Model line

BMW E46

Every BMW E46 model year on file, 1990 to 2005. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years453 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years161990 to 2005
Recall campaigns4Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins128Summed across model years
By model year

The 2000 model year drew the most complaints, 18, 40% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

051015201990199219941996199820001820022005
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Structure leads the BMW E46 complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Structure
9
Lighting
7
Engine and cooling
7
Electrical system
7
Powertrain
6
Seats
3
Airbags
3
Visibility and wipers
3
Fuel system
2
Tires
2
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each BMW E46 model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

BMW E46 by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2005Not decoded0NoneNone127
2004Sedan40.010127
2003Sedan10.03125
2002Not decoded20.02002314
2001Not decoded0NoneNone4023
2000Coupe180.0904026
1999Sedan10.054021
1998Not decoded0NoneNone209
1997Sedan425.021102
1996Sedan10.05102
1995Sedan60.032102
1994Sedan30.019102
1993Coupe333.318102
1992Not decoded0NoneNone102
1991Not decoded0NoneNone102
1990Sedan250.020102
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the BMW E46

  • 09E-025 May 11, 2009
    These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated…
    Lighting · 43k vehicles
  • 06E-049 May 24, 2006
    Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger…
    Lighting · 27k vehicles
  • 06E-040 May 15, 2006
    Certain e speed racing combination lamps sold as replacement equipment for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above
    Lighting · 1,648 vehicles
  • 06E-026 Mar 23, 2006
    Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above
    Lighting · 62k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.