Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2005 BMW M3 with NHTSA between 2005 and 2018.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 15 of 16 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 18
Against the median year of the BMW M3. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 24
14% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2005 BMW M3
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
433.3%
Engine & Cooling
325.0%
Median failure at 86,000 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
216.7%
Median failure at 22,747 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
216.7%
Median failure at 84,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
18.3%
Median failure at 168,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
114.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
114.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
457.1%
150,000+ miles
114.3%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA
rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that
ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do
not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2005 BMW M3 2-DR w/SAB
—
—
—
—
When owners complained
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.
Mar 2005peak 2Jun 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2005 BMW M3
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
1
investigation is
still open.
EA15001Opened 24 Feb 2015Still openAIR BAGS
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field fai...
PE14016Opened 11 Jun 2014Closed 2 Mar 2015AIR BAGS
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field fai...
PE09036Opened 7 Aug 2009Closed 22 Dec 2009EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING T...
DP09002Opened 8 Apr 2009Closed 6 Aug 2009EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
IN MARCH 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. MARK PETERS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF REAR LAMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES.AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WAS SENT TO BMW IN APRIL 2009, AND ODI RECEIVED BMW'S RESPONSE IN JUNE 2009.THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CONTAINS LIGHTING FOR THE BRAKE LAMPS, TAIL LAMPS, AND TURN SIGNALS.A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) WAS ISSUED BY BMW IN JANUARY OF 2007 INSTRUCTING SERVICE TECHNICIANS TO EXAMINE AN 8 PIN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR HEAT-RELATED DAMAGE AND TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRI...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 168,000 milesKenmore, WA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EVAPORATOR CORE DESIGN FLAW IS CONDUCIVE TO MOLD AND MILDEW BUILDUP. OVERTIME, THE BACTERIA CAN BUILD UP TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL RELEASE INTO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM UPON USE CAUSING UNSAFE HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS FOR BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. STANDARD CLEANING PROCEDURES PROVIDED BY BMW ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCE.
NHTSA complaint #11101610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hartford, CT
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10967681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL I'VE BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR ALMOST A YEAR AT BMW SAN FRANCISCO. WHAT IS A "REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME" TO WAIT FOR THIS REPAIR?
NHTSA complaint #10899305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesHOT Springs, AR
POWER TRAIN
SMG TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND RANDOMLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FOUR LANE AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. LIGHT WENT OFF AND IT SEEMED FINE L FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND SAME HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TAKING MY SON TO THE HOSPITAL. I CALLED BMW AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WASNT A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THEREFORE IT ISNT DEEMED AN ISSUE ON THIER END. I TOLD THEM I WASNTED THIS REPORTED AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE THE REPORT IN THIER SYSTEM. I WAS NOT AWARE UNTIL RECENTLY THAT YOU HAVE TO REPORT IT TO NHTSA. THE FORUMS I HAVE READ HAVE ALSO CALLED BMW AND REPORTED ISSUES. THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE TO REPORT IT TO NHTSA AND NOT BMW. VERY DISHEARTENING. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY DRIVING MY CAR BECAUSE OF BMW WANTS ALMOST $6000.00 TO FIX THE ISSUE AND GIVE A 1 YR WARRANTY ON SOMETHING THEY KNOW TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE WITH EXPENSE WITH THIS WELL KNOW ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10779500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
94134, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE RECALL 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 complaint #10745348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reston, VA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF 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.
NHTSA complaint #10693231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,000 milesMiami, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY VEHICLE HAS 87,000 MILES AND I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT THE VANOS HAD FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS CAR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME ALMOST $5,000 TO FIX. I'VE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER FOR THIS VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD ACCIDENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR, IT'S IN ORIGINAL STATE. I SPOKE TO MY SERVICE ADVISER TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO, HOWEVER IT'S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH AND WON'T EVEN RETURN MY CALLS. I'VE CALLED THEM AT LEAST 20 TIMES DURING THE PAST MONTH, IT'S RIDICULOUS FOR SUCH A REPUTABLE COMPANY LIKE BMW TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF A KNOWN ISSUE, WHICH I'VE READ ON SEVERAL BMW FORUMS, AND NOW THEY CAN'T EVEN RETURN MY CALLS. IT'S DISAPPOINTING. I GUESS THIS IS MY LAST BMW.
NHTSA complaint #10425826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesWayne, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE ARE NO VISUAL SIGNS OF THIS FAILURE UNLESS THE VALVE COVER TO THE ENGINE IS REMOVED. UPON REMOVAL THERE IS A METAL FRAGMENT THAT IS RUNNING LOOSE UNDERNEATH THE VALVE COVER. WHEN THIS METAL PIECE FALLS OUT IT CAN ENTER THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS PART BREAKS OFF DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE ADJUSTABLE TIMING MECHANISM (VANOS). A REDESIGN OF THE SYSTEM OR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF PARTS IS NEEDED TO SOLVE THE ISSUE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. AS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION I HAVE REPLACED THE $1000 DOLLAR PART WHICH HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF FAILING AGAIN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE ON THE S54 ENGINE ON THOUSANDS OF HIGH END BMW'S AND LEADS TO A RIDICULOUS FEE TO FIX THAT CAN RANGE FROM $1000-$8000 DEPENDING ON SEVERITY.
NHTSA complaint #10415516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesColorado, CO
VISIBILITY
THE AUTO-DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRRORS IN 2001-2006 BMW 3 SERIES, AND OTHER MODELS ARE DEFECTIVE. THESE MIRRORS LEAK OUT THE TOXIC AUTO-DIMMING FLUID INTO THE CAR (DAMAGING THE INTERIOR, AND PUTTING THE DRIVER/PASSENGERS AT RISK FROM THE CHEMICALS). NOT TO MENTION ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE MIRROR IS BECOMES BLURRY, AND HARD TO SEE OUT OF (WHICH IS A SAFTEY HAZARD FOR VEHICLE OPERATION). MY PARTICULAR CAR IS STILL UNDER CPO BMW WARRANTY, AND I WAS TOLD THE MIRROR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH ITS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN MATERIALS, OR DESIGN FROM THE MANUFACTURER. RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON INTERNET FORUMS I'VE DISCOVERED THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURENCE, AND BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SCOPE OF PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALL BEEN FORCED TO SPEND $600 FOR A REPLACEMENT MIRROR, THAT WILL OVERTIME HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10409353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesPine Bluff, AR
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE NORMAL DRIVING THROUGH TOWN/HIGHWAY THE CAR WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AND CEASE TO ACCELERATE. WHICH CAUSES A HIGH RISK MANEUVER TO AVOID TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10405576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VANOS SYSTEM IN THE 2001-2006 BMW M3 IS A COMMON PART THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST BOLTS OF THE CAM GEAR CAN SHEER OFF DUE TO IMPROPER TORQUING FROM THE FACTORY AND IMPROPER HARDNESS OF THE BOLTS. THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE VANOS SYSTEM IS ALSO WEAK. IF THE VANOS SYSTEM FAILS, THE CAM GEAR CAN SHEER OFF, AND PARTS CAN GET INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. SOMETIMES, PARTS CAN BREAK OFF INTO THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS SYSTEM FAILS WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON, SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VANOS SYSTEM. PLEASE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTP://WWW.M3FORUM.NET/M3FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=327372 HTTP://WWW.M3FORUM.NET/M3FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=321494 HTTP://WWW.M3FORUM.NET/M3FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=212573 A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL YIELD MORE RESULTS. SOMETIMES REPLACING THE BOLTS ON THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAMSHAFT WITH HARDENED BOLTS WILL SOMETIMES FIX THE ISSUE, BUT OTHER TIMES, THE PROBLEM SEEMS RANDOM.
NHTSA complaint #10344897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 495 milesSAN Francisco, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2005 MINI COOPER S WAS PURCHASED NEW AT SOUTHBAY MINI, TORRENCE CA, ON 3/4/05. CAR IS GARAGED AT 547 OAK PARK RESIDENCE, NO CRACK ON THE NIGHT OF 3/7/05. NOTICED APPROX 8" CRACK ON THE MORNING OF 3/8/05. TAKEN TO DEALER ON 3/9/05, DEALER PERFORMS "BALL POINT PEN TEST" ON WINDSHIELD CRACK TO DETERMINE IF WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, WARRANTY IS DENIED. STATES WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS (TSB: M5120103, ://ALLDATA.COM/TSB/85/04850253.HTML) HAVE BEEN FIXED IN 2005 MODELS YET NUMEROUS OWNERS ON MINI2.COM AND NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM CONTRADICT THAT STATEMENT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10114024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.