2003 Bmw E36: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
59,515 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 13 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 23.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 15.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Tires:Sidewall: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 2 |
2006: 2; 2007: 9; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10173120 · 2006-11-10 (November 10, 2006)
TIRE FAILURE--TOTAL DISINTEGRATION OF TOYO PROXES T1-R 97Y ZR 23545R17 PURCHASED ON 2/11/06. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10173120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176292 · 2006-12-16 (December 16, 2006)
PLEASE REFER TO FR DOC 04-10644. MY PROBLEM CONCERNS THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH MY 2003 BMW X5, IE, DELAYED PARK TO DRIVE ENGAGEMENT ON COLD START. ON 11-11-06 I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVE (I LIVE ON A CORNER LOT) AND IMMEDIATELY AM AT A STOP SIGN. I PULLED OUT, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE IN DRIVE AND AS A RESULT I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF BEING SMASHED BY A TRUCK THAT WAS COMING DOWN THE ROAD I WAS ENTERING. IN THE DOCUMENT MENTIONED ABOVE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. YOU WERE WRONG. IN THIS DOCUMENT BMW ARGU…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178056 · 2007-01-08 (January 8, 2007)
ON HOT, HUMID DAYS, THE STEERING GETS "STICKY". BY THAT I MEAN THAT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT "STICKS" IN ONE SPOT. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. SMALL CORRECTIONS OF THE STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT. MANY TIMES, BECAUSE IT STICKS, YOU HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE WHEEL TO MAKE IT TURN, WHICH, WHEN IT FINALLY "UNSTICKS", ENDS UP CAUSING TOO SHARP OF A TURN. I DID A SEARCH OF THE WEB USING "Z4 STICKY STEERING" AND FOUND THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184044 · 2007-03-02 (March 2, 2007)
ON MARCH 2ND 2007 AROUND 10:30AM I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW M3 EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 40 FROM CHAPEL HILL NC TO RALEIGH NC. APPROACHING EXIT 292 MY REAR TIRE WHICH WAS A MICHELIN PILOT SPORT SIZE 255/35ZR RIPPED ON EACH SIDEWALL INNER AND OUTER. THE CENTER OF TIRE CAME COMPLETELY SEPARATED WHILE THE OUTER OF THE TIRE WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE INNER AND OUTER OF THE REAR LEFT TIRE. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THE TIRE SIMPLY SHREDDED ON THE INNER AND OUTER SIDEWALL CAUSING ME TO SWERVE, GAIN CONTROL OF CAR AND PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WAS T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186079 · 2007-03-24 (March 24, 2007)
THE BMW X5 HAS A DEFECT. THE TAILGATE STOPPERS ROUTINELY FAILED ON BOTH THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SOFT CLOSE AND THE NORMAL MECHANICAL. THESE STOPPERS FAILED, CAUSING ERRONEOUS TAILGATE OPEN WARNINGS TO APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, BECAUSE THE STOPPERS FAILED THERE WAS A CONSTANT RATTLE. BMW KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM...AT LEAST THE LOCAL AGENTWAS QUITE AWARE OF THIS ROUTINE FAILURE.*AK ALSO, BMW WEBSITES LIST MANY OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=85610&HIGHLIGHT=TA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10186079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188850 · 2007-04-25 (April 25, 2007)
MY 2003 BMW 325I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER OF MY BMW REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX. 35 MPH. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY BMW. IN FACT, THE INSURANCE CO. IS CONSIDERING A TOTAL LOSS AS WE SPEAK. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END EXCEEDS $18,000.00 TO INCLUDE SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NEITHER THE FRONT AIR BAGS OR THE SEAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM DEPLOYED. THE FOLKS AT THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY. I BROUGHT MY COMPLAINT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SENT AN ENGINEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10188850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198210 · 2007-08-01 (August 1, 2007)
MY 2003 BMW 330I HAS 85K MILES AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. RECENTLY, HOWEVER, A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM AND INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER BECAUSE THE GASKET WAS LEAKING, HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS DRIVING JUST FINE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I DIDN'T REPLACE IT NOW THEN DOWN THE ROAD THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION MIGHT FAIL AND NEED REPLACEMENT. I FEEL RIPPED OFF HAVING PAID $3,000 FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER ON A CAR THAT DROVE FINE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199408 · 2007-08-13 (August 13, 2007)
THERE IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON MANY BMW E46 MODELS (NEWER CARS). THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS ON BOTH SIDES HAS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY, INCOMPLETE, OR INSECURE GROUNDING WIRE AND THE RESULT IS THAT THE WIRE OVERHEATS AND CORRODES, AND IN SOME CASES ARCS, WHICH CAN IGNITE A FIRE. THE PROBLEM IS OFTEN IDENTIFIED BY INTERMITTENT OR PERSISTENT FAILURE OF THE REAR LIGHTS ON THE CAR AND/OR UNNECESSARY REAR LIGHT WARNINGS ON THE DASH. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO SUPPORT THIS CASE AND HAVE DONE FURTHER RESEARCH TO FIND COUNTLESS SIMILAR CASES. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199408 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.