KnownCarProblems2004 BMW 330ci Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW 330ci, most often about the air bags (40% of complaints, typically around 58,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about 330ci model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2004 BMW 330ci problems
Air bags
31 complaints · 40%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
On 14 september 2008 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident involving my 2004 BMW 330ci convertible. We had a vehicle run a left turn red light into US as we were passing through the intersection in kent wa. I estimate the impact was probably equivalent to a 50 to 60 MPH collision. It was observed that the air…
There are 2 open recalls for airbags. BMW refuses to order parts (even though they sent me a letter) unless I bring the car to a dealer (130 miles round trip) for a 5 minute "inspection". They will then order the parts and I will have to return again (another 130 mile round trip) to have the work done. They are nice…
Engine
13 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Engine power failure and heavily distorted windshield on a 2004 BMW 330ci. Repeated failure of engine power without warning (twice in an itersection). BMW replaced eng. Computer, then installed new software after second incident. Rough idle and surging continues and gas mileage in city dropped to 12.6-13 mpg.…
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…
Transmission
9 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 3,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I own a 2004 BMW 330ci. Driving in reverse out of my garage and driveway first thing in the morning, then shifting to drive when I reach the street, the transmission does not engage until about 3-10 seconds. The car will roll freely during this time as if it were in neutral. I have not had an incident or crash, but…
Car has delay when shifting from reverse to forward on cold starts. Car downshift hard under braking. Car revs high on quick acceleration.
Electrical
8 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 121,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring.
Vehicle had been sitting parked for several weeks, low battery 9.8 volts. Spontaneously headlights came on smoke filled car, doors would not unlock manually or by remote. Shattered door glass with fire extinguisher . Close inspection appears faulty headlight switch started fire had 8 to 10" flames coming out of left…
The adaptive headlights are flickering (stationary or in motion). This points to a faulty wiring issue, according to many other owners reporting this on internet forums for this vehicle.
Lights
8 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 108,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330ci. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side brake light and the rear driver's side blinker would not shut off. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 108,000.
Headlight wiring on my 2004 BMW 330ci degraded prematurely accelerated by heat and high voltage until it caused my headlight to fail while driving on the interstate in the early evening. The symptom was caused by the supply wires to the igniter losing there insulation at stressed harness attachment point, arced over…
Fuel system
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: delivery.
Tl contact owns a 2004 BMW 330ci. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began loosing power and the fuel gauge read empty; although there was fuel in the vehicle. He was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer replaced the fuel pump at the owners expense for $967.30. The failure and the current mileages were…
I was driving my 2004 BMW 330ci when suddenly without any warning my engine stopped working, which resulted in no engine power, no power brakes and no power steering. It was a very dangerous situation. It was towed to the nearest BMW dealer where the fuel pump was replaced.
Visibility and wipers
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: windshield.
Engine power failure and heavily distorted windshield on a 2004 BMW 330ci. Repeated failure of engine power without warning (twice in an itersection). BMW replaced eng. Computer, then installed new software after second incident. Rough idle and surging continues and gas mileage in city dropped to 12.6-13 mpg.…
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330ci. The contact stated that there was an unknown liquid leaking from the rear view mirror. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 51,345. The VIN was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 BMW 330ci recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began february 13, 2020. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323it, 325it, 325xit, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323ci, 325ci, 328ci, 330ci, m3 coupe, 323cic, 325cic, 330cic, and m3 convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal takata psan inflators and pspi passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began aug 2016. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: on december 17, 2015 bmw removed the model year 2004 x5 3.0i and 4.4i sports activit
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi sedans, and 325xi and 325i sportswagons, 2002-2006 330ci, 325ci, and m3 convertibles and 325i, 330i, and m3 coupes, 2002-2003 m5, 540i, 525i sedan, and 530i sedans, and 540i and 525i sportswagons, and 2003 x5 3.0i and 4.4i sports activity vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and x5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Delayed transmission engagement
Summary
Ms. Claire m. Tieder of reston, va, submitted a defect petition to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) by letter dated january 11, 2004, requesting a defect investigation be conducted into delayed transmission engagement on model year 2004 bmw xi vehicles.bmw's response to NHTSA's information request indicated that certain bmw 3-series vehicles equipped with the gm5 transmission may exhibited a forward 'park' to 'drive' engagement delay from2 to 30 seconds.however, the condition can occur only during a vehicle cold start, after the vehicle has been at rest for more than eight hours.drivers experiencing the delay have learned to take precautionary and compensatory measu
Questions about the 2004 BMW 330ci
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW 330ci?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (31 complaints, typically around 58,000 miles); engine (13 complaints, typically around 4,000 miles); transmission (9 complaints, typically around 3,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 330ci have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 15, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the BMW 330ci?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about 330ci model year since 2000, with 77 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.