Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW M3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires4
- Visibility4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Air bags3
- Equipment3
- Suspension2
- Steering2
- Unknown or other1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 BMW M3 failed the safety check 0.88% of the time — 45% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 146,693 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
56 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 59% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde18
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect14
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen11
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld8
- Mistlicht voor niet volgens voorschriften4
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm3
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage3
- Achterlicht niet van gelijke grootte/sterkte/kleur2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
128 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 418 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, 216 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 81% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.9% | 16.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.5% | 7.2% |
| Suspension | 6.5% | 12.2% |
| Brakes | 5.1% | 11.8% |
| Visibility | 3.2% | 6.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 2.8% | 9.7% |
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
5 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 197,000 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
17 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 29% arrived as used imports, 53% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.4–11.8 L/100 km (about 20–21 mpg US), CO₂ 262–271 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 9.1 | 11.4 |
| M3 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 13.9 | 9.1 | 11.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH A SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM CONSISTING OF DOOR-MOUNTED THORAX AIR BAGS (REAR DOOR AIR BAGS ARE OPTIONAL), A CENTRAL ELECTRONIC SENSOR AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, LEFT AND RIGHT SATELLITE IMPACT SENSORS, AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS SYSTEM IS UNDULY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEED.
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
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 1997 BMW M3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 604633 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH ON COLD START. *TT |
| 601101 | SUBJECT ON VOLUNTARY EXHAUST EMISSION SERVICE ACTION NO. 98E-A01. *YC *JN |
| 600874 | INFORMATION ON EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL AND FUEL FILLER CAP / FILLER DOOR LABELS. *YC |
| 600873 | SUBJECT ON VOLUNTARY EXHAUST EMISSION SERVICE ACTION NO. 98E-A01. PRODUCED FROM 10/95 - 11/97 *YC*DB |
| 10244237 | Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. CAUSE Material- |
| 10040853 | BMW: A GRINDING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL DURING SLOW CORNERING. WHEN TURNING A SLIP/STICK EFFECT IS CREATED ON THE LINING AND STEEL DISCS INCORPORATED IN THE DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH CAUSES A GRINDING NOISE. *RM |
| 10030850 | BMW: THERMOSTAT HOUSING INSPECTION. THE RETAINING SPRINGS OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING QUICK RELEASE COUPLINGS FOR THE COOLANT HOSES MAY NOT BE LOCKED CORRECTLY. THIS SITUATION MAY RESULT IN A COOLANT LEAK. MODELS AFFECTED ARE M3 SEDAN (E90), COUPE (92), AND CONVERTIBLE (393). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)