CARS. I THEN REMOVED THE ASSEMBLIES MYSELF AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE CLEAR SIGNS OF BURNING OR CORROSION ON THE INSIDE OF THE REFLECTOR BOWLS. NO WONDER THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHINE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS SO BAD THAT EVERY TIME I AM PASSED ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT I ACTUALLY SEE MY CAR'S SHADOW DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME FROM THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CAR 50-100 FEET BEHIND ME. I NOW UNDERSTAND FROM FURTHER INVESTIGATION THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ZKW HEADLIGHTS ON E46 BMW'S. I DO NOT HAVE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OR EXTRA CASH TO FIX THESE DEFECTS. CAN YOU HELP?? NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED YET BUT I HAVE SEEN MANY PEDESTRIANS OR BIKERS AS I PASS THEM AT NIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT I NEVER SAW UNTIL I WAS NEXT TO THEM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 7, 2012
HEADLIGHTS HAVE GRADUALLY LOWERED LIGHT OUTPUT TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE IN DARK CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION HAS APPARENTLY HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LOW BEAM REFLECTORS ON 2003-2004 ZKW HID HEADLIGHTS WERE MADE OF SOME MATERIAL THAT DEGRADED WHEN SUBJECTED TO THE HEAT PRODUCED BY OEM XENON BULBS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 4, 2012
REFLECTIVE COATING MELTED INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS, RENDERING THEM USELESS. EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 4, 2012, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HE NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WITH AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF BRIGHTNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWLS WERE POORLY DESIGNED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THESE BOWLS MELTED OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Exterior lighting, Dec 23, 2011
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT VERY BRIGHT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE THE LIGHT HAS BEEN COOKED OFF. I HAD A 2001 AND THE LIGHTS WERE MUCH BETTER THEY WERE THE SAME HID XENON TYPE . THANK YOU *TR
Power train, Dec 22, 2011
MY CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR ON MY 04 BMW 330CI SMG TRANSMISSION. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 20, 2011
EXTREMELY LOW OUTPUT. VERY DIM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AS THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TAIL LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Exterior lighting, Dec 15, 2011
MY 2004 BMW 330I, WITH ZKW PRODUCED HEADLIGHT COMPONENTS, SUFFERS FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PROJECTOR BULB REFLECTORS BURNING AFTER APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES OF DRIVING TIME. THIS RESULTS IN A DIMINISHED LIGHT OUTPUT, AND IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS I BELIEVE BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, YET WILL DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE WITH IT'S OWNERS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 15, 2011
ZKW XENON HEADLIGHTS EQUIPPED ON THE CAR HAVE A PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL FOR THE LOW BEAM. THE OEM LIGHT BULB BURNS HOT AND MELTED THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL. THIS CAUSES A SEVERE LOSS OF PROJECTED LIGHT TO THE ROAD. MANY TIMES I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON TO SEE MORE THAN 10-15 FT IN FRONT OF THE CAR CAUSE ME TO BLIND OTHER DRIVERS. BMW NOR ZKW RECOGNIZE THIS AS AN ISSUE AND MY DEALER SUGGESTED I BUY A WHOLE NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR 1.5K (EACH SIDE) TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A DESIGN FAILURE. THE LATER VERSIONS ON THE ZKW HEADLIGHTS USE METAL REFLECTOR BOWLS (NOT INTERCHANGEABLE WITH EARLIER VERSION) SO THE ISSUE IS KNOW TO THEM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 13, 2011
THE XENON PROJECTOR ASSEMBLY IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND IS BURNING/MELTING. THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS ROUGHLY 20% OF THE ORIGINAL. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 1, 2011
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED. RECEIVED A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH PANEL. REPLACING THE BULBS IN THE ASSEMBLY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I DISCOVERED THERE HAS BEEN AN EQUIPMENT RECALL FOR FAILED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 30, 2011
RIGHT SIDE SIGNAL LIGHT INTERMITTENT FAILURE. WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED THERE WAS A SCORCHED WIRE. UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND THERE IS A TSB FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT ONLY IN WARRANTY. NO RECALL. *KB