18 complaints reported

2004 BMW 3 Series Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
18
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2017 Fire

THUR MAY 11, 2017 LOWER ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON SUNRISE HIGHWAY NEAR EXIT 49. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN AND GOT TO THE SHOULDER AND GOT OUT AND SAW THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE FLAMES WERE IN THE ENGINE AT BOTTOM OF CAR. A DRIVER BEHIND SAW THE FIRE BENEATH CAR AND WAS TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH ME TO INFORM THAT FLAMES AT BOTTOM OF CAR . FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE HIGHWAY SAFETY UNIT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2017
Jul 2015

VEHICLE LEAKS LARGE AMOUNTS OIL FROM VALVE GASKET COVER AND OIL FILTER HOUSING COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE BLOCK MUST HAVE LOOSE BOLTS WHICH IS CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK AND FURTHER CAUSE A HAZARD IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THIS ASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE. I AM ASSUMING BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 325CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2015
Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE COOLING ELECTRONIC SENSOR SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CRACK. THE CONTACT ALSO CONSULTED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC COOLING SENSOR WAS MADE WITH DEFECTED ALUMINUM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2011
Jun 2012

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE AND WATER WAS ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $12,000. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2011
Oct 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE AND WATER WAS ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE OF $10,000. THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2009
Jan 2011

IN 2005 WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, THE CAR BEGAN PULLING UNEVENLY, JERKING GENTLY ON ACCELERATION UP A HIGHWAY BRIDGE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jun 2005
May 2008

THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON ALL E46 330 M54 ENGINES WITH THE ZHP(PERFORMANCE PACKAGE) THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO BMW NA ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AT 2000 - 3000 RPMS THE ENGINE RATTLES LIKE A COFFEE CAN FULL OF MARBLES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BMW BUT THEY STATED THAT THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. BMW IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THE DUAL VANOS UNIT THEY PUT INTO THE M54 ENGINE IS USING BELRIN BUSHINGS AND THEY ARE FAILING. THERE IS A COMPANY CALLED DR. VANOS THAT FIXES THIS ISSUE BY REBUILDING THE OEM VANOS WITH UPGRADED BUSHINGS. THIS UNIT COST $500, WHICH I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND AS I HAVE A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY FROM BMW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Apr 2008
Nov 2006

BMW 2004 330CI. THE OIL LIGHT COMES UP EVERY 400-500 OR 700-800 MILES DEPENDING IF IT IS DRIVEN IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAYS. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS CHECKED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR, CRANKCASE VENT VALVE, VENT PIPE, VENT HOSE, RETURN PIPE, WASH PUMP SO FAR BUT THE CAR STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. CAR GOES TO THE DEALER ONCE A MONTH APPROX. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2006
Aug 2005

2004 BMW 330CI UPON START UP THE ENGINE OVER REVS AND SOMETIMES STALLS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THIS MALFUNCTION HAS ALSO OCCURED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2005
Dec 2004

I HAVE A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION 330CIC AND WHEN I PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AT A STOP THE ENGINE RPM WOULD DIP DRASTICALLY AND STALLS SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC. PERIODICALLY THE ENGINE RPM WOULD DIP SO RAPIDLY THAT THE ENGINE STALLS FROM IDLE POSITION. THIS CAN HAPPEN IN THE DRIVEWAY OR ON A ROAD AT AN 4-WAY LIGHT. BASICALLY ANYTIME THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR STALLING. I EXPERIENCED STALLS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS WELL AS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2004
Nov 2004

BMW 330I EXHIBITS FREQUENT ERRATIC IDLE WHEN STOPPED, AS WELL AS ENGINE STALLING. ERRATIC IDLE IS IN THE FORM OF ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 400-500 RPM. STALLING SOMETIMES OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THESE IDLE SPEED DROPS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG RECENT 330 MODEL BMW'S, AND APPARENTLY THERE IS NO KNOWN SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2004
Aug 2004

WHILE STOPPED, ENGINE SPEED WOULD DROP NEAR OR BELOW IDLE. HAPPENED AFTER COLD ENGINE START OR WHILE WARM AFTER DRIVING (BOTH NO-TRAFFIC AND HIGH-TRAFFIC). TWICE THE CAR ACTUALLY STALLED (IN GARAGE AND AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). ROUGH IDLE CAN BE FELT IN PEDALS AND (6-SPEED MANUAL) SHIFTER. SEE ALSO ODI IDS 10064475,10062056,10064439.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2004
Jul 2004

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OF 20 MPH OR LESS. THE HAS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jun 2004
Jul 2004

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLE WHICH CAUSE IT TO STALL AT INTERSECTIONS, STOP LIGHTS, ETC... *PH *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Apr 2004

2004 BMW 330CI 6 SPEED MANUAL - 3.0L INLINE 6 CYL. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - IDLE BECOMES ERRATIC AND CAR STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROX 6-8 TIMES OVER 8 MONTHS/5000 MILES. NORMALLY HAPPENS ON WARM DAYS AND AT A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN. IT ONCE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS SEEN THE CAR 3+ TIMES AND UPDATED IDLE CONTROL VALVE, AND ENGINE SOFTWARE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND DOESN'T THROW ANY COMPUTER FAULT CODES.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Apr 2004
Feb 2004

CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AT LOW, INTERMIDIATE AND HIGH SPEED. CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY, SPUTTERED, THEN BECOME UNDRIVABLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD CAR HAS MISFIRED. DEALER PROCEEDED TO REPAIR PROBLEM BY REPROGRAMMING COMPUTER CHIP PER MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN. WAS TOLD THE CAR IS FIXED AND SAFE TO DRIVE. 200 MILES AND ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. WAS TOWWED BACK TO THE DEALER NAD WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR AND SOEMTHING ELSE WAS THE ISSUE. REPLACES BOTH PARTS. REPAIR ENGINEER THINKS THAT THERE IS A 99% LIKELYHOOD THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. I AM NOT SO SURE SINCE THAT SAID THE SAME THING LAST TIME. SINCE THE CAR IS NOT ON THE LIST, IT IS A BMW 530I SEDAN.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2004
Feb 2004

CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AT RED LIGHTS. RPM DROPPED WITH NO WARNING. ALSO EXPERIENCE ROUGH IDLING WHEN AT COMPLETE STOP. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2004
Jan 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE ENGINE RATTLED AND THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE CAR BECAME IMMEDIATELY UN DRIVABLE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS IN THE CAR MISFIRED AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, SENDING THE ENGINE INTO A COMPLETE UNBALANCE. *CB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 BMW 330CI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2003

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 BMW 3 Series has 18 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.