RoadVitals

1993 BMW E46

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Oct 4, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 15, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 BMW E46, most frequently naming the heating & air conditioning, electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Heating & air conditioning125.0%
  • Electrical125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Interior & seats125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E040000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 15, 2006
1,648 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
E SPEED RACINGView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed Oct 4, 2007

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE TWISTED. SEAT BACKS ARE SEVERELY TWISTED. THEREFORE I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN DRIVING. I COULD FIND MANY CASES SAME AS MINE IN THE WEBSITE. I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 93-94 BMW 740I. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204833
Incident
Dec 1, 2006
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2006

TL*- THE CONTACT SMELLS GAS COMING FROM HER ENGINE ON HER 1993 525I. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHEN SHE CRANKS HER VEHICLE ON SHE CAN SMELL THE GAS. THE SMELL GETS WORSE WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. SHE STATES THAT SHE SMELLS THE GAS WHILE SHE IS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CITY OR WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THE FIRST TIME CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME WHERE THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED. THEY ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATES THAT SHE CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE REPAIR ORDER IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID
10176394
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
217,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectrical
Filed Jun 13, 2006
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SEAT STARTED TO CATCH FIRE. I PANICKED. I HOPPED OUT AND HAD TO SUFFOCATE THE FIRE OUT BY CLOSING THE WINDOWS. I TOOK IT TO BMW AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, I FELT LIKE THEY DIDN'T REALLY TRY, SO I LEFT THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT FOR NOW BECAUSE THEY SAID THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE TOTALED MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10159770
Incident
Jun 7, 2006
Mileage
106,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B000706

EQUIPMENT

When using the Key Reader to retrieve information from the customer’s key, the data is not updated or current.

B630516

EQUIPMENT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

Moisture is visible on the inside of one or both headlights

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW E46 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005012—
2004412—
2003112—
2002223—
2001040—
2000184041.5
1999140—
1998020—
1997410—
1996110—
1995610—
1994310—
1993Viewing310—
1992010—
1991010—
1990210—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.