1990 Bmw E46: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
181,350 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 50.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
2007: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues 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 10188169 · 2007-04-17 (April 17, 2007)
DAUGHTER DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 1990 BMW 735I CALLED ME ON CELL PHONE SAID SMELLED HOT WATER AND SOMETHING BURNING. TOLD HER TO PULL OVER AND PARK CAR I WAS ON THE WAY EARLY MORNING COLD. GOT TO CAR INSIDE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE WINDOWS HAD WATER ON THE INSIDE OF THEM AND THE DRIVERS AIRBAG HAD TRIGGERED. FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE SITE SAID IT APPEARS THAT THE HEATER CORE/SYSTEM HAD EXPLODED SHORTING OUT DRIVERS SIDE PANEL AND ELECTRONICS STARTING THE FIRE. DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE SINCE THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND NO WAY TO OPEN THEM SINC…
Owner-reported narrative. 213,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208821 · 2007-11-13 (November 13, 2007)
TURNING INTO A FAST-FOOD PARKING LOT (ABOUT A 130 DEGREE RIGHT TURN), THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STRUCK A SHORT (2" - 3") CURB AT ABOUT 3 - 5 MPH. THE SIDEWALL, MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE WHEEL RIM BLEW OUT. A JAGGED "L" SHAPED BREACH SECTION ABOUT 3" IN TOTAL LENGTH WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT. THE EDGES OF THE TEAR WERE FORCED OUTWARD FROM THE INSIDE. THE IMPACT WAS SO MINOR THAT EVEN AFTER IMMEDIATELY DEFLATING THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL RIM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 149,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208821 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.