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.
Power train, Dec 31, 2010
A YEAR AGO, I BROUGHT MY 2004 BMW 325 XI IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, THE BMW SHOP EXPLAINED THAT THEY FOUND PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CV OUTER AXLE BOOTS. BOTH BOOTS WERE SPLIT AND LEAKING GREASE, AND THE AXLES WERE TURNING DRY.. THEY REPLACED BOTH BOOTS UNDER WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER 2010, CAR WAS VIBRATING WHILE RIDING. THEY STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT CV SHAFT (AXLE). THEY DID THIS AND THE VIBRATION STOPPED. NATURALLY, THIS WAS NOT COVERED SINCE MY CERTIFIED CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 2010. I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD HAVE DISCOVERED THE DEFECT TO THE AXLE WHEN THEY FOUND IT RUNNING DRY IN JANUARY. IN DRIVING THE CAR BEFORE THE REPAIR, I BELIEVE BMW PUT ME IN JEOPARDY BY NOT REPAIRING THE AXLE. THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE A HAZARD, RIDING ON A SHAKY DEFECTIVE AXLE. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 15, 2010
3 OF THE 4 CAR DOORS HAVE LOCKED UP AND CANNOT BE OPENED ELECTRICALLY OR MECHANICALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE, THREE OF THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS WOULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE. *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
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
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 15, 2010
OFTEN, THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK ON OUR 2004 BMW 325I SEDAN, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY LOCKABLE. THIS INCLUDES USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB, THE CENTRAL CONSOLE UNLOCK BUTTON AND ALSO MANUALLY PULLING THE DOOR LATCHES FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS MEANS THAT ONLY BY BREAKING A WINDOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. REPEATEDLY TOGGLING THE UNLOCK BUTTONS WILL EVENTUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS, BUT SOMETIMES ONLY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BMW'S GM5 MODULE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. A POPULAR WEBSITE THAT EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM IN MORE DETAIL IS HTTP://WWW.BMWGM5.COM/. NOW WE ARE FACED WITH A COSTLY REPAIR IF WE WANT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE MANNER. *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
Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 11, 2010
THE UNLOCK CONTROL BUTTON ON THE CENTER CONSOLE DOES NOT UNLOCK THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND DOES NOT UNLOCK THE 2 DOORS IN THE BACK. THIS FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, ONLY THE DRIVER CAN EXIT THE CAR BY USING THE MANUAL DOOR LATCH LEVER. THE OTHER PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED UNLESS THEY CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW OR CLIMB INTO THE FRONT SEAT AND THEN EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT SEAT DOOR. A PROPER SAFETY DESIGN AND OPERATION WOULD ALLOW THE MANUAL DOOR UNLOCK LATCH LEVERS TO WORK AT ALL TIMES AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED. AS I ROUTINELY DRIVE WITH A 4 YEAR OLD AND A 19 MONTH OLD IN THEIR CAR SEATS WHICH ARE IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY 2004 BMW , I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY SHOULD THERE BE A SITUATION THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE CAR QUICKLY AND THE DOOR LOCKS HAD FAILED. THE BMW SERVICE BELIEVES A MODULE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A PARTS COST OF $1000 AND WILL NOT COVER THIS COST. THE CAR HAS ONLY 29,000 MILES BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I SEE THAT OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO NHTSA ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM IN BMW 3 SERIES AND BMW 325XI. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 10, 2010
DOOR UN-LOCK RELAYS IN THE GM5 MODULE FAIL OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OCCUPANTS BEING UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT. PROBLEM IS WORSE IN WARMER MONTHS. *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
Power train, Aug 5, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A MOMENTARY DELAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY JERK FORWARD BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
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
Air bags, Jul 17, 2010
SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG. NO POT HOLE; NO COLLISION. SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. ONSTAR (OR BMW EQUIVALENT) ACKNOWLEDGED DEPLOYMENT. ASKED IF I NEEDED AN AMBULANCE OR TOW TRUCK. I FELT LIKE I WAS "SHOT" THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. VEHICLE BECAME "DISABLED". IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO BMW WITH MY STORY, THEY TOLD ME I MUST HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT (NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE); THEN THEY SAID, I MUST HAVE HIT A "POT HOLE" (SMOOTH STREET OF OCCURRENCE); THEN THEY SAID MY CAR MUST HAVE GONE "AIRBORNE" ???? MY CONCERN IS THE OTHER AIRBAGS: CONCERN FOR SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. I AM GLAD IT WAS ME (MALE) DRIVING. IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. NO OTHER DAMAGE OR INCIDENT AT THAT TIME. NO PROBLEMS SINCE, BUT I WILL NOT BRING MY CAR TO THIS DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AT ALL: MY OPTIONS ARE LIMITED. I NOW GO TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP FOR SERVICE. I DID NOT REPORT TO BMW, BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 4 DAYS PRIOR: DIDN'T THINK I WOULD GET ANY SYMPATHY. DRIVER SIDE (DOOR) AIRBAG: SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. NO PROVOCATION FOR THIS. SPONTANEOUS AND SCARY. *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
Visibility, Jun 21, 2010
SIDE VIEW MIRRORS BEGIN TO RUST FROM THE BOTTOM UP. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE HEATED MIRRORS BUT HAPPENS TO MOST 3 SERIES BMW'S, DESPITE THE CLIMATE. *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
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 18, 2010
2004 BMW 325 CI -- CONSTANT FUEL LEAK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *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
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 12, 2010
E46 BMW 2004 325XI AND 2000 323I BOTH HAVE ISSUES UNLOCKING DOORS WHEN WEATHER IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES. VEHICLE WONT LET YOU UNLOCK DOORS FROM INSIDE AND MANUAL UNLOCK IS ONLY FOR DRIVERS DOOR AND MUST DO SO THROUGH WINDOW. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT IN THE CAR I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HAVE ESCAPED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT ARE FORCED TO CRAWL INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND OUT THE DRIVER DOOR. NO MANUAL UNLOCK IS AVAILABLE TO ANY DOOR BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR. *TR