2005 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 227 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 8 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
54 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Feb 23, 2013
I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW FOR THE PROBLEM WITH REAR LAMPS. AT THAT TIME,ALL REAL LAMPS WERE WORKING ON MY CAR. HOWEVER FOR SAFETY CONCERN, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BE CHECKED; FEW MONTHS LATER, ONE OF THE TAIL LIGHT NOT WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WERE DONE FOR THE RECALL . I NEED TO PAY IF I WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT I FOUND THERE WAS NO POSITIVE VOLTAGE ON THE LIGHT BULB CIRCUIT. I TRACED THE WIRE AND DISCOVERED THE WIRE WAS BROKEN. THEN I ALSO FOUND ALL OTHER WIRES FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE AGING, THE PLASTIC OF THE WIRES WERE DETERIORATED AND THE COPPER WIRE EXPLORED TO VISIBLE. THAT MEAN THE DEALER DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT WORK LAST TIME. BECAUSE IT'S NO REASON THE WIRE WILL DETERIORATE THAT FAST IF THEY DID IT RIGHT FOR THE RECALL. I COMPLAINT TO BMW AND THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY ALREADY DONE WITH MY CAR. IF I NEED ANY WORK TO BE DONE I NEED TO PAY BY MYSELF. THE COPPER WIRES EXPLORED TO VISIBLE, IT WOULD CAUSE ELECTRIC FIRE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE THE PICTURE SHOWING THE AGING WIRE CONDITION ON MY CAR. I CAN EMAIL TO YOU IF YOU NEED IT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 5, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED BUT APPEARED VERY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Suspension, Exterior lighting, Dec 29, 2012
ZKW BRAND XENON HEADLIGHTS - THE BACK OF THE PROJECTOR BOWL IS MADE OF PLASTIC (VS. METAL IN THE AL/BOSCH BRAND, ALSO USED BY BMW), WHICH OVER TIME BURNS FROM THE HEAT PUT OUT BY THE HEADLIGHTS. THE BURN TURNS THE PLASTIC FROM WHITE TO BROWN/ORANGE, WHICH SEVERELY REDUCES LIGHT OUTPUT, MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. THE HEADLIGHT FROM MY CAR IS SO POOR THAT AT NIGHT I CAN SEE THE SHADOW OF MY CAR PRODUCED FROM CARS BEHIND ME. SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE HAS BEEN CAUSED DUE TO POOR LIGHT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Dec 10, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WIRES BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OPEN/CLOSE CONTROLS FOR THE REAR PASSENGER'S WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 2/4/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SIMILAR VEHICLES WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT BECAUSE THE DEALERS IN GERMANY ARE UNDER SOFA AGREEMENT. UPDATED 02/20/2013 *JS
Exterior lighting, Jun 13, 2012
THE HEADLAMP GOES OUT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY STAY ON! I WAS TOLD BY BMW EMPLOYEE THEY HAVE HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS THE LAMP GETS TO HOT AND MELTS THE WIRING AND THE WHOLE LIGHT HAS TO BE REPLACED $1200 OR BETTER! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE YOU HAVE NO IDEA IF YOU WILL HAVE FULL LIGHTS AT NIGHT. I READ BLOGS ON THE INTERNET WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM! *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 19, 2012
2005 BMW 325I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 11V-438 LAMPS IN REAR QUARTER PANEL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL RECTIFIED, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOPS IN HIS IMMEDIATE AREA. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE HIS VEHICLE SHIPPED TO ANOTHER ISLAND. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED BMW HAS SINCE AGREED TO SHIP THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 05/16/12 UPDATED 01//22/15. *JB
Exterior lighting, Mar 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND OVER TIME, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. SPORADICALLY, THE FAILURE WOULD ROTATE BETWEEN THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 13, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS) RECALL, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE THE WORK NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL, DUE TO THE DEALER NOT RECEIVING THE NECESSARY PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER, BUT THE DEADLINE HAD PASSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 145,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 13, 2012, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS BURNED OUT. THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE BULBS TWICE WHEN THE BULB AND THE WIRES BURNED HER FINGERS. THE WIRES AND THE HOUSING HAD BECOME SO HOT THAT IT ALSO BURNED A HOLE SURROUNDING THE BULB. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TAIL LIGHTS) BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 9, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RESISTANCE IN THE LAMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 8, 2011
IN AUGUST 2011 I GOT A WARNING INDICATOR THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH MY RIGHT TAILLIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2011 (IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND OTHER WORK) BMW MECHANICS AT MY AREA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT MY TAILLIGHT SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE CURRENT RECALL FOR 2003-2005 3 SERIES TAILLIGHTS THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. BMW TOLD ME MY VIN "DID NOT APPEAR" TO BE LISTED ON THEIR RECALL LIST AND THAT DESPITE THE ASSESSMENT OF THEIR CERTIFIED MECHANICS, I WOULD HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA IN ORDER TO GET YOU TO TELL BMW TO ADD MY CAR TO THE LIST SO THAT MY DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IT. PLEASE DO SO. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 2, 2011
EXTERIOR BRAKE AND TAILIGHT FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATED GROUND TERMINAL. NHTSA ACTION # EA09019. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 1, 2011
REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT AND BLINKER NOT WORKING. WIRE IS BURNED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 30, 2011
DASH MOUNTED WARNING LIGHT INDICATED TAIL LIGHT ISSUES. CHECKED THE LIGHT AND ALL THE BULBS WERE FINE BUT THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. I THEN NOTICED THE THE BROWN WIRE IN THE CONNECTOR HAD MELTED THROUGH THE CASE AND WAS TOUCHING OTHER WIRES IN THE CONNECTOR WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHORT OUT THE ENTIRE LIGHT. THE BROWN WIRE HAS VISIBLE SIGNS OF MELTING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TYPE BMW AND A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. RIGHT NOW MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE NOTICE BUT I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS. *KB
Exterior lighting, Nov 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS FOR THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 27, 2011
PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. LEFT REAR BRAKE, TAIL AND TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS WOULD GO ON/OFF. I REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE SOMEPLACE. IF THE WIRES/CONNECTORS WERE WIGGLED, THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON UNTIL A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR I CLOSED THE TRUNK. I REPORTED THIS TO BMW AND BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. BMW DID REPAIR THE PROBLEM AS A ONE TIME GOOD WILL GESTURE. ADDITIONAL VIN'S MAY NEED TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 9, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 330I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHT WARNING GAUGE WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING BULBS BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME MORE CONSTANT OVER TIME. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 11/28/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH REAR LAMPS STOPPED FUNCTIONING, INCLUDING THE TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. UPDATED 11/30/11
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 2, 2011
REAR TAILLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY WORK. NOTICED THAT THE REAR CONNECTORS, SPECIFICALLY THE GROUNDING WIRE WAS MELTED. THE TURN SIGNALS WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT TURN ON. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 31, 2011
THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING. THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM. BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 28, 2011, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT CONNECTING WIRES WERE MELTED. 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 VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Suspension, Exterior lighting, Sep 22, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR COILS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HAND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE IF THE HAND BRAKE WAS ON OR NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Exterior lighting, Aug 3, 2011
ZKW BRAND XENON HEADLIGHTS - THE BACK OF THE PROJECTOR BOWL IS MADE OF PLASTIC (VS. METAL IN THE AL/BOSCH BRAND, ALSO USED BY BMW), WHICH OVER TIME BURNS FROM THE HEAT PUT OUT BY THE HEADLIGHTS. THE BURN TURNS THE PLASTIC FROM WHITE TO BROWN/ORANGE, WHICH SEVERELY REDUCES LIGHT OUTPUT, MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AT NIGHT UNLESS MY HI-BEAMS ARE ON, WHICH IS HARD TO PULL OFF UNLESS I'M THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD. THIS ISSUE IS MOST PREVALENT IN 2002-2005 3 SERIES SEDANS, AND THE ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN THE BMW COMMUNITY. *KB
Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2011
ZKW REFLECTORS ON HID HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DEGRADE, GREATLY REDUCING THE HEADLIGHT EFFICIENCY AT NIGHT. THE PLASTIC OF WHICH THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ARE MADE DEGRADES FROM HEADLIGHT HEAT, AND THE REFLECTIVE COATING BURNS. *TT
Exterior lighting, Jul 5, 2011
IN 2002-2005 BMW 330I SEDANS WITH THE XENON HEADLIGHT FEATURE, BMW OPTED TO USE ZKW BRAND HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES INSTEAD OF AL/BOSCH BRAND ASSEMBLIES. THE ZKW BRAND ASSEMBLIES HAVE PLASTIC PROJECTOR REFLECTOR BOWLS WHEREAS THE AL/BOSCH ASSEMBIES HAVE METAL PROJECTOR REFLECTOR BOWLS. AS A RESULT OF CONSTANT HEAT AND CONCENTRATION OF THE XENON BULB ON THE PLASTIC PROJECTOR BOWL, THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE BEGINS TO DETERIORATE. SOON ENOUGH (AFTER A FEW YEARS OF USE) THE BOWLS RECEIVE BROWN/BLACKISH BURN MARKS FROM THE CONCENTRATION OF LIGHT. THE BURN MARKS NO LONGER REFLECT THE XENON LIGHT AND CAUSE THE OUTPUT FROM THE XENON ZKW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO BE FAINTER THAN ORIGINAL STATE. NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS ON THE BMW CAR FORUMS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAVE MADE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE. NOTE: SOME 2002-2005 330I SEDANS DID COME WITH AL/BOSCH BRAND HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *KB
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 22, 2011
REAR TAIL LAMP ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE GO OUT AND COME OUT INTERMITTENTLY. STARTED AT 80,000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE NOW AT 110,000. *TR