1997 BMW E46
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
These records cover every 1997 BMW E46. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1997 BMW E46. Newest first.
Certain e speed racing combination lamps sold as replacement equipment for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Remedy
E speed racing will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. the recall began may 10, 2006. owners may contact e speed racing 909-923-3636.
Owner complaints
4 complaints1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Seats
The driver and passenger seats slide (do not lock in position). this IS irritating and unsafe in my opinion. I also believe it IS a common problem in this model year. *Tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
On 1/31/07 I took my car to have the nc inspection done. I was given at that time a recall for my vehicle on the catalytic converter. I was told to call the dealership and give them my vin number to verify. I was told that there were no open campaigns on my vin number on 2/2/0. on 2/16/07 my…
On 1/31/07 I took my car to have the nc inspection done. I was given at that time a recall for my vehicle on the catalytic converter. I was told to call the dealership and give them my vin number to verify. I was told that there were no open campaigns on my vin number on 2/2/0. on 2/16/07 my engine light came on and would not go off. I called my repair shop and dropped the car off on monday. I was informed today that it was not the O2 sensor, but possibly the catalytic converter causing this problem. it sounds like this IS going to cost alot of money. I love my car, but if this was a recall I don't feel that I should have to pay for it to be fixed. *nm
- Structure › Frame and members
I own a 2000 BMW 323I and about a month ago I had started to notice a faint squeaking sound from the rear when my car was moving, the squeaking progressively got worse and worse until the sound was so severe that it could be heard even with all the windows up. I took it in to a mechanic who…
I own a 2000 BMW 323I and about a month ago I had started to notice a faint squeaking sound from the rear when my car was moving, the squeaking progressively got worse and worse until the sound was so severe that it could be heard even with all the windows up. I took it in to a mechanic who identified that the problem was indeed that sub frame separating from the body. As I further investigated this issue, I found dozens of other people who have reported the same problem. I took it to the sterling BMW newport beach collision center where they told that my frame was separated from the sub frame and that BMW should and most likely would assume responsibility for this substantial safety hazard. They also took me under the lift to visually look at the damage for myself and it appeared that the sheet metal that the sub frame was bolted to had torn, similar to how paper would tear. He advised me that was car was unsafe and wrote a statement of what he had seen so that I could forward it to my attorney and appropriate parties, ??sterling collision put vehicle on the lift and discovered that the floor IS cracked on the left side where the rear suspension cross members meet, the floor informed the customer that the vehicle IS not safe to drive. I contacted BMW of north america regarding this problem and they denied responsibility for it, they tried to blame the poor structural engineering on how the car was driven and the age of vehicle. I found a fellow BMW owner (steve clemons), well past owner now, who had the same problem with their 2000 BMW 323ci, and he referred me to your organization, additionally he was able to get his car repaired by BMW cost free with a little help from his attorney, as I plan to do myself. He told that BMW denied this defect until legal action was threatened in which they then assumed full responsibility. However this IS indeed serious problem and even more a severe safety hazard and should not be present. *nm
- Air bags › Side/window
On wednesday september 20, 2006 I was driving down the interstate at about 70-75 mph when my side airbag on the driver side deployed for no reason. I have a 1997 BMW 528I with approximately 230K miles. I do not know the cause of the airbag deploying. I did not hit any potholes. there was no…
On wednesday september 20, 2006 I was driving down the interstate at about 70-75 mph when my side airbag on the driver side deployed for no reason. I have a 1997 BMW 528I with approximately 230K miles. I do not know the cause of the airbag deploying. I did not hit any potholes. there was no reason for the airbag to deploy. I could not hear well for about 10 minutes and my left arm has a large bruise on it. I took it by the dealer and they said they did not know what went wrong or why the airbag deployed. they said they had never seen that before. this IS a safety issue because when the airbag went off, I had no idea what was happening. in heavy traffic that could cause an accident especially if it was the front air bag. *nm
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10245363When using the Key Reader to retrieve information from the customers key, the data is not updated or current.
- 10200242Moisture is visible on the inside of one or both headlights
Every BMW E46 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.