2004 BMW M3 Owner Complaints

Below is a partial email to a BMW Dealer that replaced an airbag 2 1/2 years ago per a recall. The airbag light, convertible top light were both illuminated when I left the dealer. I have sent emails and contacted BMW USA. A friend scanned the car with a Snap-On scanner that showed that the light has been illuminated because of the air bag that they replaced. They continue to avoid the issue and they made my car unsafe and allowed me to leave with it. What can be done to resolve this issue? From: [XXX] <[XXX]> Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 10:06 AM To: '[XXX]' <[XXX]> Subject: Issues with service during an airbag replacement Good morning [XXX], I took my 2004 M3 to BMW of Fort Lauderdale in November 2023 for a passenger-airbag replacement. The airbag light on the dash was illuminated when I received the car. I notified the service manager who stated that the light was not on when he initially got in the car after my arrival. The car was returned to the garage to determine the issue. The car was returned 30 – 45 minutes later and the airbag light continued to illuminate. The service manage told me that the driver’s side airbag which was replaced at a different dealership was causing the issue. I got in the car and notice that an oil pressure and voltage gauge that I installed after rebuilding the engine were not working. Therefore, I notified the service manager of the issue. He asked another manager to talk to me. I asked how they replaced the airbag so I would know where to start troubleshooting the cause. He told me that they were NOT in the fuse box because they removed the airbag from the top of the dash. The airbag light has been constantly illuminated since the airbag was replaced at BMW of Fort Lauderdale. I attached an image that shows two passenger side airbag errors that were displayed on a Snap-on scanner on May 8, 2024. This was caused by work done at BMW of Fort Lauderdale. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11745653

Incident

Nov 14, 2024

Passenger side rear sub-frame crack observed . Vehicle has never been in any accident or collision. It's a commonly know problem about BMW 3 series made between 1999 to 2006 that happens naturally without cause due to manufacture issue, so I decided to look under my car to look for any cracks as described. I identified at least one crack. After calling BMW USA for assitance, I was instructed to bring the car to have it inspected and confirmed by the BMW dealership in Ontario, CA. Dispite me telling them the location of the crack, they concluded there is no crack and nothing needed to be done. Not satified with their inspection, I went to get a second opinion from an independent machanic/ body shop and they confirmed that there is indeed a crack and took clear pictures to show that. If left untreated, these subframe cracks will spread and the rear of the car can fall off along with the rear axel and rear wheels leading to accidents. The cost of fixing such manufacture issure is also costly, $2500 to over $10000 from the estimates I collected.

NHTSA ID

11457998

Incident

Mar 22, 2022

WIRING PROBLEM WITH FACTORY HEADLIGHTS. THIS ISSUE CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY TURN OFF. IT HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND SITTING STILL.

NHTSA ID

11197351

Incident

Apr 12, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10904927

Incident

May 27, 2016

TAKATA RECALL -- IT'S BEEN 2 YEARS SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER / DEALERSHIP DO NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET THE PARTS TO REPAIR MY CAR. THIS ESSENTIALLY RENDERS MY CAR UNSAFE, AND IN MANY WAYS, UNUSABLE. I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT A DATE BY WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE / REPAIR WILL BE DONE.

NHTSA ID

10899259

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

TAKADA RECALL: NOTIFIED BY BMW JULY 2015 DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECTIVE. IN MAY 2016, BMW ADVISED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN AIR BAG WOULD BEFIXED. SINCE THEN ANOTHER PERSON HAS DIED. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND LENGTH OF TIME WAITING FOR FIX.

NHTSA ID

10864851

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10845549

Incident

Jul 11, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILALBE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10840347

Incident

Jul 30, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE......UPDATED 02/11/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

10809118

Incident

Dec 8, 2015

NO ACCIDENT. JUST WAITING SINCE SEPTEMBER 2014 TO HAVE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG REPLACED. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR WITH A PASSENGER BECAUSE THE AIRBAG IS AFFECTED BY A RECALL AND THE BMW DEALERS DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703842

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10652773

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON LAKE SHORE DRIVE AND I HIT A POT HOLE NEAR LAWRENCE AVE. I ENDED UP GETTING FLAT ON BOTH OF MY RIGHT TIRES. IT POSSIBLY BENT MY RIM, SUSPENSION ISSUES, AND TIRE HAVE BEEN FLAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606001

Incident

Jun 25, 2014

Mileage

60,800 mi

FAULTY SMG PUMP POSSIBLY CAUSED BY A CULMINATION OF OTHER FAILING PARTS IN SMG SYSTEM. CAR IS RENDERED INOPERABLE IN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE CIRCUMVENTED BY A SYSTEM MORE CAPABLE OF WARNING THE OWNER OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE. THE REMEDY THE MAJORITY OF DEALERSHIPS ARE USING ARE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SMG SYSTEM, WHICH COSTS UP TO $7,000.00. AS HIDEOUS AS THIS SOUNDS, THERE MORE THAN LIKELY IS A VERY SMALL FACTOR OR PART THAT IS CAUSING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TO FAIL. BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583717

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

Mileage

110,201 mi

ONE OF THE VANOS EXHAUST HUB TAB BROKE AND DAMAGED THE OIL PUMP DISC. I HAD TO REPLACE THE VANOS EXHAUST HUB AND OIL PUMP DISC. *JS

NHTSA ID

10579266

Incident

Mar 8, 2014

Mileage

102,786 mi

VEHICLE DROPS OUT OF GEAR RANDOMLY. AS I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE DROPPED INTO 0 GEAR AND ON COMING TRAFFIC ALMOST RAN INTO ME HEAD ON. I HAD NO WAY OF MOVING THE CAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION BEING SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TEMPERATURE SENSOR ON THE SMG PUMP. BMW IGNORES THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10542312

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE REAR LAMPS IN MY BODY PANEL THAT HOUSE THE BRAKE LAMP, TURN SIGNAL, AND TAIL LAMP STOPPED WORKING AND NEEDED TO BE FULLY REPLACED. MY CAR IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THIS SAME ISSUE WAS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA #11V438000. HOWEVER, THIS RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE M3, JUST ALL OF THE OTHER 3 SERIES BMWS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A COSTLY REPAIR FOR ME. THIS IS THE REFERENCE FOUND ON YOUR WEBSITE AND MY ISSUES ARE IDENTICAL TO THIS SUMMARY: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 REAR LAMPS IN BODY PANEL SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535258

Incident

Aug 10, 2012

Mileage

31,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO MY CAR THE SMG (SEQUENTIAL MANUAL GEAR) LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL EVERY TIME IN THAT ORDER , ALSO MY CAR SHIFTS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL ALL ON ITS OWN AND I CAN,T CONTROL THE ACCELERATION ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE ELSE SO THE CAR BEGINS TOP SLOW DOWN, MANY PEOPLE HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE TO BMW N.A. AND NOTHING AND IT ONLY HAPPENS DURING HOT WEATHER, AND BMW RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON MY CAR AND THEY GAVE ME MULTIPLE THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE IT SO THEY EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR ALL OF THEM EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ALL THE CULPRITS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE KIDS SO IT MAKES ME EVEN MORE WORRIED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS AND BMW'S NEGLIGENCE TO THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522847

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

54,462 mi

I INSPECTED THE TRUNK FLOORPAN AND NOTICED BUCKLING, CRACKING OF THE TRUNK FLOOR AND WELDED SEAMS COMING APART. THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS WERE CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. THE REAR SUBFRAME IS RIPPING ITSELF OUT OF THE CAR AND I'M VERY LUCKY I FOUND THIS WHILE THE CAR WAS AT REST AND NOT DRIVING AT SPEED. BMW KNOWS THIS IS FAULTY ENGINEERING BUT SOMEHOW THEIR LAWYERS FANGLED A WAY TO ONLY COVER THE REPAIRS FOR THE E46 CARS FOR 1 YEAR (2010), EVERYONE ELSE IS SCREWED. THESE CARS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED, OR AT LEAST A GIANT SIGN SHOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED IN THE WINDSHIELD EXPLAINING THIS PROBLEM TO POTENTIAL BUYERS AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO SIGN A WAIVER IF THEY ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO BUY IT ANYWAYS. I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO UNDER THE IMPRESSION M3S HAD RE-ENFORCEMENT IN THIS AREA ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REGULAR E46, I WAS WRONG TO THE TUNE OF 3500.00 REPAIR BILL (AND I GOT OFF LIGHT). WHAT A MESS, THAT LITTLE BABY CHASSIS CAN'T EVEN HANDLE 333HP WITHOUT RIPPING ITSELF APART. MY BUICK GN MAKES 550HP AND THE FRAME HOLDS TOGETHER JUST FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521755

Incident

Jun 18, 2013

Mileage

128,000 mi

GOT INTO MY CAR IN THE AFTERNOON AND NOTICED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DISTORTED. AFTER INSPECTING, REALIZED THAT THE LIQUID HAD SEPARATED BEHIND MIRROR. HAD TO RUN AN ERRAND. STARTED DRIVING AND THEN HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE. LOOKED AT MIRROR AND THE LIQUID WAS VERY VISIBLE MOVING BEHIND GLASS. GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND NOTICED FLUID ALL OVER SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE. IMMEDIATELY WIPED UP AND IT HAD ALREADY DAMAGED CENTER CONSOLE IN SEVERAL PLACES. GOT IT OFF SEAT BEFORE IT DAMAGED THE LEATHER. HAD TO WRAP TOWEL AROUND MIRROR TO CATCH THE REST OF THE FLUID LEAKING OUT OF THE BOTTOM. THIS FLUID WAS EXTREMELY CAUSTIC AND DID DAMAGE TO CONSOLE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. I'M GLAD I WAS IN CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED, I AM SURE THE DAMAGE FROM THE FLUID WOULD OF BEEN A LOT WORSE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10513011

Incident

May 20, 2013

Mileage

83,488 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SMG HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10484753

Incident

Nov 8, 2012

Mileage

72,500 mi

HAD MY CAR INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND HE NOTICED A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME NEAR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. TUNES OUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR E46 BMWS. BMW WILL ONLY COVER 50% OF THE REPAIRS AND HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THEIR DESIGN. IT'S NOW A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CAR IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THE FLOOR HAS DROPPED, RUBBING ON THE REAR AXLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475875

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

BEFORE I START EXPLAINING, I SHOULD MENTION THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH MAJORITY OF THE PARTS BEING GENUINE BMW. THE CHASSIS HAS 110,XXX MILES AT THE MOMENT, AND THE ENGINE HAS 78,XXX MILES. THE ENGINE HAD A FAILURE IN 2006 DUE TO A ROD BEARING FAILURE (RECALLED FROM BMW), AND A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE HAS BEEN INSTALLED BY BMW TECHNICIANS AT A BMW DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IN VIRGINIA. RECENTLY MY 2004 BMW M3 HAD A FAILURE INSIDE THE ENGINE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT 2011, AS I WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION, I HEAR A VERY FAINT RATTLING NOISE UP IN THE ENGINE BAY. I WAS CONTEMPLATING RATHER I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, OR FIX IT MYSELF. BUT PRIOR TO THIS, I'VE READ MANY UNSATISFYING EXPERIENCES PEOPLE HAD AT THEIR LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIPS. I WORRIED THAT SINCE THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING, I DECIDED TO DO THE WORK MYSELF. I REMOVED THE VALVE COVER, AND NOTICED THE EXHAUST SIDE HUB ON OF THE BMW DOUBLE VANOS HAS FAILED. A MECHANISM DESIGNED TO IMPROVE TORQUE AND FUEL CONSUMPTION. THE HUB HAD ONE OF THE 2 TABS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. LUCKILY THE BROKEN TAB WAS STILL STUCK INSIDE THE OIL PUMP. IF INSTEAD THE BROKEN PIECE CAME OUT OF ITS LOCATION, AND MOVED AROUND IN A ENGINE THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. RANGING ANYWHERE FROM APPROX $15,000 REMANUFACTURED ENGINE REPLACEMENT TO POSSIBLY A HIGH SPEED COLLISION IF THE CAR WAS IN MOTION DURING THE FAILURE. WITH A DAMAGED ENGINE, IT IS DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW THE MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH ON THE LOCAL FREEWAY. THE TOTAL REPLACEMENT PARTS IN MY SITUATION COSTS WELL OVER $3000 USING BMW PARTS. UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN WITH THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM BMW, THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE FIXED SINCE THE CURRENTLY NEW PARTS HAVE JUST AS MUCH CHANCE OF FAILING AS THE OLD. *JS

NHTSA ID

10452254

Incident

Oct 31, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE SMG TRANSMISSION IN A 2004 BMW M3 WILL RANDOMLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL DISABLING THE VEHICLE ON HOT DAYS WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURS ON ANY DAY WHERE TEMPERATURES EXCEED 95 DEGREES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422714

Incident

Aug 25, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A SMG TRANSMISSION, THE FAILURE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TO ACCELERATE AND HE WOULD HAVE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART TO ALLOW THE GEAR TO RE-ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10386218

Incident

Feb 24, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

REARVIEW MIRROR LEAKED ELECTROCHROMIC FLUID ALL OVER CONSOLE AND SEATS, BADLY DAMAGING THEM. WILL NEED TO REPLACE MIRROR AND DAMAGED PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369931

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi