Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2000 BMW 3 Series, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train35
- Structure30
- Air bags11
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Visibility4
- Suspension4
- Electrical system4
- Unknown or other2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Exterior lighting2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 2000 BMW 3 Series cars on Dutch roads are the 2.5 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp), 1.9 petrol (77 kW, 103 hp) and 2.0 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp), out of 12 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 683 |
| 1.9 petrol | 77 kW 103 hp | 453 |
| 2.0 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 371 |
| 3.0 petrol | 170 kW 228 hp | 295 |
| 1.9 petrol | 87 kW 117 hp | 290 |
| 2.8 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 246 |
| 2.2 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 112 |
| 2.5 petrol | 141 kW 189 hp | 73 |
| 2.5 petrol | 120 kW 161 hp | 37 |
| 2.0 diesel | 100 kW 134 hp | 36 |
| 2.9 diesel | 135 kW 181 hp | 34 |
| 1.8 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 24 |
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
2,703 first registered in 2000 are on Dutch roads; 36% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €53,675.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1,922
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect1,292
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,094
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld579
- Band onvoldoende profiel557
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm505
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm475
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt358
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,892 cars built in 2000 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 6,132 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, 3,459 of these cars first registered in 2000 took their annual MOT test. 64% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2000 the figure was 61%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 13.2% | 14.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.0% | 17.7% |
| Brakes | 12.0% | 12.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.3% | 7.7% |
| Visibility | 5.5% | 7.4% |
| Tyres | 4.9% | 4.9% |
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
605 of these cars first registered in 2000 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 287,000 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
781 2000 cars are on the New Zealand register; 71% arrived as used imports, 25% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 2000 BMW 3 Series.
| 2021354 27 May 2021 | Airbag Issue: This recall is for vehicles that had an inspection performed under recall 2019-599, 2019-600 or 2019-601, but where the airbag inflator was not replac… |
| 2020009 15 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles that had an airbag inflator replaced as a part of an earlier recall campaign. This recall provides a final repair. … |
| 2019600 26 Nov 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain cars, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could cause… |
| 2019599 26 Nov 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain cars, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could cause… |
| 2019487 3 Oct 2019 | Airbag Issue: 2023 Update - BMW has updated this recall and issued a do not drive advisory for all vehicles that that not yet been repaired. This recall applies … |
| 2014299 16 Jul 2014 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the passenger (frontal) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause t… |
| 2002215 19 Nov 2002 | Airbag Certain 323I and 328I vehicles may experience inadvertent or non-crash side impact lateral air bags deployment. In addition, the Battery Safety Terminal (BST) … |
| 2000065 9 Mar 2000 | Electrical On certain 323I, 328I, 528I, 528IT, 540I, 540IT, 740I, 740IL, 750IL and M5 vehicles, the brake light switch capacitor housing may be cracked and in high humidit… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
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 2000 BMW 3 Series: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 614313 | SUBJECT REGARDING NEW VEHICLE PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 611181 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO NEW VEHICLES PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 608246 | THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN MENTIONS THAT THE BMW MONOCHROME ACCESSORY NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS FINALLY IN STOCK. *TT |
| 10249437 | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| 10051519 | BMW: THE HIGH-VOLTAGE (HV) BATTERY CELLS COULD BE DAMAGED IF THE VEHICLE IS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING SLEEP MODE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 03/11/2013 *JS |
| 10051459 | BMW: DSC WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE WARNING LAMPS FOR DSC, ABS AND BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED. THERE MAY ALSO BE A WARNING IN THE CONTROL DISPLAY FOR CHASSIS CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. *JS |
| 10051359 | BMW: VEHICLE DOES NOT START: LOOSE GROUND Z6000 *4B. COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BMW NEW VEHICLE/SAV LIMITED WARRANTY. *JS |
| 10044032 | BMW: THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR LIGHT IN THE SIDE PANEL HAS CONDENSATION CONCERNING VEHICLES PRODUCED UP TO FEBRUARY 27,2012. *JS |
| 10041411 | BMW: E92. THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER ON THE FRONT DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE FAILED TO DELIVER THE BELT. THE SAFETY BELT EXTENDER EXTENDS BUT THE BELT SLIPS OFF. THE HAND ON THE EXTENDER FAILS. THE SAFETY BELT IS TWISTED. THE EXTENDER WILL NOT OPERATE AND MAKES NOISE WHILE EXTENDING. *RM |
| 10040852 | BMW: THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. THERE ARE TROUBLE CODES STORED FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. NO DRIVEABILITY ISSUES. *RM |
| 10040736 | BMW: VARIOUS FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING INCLUDING: INSTRUMENTS, DOOR LOCKS, WIPERS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. THERE MAY ALSO BE WARNING LIGHTS ON. K-CAN WIRING IN THE VEHICLE SHORTED. *RM UPDATED 10/5/11. *PE |
| 10040170 | BMW: A SOFTWARE ERROR IS CAUSING THE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO COME ON. THERE WILL BE STORED TROUBLE CODES. *RM |
| 10040057 | BMW: WIRING ON THE HEADLIGHTS MAY HAVE DETERIORATED DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND THE COVER NOT BEING SECURED PROPERLY. E60/E92. *RM UPDATED 9/30/11. *PE |
| 10040050 | BMW: THE END OF THE SEATBELT ASSISTANT BREAKS/FALLS OFF WHEN RETRACTING. THE RETAINING TAB IS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH. E92. *RM |
| 10040049 | BMW: A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IS CAUSING ONE OR BOTH OF THE SEAT BELT ASSISTANTS TO NOT EXTEND FULLY OR MAY NOT EXTEND AT ALL. THE POSITION AT WHICH THE ASSISTANT COMES TO REST VARIES. E92. *RM |
| 10037079 | BMW: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE CRANKS WITH NO START. *RM UPDATED 5/19/15. *PE |
| 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 |
| 10037010 | BMW: SIX DIFFERENT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE M54 ENGINE COULD HAVE VALVE COVERS BREAK IN COLD WEATHER AND RUIN THE ENGINE. THIS IS DUE TO MOISTURE ACCUMULATION. *RM |
| 10036985 | BMW: A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENGINE WILL ONLY OPERATE TO 1500 RPMS AND LACKS POWER. THERE IS A SOFTWARE APPLICATION ERROR. *RM |
| 10036984 | BMW: IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO PERFORM A FUEL QUALITY DETECTION TEST ON VEHICLES WITH AN N54 ENGINE. *RM |
| 10036983 | BMW: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON WITH DIESEL ENGINES. *RM |
| 10036982 | BMW: THERE IS A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT" WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL IN HIGH ALTITUDES DURING COLD WEATHER. THERE MAY BE SIX DIFFERENT FAULT CODES. *RM |
| 10036981 | BMW: WARNING MESSAGE ON ABOUT LOW DIESEL EXHAUST FUEL LEVEL AND THAT THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WITHIN 999 MILES. THE LIGHT COMES ON A FEW THOUSAND MILES EARLIER THAN A RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE. *RM |
| 10036980 | BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL PROCESS IS BEING USED ON MANY MODELS TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF DOUBLE-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *RM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation