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, Jul 19, 2011
DRAMATICALLY REDUCED HEADLIGHT OUTPUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE FACTORY COMPONENTS. *KB
Structure, Jul 14, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS WET AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO RAINY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE VAPOR BARRIER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
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
Power train, Jun 23, 2011
I OWNED THE CAR FOR A YEAR BEFORE IT STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS. IT FIRST GAVE ME A PROBLEM CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT SLIPS AND WONT GO INTO GEAR. THE MOST DANGEROUS IS WHEN IM TURNING A CORNER AND THE CAR PUTS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. AT THIS TIME IT IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND IT IS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. ITS DANGEROUS! I'VE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND FOR A SECOND OPINION AT BMW. THE COST TO REPAIR MY CAR IS OVER $5,000, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE NEWER BMW. NOW IM WITHOUT A CAR WAITING TO GET APPROVED FOR ANOTHER LOAN JUST TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *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
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 29, 2011
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FREEZES UP AND DOESN'T OPEN UNLESS YOU KEY IN FROM OUTSIDE. *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
Electrical system, Equipment, Feb 9, 2011
JUST PAID $419.53 FOR REPAIR ON MY 2004 BMW 3 SERIES FOR TAIL LAMP CONNECTIONS AND GROUNDS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DEFECT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN NUMBER EA09-019. PLEASE INCLUDE ME AND INFORM ME WHEN I CAN SUBMIT PAID BILL, AS I WAS TERRIFIED WHILE DRIVING IN FL ON TURNPIKE WHEN A LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SHOWED MY REAR BRAKES WERE FAILING. I IMMEDIATELY FOUND FIELDS BMW JIN WINTER PARK FL AND BROUGHT IT THERE. THEY WERE AWARE OF DEFECT AND TOLD ME THAT THEIR FIX WOULD INCLUDE GROUNDING OTHER REAR BRAKE LIGHT TO PREVENT OTHER SIDE FROM FAILURE. THANK YOU *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 8, 2011
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INSTERSTATE AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REQUIRED A NEW FUEL PUMP WHICH COST $1,135.13. PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM, THE GAS MILEAGE DECREASED ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAD BEEN TUNED UP BY THE SAME DEALER. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 122,000 MILES. A REQUEST WAS MADE TO RETURN THE OLD PART. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 31, 2011
IN 2005 WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, THE CAR BEGAN PULLING UNEVENLY, JERKING GENTLY ON ACCELERATION UP A HIGHWAY BRIDGE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *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
Air bags, Jan 22, 2011
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 330I, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO ACCIDENT, NO COLLISION, NO POT HOLE. NOTHING TO EXPLAIN THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALERSHIP FIRST CLAIMED, "THERE WAS A COLLISION". WHEN IT WAS DISCERNED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION, THEIR STORY WAS "THERE WAS A 'POT HOLE' HIT". AFTER DESCRIBING THE SMOOTH DRIVING CONDITIONS ON THE STREET THIS OCCURRED, THEIR STORY WAS " THE VEHICLE WENT 'AIR-BORNE'". ALL OF THE DEALERSHIPS CONCLUSIONS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON "COMPUTER" EVIDENCE. ONCE I REALIZED I WAS GOING TO GET NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR AND GO HOME. I WAS INJURED IN THE LEFT SIDE WHEN THE DOOR PANEL BLEW OPEN AND THE BAG DEPLOYED. MY EVIDENCE, WAS MY "IN-VEHICLE" "CONCIERGE" (WHICH I HAD NO LONGER SUBSCRIBED TO) CAME ON VIA MY RADIO TO NOTE THAT THEY " HAVE NOTED A DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG" AND INQUIRED WHETHER I WAS ALRIGHT, AND WHAT WERE MY NEEDS: I.E., AN AMBULANCE, TOW TRUCK ETC. *TR
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