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 22, 2020
CHEAP WIRING WAS USED IN THE HEADLIGHT UNITS FOR SPECIFIC CARS WITH ADAPTIVE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS. THE WIRING FOR THESE CARS NOW HAS FALLEN APART, AND DISCONNECTS. BMW'S ONLY WAY OF FIXING IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT, WHICH COSTS AROUND $2000 TO REPLACE A FEW WIRES THAT SHOULD COST LESS THAN $10. THERE ARE MANY CARS ON THE ROAD THAT THIS AFFECTS, WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. CAR OWNERS ARE SOLDERING WIRES BY HAND IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT BUT THERE IS NO LONG TERM SOLUTION.
Air bags, May 29, 2020
I CALLED MY DEALER LAST YEAR TO SCHEDULE TO FIX MY RECALL ON MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT WENT TO MY APPOINTMENT. NOW ONE OF THE BAGS EXPLODED, AND I CALLED THE DELEGAR AGAIN TO DO MY RECALL, BUT TO MY SURPRISE THE HAVE MY CAR IN RECORDS AS REPAIR!! AND I TOLD THE THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THEY PROMISED TO CHECK AND CALL ME BACK AND HAS NOT HAPPENED EITHER. THIS IS THE BMW SAN ANTONIO TEXAS DELEGAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS FRAUD! I WANT TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO AWAY WITH IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO UPLOAD ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST. NEVERTHELESS I DO HAVE A PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE AIRBAG THAT EXPLODED IS FROM 2003, AS THE REST OF THEM. I FEEL SO ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED. MY NAME IS [XXX], OWNER OF THE 2004 BMW 325CI INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
Air bags, Mar 10, 2020
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V018000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED TWO BMW DEALERS, INCLUDING THE BMW OF MONTEREY DEALER, LOCATED AT (1 GEARY PLZ, SEASIDE, CA 93955) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 2, 2020
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRES BREAK AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHT TO STOP EMITTING LIGHT OR OTHERWISE WORKING. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS EVENTUALLY FAIL. THIS OCCURS WITH MERE NORMAL USE OF THE CAR AND PASSAGE OF TIME. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND BULB ARE STILL INTACT, BUT SIMPLY RECEIVE NO POWER DUE TO THE BROKEN WIRES. THE ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME, WHETHER STATIONARY, IN MOTION, OR ON BACK ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. WHEN THIS ISSUE IS GOOGLED ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR, A 2004'2006 BMW 3 SERIES E46 COUPE WITH BI-XENON ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, MANY MANY USERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. NO MATTER THE CONDITION, LOCATION, AND SERVICE HISTORY OF THE CAR, THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL ALWAYS STOP WORKING SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE WIRING. SEE: HTTPS://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1073501 IF REPAIRED ENOUGH TIMES, THE ASSEMBLY BECOMES UNREPAIRABLE, AT WHICH POINT THE USER IS STUCK DRIVING WITHOUT A HEADLIGHT, A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. ORDERING AN INCREDIBLY COSTLY $1500 PART TO REPLACE IT IS NOT ONLY COSTLY, BUT WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE SAME CRITICAL ISSUE RE-APPEARING BECAUSE THE DESIGN IS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. OTHER COSTS INCLUDE MECHANICS WHO INSIST TO CUSTOMERS THAT THE ISSUE IS BOTH WIRING AND THE BULB TOO, CAUSING UNSUSPECTING USERS TO BE CHARGED EXTRA FOR REPLACEMENT BULBS AND THE ASSOCIATED LABOR AS WELL. FIRST OCCURRENCE ON MY CAR WAS APRIL 2019, SECOND WAS OCTOBER 2019, AND THIRD WAS FEBRUARY 2020 AT WHICH POINT THE PART WAS DEEMED UNREPAIRABLE. 2004'2006 BMW 325CI AND BMW 330CI WITH ADAPTIVE BI-XENON HID HEADLIGHTS
Other or unspecified, Feb 19, 2020
WHEN TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A RESTRICTED HIGHWAY OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO SURROUNDING VEHICLES OR ANY EVIDENCE OF PROJECTILES THAT WOULD HAVE EXPLAINED THE EXPLOSION. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, DRY, AND ABOVE FREEZING.
Exterior lighting, Feb 17, 2020
THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN ZKW XENON PROJECTOR BOWLS USED IN E46 BMW CARS. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME SO DIM THAT I CONSTANTLY RUN FOG LIGHTS AT NIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SEE. DRIVING AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN, IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND OTHER DRIVERS. ZKW PROJECTOR BOWLS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC, WHICH ARE UNABLE TO STAND UP TO THE HEAT OF XENON BULBS. OVER TIME, THEY HAVE BECOME BROWN AND CRACKED AND DO NOT REFLECT LIGHT ON TO THE ROAD. AL XENON PROJECTOR BOWLS, ALSO USED IN E46 BMWS, DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. ZKW SEEMS TO HAVE REALIZED THAT THEIR PLASTIC BOWLS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. THE ZKW PROJECTOR BOWLS FOR E90 BMWS ARE MADE OF METAL AND DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE AND SUFFICIENT OEM REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE. BMW ONLY SELLS WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, NOT JUST THE PROJECTOR BOWLS, WHICH RUN HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH. EVEN THEN, REPLACING WITH ZKW LIGHTS WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE INSUFFICIENT DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC BOWLS. THE COMMUNITY IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE ONLY REMEDIES ARE REPLACE ENTIRE ASSEMBLIES OR RETROFITING THE HEADLIGHTS WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS. HEADLIGHTS ARE CRITICAL TO DRIVER SAFETY AND SHOULD NOT BE THIS COSTLY TO KEEP WORKING. THESE HAVE FAILED PRIOR TO THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (MINE IS AT 138K). THIS THREAD GOES INTO DETAIL FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.ZHPMAFIA.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?3598-THE-ZKW-BURNT-BOWLS-THREAD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE CAUSED BY NEGLECTFUL MANUFACTURING OF THESE HEADLIGHTS. THE ATTACHED PICTURE SHOWS THE DAMAGE OF MY HEADLIGHTS.
Electrical system, Feb 7, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AT A FUELING STATION AND WHEN EXITING THE STORE NOTICED SMOKE EXITING THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT USED THE KEY FOB TO OPEN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT TRUNK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT DUE TO OPERATOR INVOLVEMENT AND WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO RODENT INTRUSION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *LN *DL
Exterior lighting, Jan 16, 2020
CHEAP PLASTIC USED IN HEADLIGHT PROJECTORS MELT DUE TO HEAT FROM OEM XENON BULBS. THIS POSES A FIRE SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS LOW AND EVENTUALLY NO LIGHT ONTO THE ROAD.
Exterior lighting, Dec 2, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING MATERIAL WAS DETERIORATED AND PREVENTED THE HEADLIGHTS FROM PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Other or unspecified, Oct 6, 2019, fire
CAR CAUGHT FIRE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT. MY FRONT END WAS SERVERLY DAMAGED IN THE FIRE. IT WAS TOTALED.
Air bags, Aug 3, 2019
OK. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON 2/12/19 TO THE BMW DEALER IN APPLETON, WI. AFTER THAT BMW HAS CALLED ME 3 TIMES CLAIMING HE WASN'T FIXED. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL THE DEALER. NOW I HAVE REC'D A LETTER FROM THE DMV STATING IT WASN'T FIXED. I FAXED THE INVOICE DATES 2/12/19 TO BMW TODAY. I GIVE UP. THE CONTACT IS PETE KEMPEN 1-877-983-7473. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 4, 2019
NHTSA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE RECALLS ON MY 2004 BMW 325XI 4DR SEDAN. THERE WERE 2 RECALLS THAT ARE RELATED TO AIR BAGS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS ARE #15V318000 AND #14V428000. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION THAT THESE RECALLS ARE VALID SO I CAN GET THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS. PLEASE SEE THE SUPPORTING DOCS ATTACHED. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING WEIRD ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAPPENING TO THE POINT THE CAR WONT SHUT OFF AT TIMES, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A DAY, TURN SIGNAL GOES OUT, CAR DIES, STEREO WONT WORK ETC. I WAS WONDERING IF OTHER RECALLS WERE PLACED ON THIS CAR AS WELL?
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 30, 2019
MY LEFT REVERSE/TAIL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB AND ASSEMBLY AND ALSO HAVE FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Mar 22, 2019
HEADLAMP BULB OUT AND UPON REPLACEMENT IT WAS NOTED THE COATED WIRING TO THE XENON SYSTEM TO RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHT IS BRITTLE (THE WIRES PLASTIC COATING IS FALLING OFF)AND IN SOME PLACES EXPOSED WIRING WAS FOUND. ELECTRICAL TAPE NEED TO WRAP THE WIRING TO AVOID POTENTIAL FIRE. LATE NOTICE TO THIS SITE I WAS UNAWARE TO FILE A REPORT. OTHERS ALSO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES.
Exterior lighting, Feb 17, 2019
THE ADAPTIVE BIXENON HEADLIGHTS USE BIODEGRADABLE WIRING. THIS WIRING CANNOT WITHSTAND THE HEADLIGHTS ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT MOVEMENT. THESE WIRES CAN TEAR OR WORSE THE INSULATION CAN CRUMBLE OFF. THIS LEADS TO A HUGE FIRE RISK. FURTHERMORE, BMW DOES NOT HAVE ANY FORM OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. THEY ONLY SELL NEW HEADLIGHT UNITS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. TO BE CLEAR, NO INCIDENT OCCURRED TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE OTHER THAN STANDARD USE OF THE CAR. IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB ON ALL CARS USING THIS WIRING, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE E60 M5 PLATFORM. THE RESULT IS HEADLIGHTS THAT CAN TURN OFF AT ANY TIME OR WORSE THEY CAN SHORT AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 16, 2018, fire
CAR SITTING IN DRIVEWAY OF PRIMARY RESIDENCE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER REPEATED HEAVY RAINS AND HURRICANES AND SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE WAS SELF EXTINGUISHED BUT STARTED IN DASH ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL CENTERED ON THE HEAD-LIGHT CONTROL MODULE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2018
SUBFRAME
Electrical system, Oct 7, 2018
THE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS ARE FLICKERING (STATIONARY OR IN MOTION). THIS POINTS TO A FAULTY WIRING ISSUE, ACCORDING TO MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORTING THIS ON INTERNET FORUMS FOR THIS VEHICLE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 10, 2018
THE STOCK ZKW PROJECTORS HAVE BURNT OUT AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE QUALITY OF LIGHT EMANATING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS. IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY TRUE VISIBILITY, I HAVE TO HOLD THE "FLASH-TO-PASS" LIGHTS ON WHILE I'M DRIVING (A MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES ARE OVER $3,000 FOR THE PAIR. THAT COST CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED. I PURCHASED THE CAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, BUT I, OF COURSE, DID NOT TEST DRIVE IT AT NIGHT (SINCE IT WAS SUMMER). SO I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING ABOUT THE DETERIORATED CONDITION OF THE HEADLIGHTS. I CANNOT SAY FOR CERTAIN WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT, BASED ON INTERNET SEARCHES, IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE THAT DATES BACK TO AT LEAST 2011.
Air bags, Aug 28, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER DOOR SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA (4171 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 228-8373) TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG WAS STILL HANGING OUT FROM THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,700.
Service brakes, Aug 9, 2018, crash
NEW DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WITH TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED. BRAKE PADS ARE CONTAMINATED AND EMBEDDED WITH A SLIPPERY SUBSTANCE. PADS ARE FROM PRIME CHOICE AUTO PARTS 42832 STATE ROUTE 12, ALEXANDRIA BAY, NY, 13607-2216 CAN YOU INVESTIGATE AND ANALYZE THE BRAKE PADS IN ORDER TO STOP THE SELLING OF DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS BRAKE PADS? I AM ABLE TO SHIP TO YOU A BRAKE PAD SAMPLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, BUT UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE TURNING ON A CITY STREET.
Electrical system, Seats, Feb 22, 2018
THE CAR SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH LEATHER AND BURNED THROUGH MY COAT. I MADE COMPLIANT TO BMW AND SPOKE TO MICHAEL PIGONCELLI. BMW REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT OR TO COMPENSATE ME FOR MY COAT. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. THE SEAT WARMER WILL SEVERELY INJURE ANYONE WHO USES IT IF A HEAVY COAT IS NOT WORN. I WAS TOLD BY THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE SEAT WARMER BURNING THROUGH THE LEATHER AND PEOPLES SKIN/COAT IS COMMON. BMW (NEWMARKET, ONTARIO) TOOK PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT AND MY COAT.
Air bags, Jan 25, 2018
AIR BAG TROUBLE COD LIGHT ON THE DASH DRIVING CAR ON STREET AND HIGHWAY
Air bags, Jan 24, 2018
MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2018
THE OEM XENON ZKW BRAND LIGHTS HAD COMPLETELY BURNT REFLECTOR BULBS THAT CAUSED LOW LIGHT TO BE EMITTED. THIS DEFECT IS DUE TO PLASTIC BOWLS BEING USED INSTEAD OF METAL OR ANOTHER MATERIAL. THE DAMAGE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE HAZARD OR WORSE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE AND LIGHT OUTPUT TO THIS COMPLAINT. THIS OCCURRED SIMPLY BY HAVING THE HEADLIGHTS ON.