1993 BMW E46 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1993 BMW E46, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .