2004 BMW 3 SERIES Problems & Recalls

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...

Mileage: 120,000

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 BR...

Mileage: 30

VEHICLE ADAPTIVE XENON HEADLIGHT WIRING IS FAULTY . WIRE INSULATION IS CRACKING/DETERIORATING AND ENTIRE WIRES ARE BREAKING APART. SYMPTOMS START WITH FLICKERING XENON HEADLIGHT EVENTUALLY (ABOUT A WEEK LATER) STOPS WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY, ENGINE ON. THE FAULTY WIRES AR...

Mileage: 100,000

MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED ON FIRE AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED. THE 2004 MODELS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (NOT THAT IT WILL HELP WITH THE LOSS OF MY CAR).

Mileage: 204,000

TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:15V318 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V428

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 WI...

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 ...

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..

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...

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 NO...

Mileage: 112,000

TAKATA RECALL - NOTIFIED JULY 2015 - A YEAR AGO - ABOUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND I LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST HUMID STATES IN THE SOUTH. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT OVER A YEAR FOR PART REPLACEMENTS THAT IF RUPTURED, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR ...

TAKATA RECALL: IN JULY, 2015 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW (RECALL NOTICE 15V-318) STATING THAT MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SHOULD BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN ONE IS. I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF SERVICE APPOINTMENTS AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (PERILLO BMW IN CH...

Mileage: 80,000

TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED AS OF 04-25-16

IN JULY 2015 I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-381: DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE. IT SAID IF DEPLOYED METAL FRAGMENTS COULD STRIKE THE DRIVER OR OTHER PASSENGERS CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. IT SAID I'D GET A 2ND LETTER WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I'VE NEVER GOTTEN THE SECO...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (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 NO...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPE...

THE POWER DOOR LOCK ON PASSENGER SIDE CANNOT BE UNLOCKED EITHER VIA REMOTE OR INSIDE BUTTON. WORSE, OFTEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED EVEN BY PULLING ON THE HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE! A PASSENGER CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CAR VIA THE DOOR. FURTHERMORE, REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS FIXE...

Mileage: 42,000

HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS ON HID BEING BURNT THEREFORE NOT GIVING ENOUGH LIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OWNERS OF THIS MODEL THAT HAS THE ZKW BRAND.

Mileage: 112,000

HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. REFLECTORS ARE BURNED. HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT ON THE ROAD. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

I DROVE MY CAR OVER A VERY MINUSCULE CRACK IN THE ROAD AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED AS I WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE A PASSENGER AT THE TIME BUT THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAG SIMULTANEOUSLY BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WHILE I WAS MAKING A T...

Mileage: 135,000

ZKW HID XENON LOW BEAM REFLECTORS BURNT OR CORRODED CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN LIGHT OUTPUT THAT BMW WANTS ~$3000 TO FIX. LIGHTS WERE A PREMIUM OPTION AND CANNOT BE CORRECTED BY XENON BULB REPLACEMENT. THE OUTPUT HAS DIMMED AS TO BE UNSAFE. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

THE VERY FIRST TIME I TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHTTIME TO GO BACK HOME, MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE ON BOARD, AND WE WERE MORE THAN 200 MILES FROM HOME. AFTER I TURNED ON THE LOW-BEAM HEAD LAMPS AND STARTED ROLLING, I COULD BARELY SEE THE ROAD BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS WERE NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING. I FL...

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE DATED SEPTEMBER 2014 FROM BMW REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER IN FT MYERS FL ON 10/28/14 TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE REPAIR DONE. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK AND ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND I WOU...

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE DATED SEPTEMBER 2014 FROM BMW REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER IN FT MYERS FL ON 10/28/14 TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE REPAIR DONE. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK AND ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND I WOU...

I WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK MY CAR WITH MY CAR KEY. I WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE CLICK SOUND ON PRESSING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY BUT NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES CAR GOT UNLOCKED. NOW I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON/OFF BASIS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER. AFT...

Mileage: 128,000

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MONTHS AGO AND BMW HAS YET TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE AIRBAG!! I DRIVE ACROSS COUNTRY TWICE A YEAR AND HAVE ALREADY MADE THE TRIP ONCE SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET BMW TO TAKE ACTION?? I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY STILL HAVE "NO PARTS AND A LONG BACKLOG OF PEOPLE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, 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 VIN WAS NOT...

REAR SPRING BROKE! COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT A SPRING COULD BRAKE. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WAS AMAZED THAT THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS. A BROKEN SPRING CAUSES HANDLING PROBLEMS AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT...

Mileage: 37,000

MY ZKW HEADLIGHTS DO NOT REFLECT LIGHT ANYMORE. BMW OFFER NO REPLACEMENT REFLECTOR BOWLS FOR THE HEADLIGHT, SO NO FIX IS AVAILABLE EXCEPT REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE SAME FAULTY ASSEMBLY FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER. HEADLIGHTS PRODUCE TOO MUCH HEAT AND MELT THE REFLECTORS DEEMING THEM...

Mileage: 110,000

THE HEATING ELEMENT ON MY 2004 BMW X3 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I DON'T USE IT OFTEN, BUT HAD NOTICED A HOT SMELL WHEN I DID USE IT AND THAT IT WOULD BE TOO WARM IN THE LUMBAR AND HIP REGION. THE FIRE ACTUALLY BURNED ABOUT A DIME SIZE HOLE IN THE DRIVER SIDE LEFT SEAT PANEL (UNDER THE THIG...

Mileage: 74,000

THE HEATING ELEMENT ON MY 2004 BMW X3 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I DON'T USE IT OFTEN, BUT HAD NOTICED A HOT SMELL WHEN I DID USE IT AND THAT IT WOULD BE TOO WARM IN THE LUMBAR AND HIP REGION. THE FIRE ACTUALLY BURNED ABOUT A DIME SIZE HOLE IN THE DRIVER SIDE LEFT SEAT PANEL (UNDER THE THIG...

Mileage: 74,000

WIRE LOOSING COATING ON INSIDE OF ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING SHORTS OR BROKEN WIRES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS AND OR TURN SIGNALS WILL FAIL TO WORK. WIRE IS VERY BRITTLE AS THIS IS ALSO ROUGHLY 20 GAUGE WIRE. THIS CAN BE AN EXTREME HAZARD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING BMW'S 3/5/6/ S...

Mileage: 156,000

WIRE LOOSING COATING ON INSIDE OF ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING SHORTS OR BROKEN WIRES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS AND OR TURN SIGNALS WILL FAIL TO WORK. WIRE IS VERY BRITTLE AS THIS IS ALSO ROUGHLY 20 GAUGE WIRE. THIS CAN BE AN EXTREME HAZARD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING BMW'S 3/5/6/ S...

Mileage: 156,000

REFLECTOR BOWLS IN XENON HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BURN AND DISCOLOR, MAKING LOW BEAM LIGHTING ALMOST NEGLIGIBLE. DOESN'T EVEN SEEM LIGHTS ARE ON. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT HIGH BEAMS ON. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

AS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS, THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER LIGHT UP THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW ON 2003-2005 BMW 330 MODELS. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ON THESE UNITS BURN OUT OVER TIME AND REDUCE THE HEADLIGHTS ABILITY TO REFLECT LIGHT. DRIV...

Mileage: 45,000

AS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS, THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER LIGHT UP THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW ON 2003-2005 BMW 330 MODELS. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ON THESE UNITS BURN OUT OVER TIME AND REDUCE THE HEADLIGHTS ABILITY TO REFLECT LIGHT. DRIV...

Mileage: 45,000

AS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS, THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS NO LONGER LIGHT UP THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW ON 2003-2005 BMW 330 MODELS. THE REFLECTOR BOWLS ON THESE UNITS BURN OUT OVER TIME AND REDUCE THE HEADLIGHTS ABILITY TO REFLECT LIGHT. DRIV...

Mileage: 45,000

THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE XENON HEADLAMPS HAS MELTED AWAY DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE BULBS RESULTING IN DRASTICALLY REDUCED HEADLIGHT EFFECTIVENESS AT NIGHT. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN 2003-2005 E46 BMW 3 SERIES ...

Mileage: 60,000

MY 2004 BMW 325CI RECENTLY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT (TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT) INTERMITENTLY DOES NOT WORK. A LEFT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE ALSO SHOWS ON THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC DISPLAY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITENT AND WITH NO WARNING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS ...

Mileage: 76,000

THOUGHT I HAD A LIGHT PROBLEM FIXED IT FIRST TIME. SIGNAL ON THE DASH DID NOT GO AWAY BUT THE LIGHT WAS ON. WENT TO A DIFFERENT PLACE AND FIXED IT AGAIN. AND THE SIGNAL STILL WOULD NOT GO AWAY. THE LIGHT WORKS BUT STILL SHOW ON THE DASH AS IF IT'S BROKEN. I'M AFRAID BY TIME IT'S TIME TO GET A NEW RE...

Mileage: 112,000

HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM WHEN COMPARED TO ORIGINAL BRIGHTNESS. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

RECENTLY PURCHASED SAID VEHICLE AND IT CAME WITH ZKW HID BI-XENON LIGHTING SYSTEM WHICH APPEARS THE INNER PLASTIC BOWLS ARE BURNT TO A CRISP WITH DETRIMENT LIGHT OUTPUT MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEARLY SEE UNLIT ROADS AT NIGHT, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND SOLVED ...

Mileage: 151,000

HEADLIGHT OUTPUT BEGAN TO DIM. REPLACED BULB AND HAD CLEAR LENS COVER CLEANED. THIS DID NOT HELP. CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAT FROM THE BULB HAS MELTED AND DISCOLORED THE REFLECTOR FOR THE HEADLIGHT. ONLINE INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A CHRONIC SAFE...

Mileage: 80,500

I OWN A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES SEDAN WITH OPTIONAL BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS. ABOUT 10,000 MILES INTO MY PURCHASE (OR 57,000) I BEGAN TO NOTICE MY HEADLIGHT OUTPUT DETERIORATING SIGNIFICANTLY. MY GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES COUPE/CONVERTIBLE ALSO WITH THE OPTIONAL BI-ZENON AND 60,000 MILES. I COMPARED ...

Mileage: 57,000

MY BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY FADING RESULTING IN EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY DURING NORMAL NIGHTIME DRIVING. THIS DEGRADATION HAS BEEN OCCURRING WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE UNTIL IT BECAME OBVIOUS AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS IT TURNS OUT, MY MECHANIC HAS ADVISED THERE IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH ...

MY BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY FADING RESULTING IN EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY DURING NORMAL NIGHTIME DRIVING. THIS DEGRADATION HAS BEEN OCCURRING WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE UNTIL IT BECAME OBVIOUS AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS IT TURNS OUT, MY MECHANIC HAS ADVISED THERE IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH ...

THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WITH BI-XENON AUTO LEVELING HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE LIGHT OUTPUT HAS STEADILY DECREASED. BROWN SCORCH MARKS ARE VISIBLE IN THE PROJECTOR WHEN THE HEADLIGHT IS ON. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE XENON BULB BURNED OFF ALL THE RE...

Mileage: 124,250

NO IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. WENT ABOUT 15 FEET AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TURNS ON AND OFF WITH OR WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE SEAT. BMW REPRESENTATIVE STATED RECALL ID# 8...

Mileage: 111,000

NO IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. WENT ABOUT 15 FEET AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TURNS ON AND OFF WITH OR WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE SEAT. BMW REPRESENTATIVE STATED RECALL ID# 8...

Mileage: 111,000

DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH SWITCH OR REMOTES. CENTRAL LOCKING DOES NOT WORK EVEN WHEN USING THE KEY FOB. MY KIDS AND I HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE CAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES. THIS IS A SERIOUS RISK TO MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. BMW REFUSES TO FIX ...

Mileage: 80,450

DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH SWITCH OR REMOTES. CENTRAL LOCKING DOES NOT WORK EVEN WHEN USING THE KEY FOB. MY KIDS AND I HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE CAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES. THIS IS A SERIOUS RISK TO MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. BMW REFUSES TO FIX ...

Mileage: 80,450

EVERY SUMMER SINCE 2008 WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL OR NEAR FULL, FUEL DRIPS FROM THE GAS TANK DURING HOT WEATHER. REPLACING THE SOLENOID AS WAS RECOMMENDED HAS NOT SOLVED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND THE GAS DRIPPING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING HOT WEATHER ONLY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL OR NEAR FULL. THI...

Mileage: 79,000

MODULE THAT CONTROLS CENTRAL LOCKING, WIPERS, AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTS (THE GM5) STARTED TO DEVELOP A FAULT. WE HAD PROBLEMS UNLOCKING DOORS, LOCKING DOORS, USING WINDOWS, AND WORST OF ALL - THE WIPERS WERE HIT OR MISS. BMW WANTED $750 FOR THE PART REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

MODULE THAT CONTROLS CENTRAL LOCKING, WIPERS, AND SEVERAL OTHER PARTS (THE GM5) STARTED TO DEVELOP A FAULT. WE HAD PROBLEMS UNLOCKING DOORS, LOCKING DOORS, USING WINDOWS, AND WORST OF ALL - THE WIPERS WERE HIT OR MISS. BMW WANTED $750 FOR THE PART REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT AT NIGHT I'VE BEEN HAVING A REAL HARD TIME SEEING AT NIGHT WHILE I AM DRIVING. FOR A WHILE I THOUGHT IT WAS MY EYES GOING BAD UNTIL MULTIPLE PEOPLE STARTED ASKING IF MY LIGHTS WHERE ON, ( I WAS LIKE GOOD IT'S NOT MY EYES) IT GETS REAL BAD ESPECIAL...

Mileage: 30,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MONOCHROMATIC COATING ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE SELF DIMMING FUNCTION HAD BECOME INOPERABLE AND THE REFLECTION OF THE LIGHTS FROM OTHER VEHICLES WAS EXTREMELY BRIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEAL...

Mileage: 50,000

AN ALMOST FATAL CRASH. CAR WAS BACKED UP FROM GARAGE IN THE MORNING INTO THE STREET, PUT IN D POSITION BUT THERE WERE NO POWER TO THE WHEELS FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 SECONDS. CAR APPROACHING FROM BEHIND ON THE STREET NEEDED TO SWERVE TO AVOID REAR ENDING MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS CONTINUOUSL...

Mileage: 53,500

FRONT OPTIONAL HID (XENON) HEADLAMPS WERE NOTICED A BEING EXTREMELY DIM. THE HEADLIGHT HAS A REPLACEABLE PLASTIC LENS. LENS WAS FIRST POLISHED AND THEN WHEN NO LIGHT IMPROVEMENT WAS OBSERVED, BOTH LENSES WERE REPLACED. LIGHT OUTPUT REMAIN VERY POOR. BULB WERE ORDERED TO REPLACE ORIGINAL HOWEVER WHEN...

Mileage: 98,000

XENON HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE. VERY LOW VISIBILITY AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A BMW 325, 2004 AND I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY REVERSE. WHEN I PLACE MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT DOES NOT MOVE. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM IN BMW VEHICLES FROM 2000 - 2005. MOREOVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THAT WAS SETTLED IN NJ. I...

Mileage: 178,200

BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM BMW DEALERSHIP & AFTER ABOUT 5 YEARS OF HAVING MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT MY XENON HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT SHINING AS BRIGHT AS THEY USUALLY DID. OVER TIME I EVENTUALLY HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT IN ORDER TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT REPLA...

THE BI-XENON PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR DO NOT PRODUCE THE FOCUSED LIGHT THAT THEY DID WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. INVESTIGATION HAS PRODUCED EVIDENCE THAT THE PLASTIC XENON REFLECTOR BOWLS HAVE LOST THEIR REFLECTIVE MATERIAL AND THAT THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL IS NOW DETERIORATED AND BROWN. THE...

Mileage: 140,000

MY 2004 BMW 330 EQUIPPED WITH BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS IS EXPERIENCING GREATLY REDUCED LIGHT OUTPUT. UPON RESEARCH ON BMW FORUMS, THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO PLASTIC REFLECTORS IN THE LIGHT HOUSING MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LIGHT OUTPUT DECREASES SLOWLY OVER TIME AS THE HEAT FROM THE...

THE ZKW PROJECTOR BOWLS ARE BURNED OUT ON THE HEADLIGHT FIXTURES, REDUCING LIGHT OUTPUT AND VISIBLITY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

THE XENON PROJECTOR BOWLS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC, WHICH EVENTUALLY BURNS. THIS DIMINISHES THE LIGHT OUTPUT SO DRASTICALLY THAT IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE "BURNING" OF THE PLASTIC BOWL ALSO SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT CAUSE THE BOWL ITSELF TO MELT OR CATCH FIRE. *TR

HEADLIGHTS HAVE GRADUALLY LOWERED LIGHT OUTPUT TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE IN DARK CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION HAS APPARENTLY HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LOW BEAM REFLECTORS ON 2003-2004 ZKW HID HEADLIGHTS WE...

Mileage: 140,000

EXTREMELY LOW OUTPUT. VERY DIM. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

ZKW XENON HEADLIGHTS EQUIPPED ON THE CAR HAVE A PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL FOR THE LOW BEAM. THE OEM LIGHT BULB BURNS HOT AND MELTED THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL. THIS CAUSES A SEVERE LOSS OF PROJECTED LIGHT TO THE ROAD. MANY TIMES I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON TO SEE MORE THAN 10-15 FT IN FRONT OF T...

Mileage: 38,520

MY 2004 BMW 330I, WITH ZKW PRODUCED HEADLIGHT COMPONENTS, SUFFERS FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PROJECTOR BULB REFLECTORS BURNING AFTER APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES OF DRIVING TIME. THIS RESULTS IN A DIMINISHED LIGHT OUTPUT, AND IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSU...

THE REAR TURN SIGNALS REPEATEDLY FAIL. THE WIRING IS MELTED. WHILE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE CARS. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ARE INDIFFERENT TO THIS ISSUE AND COMPLE...

THE REAR TURN SIGNALS REPEATEDLY FAIL. THE WIRING IS MELTED. WHILE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE CARS. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ARE INDIFFERENT TO THIS ISSUE AND COMPLE...

PROBLEM BEGAN WITH REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. NOW THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING WITH THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT AND FRONT RIGHT SIGNAL. PROBLEM PREVENTS OTHER DRIVERS FROM KNOWING WHEN I AM BRAKING OR MAKING A RIGHT TURN. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING BULBS BUT PROBLEM STILL PERSIST AND APPEARS ...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL USED FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BURNED AND SCORCHED BY THE HEAT OF THE BULBS USED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE COVERING BEFORE AND WITHIN A YEAR, IT BURNED THROUGH AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAN...

Mileage: 71,000

ON 2003-2004 BMW 3 SERIES E46 SEDANS WITH OEM ZKW MANUFACTURED XENON (HID) HEADLIGHTS, THE REFLECTIVE BOWL FOR THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BECOME DISCOLORED AND NON-REFLECTIVE AFTER NORMAL USE WITH OEM BULBS. OVER TIME, THE HEAT FROM THE OEM BULB WILL SCORCH THE REFLECTIVE BOWL AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCE LIGHT...

2004 BMW 325XI SEDAN; TAILLIGHT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY ACCORDING TO DASHBOARD INDICATOR, THEN FAILED SOLID. THE WIRES MELTED INSIDE THE CONNECTOR TO THE LIGHT HOUSING AND MELTED HOUSING POST - NO EASY WAY FOR HOME REPAIR AS THIS IS NOT JUST A BAD LIGHTBULB. BMW HAS SERVICE BULLETIN ON REPAIR, BUT IS A...

Mileage: 58,000

2004 BMW 325I WITH THE FACTORY BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE LIGHTS HAVE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REFLECTIVE BOWLS SUCH THAT THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS QUITE DIM. THIS IS APPARENTLY A WEEL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THESE LIGHTS BY THIS MANUFACTURER. NO REPLACEMENT IS AVAILABLE OTHER THAN COMPL...

Mileage: 75,000

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 INVESTIG...

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 INVESTIG...

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 INVESTIG...

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 INVESTIG...

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 CAUS...

Mileage: 96,000

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 UN...

Mileage: 29,000

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

Mileage: 40,000

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

Mileage: 40,000

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 INV...

Mileage: 100,000

I WANT TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION COILS IN THE BMW 330XI MODEL MADE IN THE YEAR 2004 THAT RESULTS IN REDUCED IGNITION FIRING POWER. THE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATES. BMW HAD A RECALL ON IGNITION COILS FAILURE IN 2005 AND 2006 ON SOME MODELS BUT THI...

Mileage: 93,500

1. OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE THE XENON BULBS ARE HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR THAT SHINES THE LIGHT ON THE ROAD. AS THIS REFLECTOR BOWL BURNS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLE LIGHT OUTPUT IS SEVERELY DIMINISHED BY AT LEAST 60-70% THIS POSED A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO MYSELF AND OTHERS....

BMW E46 SERIES CARS, (1999-2006), HAVE A WEAK POINT ON THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS. OVER TIME, THESE POINTS TEAR AND CAUSE THE SUBFRAME TO CRACK AND BEGIN TO TEAR THE BODY AND FRAME OF THE CAR. MY 2004 BMW M3 IS EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT. THERE IS NUMEROUS CLASS ACTION LAW...

Mileage: 40,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIM...

Mileage: 25,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIM...

Mileage: 25,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIM...

Mileage: 25,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIM...

Mileage: 25,000

I FIND THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ON MANY CARS VERY DISTRACTING. I AM NOT SURE BUT I THINK THEY ARE ON GERMAN CARS. I AM TOLD THEY ARE WELL LIKED BY THE DRIVERS OF THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS BUT I FIND THEM HAZARDOUS FOR THE CARS WHICH ARE FACING THEM. THESE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO ME AS DANGEROUS AS SOMEONE ...