2004 BMW 3 Series Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE AS THE REAR TAILLIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION AROUND THE CONNECTOR AND THE PANEL, THERE WERE SCORCH MARKS AND THE CONNECTORS COATING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

HEADLIGHTS OF 2004 BMW 330I WITH XENONS ARE MADE BY MANUFACTURING COMPANY "ZKW" AND BOUND TO FAIL. VISIBILITY AND LIGHT OUTPUT BECOMES EXTREMELY POOR, THAT YOU MUST DRIVE AROUND WITH EXTRA LIGHTS, OR HIGH BEAMS ON. WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE REFLECTIVE CASE, YOU WILL SEE THAT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE BURNT BOWLS, WHICH DO NOT ALLOW ANY LIGHT OUTPUT AT ALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, I HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE FAR DISTANCE AT NIGHT. PLEASE ADDRESS AND INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY. *TR

THE TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2004 BMW 325I WERE MELTING. THE DEALER CHARGED ME CLOSE TO $800 TO REPLACE THEM. ALTHOUGH I REPORTED THE PROBLEM BEFORE, I DID SO BEFORE KNOWING ABOUT THE $800 PRICE TAG TO FIX THE ISSUE. BMW SHOULD PAY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE (POORLY ENGINEERED) SAFETY COMPONENT. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH OF 'AN INVESTIGATION' FROM THE NHTSA TO MAKE BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. *TR

3 OF THE 4 CAR DOORS HAVE LOCKED UP AND CANNOT BE OPENED ELECTRICALLY OR MECHANICALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE, THREE OF THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS WOULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE. *TR

A YEAR AGO, I BROUGHT MY 2004 BMW 325 XI IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, THE BMW SHOP EXPLAINED THAT THEY FOUND PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CV OUTER AXLE BOOTS. BOTH BOOTS WERE SPLIT AND LEAKING GREASE, AND THE AXLES WERE TURNING DRY.. THEY REPLACED BOTH BOOTS UNDER WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER 2010, CAR WAS VIBRATING WHILE RIDING. THEY STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT CV SHAFT (AXLE). THEY DID THIS AND THE VIBRATION STOPPED. NATURALLY, THIS WAS NOT COVERED SINCE MY CERTIFIED CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 2010. I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD HAVE DISCOVERED THE DEFECT TO THE AXLE WHEN THEY FOUND IT RUNNING DRY IN JANUARY. IN DRIVING THE CAR BEFORE THE REPAIR, I BELIEVE BMW PUT ME IN JEOPARDY BY NOT REPAIRING THE AXLE. THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE A HAZARD, RIDING ON A SHAKY DEFECTIVE AXLE. *TR

2004 BMW 330I - TAIL LIGHT WIRING FAILURE. TAIL LIGHT BULB SOCKET (PART NUMBER W0133-1663035 FAILED DUE TO OVER HEATING AND MELTING OF CONNECTOR. RESULTS IN LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTION. PROBLEM COMMON TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. PURCHASING NEW PART TO TRY TO CORRECT PROBLEM HOWEVER PROBLEM MAY ALSO INCLUDE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTOR (FEMALE) ON THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. OVER HEATING APPEARS TO BE DUE TO UNDERSIZING OF CONNECTOR/WIRE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH E46 BMW'S (3 SERIES). PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY,...THEY DID NOT FIX IT. CONTACTED CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS,...THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. (REF. EA09-019). *TR

REAR TAIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY SHOW FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION, APPEARS CONNECTION SHOWS SIGNS OF PREMATURE WEAR AND BURNING/OVERHEATING DUE TO INADEQUATE GROUNDING. *TR

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

OFTEN, THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK ON OUR 2004 BMW 325I SEDAN, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY LOCKABLE. THIS INCLUDES USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB, THE CENTRAL CONSOLE UNLOCK BUTTON AND ALSO MANUALLY PULLING THE DOOR LATCHES FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS MEANS THAT ONLY BY BREAKING A WINDOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. REPEATEDLY TOGGLING THE UNLOCK BUTTONS WILL EVENTUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS, BUT SOMETIMES ONLY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BMW'S GM5 MODULE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. A POPULAR WEBSITE THAT EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM IN MORE DETAIL IS HTTP://WWW.BMWGM5.COM/. NOW WE ARE FACED WITH A COSTLY REPAIR IF WE WANT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE MANNER. *TR

THE REAR TAILLIGHT FAILS ON MY 2004 BMW 330I DUE TO THE BULB HOLDER ASSEMBLY AND ISSUES WITH THE GROUNDING WIRE USED IN THE HARNESS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON E46 BMW'S AS NOTED IN MANY OWNER FORUMS ONLINE. THE GAUGE OF WIRE USED FOR THE BROWN GROUNDING WIRE IS MUCH LARGER THAN ALL THE OTHER WIRES AND EVENTUALLY THE HEAT MELTS DOWN THE CONNECTOR PINS OR EXPOSES THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE OTHER CLIPS IN THE HARNESS. *TR

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 CAUSING BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. BMW SELLS A FIX PACKAGE FOR THE PROBLEM, SO THEY CERTAINLY KNOW IT EXISTS. AGAIN, THIS IS BEING REPORTED BY HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS. *TR

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 COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AT $1000 PER LIGHT OR RETROFITTING ANOTHER TYPE OF PROJECTOR IN ITS PLACE. BMW REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *LN

I PURCHASED MY 2004 BMW 330I IN SEPT 2010, AT LEAST IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED AS HAVING FACTORY INSTALLED XENON LIGHTS AND I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED BRIGHTER HEADLIGHTS THAN OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED. WITHIN 3 MONTHS I WAS SO DISGUSTED WITH THE DIMNESS OF THOSE XENON'S THAT I PURCHASED 2 NEW D2S BULBS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED AT THE COST OF ABOUT $400. (I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN XENON'S "WEAR OUT" OVER TIME SO I FIGURED I WOULD BITE THE BULLET THIS ONE TIME) I FOUND RIGHT AWAY THAT THESE NEW BULBS WERE NO BETTER THAN I HAD BEFORE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE RIGHT SIDE LIGHTS SHINED AGAINST A WALL WERE ACTUALLY DIMMER THAN A D CELL FLASHLIGHT. I SUFFERED THOUGH TRYING TO DRIVE WITH MY PASSING LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT (YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO HOLD THE HIGH BEAM STICK IN TO GET THESE LIGHTS TO STAY ON ) FOR A YEAR BEFORE I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BUT NO-ONE SELLS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE XENON EQUIPPED CARS. I THEN REMOVED THE ASSEMBLIES MYSELF AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE CLEAR SIGNS OF BURNING OR CORROSION ON THE INSIDE OF THE REFLECTOR BOWLS. NO WONDER THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHINE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS SO BAD THAT EVERY TIME I AM PASSED ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT I ACTUALLY SEE MY CAR'S SHADOW DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME FROM THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CAR 50-100 FEET BEHIND ME. I NOW UNDERSTAND FROM FURTHER INVESTIGATION THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ZKW HEADLIGHTS ON E46 BMW'S. I DO NOT HAVE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OR EXTRA CASH TO FIX THESE DEFECTS. CAN YOU HELP?? NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED YET BUT I HAVE SEEN MANY PEDESTRIANS OR BIKERS AS I PASS THEM AT NIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT I NEVER SAW UNTIL I WAS NEXT TO THEM. *TR

THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS INCLUDE THE BI-XENON OPTION. ZKW WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER FOR THESE HEADLIGHTS. THE REFLECTIVE HOUSING SURROUNDING THE BULB SUFFERS FROM SEVERE DEGRADATION AND TOTAL LIGHT OUTPUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. OVERALL NIGHTTIME VEHICLE VISIBILITY AND SAFETY IS GREATLY AFFECTED. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AND OPTION PACKAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY 2004 BMW 325I REAR LEFT LIGHTS GO OUT EVEN WHEN THE LIGHT BULBS ARE GOOD. I CANNOT SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS WHEN I NEED TO CHANGE LANES. PROBLEM STARTED SEPTEMBER 2010. STARTED TO OCCUR SPORADICALLY, BUT IT IS CONSTANT NOW. DASH INDICATOR SHOWS INCORRECTLY THAT BULBS ARE BROKEN. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 330I ZHP, AND DROVE IT HOME. DIDN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT FOR SOME TIME, BUT WHEN I FINALLY DID, FOUND OUT LIGHTING IS VERY DIM, SO MUCH, I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I MUST USE FOGLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, AND HIGH BEAMS WHEN I CAN. FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I FEEL THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE BOWLS IS BAKED OFF. THESE LIGHT SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THE HALOGENS I HAD ON MY 325I, BUT THEY ARE NOT. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE REPAIRS ARE TOO COSTLY.....AND DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

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 TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING. I HAVE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALL AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SOLID INFORMATION ON HOW TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *TR

REAR TAILLIGHT,BRAKELIGHT CONNECTOR HAS MELTED CAUSING BRAKELIGHT NOT TO WORK. *TR

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 UNLESS THEY CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW OR CLIMB INTO THE FRONT SEAT AND THEN EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT SEAT DOOR. A PROPER SAFETY DESIGN AND OPERATION WOULD ALLOW THE MANUAL DOOR UNLOCK LATCH LEVERS TO WORK AT ALL TIMES AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED. AS I ROUTINELY DRIVE WITH A 4 YEAR OLD AND A 19 MONTH OLD IN THEIR CAR SEATS WHICH ARE IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY 2004 BMW , I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY SHOULD THERE BE A SITUATION THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE CAR QUICKLY AND THE DOOR LOCKS HAD FAILED. THE BMW SERVICE BELIEVES A MODULE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A PARTS COST OF $1000 AND WILL NOT COVER THIS COST. THE CAR HAS ONLY 29,000 MILES BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I SEE THAT OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO NHTSA ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM IN BMW 3 SERIES AND BMW 325XI. *TR

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 SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF BMW. *TR

THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL BMW CAR. AT JUST UNDER 45K MILES, THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS AT TIMES FAIL TO WORK. THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ETC. I GET NOTIFIED FROM THE INSIDE DASH BOARD. HOWEVER, AT TIMES IT IS A FALSE POSITIVE (DASH SAYS IT DOESN'T WORK BUT IN FACT IT IS WORKING). THEN AT TIMES THE WARNING LIGHTS SWITCH FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS. I AM NOT SURE WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY WORKING AND WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING - THIS IS DANGEROUS AND BMW SHOULD FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO POOR MATERIALS USAGE (CORROSION PROBLEM) AND GROUNDING LIKE THE OTHER POSTS HAVE MENTIONED. APPARENTLY THERE IS A CLASS LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW FOR THIS. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR FIXING B/C FAILURE TO SIGNAL WHEN CHANGING LANES IS A VIOLATION BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS. BMW NEEDS TO FIX THIS. *TR

XENON (ZKW) HEADLAMPS IN THE CAR ARE BURNT, THUS DIMINISHING 80% OF LIGHT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMING FROM THE LAMP. VERY DANGEROUS FOR NIGHT TRAVEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS LOCK FAILED. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY WITH THE KEY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT VEHICLE GENERAL ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.......UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF

THE ZKW BRAND OF HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS EQUIPPED IN THE E46 MODEL 3 SERIES BMW SEDAN HAVE A PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWL IN THE PROJECTOR THAT HAS THE TENDENCY TO HAVE THE CHROME REFLECTIVE PLATING BURNT OFF RENDERING THE HEADLIGHTS ALL BUT USELESS. *TR

DOCUMENTED FAILURE OF 2004 BMW 325I REAR BRAKE LIGHT, PARKING LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY. OCCURRED ON MY PERSONAL BMW ON OR ABOUT 6/2010. OCCURS SPORADICALLY, RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE OF ALL THREE LIGHTS ON LEFT SIDE AND ALSO RIGHT SIDE. DASH INDICATOR SHOWS THAT BULBS ARE OUT BUT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *TR

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 BRAND COVERING THAT WAS FAILING WAS THE ZKW BRAND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

2004 BMW 330XI SEDAN (E46) REAR TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO TAIL LAMP FAILURE. DEALER INDICATED IT WAS A BURNT CONTACT, AND SUGGESTED REPAIRING BOTH SIDES. COST FOR BOTH SIDES $254.67. *TR

I HAVE A MAJOR BMW PROBLEM. IT CURRENTLY HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN # SI B 63 03 06 LIGHTS BUT BMW WILL NOT FIX THIS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS WHEN MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET FULL SERVICES. I WANT A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. *TR

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

THE BI-XENON ZKW LIGHTS KEPT GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER. BULB REPLACEMENT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHEN LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE FOUND OUT THAT THE ZKW PROJECTOR BOWLS HAVE BURNED UP AND DO NOT PROVIDE ANY REFLECTION FOR THE LIGHT OUTPUT ANYMORE. DRIVING AT NIGHT AT THIS POINT WITH LIGHTS ON IS ALMOST LIKE DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. *TR

2004 BMW 325 CI -- CONSTANT FUEL LEAK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

THE BI-XENON HEADLAMPS HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE PROJECTOR BURNS OUT AND GREATLY REDUCES LIGHT INPUT. THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. *TR

THE XENON HEADLAMPS ON MY 2004 BMW 330I COMPLETELY FAILED. THE HEADLAMP REAR PROJECTOR BOWL ON THIS MODEL IS PRONE TO OVERHEATING WHICH LEADS TO THE DELAMINATION OF THE PROJECTOR REFLECTIVE MATERIALS RESULTING IN COMPLETE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY FAILURE. REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLIES FROM THE DEALER LIST AT ~ $600 FOR EACH SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS A COMMONLY KNOWN ISSUE IN THE BMW ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITY - I HAVE ALSO WITNESSED THE PROBLEM FIRSTHAND ON TWO OTHER BMW 330IS OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR. WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED TO ME, I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY AT NIGHT AS THE ONLY ILLUMINATION AVAILABLE WAS FROM THE PARKING LIGHTS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND A PRODUCT DEFECT. *TR

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

2004 BMW 325I TAIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF. BMW DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE CAR TO HAVE A FAULTY GROUND WIRE - BMW S IB (SERVICE BULLETIN) 63 03 06 WHICH PREVENTS THE TAIL LIGHTS FROM WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

E46 BMW 2004 325XI AND 2000 323I BOTH HAVE ISSUES UNLOCKING DOORS WHEN WEATHER IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES. VEHICLE WONT LET YOU UNLOCK DOORS FROM INSIDE AND MANUAL UNLOCK IS ONLY FOR DRIVERS DOOR AND MUST DO SO THROUGH WINDOW. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT IN THE CAR I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HAVE ESCAPED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT ARE FORCED TO CRAWL INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND OUT THE DRIVER DOOR. NO MANUAL UNLOCK IS AVAILABLE TO ANY DOOR BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR. *TR

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

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. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS LITERALLY NO BETTER WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON OR OFF. I HAVE TO RELY ON MY FOG LIGHTS JUST TO SEE ANYTHING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS WIDE-SPREAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN LIQUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,345. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 325CI SPORT DOWN THE ROAD SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, LOOKED DOWN MY HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE, BURNT MY LEG, ALMOST WRECKED TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. NOW MY SEAT HAS A HUGE BURNT HOLE IN IT AND CANT USE SEAT HEATERS. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SEAT ARE DOING THE SAME THING!!!! MY CAR ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALLLLL!!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI(N/A). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE HE NOTICED A LOUD POPPING SOUND, AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRRIOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD LIQUID MISSING INSIDE OF IT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84000.

THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS CAST VERY LITTLE LIGHT ON THE ROAD, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE FOG LIGHTS TO AUGMENT. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS WERE DIM AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE AHEAD . THE CONTACT STATED HE REPLACED THE HEAD LAMP BULBS HIMSELF, BUT HE STILL FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 134,000. UPDATED 5/20/2010 *CN UPDATED 07/19/10*JB

HEATED SEAT ARE MELTING THRU LEATHER AND MAKING BURN HOLES .....BURNS LEGS EVEN ON LOW SETTING. *TR

THE TAIL LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 2004 BMW 330I HAVE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY (NO TURN SIGNAL OR BRAKE LIGHTS) DUE TO A BURNED WIRE. THIS BEGAN ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT GOING OUT. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULB, I REALIZED THE BULB WAS FINE. LOOKING CLOSER I SAW THAT A WIRE IN THE WIRE HARNESS HAD BURNED AND MELTED THE PLASTIC. IT ALSO MELTED THE METAL ON THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THAT THIS HAPPENED AND NOW THE RIGHT SIDE HAS DONE THE EXACT SAME THING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM WILL BE $350 PER SIDE. LOOKING ONLINE I SAW THAT BMW ISSUED A SERVICE REPORT (SI B 63 03 06) BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WOULDN'T BE A RECALL. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTRA $700 ON HAND TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH NO TURN SIGNALS OR BRAKE LIGHTS. IT SEEMS LIKE SINCE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY HAZARD, BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 330CI WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY ENGINE STOPPED WORKING, WHICH RESULTED IN NO ENGINE POWER, NO POWER BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.*CW

BOUGHT MY BMW BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER ABOUT 5 YEARS OF HAVING MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT MY XENON HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT SHINING AS BRIGHT AS THEY USUALLY DID. HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT IN ORDER TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. AFTER HAVING ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT REPLACED DUE TO COST. HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN A DASH WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES NO HIGH BEAMS. HAD LIGHTS CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HIGH BEAM WAS NOT GETTING POWER IN THE LIGHT THAT WAS REPLACED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A BRAND NEW HEADLIGHT WITH WIRING HARNESS. AFTER HAVING OTHER LIGHT CHECKED, IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL THE WIRES IN THE LIGHT HAD DRY ROTTED AND ALL THE PROTECTIVE COVERING HAD JUST ABOUT COME OFF THE WIRES OBVIOUSLY DUE TO THE HEAT THAT IS GENERATED BY THE XENON LIGHT. CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA REGARDING THE MATTER AND GOT NO RESOLUTION DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE IS CLEARING A DEFEAT IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND IT'S WIRING. HAVE HAD THE IGNITER, BALLAST AND CONTROL BOX CHECKED BY SWITCHING IT OUT WITH THE NEW HEADLIGHT PARTS AND THE UNREPLACED HEADLIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED DIM AS IT DID BEFORE SWITCHING OUT THE PART. *TR

BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS GRADUALLY GREW DIMMER AFTER ABOUT 100,000 (6 YEARS) THE LIGHTS WERE UNSAFE TO USE AFTER DARK. THE LIGHTS WERE REPAIRED BY AN AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING SPECIALTY SHOP BY INSTALLING AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHT PROJECTORS. THE ORIGINAL REFLECTOR BOWLS ON THE ZKW MANUFACTURED PROJECTORS WERE BURNED AND PARTIALLY MELTED BY THE XENON BULBS AND WAS NO LONGER PROJECTING THE LIGHT AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TAIL LIGHTS AND NOTICED THAT THE PIN IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REWIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 11/28/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE IS STILL AN ISSUE, BUT INTERMITTENT. THE LEFT SIDE IN NOT WORKING AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE, WHEN THE LEFT SIDE TURN SIGNAL IS NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAD TO BE RE-WIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE BELIEVED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED, IS RELATED TO RECALL # 11V438000. UPDATED 03/05/12