27 of the
552 complaints filed about the BMW M3
are about the body and structure —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
During a regular fuel stop at a gas station, I noticed the central lock button nor the physical door hinge fail to operate to open the door for me to exit. The fuse for the central power door lock/unlock button blew out, completely disabling the interior door hinge mechanism. I got trapped inside but thankfully the power was still on and the rear doors remained unlocked. So, I lowered the driverside window and crawl outside. Then open the unlocked reer door to enter the vehicle from the back seat. Then located the fuse box, searched on the internet to itenfy the effected fuse, replaced damaged one to another fuse (dedicated to another function), temporarily replaced with the same ampage fuse. For my vehicle, there is no visible solution to enter the physical key to open the door from the outside that are typically found under the exterior door handle. If it wasn't for a combination of luck that the other door remained unlocked, had power to lower the window, have some knowledge of vehicle electrical system (fuse), and tolerable weather condition, I would've been stuck inside my car for indifinite time, or break the window to get to exit. I would testify that this is a serious safety concern the manufacturer should investigate and provide permanent resolution.
NHTSA complaint #11596458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11457998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KEEP HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND ON DRIVER SIDE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. FEELING VIBRATION UNDER CAR UNDER ACCELERATING AND BREAKING. CARBON FIBER ROOF LAMINATE PEELING OFF.
NHTSA complaint #11232137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR SUBFRAME SUPPORT IS SEPARATING FROM THE BODY WHERE IT MOUNTS TO. CRACKS AROUND THE SUBFRAME BOLTS CAN BE SEEN. PINCHWELD AROUND REAR FENDER IS SEPERATING.
NHTSA complaint #11143340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON INSPECTION, VEHICLE'S REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS SHOW CRACKING AND OTHER SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL FATIGUE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNDERGONE COMPLETE REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE. VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME NEEDS TO BE REINFORCED AND BMW SETTLED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE WAS NOT ESCALATED TO A RECALL, POSSIBLY LEAVING THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11121830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW M3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A SEVERE CRACK IN THE SUBFRAME THAT SUPPORTED THE REAR WHEELS AND SUSPENSION. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
NHTSA complaint #11111835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. THERE HAD BEEN A LIGHT RAIN. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES F. DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. UPON SHUTTING THE IGNITION KEY OFF IN A PARKING LOT, BOTH DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY AND IMMEDIATELY. LOCK BUTTON ON CONSOLE WAS NOT PUSHED. BOTH DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN, BY USE OF THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYS OR BY THE CONSOLE BUTTON. TWO DIFFERENT KEYS WERE TRIED. THE DOOR HANDLES MOVED, BUT WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WOULD HAVE OPENED THE DOORS EITHER BECAUSE THE DOORS WERE "LOCKED" . THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE OF THE CAR BEGAN TO RISE RAPIDLY SO THE ENGINE WAS STARTED TO PROVIDE AIR CONDITIONING. RESTARTING THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES DID NOT CHANGE THE CONDITION OF THE LOCKED DOORS. AFTER 10 TO 12 MINUTES I DECIDED TO LOWER THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND USE THE KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS FINALLY UNLOCKED BOTH DOORS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE AND I HAD PULL OVER THE CAR AND SHUT THE KEY OFF. THE DOORS MAY LOCK. A DISABLED OR WEAK PERSON MAY NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BREAK THE GLASS OR CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW IF THEY PANIC. I AM VERY SCARED TO USE THE CAR AT THIS POINT...EVEN TO DRIVE IT TO GET REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10745533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
NHTSA complaint #10648377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE WAIT FOR PARTS MIGHT BE LONGER THAN A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.
NHTSA complaint #10648386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED EITHER FROM INSIDER OR OUTSIDE. APPEARS LIKE THE DOOR IS DOUBLE LOCKED. LUCKILY BOTH DOORS ARE NOT DOUBLE LOCKED WITH PASSENGER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LOCK ACTUATOR WITHOUT WARNING OR FAILURE OF GM5 MODULE
NHTSA complaint #10619015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10521755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10521755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE BMW DEALER FOR A INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE SUBFRAME/TRUNK FLOOR WAS CRACKING AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT MY CAR ON A VEHICLE LIFT FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND ADVISED ME IT MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. LOOKING INTO THIS ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON SAFTEY PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10479377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10475875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2003 BMW M3 COUPE, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RACED OR TAKEN TO THE TRACK AND HAS SEEN MOSTLY CITY DRIVING. ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ARE STOCK OR OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR, A TRAINED TECHNICIAN FOUND HAIRLINE FRACTURES STARTING FROM THE SPOT WELDS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS RENDERING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY UNTIL EXPENSIVE REINFORCING PLATES CAN BE WELDED INTO THE TRUNK. IF A CAR COMPANY MAKES STREET-LEGAL RACE CARS AND MARKETS THEM TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT WAY IT SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW SUCH AS THIS WOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE COMPANY. AGAIN, THIS CAR WAS NEVER RACED OR TRACKED AND IS EXPERIENCING THE START OF A CATASTROPHIC STRUCTURAL FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS DRIVEN ON NORMAL ROADS.
NHTSA complaint #10453234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILED REAR VIEW MIRROR WHERE A LIQUID INSIDE FORMS A BUBBLE MAKING THE MIRROR TOTALLY UNUSABLE. THIS IS A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MOST WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES AND BMW NA HAS REFUSED TO OWN UP AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE LIQUID THAT SPILLS CAUSES IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE PARTS THAT IT SPILLS ON AND IS ALSO TOXIC.
NHTSA complaint #10446084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE AND POSES A DANGER WHEN MOVING FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE. YOUR FOOT CAN BECOME ENTANGLED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #10322398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD AT THE ALLOTTED SPEED LIMIT., I WAS ON A SINGLE LANE ROAD. I THEN WENT OVER A POTHOLE- NOT A HUGE CRATER. AFTER WHICH MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME CROOKED AND THE DSC FAILURE WARNING ON MY BMW CAME UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID THAT I HAVE DAMAGE TO MY REAR SUB FRAME(BENT), I APPARENTLY HAPPENS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES-THE COST FOR REPAIRING IS 4000$. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IT LOOKS LIKE TO AVOID THESE INCIDENTS I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING ON ROADS - AS I WAS NOT SPEEDING NOR WAS I INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE POTHOLE - AT THE EXPENSE OF GOING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND HITTING THE OTHER CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED EVERYONE AT BMW., NONE HELPS. I HOPE THIS IS MY LAST RESORT FOR LITTLE PEOPLE LIKE ME.
NHTSA complaint #10285960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD AT THE ALLOTTED SPEED LIMIT., I WAS ON A SINGLE LANE ROAD. I THEN WENT OVER A POTHOLE- NOT A HUGE CRATER. AFTER WHICH MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME CROOKED AND THE DSC FAILURE WARNING ON MY BMW CAME UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID THAT I HAVE DAMAGE TO MY REAR SUB FRAME(BENT), I APPARENTLY HAPPENS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES-THE COST FOR REPAIRING IS 4000$. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IT LOOKS LIKE TO AVOID THESE INCIDENTS I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING ON ROADS - AS I WAS NOT SPEEDING NOR WAS I INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE POTHOLE - AT THE EXPENSE OF GOING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND HITTING THE OTHER CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED EVERYONE AT BMW., NONE HELPS. I HOPE THIS IS MY LAST RESORT FOR LITTLE PEOPLE LIKE ME.
NHTSA complaint #10285960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.