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: visibility
14 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Dec 27, 2022
I was driving one night and the headlight out indicator on the dash lit up showing the passenger headlight to be out. This limited my ability to see the road as I now only had one headlight operational. Upon further inspection, the halogen bulb was found to be in working order, but the wiring harness has lost its insulation. On both the driver and passenger side the insulation on the internal wire harness to the headlights has dried out and fallen off, exposing bare copper making an electrical short highly likely.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Oct 3, 2020
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A WHILE. I WAS STATIONARY WHILE I DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING. DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY WITH THE KEY FOB, CONVERTIBLE TOP ALSO, WINDOWS SOMETIMES WORKED, WIPERS ALSO. I READ FORUMS TO REALIZE THE GENERAL MODULE FAILED RELAYS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS KNOWN PROBLEM ENDANGERS THE OPERATOR, PASSENGERS, AND THE PUBLIC, AND A RECALL AND REDESIGN SHOULD BE ORDERED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. I TRIED TO ADD PICTURES, BUT THE FORM CRASHES.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 26, 2019
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW MOTOR/WINDOW REGULATOR WITH 3/4 WINDOWS IN THIS CAR! THEY ARE ALL ORIGINAL TO THE CAR. I NEED THEM FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A VISIBILITY/SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY I NEED TO OPEN MY WINDOWS AND THEY DON'T WORK? I CHECKED ONLINE AND MANY MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THUS I KNOW FOR A FACT IT IS A DEFECT WITH THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, I JUST FOUND OUT I CAN REPORT IT TO NHTSA. I READ ONLINE ABOUT A GUY WITH THE SAME CAR WHO WAS GRANTED A REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS DEEMED A DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE THE SAME.
Steering, Suspension, Visibility/wiper, Nov 15, 2018, crash
SUSPENSION- SWAY BARS, BUSHINGS, EVERY PART OF SUSPENSION BREAKING. BRAKES-EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. LIGHTING-ISSUES WITH HEADLAMPS. REARVIEW MIRROR-DEFECTIVE, NOT CLEAR ENOUGH TO SEE OUT OF. AIRBAGS-REPLACED, BUT WHEN THE CAR WAS IMPACTED THE ROLL BARS DEPLOYED WHILE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT.
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Mar 4, 2016
SIDE MIRRORS FADING INTO A BROWN COLOR. MAKING THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THEM IMPOSSIBLE. MANY TIMES I HAVE ALMOST SIDE SWIPED CARS THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF ME DUE TO MY NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUR OF MY SIDE MIRRORS. ALSO FRONT LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED IT 3 TIMES IN TWO MONTHS AND IT KEEPS EITHER GOING OUT OR FALLING OUT OF THE HOLE MAKING THE INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 18, 2014
THE OVERHEAD SUNROOF CONTROLS SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF THE CEILING WHILE ACCELERATING, CREATING A DISTRACTION AND LOSS OF VISIBILITY FROM THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR. THE CONTROLS/PANEL REMAINED ATTACHED BY WIRING, COMPLETELY BLOCKING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE PLASTIC CLIPS ATTACHING THE PANEL TO THE CEILING APPEAR TO HAVE BECOME BRITTLE AND THEN FAILED. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 17, 2013
REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS "BUBBLES" AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE NOW. *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
Visibility, Dec 21, 2011
THE BOTTOM PART OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR HAS BECOME UNUSABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO SEE THE VEHICLES BEHIND US ONLY THROUGH THE TOP PART OF THE MIRROR. IT IS A AUTO DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR, AND, JUDGING BY THE POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET, IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF MIRROR IN BMWS. REPLACING IT OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD COSTS $425 PLUS TAX FOR THE PART, NOT INCLUDING LABOR CHARGES. WE HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND WE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH A REARVIEW MIRROR; WE EXPECTED BETTER FROM BMW. WE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT UNLESS BMW IS FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Aug 11, 2011
WINDOW MOTOR BURNS OUT. HAVE HAD TWO REPLACED. *TR
Visibility, Jul 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO VIEW WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE AT THE VEHICLES REAR. THE DEALER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
Visibility, Jun 21, 2011
ON THIS DATE MY WIFE COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT A "BUBBLE" IN HER INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I LOOKED AT IT AND IT IS INDEED A BUBBLE OF AIR IN HER MIRROR. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 BMW 330XI WITH AN AUTO-DIMMING INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR. TODAY I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 800-831-1117 AND SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEREFORE BMW FELT NO RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR, REPLACE, OR HELP IN ANY WAY WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE PART COST FROM MY LOCAL BMW DEALER IS OVER $500.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FOR INSTALLATION. THIS COST IS FOR THE ENTIRE MIRROR ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE HOUSING THE ELECTRONICS MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING AND OF COURSE THE MIRROR ITSELF. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN MORE THAN A FEW MIRRORS COME IN LIKE THAT, AND THAT ONE WAS EVEN LEAKING THE FLUID INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. APPARENTLY THERE IS A SEAL IN THE MIRROR THAT HAS RUPTURED AND IS NOW LEAKING AIR INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE GLASS PLATE AND THE MIRROR SURFACE ITSELF. THE RESULT OF THE "BUBBLE" IS THAT NOW THE MIRROR REFRACT AND REFLECTS BRIGHT LIGHT POINTS (HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT OR SUN GLARE FROM WINDSHIELDS FOR EXAMPLE) INTO MULTIPLE SPOTS SO AS TO MAKE THE MIRROR NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO USE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I FEEL THAT BMW KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE WITH THEIR MIRRORS AND THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY WIFE'S CAR NOW. I BELIEVE THAT IF JUST THE GLASS PORTION OF THE MIRROR WERE REPLACEABLE THIS WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE COST OF REPAIR TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
Visibility, May 29, 2011
REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED. CORROSIVE FLUID LEAKED OUT MELTING PLASTIC SHIFT CONSOLE AND STAINING PASSENGER SEAT. REAR VIEW MIRROR NOW DISTORTED AND UNUSABLE. AUTO NIGHT DIMMING NOT OPERATIONAL.
Visibility, Aug 27, 2009
WINDOW REGULATOR ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKEN 4X IN 4 YEARS ALWAYS IN THE SUMMER. *TR