2004 Bmw 3 SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
80,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 77 complaints (53.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 7.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 41 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
Exterior Lighting: 41; Air Bags: 15; Electrical System: 12; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Power Train: 2; Seats: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 7; 2011: 9; 2012: 14; 2013: 9; 2014: 9; 2015: 10; 2016: 9; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10098785 · 2004-11-13 (November 13, 2004)
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 USING THERE HIGH LIGHTS AGAINST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAVE YOU HEARD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE? IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE? THANK YOU FOR A RESPONSE. EDITH R. MARKS I FOUND YOU ON GOOGLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219042 · 2008-02-25 (February 25, 2008)
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 APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE BRAKES TO ACTIVATE APPROXIMATELY TEN SECONDS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235801 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)
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 LAWSUITS OPEN ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263103 · 2009-03-25 (March 25, 2009)
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. 2. THE HEADLIGHTS MADE BY ZKW WERE INSTALLED ON BMW SEDAN'S MODEL YEARS 2003-2004 ONLY. IT IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CANNOT SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT MY FOG LIGHTS. 3. I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE TWO NEW HEADLIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10263103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315311 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)
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 THIS PROBLEM NOW SURFACE ON OTHER MODELS AS WELL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 93,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10331484 · 2010-05-20 (May 20, 2010)
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 INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA AS EA09-019, BUT I'M WARY OF BEING OVERCHARGED BY DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10339312 · 2010-06-21 (June 21, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10354925 · 2010-09-10 (September 10, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354925 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.