Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW 3 Series, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Exterior lighting42
- Air bags15
- Electrical system12
- Visibility/wiper3
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Power train2
- Structure2
- Visibility2
- Seats2
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 2004 BMW 3 Series cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (85 kW, 114 hp), 2.0 petrol (105 kW, 141 hp) and 2.2 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp), out of 8 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 735 |
| 2.0 petrol | 105 kW 141 hp | 489 |
| 2.2 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 396 |
| 2.5 petrol | 141 kW 189 hp | 261 |
| 3.0 petrol | 170 kW 228 hp | 233 |
| 2.0 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 65 |
| 3.0 diesel | 150 kW 201 hp | 45 |
| 2.0 diesel | 85 kW 114 hp | 41 |
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
2,342 first registered in 2004 are on Dutch roads; 31% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €51,699.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1,701
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,170
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect681
- Band onvoldoende profiel593
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld518
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm490
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt319
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast299
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
6,976 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 7,435 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, 11,716 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 64% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 14.7% | 13.8% |
| Suspension | 13.2% | 17.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.2% | 21.8% |
| Tyres | 7.1% | 6.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.3% | 7.5% |
| Visibility | 5.5% | 7.7% |
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
824 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 286,000 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
484 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 52% arrived as used imports, 44% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 BMW 3 Series.
| 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. … |
| 2015230 27 May 2015 | 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. Long-term exposu… |
| 2014587 22 Dec 2014 | Airbag BMW Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Campaign concerning the driver's airbag inflator on certain vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. BMW w… |
| 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… |
| 2011322 26 Aug 2011 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles may experience the loss of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn signal) on the portion of the rear lamp assemblies that are mount… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2004 BMW 3 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 3 Series: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10249437 | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| 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 |
| 10056098 | BMW: SOME AIRBAGS, DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER, ARE IMPROPERLY DEPLOYING DUE TO A POSSIBLE INFLATOR NOT PRODUCED TO SPECIFICATIONS. MODEL 2001-2006 E46 (3 SERIES). *PE UPDATED 9/4/14. *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 |
| 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 |
| 10040045 | BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROCESS HAS BEEN CREATED REGARDING TRANSMISSION CONCERNS. *RM |
| 10037487 | BMW: ON SOME E92 MODELS THE SAFETY BELT EXTENDER IS NOT EXTENDING THE BELT OR IS NOISY. THIS CAN BE A FAULT OF THE EXTENDER OR THE BELT IS CONTORTED. *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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Rear Lamp Illumination
REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation