KnownCarProblems2003 BMW M3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW M3, most often about the air bags (28% of complaints, typically around 81,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about M3 model year since 2000 and has 5 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 M3 problems
Air bags
15 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 81,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2003 BMW M3. While driving 65 MPH, the driver's side air bag deployed without a crash or impact occurring. The vehicle shut off, but was able to be restarted and resume normal operation. The contact sustained injures to his left arm due to the deployment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they…
Takata recall I received a letter from BMW notifying me of the recall in july 2015. It is may 2, 2016 and my dealer (BMW of silver spring, md) and BMW of north america llc still do not have the part(s) to implement the recall. This is unacceptable if NHTSA is allowing BMW to continue to manufacture and sell cars in…
Transmission
14 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission, automatic transmission, clutch assembly.
BMW M3's with smg transmission 2002-2006. On hot days the transmission with "pop" out of gear and into neutral for about 15-30 seconds before reengaging into the appropriate gear. This just leaves the car helpless coasting down the street.this has happened every day for the past week and today this happened to me…
As you remember, we all spent about six months this past summer figuring out why our e46 M3 smg's were randomly throwing on the transmission check light and randomly cycling into neutral for around 6-15 seconds, displaying a constant "0" during an up or downshift in hot and/or humid weather. We determined after plenty…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
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…
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…
Engine
5 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: engine.
While driving 60 MPH vehicle stalled. Consumer was unable to restart vehicle. It was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to a blow out. Mechanic replaced it. However, the problem recurred.
While driving on a relatively hot day (92 degrees f), my vehicle's smg (sequential manual gearbox) malfunction indicator light turned on and I began having problems with the vehicle randomly dropping out of gear into neutral or "0" for 6-15 seconds at a time. When out of gear, there was a complete loss of power. On…
Suspension
5 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: rear.
I brought my vehicle to the dealer for a routine oil change. During their vehicle inspection, they discovered the rear coil springs had broken where they seat at the bottom. The service manager told me this is a common problem, because water gets into this area and there are no drain holes, causing the springs to rust…
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…
Electrical
4 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: wiring.
2004 BMW M3 convertible. I was on my way home and decided to put the top down. I have owned the vehicle for approx. 6 months and have performed this operation a countless number of times (I live in southern california). I was driving around 40 MPH when I looked in the rear view and noticed that the stowage lid was…
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…
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices.
Took my BMW M3 to don jacobs BMW in lexington, ky. There had been a recall for a software update. After they finished, I took my car home, noticed an unusual "liquid" bubble in my rearview mirror. Contacted the dealership and BMW north america may 26. They state no relation. Searching the internet on BMW M3 forums…
Tl contact owns a 2003 BMW M3. The contact stated that the rearview mirror contained a liquid used to tint the glass. The liquid leaked out and burned the center console and the mirror. She was informed by the dealer that the liquid was a toxic chemical that contained mercury. The manufacturer offered a discount, but…
Wheels and tires
3 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
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 M3 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.
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
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 M3
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW M3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (15 complaints, typically around 81,000 miles); transmission (14 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles); body and structure (5 complaints, typically around 81,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 BMW M3 have?
- 5 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 M3?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about M3 model year since 2000, with 54 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.