KnownCarProblems2003 BMW 330i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 330i, most often about the lights (36% of complaints, typically around 86,500 miles). It is 4th of 16 330i model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory4 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2003 BMW 330i problems
Lights
28 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 86,500 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, tail lights.
BMW e46 3-series sedans with the zkw-brand xenon headlamps have defective headlights. The projector reflector bowls burn out, reducing light output, making the car less safe to drive at night. As far as I know, all the e46 sedans with zkw-brand xenon headlamps suffer from this problem to one degree or another.…
I'm contacting you to express my frustration with the quality of the BMW xenon headlight. The xenon low beams started to dim and are now useless. Through google I found out that this is a very common problem since the plastic reflector/projector bowls just burn out. The light output is now too low to be safe at night.…
Air bags
24 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 135,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I filed a previous complaint on this web site, but it has since been removed. The odi# I was provided was 1011031. Please advise as to why the complaint was removed.
The contact owns a 2003 BMW 330i. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver side air bag inadvertently deployed. The contact panicked and crashed sideways into a concrete median. The contact sustained back injuries which required medical attention. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for…
Electrical
10 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
The passenger doors fail to open with the internal door unlock button. This is due to failure of door unlock relays in the gm5 module. This could result in a significant safety issue if a failure of the unlock relay happens when attempting to unlock passenger doors in an emergency to retrieve passengers.
Intermittent failure of driver and passenger side tail light assembly due to burnt connector pins and connector housing. Inadequate connector/wire rating. Should be subject of a recall from a responsible car manufacturer. Unsafe to drive in the dark. Blemish on the ultimate driving machine. Intermittent failure of the…
Engine
8 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 6,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
2003 330i zhp (performance package) : 6k miles... Car idle's rough and stalls occasionally. Dealer / service had no error reports in the computer, said they could do nothing about it. Problem continues...
I am experiencing a stalling problem with my 2003 BMW 330i. At a stop light the car has a very rough idle and has stalled numerous times. I have brought the car to the dealer numerous times to have this problem resolved, and nothing has been done about it. This problem is happening on almost every 330i, as evidenced…
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: rim.
Tl contact owns a 2003 BMW 330i. After the cpntact had the rims chromed they would continuously and slowly deflate. The tires had to be inspected and reinflated after every trip. The failure did not occur until after the rims were chromed. The rims would not hold air. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage…
My 4th gt radial tire side wall blow out. On 10/29/2017, my 4th tire blew out the side wall on the highway doing 70 MPH. I have saved the this tire and the 3rd one that blew out a few months back for investigation. I also have pictures.
Transmission
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
While traveling at highway speeds, service engine soon light came on and code was p0741 was read by service technician. When fixed, torque converter seal was damaged and new torque converter was required to be installed. This is a known issue with this transmission. BMW should have a recall, as the new seal is the…
The car was being driven by my house and the transmision started slipping as well as it catching and breaking one of the axles leaving the car to be stuck not being able to move period surely the most important thing this resulted in the car getting hit and the fuel tank exploding my aunt want not able to make it out…
Doors and locks
3 complaints · 4%My car will not unlock reliably via the remote control or the center unlock/lock button. I can't get into the car when this problem happens. The general module(gm5) is going bad and the car will only unlock when it feels like it. From what I understand this is a normal issue with my 2003 BMW 330i. Hopefully BMW will…
The passenger doors fail to open with the internal door unlock button. This is due to failure of door unlock relays in the gm5 module. This could result in a significant safety issue if a failure of the unlock relay happens when attempting to unlock passenger doors in an emergency to retrieve passengers.
Body and structure
3 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: body.
The passenger doors fail to open with the internal door unlock button. This is due to failure of door unlock relays in the gm5 module. This could result in a significant safety issue if a failure of the unlock relay happens when attempting to unlock passenger doors in an emergency to retrieve passengers.
All passenger doors except driver door cannot be unlocked or opened using any method--the key or any unlock button, or using either inside or outside door handles. This leaves only the front driver door openable. This is a huge safety risk. I can't drive the car this way--I would not be able to get my kids out of the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 BMW 330i 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
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in september 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on december 1, 2014. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email bmw at [email protected].
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and sports wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and sport wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and sports wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 m3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
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.
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Bmw intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in june 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for july, bmw will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email bmw at [email protected].
Full defect summary
Bmw is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325ci and 330ci coupes and convertibles; 325it and 325xit sports wagons; and m3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
Lights: tail lights
Risk: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions. This could cause a vehicle crash without warning.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on february 15, 2012. Owners may contact bmw customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi vehicles manufactured from september 1, 2001, through march 1, 2005. Over time, resistance in the electrical contacts may cause one or more rear lamp functions (tail light, brake light, and/or turn-signal), within the vehicle's body panel, to stop working.
Visibility and wipers: power window devices and controls
Risk: Occupants could be pinched by a window that is being closed.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the electronic control unit for the window lifting anti-pinching device. Owner notification began may 27, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the window lifting anti-pinching device might not function properly.
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
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
In a letter submitted to the office of defects investigation (odi) dated august25, 2011, bmwindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.the issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electrical contact points.this can lead to intermittent or permanent loss of the rear lamp functions which include tail, brake, and turn signal operation.the recall consists of modifying the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel by adding a secondary ground connection in parallel to the existing primary gr
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
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 to an ea to further investigate the issue.
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
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 wiring to the connector.complainants have alleged that significant thermal damage to the connector and a
Questions about the 2003 BMW 330i
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW 330i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (28 complaints, typically around 86,500 miles); air bags (24 complaints, typically around 135,000 miles); electrical (10 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 BMW 330i have?
- 6 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 2003 a bad year for the BMW 330i?
- It is 4th of 16 330i model years by number of complaints, 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.