Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW 1 Series, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags1
- Suspension1
- Engine1
- Steering1
- Visibility/wiper1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 2004 BMW 1 Series cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (85 kW, 114 hp), 2.0 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 2.0 diesel (90 kW, 121 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 499 |
| 2.0 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 233 |
| 2.0 diesel | 90 kW 121 hp | 29 |
| 2.0 diesel | 120 kW 161 hp | 25 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
794 first registered in 2004 are on Dutch roads; 36% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €35,921.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen498
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde447
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect328
- Band onvoldoende profiel262
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar241
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm234
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld215
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt163
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
888 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 761 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,092 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 61% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.7% | 21.8% |
| Suspension | 1.2% | 17.2% |
| Brakes | 1.1% | 13.8% |
| Visibility | 0.9% | 7.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.9% | 3.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.8% | 7.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
109 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 292,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
107 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 57% arrived as used imports, 39% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2004 BMW 1 Series.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 2004 BMW 1 Series: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10249027 | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints. |
| 10182619 | Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root caus |
| 10053585 | BMW: OIL LEAKS FROM THE AIR HOSE ON TURBOCHARGER. THIS IS DESIGNATED FOR E70, AND E90 MODELS WITH M57Y DIESEL ENGINES. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP MAY BE ILLUMINATED. *KB |
| 10052013 | BMW: REPLACEMENT OF THE OC3 SENSOR SEAT MAT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. MODELS E82, E88, E90, E91, E92, E93. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *KB UPDATED 12/6/13. *PE |
| 10052012 | BMW: BATTERY HAS AN INCREASED DEMAND DUE TO DEVELOPEMENTAL PROCESS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS CAUSING THE BATTER TO NEED TO UNDERGO AN ENERGY DIAGNOSIS. *KB |
| 10051899 | INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY IS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE. BMW F25, AND F30 MODELS. *KB |
| 10051898 | INSTRUMENT PANEL AND GUAGES ARE INOPERATIVE. BMW MODEL F30. *KB |
| 10051897 | DURING THE SCHEDULED 3 MONTH/ 5,000 MILE SERVICE IT COULD POSSIBLY BE DETERMINED THAT SOME OF THE CONTACT PROTECTIVE SLEEVE S IN THE CHARGING SOCKET MAY BE MISSING. BMW MODEL E28E. *KB |
| 10051892 | ASC (AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL) OPERATION TO SENSITIVE. CRUISE CONTROL ACTION FUNCTION CAN OCCASIONALLY ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE DUE TO THE ASC IMPLAUSABILITY WHEN THE DSC WARNING LAMP IS FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. BMW. *KB |
| 10046899 | BMW: INFORMATION ON MAINTENANCE TO E MOTOR GREASING WHERE THE EME/E MOTOR ASSEMBLY IS REMOVED. THE CABLES, EME HIGH VOLTAGE, SHOULD BE REINSTALLED IN ORIGINAL FACTORY POSITION TO AVOID CONTACT WITH EXPOSED FASTENERS IN REAR RIGHT WHEEL HOUSING AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO INSULATION. MODEL E82E (1SERIES). NO MODEL YEAR LISTED. *PE |
| 10045285 | BMW: WATER PENETRATES THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO OPENINGS IN SERVICE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL WITH INSUFFICIENT SEALING, CAUSING CARPET TO BE WET IN CENTER TUNNEL AREA. *PE |
| 10040852 | BMW: THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. THERE ARE TROUBLE CODES STORED FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. NO DRIVEABILITY ISSUES. *RM |
| 10040170 | BMW: A SOFTWARE ERROR IS CAUSING THE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO COME ON. THERE WILL BE STORED TROUBLE CODES. *RM |
| 10040045 | BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROCESS HAS BEEN CREATED REGARDING TRANSMISSION CONCERNS. *RM |
| 10037700 | BMW: THERE MAY BE EXCESSIVE CRANKING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT MAY ALSO BE ON WITH A LACK OF ENGINE POWER. *RM |
| 10037078 | BMW: THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR. *RM |
| 10037025 | BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM |
| 10036986 | BMW: MOUNTING TENSION OR THE CUTOUT AREA OF THE TRUNK FOR THE LIGHT IS CAUSING THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LENS TO CRACK. THIS IS ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK IN. *RM UPDATED 1/06/12. *PE |
| 10036980 | BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL PROCESS IS BEING USED ON MANY MODELS TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF DOUBLE-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *RM |
| 10036979 | BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL PROCESS HAS BEEN CREATED FOR BMW TO IDENTIFY CAUSES OF STEERING COMPLAINTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MODELS. *RM |
| 10033131 | BMW VEHICLES: ENGINE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START; FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DISPLAYS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF FUEL, ALTHOUGH THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY; FAULT CODE 2A1C (FUEL LEVEL PLAUSIBILITY) IS STORED IN MSV80. RIGHT SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS DISLODGED FROM ITS BRACKET DUE TO INCORRECT ASSEMBLY. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 4/29/11. *PE |
| 10033130 | BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10031684 | BMW: COMPLAINTS THAT THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HAS ENTERED THE ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE AND THAT THE TURBOCHARGER BOOST IS REDUCED. E82, E88, E90, E92, E93, E60, E61, AND E71. ALL MODELS WITH NAY ENGINES. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 09/30/11. *PE |
| 10031564 | BMW: CRACKED THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. THE MOUNTING TENSION ON THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LENS IS CAUSING THE LENS TO CRACK FROM THE BODY. WHEN INSTALLING OR REPLACING THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, P/N 63 25 7 165 978, ADDITIONAL SPACERS MUST BE ADDED TO THE MOUNTING STUDS TO REDUCE THE MOUNTING TENSION. (E82 E88). *PE |
| 10031544 | BMW: WATER LEAKS INTO EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE FOOTWELL DURING FAST CORNERING. INSUFFICIENT SEALING AT THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND THE CONDENSATION DRAIN HOSE. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)