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BMW 3 Series E46 common faults.

1998–2004. The fault list covers this generation and the engines in it. If the listing gives the exact version, pick it below.

BMW 3 Series E46

Alexander Migl / CC BY-SA 4.0

What to watch for

What can go wrong on this car?

The list covers the generation, the engines and the transmissions. Once you pick the version, only the faults that apply to it stay.

8 more faults belong to this generation. On the version page, only the ones that apply stay.

Official recall11 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done. The list covers the whole generation. We did not filter it by model year. Some apply only to a narrower production window.

Most recent: 23 May 2022

A12/01882/23Safety recallInjuries23 May 2022 · EU Safety Gate

The propellant in the passenger airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 23/05/2022

The authority's notice

A12/01400/21Safety recallInjuries20 May 2021 · EU Safety Gate

The NADI (non-azide driver inflator) type airbag may have improper sealing that could allow moisture to enter into the propellant. If the propellant afterwards dries out, it could lead to decreased density resulting in a too high burn rate. Consequently the airbag may not deploy as designed and provide less protection, increasing the risk of injury. The product does not meet the requirements set out in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 20/05/2021

The authority's notice

A12/02024/23Safety recallInjuries7 May 2013 · EU Safety Gate

The propellant in the passenger airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 07/05/2013

The authority's notice

A12/00017/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The gas generator on the driver side airbag could burst in the event of airbag activation if it had been exposed to high air humidity, high temperatures and considerable temperature fluctuations over several years. This could result in metal parts being discharged, increasing the risk of injury of the vehicle occupants. No information

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00390/21Safety recallFire, Injuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The vehicles may be affected by frictional corrosion on the connector from the wiring harness to the blower control unit. Over time, this may cause damage to the insulation of the wiring harness, which could trigger a short circuit. This could cause a vehicle fire, even when the engine is switched off.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00637/24Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The driver's airbag inflator propellant may deteriorate over time. If activated during an accident, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to burst, and metal fragments could pass through the cushion material causing injury to occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00852/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The vehicles affected may have been fitted with Takata non-azide driver inflator (NADI) gas generators in which inadequate sealing on the gas generator could allow the ingress of moisture and thus result in the degradation of the propellant. If the airbag deploys, this could cause the gas generator to underinflate or to burst. In the case of under inflation the protective effect is not given. In case of overpressure deployment metal parts can enter the vehicle interior, this could cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants of the vehicle.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/02573/24Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0266/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

If the driver's airbag is deployed, the inflator might burst if it was subject to high air humidity, high temperatures and substantial temperature fluctuations over a number of years. This may result in the ejection of metal parts, which could cause injury or death to the driver and the passengers.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/03030/23Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The propellant within the integrated inflator of driver airbags can deteriorate during time. If the airbag deploys, it could result in fragments from the inflator casing injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

SR/00583/26Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The driver airbag inflator may malfunction due to long-term degradation. In this case, if the airbag is deployed in an accident, the internal pressure in the inflator may be too high. The inflator could burst. Metal fragments may cause injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engines and transmissions in this generation

A fault is often tied to the engine, not to the whole generation. You find the engine code in the registration document.

E46 · 1998–2004

Pick the version.

The fault list opens on the version page.

292 versions

Showing 60 of 292 versions.

Neighbouring generations

E46 · 1998–2004

E46 (1998-2004). If the listing is from the changeover year, look at the neighbour too.

Previous generation

This is the earliest.

This generation

E46 · 1998–2004

Next generation

E90 · 2005–2011

Common questions

About this generation

Which years does this page cover?

1998–2004. The changeover year can fall in two generations. If the listing is from that year, look at the neighbour too.

Does the fault apply to every car like this?

No. It depends on the engine and the transmission too.

Is it free?

The fault list is.

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms