2003 BMW 3 Series Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 3%of 73 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the engine of the 2003 BMW 3 Series, 3% of the 73 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The Bmw e46 3-series (1999-2006) suffers from a design flaw in the cooling system. Plastic parts in the cooling system fail as soon as 4 years and 80,000 miles from manufacture date, often failing catastrophically and causing the engine to overheat. Continued driving of the car in this situation leads to complete engine failure and loss of power (including power steering and power brakes), potentially causing an accident if it happens at highway speeds. Typical failed parts include the coolant expansion tank, radiator end tanks, and water pump impellers or bearings. …”
NHTSA complaint #10577923, filed 2014-04, 75,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10051359Dec 1, 2012Bmw: vehicle does not start: loose ground z6000 *4b. Covered under the terms of the bmw new vehicle/sav limited warranty.
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7 | 33% |
| 2012 | 3 | 43% |
| 2010 | 6 | 20% |
| 2009 | 5 | 9% |
| 2008 | 13 | 19% |
| 2007 | 22 | 19% |
| 2006 | 11 | 5% |
| 2003 | 2 | 3% |
| 2002 | 1 | 4% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1997 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2003 BMW 3 Series
23 complaintsAir bags
21 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 BMW 3 Series
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology