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.
Air bags, Jan 17, 2017
1-10-2017 APPROX. 5:15PM. DRIVING HOME ON I-80 FREEWAY, RAINY WEATHER, 5PM TRAFFIC, SO I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 55MPH, THERE IS SOME ROUGH ROAD BUT NOT REALLY ANY POTHOLES. I DROVE OVER THE BAD ROAD AND THE DRIVER CURTAIN AND DOOR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED THERE WAS NEVER ANY IMPACT BUT THE ROAD DID SHAKE THE CAR. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR THAT FROM THE ROAD. I DRIVE THE SAME ROUTE HOME IN OUR OTHER CAR DAILY AND IT NEVER SETS THE AIR BAG OFF OR ANYONE ELSE DRIVING THAT EXTREMELY BUSY FREEWAY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 17, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. WHILE DRIVING AND/OR PARKED, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LAMP TURN SIGNAL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
Air bags, Jan 13, 2017
TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:15V318 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V428
Exterior lighting, Jan 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME DIM AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ZEON PROJECTOR IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 2, 2017
HEADLIGHTS PROJECT ALMOST NO LIGHT. JUST PAID $130 TO HAVE LENSES CLEANED, NO IMPROVMENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY EYES AND COMPLAINED TO OPTHAMOLOGIST TWICE BUT MY EYES ARE OK. I'VE READ THT THE REFLECTOR BOWLS IN THIS MODEL MELT FROM THE HEAT OF THE BULB. I NEED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION ASAP SO I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WAIT FOR AN INVESTIGATION.
Air bags, Dec 29, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Dec 12, 2016
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER DATED JULY 2015 CONCERNING THE RECALL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW ON 11/24/15 AND THEY SAID THEY PUT MY NAME ON THE LIST AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE REPLACEMENT CAME IN. I CALLED AGAIN ON 4/14/16 AND [XXX] SAID SHE WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE MY NAME IS ON THE LIST AND WOULD CALL ME BACK WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED. IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. THIS IS SO CONCERNING TO ME AS THIS CAR IS MY MAIN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I AM SO AFRAID I WILL HAVE A FRONT END COLLISION RESULTING IN DEATH OR DISMEMBERMENT. IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN I OR MY ESTATE WILL MOST CERTAINLY SUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Dec 10, 2016
TAKAYUKI RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.(POTENTIALLY LETHAL CONSEQUENCES IF DEPLOYED). LAST YEAR, I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL, THIS TIME FOR THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG.I RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS PLACATED WITH THE PROMISE OF REPLACEMENT. IT HAS BEEN EIGHTEEN MONTHS NOW AND THE DEALER ASKS ME TO BE PATIENT. I RECENTLY FOUND THAT IT MAY TAKE UNTIL 2020!!! FOR ANY REPLACEMENT!!! I ASK, SIMPLY WOULD ANY PRUDENT PERSON DRIVE MY VEHICLE? LIVING WITH THE THREAT OF DEATH FOR FOUR MORE YEARS? WHAT AM I TO DO? I WANT A SAFE REPLACEMENT AT BMW'S EXPENSE UNTIL MY VEHICLE CAN BE REPAIRED. YES MY VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD ( 60,000 MILES) AND YES I LIVE IN WHAT CONSIDERED A "HUMID" ENVIRONMENT! HELP!
Air bags, Dec 9, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000(AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Exterior lighting, Dec 2, 2016
ZKW BRAND XENON HEADLAMPS HAVE DEFECTIVE REFLECTOR BOWLS. THE LIGHTS BURN OFF ALL OF THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE CAUSING THE LOW/HIGH BEAMS TO BE SO DIM THAT DRIVING AT NIGHT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE PART (REFLECTOR BOWL) IS NOT AVAILABLE AS A REPLACEMENT PART, IT CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AS A WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR $1300 EACH LIGHT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, THAT I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT. AS WE HAVE BEEN GETTING INTO WINTER AND THE DAYLIGHT SAVING CHANGE CAUSE EARLIER SUNSET TIMES, I NOTICED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT VERY BRIGHT ON THE ROAD. IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE THAT I NOTICED IN PAST YEARS DUE TO MY <1 MILE COMMUTE, BUT THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A HOUSE 25MI FROM WORK AND THE AMOUNT OF NIGHT DRIVING HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. I FIRST ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LIGHTS TO TRY TO CORRECT WHAT I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS, AND ALSO HAVE REPLACED ONE OF THE HEAD LIGHT BULBS WITH NO CHANGE. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON BMW FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, AND IT SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, OR AT LEAST AN OEM REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 16, 2016
HEADLIGHT WIRING ON MY 2004 BMW 330CI DEGRADED PREMATURELY ACCELERATED BY HEAT AND HIGH VOLTAGE UNTIL IT CAUSED MY HEADLIGHT TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE EARLY EVENING. THE SYMPTOM WAS CAUSED BY THE SUPPLY WIRES TO THE IGNITER LOSING THERE INSULATION AT STRESSED HARNESS ATTACHMENT POINT, ARCED OVER, AND CAUSED THE COPPER CONDUCTORS TO BECOME BRITTLE. THIS SYMPTOM WAS SEEN ON THE PROJECTOR ASSEMBLY WIRING AS WELL AS THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT WHICH DID NOT EXHIBIT THE COPPER BREAKDOWN. INSULATION OF BOTH ASSEMBLIES CRUMBLED TO FLAKES WHEN TOUCHED AND RENDERED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNUSABLE. THIS FAULT COULD JUST AS EASILY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DURING WHICH THE SPECIFIED HEADLIGHT FUSES MAY NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION TO THE ASSOCIATED VEHICLE SYSTEMS. THE ONLY PROVIDED SOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS TO BUY A NEW ASSEMBLY FOR A COMPONENT WHICH SHOULD ONLY REQUIRE PERIODIC REPLACEMENT OF THE LAMPS WHEN THEY BURN OUT. FORTUNATELY MY CAR ALSO FLOOD LIGHTS WHICH HELPED TO LIGHT THE WAY WHEN THE HEADLAMP FAILED.
Air bags, Nov 16, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT *TR
Air bags, Nov 7, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Exterior lighting, Nov 6, 2016
LOW BEAM HID HEADLIGHT PROJECTOR MADE BY ZKW FOR BMW ARE POORLY DESIGNED/MADE, UNABLE TO HANDLE THE HEAT OUTPUT FROM THE OEM XENON BULBS, THE PART BECOMES SEVERELY SCORCHED AND DEGRADED, REDUCING LIGHT OUTPUT TO UNSAFE LEVELS. TO COMPENSATE, FOG LIGHTS HAVE TO BE USED TO SAFELY SEE THE PAVEMENT. THIS IS A VERY WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THIS MANUFACTURER'S PRODUCT (ZKW). BMW HAD ANOTHER MANUFACTURER, AL (AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING), WHICH DIDN'T SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Oct 30, 2016
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE POOR LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE FACTORY XENONS. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THE E46 SEDAN WITH XENON HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW HAVE AN ISSUE OF THE PROJECTOR BOWLS BURNING SLOWLY OVER TIME DUE TO POOR MATERIAL CHOICE THAT CANNOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE FACTORY BULBS. UPON INSPECTION OF MY HEADLIGHTS, I NOTICED THAT THE BOWLS IN MY HEADLIGHTS WERE INDEED BOTH BURNT AND CRACKED AND AS A RESULT OF THIS, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT DUE TO POOR LIGHT OUTPUT. I HAVE RESULTED TO USING MY FOG LIGHTS AS A SUPPLEMENTARY LIGHT SOURCE JUST TO SEE IN THE EVENINGS AND I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEGLIGENT OF BMW CONSIDERING COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR YEARS.
Air bags, Oct 13, 2016
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IN JUNE 2015 AND ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2016.OVER A YEAR + I HAVE BEEN CALLING SOUTH BAY BMW IN TORRANCE CA. AND THEY KEEP ON TELLING ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS YET. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME..
Exterior lighting, Oct 12, 2016
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM AT NIGHT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WITHOUT HIGH BEAMS ON AT ALL TIMES. THE FOG LIGHTS ARE BRIGHTER THAN MY NEW HEADLIGHT BULBS. ONLY SOLUTION SEEMS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH BMW SO WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND OVER 1500.00 WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM WITH A RECALL.
Air bags, Oct 12, 2016
TAKATA RECALL LETTER DATED AUG. 2016 STATES "WE HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL". WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR (SOUTH MOTORS BMW), THEY STATED THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART FOR MY CAR AND DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Oct 5, 2016
TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED LETTER FROM BMW DATED SEPTEMBER 2016 STATING "FINAL REMEDY AVAILABLE" FOR RECALL 15V-318. CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE IMMEDIATE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART NEEDED HAS NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED AT DEALERSHIP. THE REPAIR CAN NOT BE MADE YET. THEY SAID THEY WILL PUT MY NAME ON A LIST TO BE CALLED WHEN THE PART IS RECEIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
Air bags, Oct 4, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL" I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL BY MAIL ON 8/24/16 STATING THAT I NEEDED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS REPLACED. I THEN PROCEEDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ON AUGUST 29TH WITH GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW LOCATED AT 500 INTERSTATE N PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30339. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK AND WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. HOWEVER THE RECALL NOTICE DID STATE THAT THE PARTS WERE IN STOCK AND READY TO BE INSTALLED. I WAITED 2 WEEKS AND NEVER RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL ON THE STATUS OF THE AIR BAGS. I THEN CALLED GLOBAL BMW AGAIN, AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF ME CALLING, AND CLAIMED THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE AIRBAGS. THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE RE-OCCURRED ON MY FOLLOW UP PHONE CALLS ON SEPTEMBER 12TH AND 23RD. THEN FINALLY ON OCTOBER 3RD I PLACED ANOTHER FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL WHERE ONCE AGAIN THEY DID NOT HAVE MY INFORMATION, BUT DID HAVE A DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN STOCK. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT SHE WOULD BE CHECKING ON THE STATUS OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND GIVE ME A CALL. I CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY TO CHECK, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHEN THEY COULD OBTAIN A PASSENGER AIRBAG. OVER A MONTH OF PHONE CALLS AND STILL NOTHING DONE. I AM LESS THAN PLEASED AND VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE. IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS THAT BMW DOESN'T CARE ABOUT FIXING THE ISSUE.
Air bags, Sep 30, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT COULD NOT GET THE RECALL REMEDIED DUE TO LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Sep 29, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. THIS COMPLAINT IS DUE TO THE SLOW RESPONSE OF NALLEY BMW IN DECATUR GEORGIA TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG. I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE BMW DEALER ON SEPT 7TH. I WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE ORDERED AND I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN THEY ARRIVED. BY SEPT 16TH I HAD HEARD NOTHING AND CALLED AGAIN. NALLEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD OF MY HAVING ORDERED PARTS. I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WHERE NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. SO I CALLED BMW NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM GET IN TOUCH WITH ME DIRECTLY. NOTHING HAPPENED, SO TODAY VISITED THE DEALER PERSONALLY TO GET THE PARTS ORDERED. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS TO RECEIVE PARTS. THIS IS UNACCEPTIBLE. MY RECALL LETTER FROM BMW CLEARLY STATES "WE HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL," "PLEASE CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED BMW CENTER IMMEDIATELY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS IMPORTANT FREE RECALL PERFORMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," AND "...METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING THE DRIVER OR OTHER PASSENGERS POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH." BMW HAS BUILT CARS WITH SHRAPNEL GRENADES INSTEAD OF AIRBAGS AND NOW THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT FIXING IT. BMW SHOULD NOT E ALLOWED TO SELL ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE US UNTIL THEY HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THESE CRITICAL RECALLS.
Air bags, Sep 21, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 10/28/16 *BF UPDATED 10/31/16.*JB
Air bags, Sep 20, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE RECALL WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Sep 8, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.