2002 BMW 3 Series Technical Service Bulletins

54 technical service bulletins (TSBs) are on record for the 2002 BMW 3 Series. TSBs are notes manufacturers send to dealers about repair procedures for issues seen in the field. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault.

• 11033106May 5, 2026Engine. Starter Return
• 10249437Jan 16, 2024Electrical system, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
• 10037079Oct 1, 2014Engine cooling, Electrical system. Bmw: service engine soon light is on. The vehicle lost power and the engine cranks with no start. *rm updated 5/19/15.
• 10056098Jun 1, 2014Air bags. Bmw: some airbags, driver and front passenger, are improperly deploying due to a possible inflator not produced to specifications. Model 2001-2006 e46 (3 series). *pe updated 9/4/14.
• 10051519Dec 1, 2012Electrical system. Bmw: the high-voltage (hv) battery cells could be damaged if the vehicle is prevented from entering sleep mode for an extended period of time. Updated 03/11/2013
• 10051459Dec 1, 2012Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw: dsc warning light is on. The warning lamps for dsc, abs and brake warning illuminated. There may also be a warning in the control display for chassis control system failure.
• 10051359Dec 1, 2012Engine. Bmw: vehicle does not start: loose ground z6000 *4b. Covered under the terms of the bmw new vehicle/sav limited warranty.
• 10032779Nov 1, 2012Engine cooling. Bmw vehicle: the service engine soon (mil) lamp is illuminated and a power reduction is clearly perceptible. This situation may occur after driving for some time with the engine already at full operating temperature. If the ignition is cycled, the engine then usually performs normally. *pe updated 2/7/11. *pe updated on 06/09/2011. *kb updated 8/10/11. *pe updated 1/11/13.
• 10044032Apr 1, 2012Exterior lighting. Bmw: the left or right rear light in the side panel has condensation concerning vehicles produced up to february 27,2012.
• 10041411Aug 1, 2011Seat belts. Bmw: e92. The seat belt extender on the front driver¿s or passenger side failed to deliver the belt. The safety belt extender extends but the belt slips off. The ¿hand¿ on the extender fails. The safety belt is twisted. The extender will not operate and makes noise while extending.
• 10040057Aug 1, 2011Exterior lighting. Bmw: wiring on the headlights may have deteriorated due to environmental conditions and the cover not being secured properly. E60/e92. *rm updated 9/30/11.
• 10031684Aug 1, 2011Engine cooling. Bmw: complaints that the engine management system has entered the engine failsafe mode and that the turbocharger boost is reduced. E82, e88, e90, e92, e93, e60, e61, and e71. All models with nay engines. No model years listed. *pe updated 09/30/11.
• 10029605Aug 1, 2011Air bags. Bmw service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. The airbag warning lamp (awl) is illuminated, together with the passenger airbag status lamp (pol). The problem may be intermittent. Microcracks in the oc3 seat mat. *pe updated 9/30/11.
• 10040852Jul 1, 2011Engine cooling. Bmw: the service engine soon light is on. There are trouble codes stored for the crankshaft sensor. No driveability issues.
• 10040736Jul 1, 2011Electrical system. Bmw: various functions in the vehicle are not working including: instruments, door locks, wipers, and other electrical functions. There may also be warning lights on. K-can wiring in the vehicle shorted. *rm updated 10/5/11.
• 10040050Apr 1, 2011Seat belts. Bmw: the end of the seatbelt assistant breaks/falls off when retracting. The retaining tab is not robust enough. E92.
• 10040049Apr 1, 2011Seat belts, Electrical system. Bmw: a software problem is causing one or both of the seat belt assistants to not extend fully or may not extend at all. The position at which the assistant comes to rest varies. E92.
• 10040045Apr 1, 2011Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw: a new technical support process has been created regarding transmission concerns.
• 10040170Mar 1, 2011Engine cooling, Electrical system. Bmw: a software error is causing the the service engine soon light to come on. There will be stored trouble codes.
• 10035247Oct 1, 2010Seat belts. Bmw vehicle: front safety belt does not retract smoothly or jams. The upper part of the driver's or passenger's front safety belt does not roll up fully or rolls up slowly. The adjustment of the inertia reel is incorrect at the fastening point. The belt is touching the guide funnel. Models e90, e91 and e92. No model years listed.
• 10035224Oct 1, 2010Exterior lighting. Bmw vehicle: rear bulb failure. The bulb out warning shows in the instrument cluster. Diagnosis shows a fault for the rear lamp. The bulb out can be displayed for 2 possible causes: poor fit between the bulb and bulb holder; bulb failure caused by vibration.
• 10037078Sep 1, 2010Electrical system, Air bags. Bmw: the airbag warning lamp is illuminated due to a software error.
• 10037025Aug 1, 2010Exterior lighting. Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
• 10037010Jul 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: six different models equipped with the m54 engine could have valve covers break in cold weather and ruin the engine. This is due to moisture accumulation.
• 10036985Jun 1, 2010Electrical system, Engine cooling. Bmw: a service engine soon light comes on. The engine will only operate to 1500 rpms and lacks power. There is a software application error.
• 10036984Jun 1, 2010Fuel system. Bmw: it is now possible to perform a fuel quality detection test on vehicles with an n54 engine.
• 10036983Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: service engine soon light is on with diesel engines.
• 10036982Jun 1, 2010Engine cooling. Bmw: there is a rough engine idle and "service engine soon light" when driving downhill in high altitudes during cold weather. There may be six different fault codes.
• 10036981Jun 1, 2010Fuel system, Engine cooling. Bmw: warning message on about low diesel exhaust fuel level and that the engine will not restart within 999 miles. The light comes on a few thousand miles earlier than a recommended oil change.
• 10036980Jun 1, 2010Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw: a new technical process is being used on many models to determine the root cause of double-clutch transmission problems.
• 10036979Jun 1, 2010Steering. Bmw: a new technical process has been created for bmw to identify causes of steering complaints with a wide range of models.
• 10033130Dec 1, 2009Fuel system. Bmw 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.
• 10030626Oct 2, 2009Electrical system, Body and structure, Latches, locks and linkages. Bmw vehicles: doors will not unlock using the key fob or central locking button. *pe updated1/4/10. *pe updated 5/24/10.
• 10033135Oct 1, 2009Body and structure, Suspension. Bmw vehicles: rear axle carrier (sub frame) support proposed class action settlement. Under certain circumstances, a fracture in the steel body structure could form in the area around one of the rear axle carrier mounting points. As a result, a distinct clicking noise can be heard from the area of the rear axle carrier during certain driving conditions. Model e46 (3series). No model years listed.
• 10033131Oct 1, 2009Fuel system. Bmw vehicles: engine cranks but does not start; fuel level gauge displays a sufficient amount of fuel, although the fuel tank is empty; fault code 2a1c (fuel level plausibility) is stored in msv80. Right side fuel sending unit is dislodged from its bracket due to incorrect assembly. No model years listed. *pe updated 4/29/11.
• 10032650Oct 1, 2009Engine cooling, Electrical system. Bmw: service engine soon lamp illuminated-fc 23f4 map thermostat. In some vehicles have insufficient heat. E90, e91 (3 series), e60, e61 (5 series) 3/06 and e83 (x3 series) 9/08.
• 10031644Sep 1, 2009Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw: complaint that the n (neutral) symbol is being displayed in the kombi and the message transmission in n, shift to p when engine is turned off is displayed in the cc when the vehicle decelerates to a stop. In realty, the transmission stays engaged in a first or second gear and does not shifts to neutral, as indicated by the instrument cluster display. No model years listed. E90, e92, e93 (3 series) 2002-2009.
• 10031584Sep 1, 2009Equipment, Electrical system. Bmw: various electrical problems or intermittently. Symptoms typically include various warning lamps in the instrument cluster and starting problems. Affected may be the ekp (electronically controlled fuel pump), and control modules on the pt can or connected to the 15wup (wake up) line. Fuse f70 may be blown. No model years listed. E93 (3 series convertible).
• 10031544Sep 1, 2009Equipment. Bmw: water leaks into either the driver's side or passenger's side footwell during fast cornering. Insufficient sealing at the point of contact between the air conditioning system and the condensation drain hose.
• 10030844Aug 1, 2009Brakes. Bmw vehicles: teileclearing for dynamic stability control (dsc). A part replacement authorization must be obtained by submitting a tc case in puma before any of the following dsc components are replaced under warranty for the vehicles listed in the model section of this bulletin: dsc control module, dsc hydro unit, and yaw rate sensor. No model years listed.
• 10028525Feb 1, 2009Engine cooling. Bmw: service engine lamp is illuminated. Dme fc 2a15 minor leak and 2a16 superfine leak in evaporation system. Tank ventilation corrugated hose may contact the low side air conditioning pressure line aluminum ferrel. This contact may cause a small leak.
• 10025983Jun 1, 2008Exterior lighting. Bmw: headlamp moisture: fault diagnostics. Water or condensation in one or both headlamps. Models 5 series, 6 series, 7 series, x5, x6, 1 series, and 3 series. Model years 2000-20008.
• 10025848Jun 1, 2008Seats. Bmw: seat frame design changed for 392 (3 series coupe) produced up to may 2007. On early production e92s, the socket which secures the seat backrest release cable to the release mechanism could pull free from the release mechanism.
• 10025585May 1, 2008Exterior lighting. Rear bulb failure. Model e92 (3 series coupe) vehicles produced up to january 21, 2008 are affected. The bulb out warning shows in the instrument cluster.
• 10025584Apr 1, 2008Engine cooling. N54 rattle noise from turbocharger area. Models e90, e92 and e93 (3 series) 335i and 335xi; e60 and e61 (5 series) 535i and 535xi, all with n54 engine from the start of production to january 17, 2008 production.
• 10025573Jan 1, 2008Engine cooling. N52 edk throttle jamming faults 2d09, 2ced and 2cec. Model e90 and e91 (3 series) and e60 and e61 (5 series), all models up to 11/2005 with n52 engine.
• 10032989Dec 1, 2007Fuel system, Other or unknown. Bmw: fuel level sensor repair procedure. The case where it is necessary to replace the right side fuel level sensor due to a failure, the entire pump and housing does not need to be replaced. No model years listed.
• 10032827Nov 1, 2007Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw vehicles: dsc disabling function. Dsc off function has been implemented in m5 and m6 vehicles equipped with the optional 6 speed manual transmissions. No model years listed.
• 10032815Nov 1, 2007Equipment, Engine cooling, Steering. Bmw vehicle: noise from front axle/right side. A grinding or scraping noise may be heard while cornering at vehicle speeds up to 30 mph. The noise is more pronounced while the vehicle is in the warm up phase and may change intensity during left and right turns. The right side engine support is making contact with the right side engine mount.
• 10032814Nov 1, 2007Engine cooling, Fuel system. Bmw vehicle: s54-catalyst protection mode while the vehicle is low on fuel. Complaints that the vehicle has no power during heavy acceleration. Fuel reserve light is illuminated and the fuel level, when measured with the service tester, is below 10 liters. With the fuel level low and under extreme driving conditions (heavy acceleration, cornering or racing), the fuel supply may be inadequate, causing an…

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