2002 BMW E46
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
These records cover every 2002 BMW E46. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 2002 BMW E46. Newest first.
Dope, inc. IS recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. these headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. the safety recall began on july 28, 2009. owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
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
2 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system
Look at this - another BMW recall IS in order my battery keeps getting flooded with water and then the car won't start under snow the ice melts and somehow getting into the compartment with the battery in the boot nothing else in the boot IS wet - not even on the plastic plate that covers the…
Look at this - another BMW recall IS in order my battery keeps getting flooded with water and then the car won't start under snow the ice melts and somehow getting into the compartment with the battery in the boot nothing else in the boot IS wet - not even on the plastic plate that covers the battery but it gets into the battery compartment and there IS no drain for the water to go so my car fails to start many many complaints on this one website IS this also check on bimmerfest - too many people having this dangerous condition and complaining to BMW which won't do the recall you need to force them to do the recall http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=949111 they should be fixing the leak when they do the lamp recalls which IS also probably causing failure to start issues next issue IS the window regulators - google that issue you will see the internet IS flooded with people complaining they can't get their windows to roll up on this car I have very little mileage for a 2002 - under 50K and yet I am already replacing my third window regulator - that IS the regulator on both front windows went and one of the back windows now went - $200-400 repair job big problems with BMW and I called them and complained and they won't reimburse unless there's a recall which they said they've no intention of doing too many people having these issues for it not to be a BMW recall - they won't pass your car for inspection with the window down obviously also a safety issue. *tr
- Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices
The rearview mirror leaked and it IS blurry now in my 2002 BMW M3. I did some research and it has been a common problem for a lot of bmw's. Dealer won't replace as the car IS out of warranty. Mirror IS obviously a safety item and obviously defective. *Tr
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Rear Lamp Illumination
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…
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 ground connection.An 8-pin connector that attaches the primary ground wiring to the rear lamp assembly will also be inspected and replaced if necessary.BMW will complete dealer notification in September 2011 and will begin owner notification in October 2011.All 3 series sedans (except for the M3 sedan which utilized a different rear lamp assembly) that were built between September 1, 2001 and March 1, 2005 are included in this recall, totalling approximately 241,000 vehicles.The action taken by BMW is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
- Rear lamp illumination
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…
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
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…
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 associated ground wiring has occurred.this condition can result in intermittent or total loss of all lighting (brake, tail, and turn signal) for the effected rear lamp assembly.odi will open a preliminary evaluation to further examine this issue including further evaluating BMW complaints and related warranty data.
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
- 10037025BMW: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
- 10033130BMW vehicles: fuel level sensor repairs. Where it IS necessary to replace the right or the left side fuel level sensor due to a failure, the entire pump and housing or delivery unit (suction jet assembly) do not need to be replaced as well. In some cases, epc does not show that the repair kit IS available separately in the illustration, but it IS available in the parts description. All models. No model years listed.
- 10032574BMW: voluntary emissions recall 08e-a03; M3 s54-dme reprogramming for catalyst conversion diagnosis. The dme programming, as originally installed, may cause the obd diagnostic to erroneously evaluate the efficiency of the catalytic converters.
- 10002303Ihka blows too hot at temperatures below 32 degrees f.
- 10002149Harsh 3-2, 2-1 downshift when coming to a stop. Produced 10/02 up to 04/03.
- 10002148Harsh 3-2 and 2-1 downshifts (with clunk noise) when coming to a stop. Updated.
- 10001005Reprogramming dme.
- 10000486Smg transmission; clutch does not engage.
- 10000370Battery discharged after ctp8000 installation.
- 633501Subject regarding intermittent accelerator pedal feel problem - revised with simplified ordering procedure for certain models including e65/e66 since series introduction up to 06/02.
- 633488Subject regarding intermittent accelerator pedal feel problem for certain models especially the e65/e66 models.
- 633450Customer may complain of the accelerator pedal feelingnotchy or not moving smoothly when depressed in small increments on certain models including E52, E53 and e65/e66 vehicles from series introduction up to 06/02. *T
Every BMW E46 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.