Bmw 3 Series 2004 - Electrical system - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Bmw 3 Series 2004

Technical Service Bulletins
Consumer Complaints

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Replacement Bulletin	Item no.	Summary	Added
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SIB-61-01-11	02/01/2011		10040736	Bmw: various functions in the vehicle are not working including: instruments, door locks, wipers, and other electrical functions. there may also be warning lights on. k-can wiring in the vehicle shorted. *rm	09/12/2011
SIB-61-01-11	02/01/2011		10040736	Ready	09/12/2011
SIB-12-21-10	09/01/2010		10037079	Ready	05/04/2011
SIB-12-21-10	09/01/2010		10037079	Bmw: service engine soon light is on. the vehicle lost power and the engine cranks with no start. *rm	05/04/2011
SI-B61-16-09	09/01/2009		10031584	Bmw: various electrical problems or intermittently. symptoms typically include various warning lamps in the instrument cluster and starting problems. affected may be the ekp (electronically controlled fuel pump), and control modules on t	01/06/2010
SIB-51-19-07	10/02/2009	SI-B51-19-07	10030626	Bmw vehicles: doors will not unlock using the key fob or central locking button. pe updated1/4/10. pe updated 5/24/10. *pe	10/30/2009
SI-B-61-16-08	11/01/2003		10029107	Bmw:various electrical system failures which occurred while driving: a/c stopped working; fuel gauge display is implausible (shows empty); rear windows one touch function is inoperative; windshield wipers are working with being switched on;	06/15/2009
SI-B-12-04-05	10/01/2008		10028370	Bmw: check engine lamp illuminated and/or vehicle overheats. models e83, e85, e86, e70, e90, e91, e92, e93, e60 and e61. *pe	03/26/2009
1220405	02/11/2005		10012787	Check engine lamp illuminated intake and ambient temperature faults stored in dme. *eh	03/28/2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
SIB-61-37-12	12/01/2012		10051519	Bmw: the high-voltage (hv) battery cells could be damaged if the vehicle is prevented from entering sleep mode for an extended period of time. updated 03/11/2013 *js	03/11/2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - SOFTWARE
SIB-12-16-07	03/01/2011		10040170	Ready	08/16/2011
SIB-12-16-07	03/01/2011		10040170	Bmw: a software error is causing the the service engine soon light to come on. there will be stored trouble codes. *rm	08/16/2011
SIB-72-05-07	04/01/2011		10040049	Ready	08/15/2011
SIB-72-05-07	04/01/2011		10040049	Bmw: a software problem is causing one or both of the seat belt assistants to not extend fully or may not extend at all. the position at which the assistant comes to rest varies. e92. *rm	08/15/2011
SIB-65-36-09	09/01/2010		10037078	Ready	05/04/2011
SIB-65-36-09	09/01/2010		10037078	Bmw: the airbag warning lamp is illuminated due to a software error. *rm	05/04/2011
SIB-13-06-10	06/01/2010		10036985	Ready	04/25/2011
SIB-13-06-10	06/01/2010		10036985	Bmw: a service engine soon light comes on. the engine will only operate to 1500 rpms and lacks power. there is a software application error. *rm	04/25/2011
SIB-12-07-06	10/01/2009		10032650	Bmw: service engine soon lamp illuminated-fc 23f4 map thermostat. in some vehicles have insufficient heat. e90, e91 (3 series), e60, e61 (5 series) 3/06 and e83 (x3 series) 9/08. *pe	04/23/2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
SIB-61-01-11	02/01/2011		10040736	Ready	09/12/2011
SIB-61-01-11	02/01/2011		10040736	Bmw: various functions in the vehicle are not working including: instruments, door locks, wipers, and other electrical functions. there may also be warning lights on. k-can wiring in the vehicle shorted. *rm	09/12/2011
SIB-65-36-09	09/01/2010		10037078	Ready	05/04/2011
SIB-65-36-09	09/01/2010		10037078	Bmw: the airbag warning lamp is illuminated due to a software error. *rm	05/04/2011

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
02/18/2013		1
	My bi-xenon headlights have been slowly fading resulting in extremely poor visibility during normal nightime driving. this degradation has been occurring without my knowledge until it became obvious after driving another vehicle. as it turns out, my mechanic has advised there is a common issue with certain bmw assemblies that the projector lenses literally burn due to heat resulting in the need to replace the entire assembly. this loss of headlight intensity resulting in poor visibility is a significant safety situation and request someone look into why no recall has occurred as this is obviously a safety concern. i have entered today's date as incident date as i am not sure when degradation of the projectors began. *tr
02/18/2013
	My bi-xenon headlights have been slowly fading resulting in extremely poor visibility during normal nightime driving. this degradation has been occurring without my knowledge until it became obvious after driving another vehicle. as it turns out, my mechanic has advised there is a common issue with certain bmw assemblies that the projector lenses literally burn due to heat resulting in the need to replace the entire assembly. this loss of headlight intensity resulting in poor visibility is a significant safety situation and request someone look into why no recall has occurred as this is obviously a safety concern. i have entered today's date as incident date as i am not sure when degradation of the projectors began.
02/16/2008	80450	1
	Door locks intermittently will not unlock with switch or remotes. central locking does not work even when using the key fob. my kids and i have been trapped in the car on several occasions for up to 10 minutes. this is a serious risk to my life and the life of others on the road. bmw refuses to fix this problem. i have video of me trapped in the car. i addressed his problem with bmw before my warranty was up but they state since the technicians could not identity any problem it's not covered. i researched this issue and this is an ongoing problem with other customers. *tr
02/16/2008	80450
	Door locks intermittently will not unlock with switch or remotes. central locking does not work even when using the key fob. my kids and i have been trapped in the car on several occasions for up to 10 minutes. this is a serious risk to my life and the life of others on the road. bmw refuses to fix this problem. i have video of me trapped in the car. i addressed his problem with bmw before my warranty was up but they state since the technicians could not identity any problem it's not covered. i researched this issue and this is an ongoing problem with other customers.
08/09/2012	94000	1
	Module that controls central locking, wipers, and several other parts (the gm5) started to develop a fault. we had problems unlocking doors, locking doors, using windows, and worst of all - the wipers were hit or miss. bmw wanted $750 for the part replacement. *tr
08/09/2012	94000
	Module that controls central locking, wipers, and several other parts (the gm5) started to develop a fault. we had problems unlocking doors, locking doors, using windows, and worst of all - the wipers were hit or miss. bmw wanted $750 for the part replacement.
10/23/2010
	2004 bmw 330xi sedan (e46) rear tail light indicator light consistently comes on, even though there is no tail lamp failure. online community forums report that this is likely due to ground wire short in the tail lamp assembly. cost of repair at dealership estimated at $700. currently being investigated by nhtsa as ea09-019, but i'm wary of being overcharged by dealership for what should be a recall. *tr
02/26/2010	93500	1
	I want to report a problem with the ignition coils in the bmw 330xi model made in the year 2004 that results in reduced ignition firing power. the engine runs rough and the service engine soon light illuminates. bmw had a recall on ignition coils failure in 2005 and 2006 on some models but this problem now surface on other models as well. please investigate. *tr