FaultScore report
Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 2000 BMW E46 with NHTSA between 2003 and 2009. The largest single group is the body & structure.
19
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
74,500 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 74,500 miles
Median failure at 72,000 miles
Median failure at 50,074 miles
Median failure at 81,518 miles
Median failure at 88,000 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR TAILLIGHTS ON MY CAR HAVE BURNT OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BULBS. BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHECK, THE BROWN WIRE ON BOTH OF MY TAILLIGHTS COMPLETELY BURNED AND ALSO BURNED ENTIRELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10255568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE REAR TAILLIGHTS ON MY CAR HAVE BURNT OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BULBS. BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHECK, THE BROWN WIRE ON BOTH OF MY TAILLIGHTS COMPLETELY BURNED AND ALSO BURNED ENTIRELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10255568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW 330I AUTO REVERSE GEAR FAILURE GEAR BOX MODEL ZF5HP19 YEAR 2000 W REG.
NHTSA complaint #10253980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2000 BMW 323I WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. CALLED BMW NA THEIR RESPONSE " THIS IS NO BMW PROBLEM. I WROTE THE PRESIDENT OF BMW AND YOU SHOULD DO THIS AS WELL HERE IS THE INFO YOU NEED. PRESIDENT JOSEP KERSCHER ADDRESS: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA 300 CHESTNUT RIDGE RD. WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ 07677.
NHTSA complaint #10230912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITHOUT WARNING, REVERSE GEAR STOPPED WORKING, ACTS AS IF IN NEUTRAL. ALL OTHER GEARS WORKING WELL. INTEND TO REPAIR AND SAVE RECEIPTS AND OLD PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10215376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 323 CI BMW IS, THE REAR MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE SUBFRAME HAVE RIPPED OUT FROM THEIR SPOTS IN THE SHEET METAL BECAUSE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMITS THE TORSIONAL LOAD FROM THE ENGINE THROUGH THE SUBFRAME, THEN INTO THE CHASSIS. THE CONSTANT LOADING AND UNLOADING WEAKENS THE INSUFFICIENT SHEET METAL, CAUSING IT TO FATIGUE AND SEPARATE FROM THE CHASSIS. THIS FAILURE OF THE CHASSIS THREATENS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE COST TO FIX THIS DEFECT IS AROUND $9,000.
NHTSA complaint #10205743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ON A BMW 323CI (2000) SUDDENLY FAILED. IT WILL NO LONGER GO INTO REVERSE. FORWARD SEEMS FINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE TO BE PERFORMED. CAR HAS 65XXX MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10197258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
SINCE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE (2000 BMW 323I, VIN [XXX]), WE'VE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT AND NO ONE CAN FIX IT PROPERLY. IT'S LEFT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN STRANDED BECAUSE OF A KNOWN VANOS TIMING PROBLEM. AND NOW I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY REPLACED AT THE COST OF $7,300 BECAUSE OF ANOTHER KNOWN PROBLEM...THE CHEAP, PLASTIC COOLANT EXPANSION TANK THAT CRACKED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT TO COMPLETE FAILURE. THESE ARE A FEW OF THE KNOWN PROBLEM THAT BMW IS KEENLY AWARE OF. WHEN WILL SOMEONE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VEHICLES MADE WITH INFERIOR COMPONENTS AND MAKE THEM RECALL THESE SUSPECTED PARTS? I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A TOYOTA! *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10181739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I DRIVE A 2000 328CI BMW WITH 84,000 MILES ON IT. 1. IT HAS BEEN A DAILY DRIVER FOR 3 YEARS. 2. THE SUBFRAME HAS TORN BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL. 3. BMW IS NOT RECOGNIZING THIS AS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND IS GIVING A HARD TIME COVERING THE FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10179069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
REAR SUBFRAME CRACKING FROM MOUNTING POINT ON DRIVERS SIDE. VERY UNSAFE, CREAKING CLUNKING NOISES FROM REAR OF VEHICLE DUE TO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10176886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVING CAR AND THAT IS ITS SOLE PURPOSE. THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT HAS BEGUN TO RIP OUT OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, BUT BMW HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND I AM AWAITING THEIR REPLY.
NHTSA complaint #10174979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SUBFRAME DAMAGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT 68,000 MILES, CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE DURING OPERATION. NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, STILL WORKING WITH BMWNA TO STOP WITH THE "RUN AROUND" STORY.
NHTSA complaint #10170593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
AT ABOUT 106K MILES I NOTICED A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAS MULTIPLE STRESS FRACTURES AND SEPARATIONS AT THE POINT WHERE THE MOUNT IS WELDED TO THE UNIBODY. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINT. AT NORMAL INTERVALS. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY 90% OF THE TIME AND THE REST IN RESIDENTIAL STREETS. IT IS A FAMILY CAR AND HAS HAD NO MODIFICATIONS PERIOD. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THE SUSPENSION SHOULD NEVER SEPERATE FROM THE BODY BECAUSE OF TORSIONAL FORCES FROM THE TRANS/DIFF. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES !!
NHTSA complaint #10170218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
AT APPROXIMATE 73,000 MILES I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM MY CAR, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND CRACKS IN THE SUBFRAME AROUND THE LEFT REAR BUSHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR AND MODEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SO FAR ARE SAYING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10163758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
1) NORMAL STREET AND HIGHWAY DRIVING 2) REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE 3)CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, REPLACED CROSS MEMBER
NHTSA complaint #10126538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
MY BMW 328CI YEAR 2000 HAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SEPERATION OF REAR UNDER CHASIS, MY CAR IS IN THE DEALER NOW AT BMW SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BMW NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY ARE CHARGING ME $22000 FOR REPAIR. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS IN AUGUST AND ITS ONLY 37K MILES ON IT. I TALKED TO THE BODY SHOP OF BMW SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY SHOWED ME 3 CARS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM . A $45K CAR EASY TO SEPERATED THE UNDERCHASIS AND SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HOPE YOU TAKE A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK ON THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10078873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 BMW 328CI STALLS EVERY NOW AND THEN AND WHEN I RESTART IT I FEEL A POWER LOSS. COMES AND GOES. VERY PESKY PROBLEM, MAKES YOU FEEL SCARED YOU MIGHT GET STRANDED.
NHTSA complaint #10064280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4YR 50,000 MILES WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS AROUND 53,000 MILES. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10037019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY HELD IN PLACE INSIDE THE FENDER BY ONLY ONE THIN PLASTIC FINGER. THE FINGER SNAPPED OFF THE TURN SIGNAL HOUSING, ALLOWING THE ENTIRE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10016799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.