2005 BMW 3 Series Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 16%of 25 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 71,150miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2005 BMW 3 Series, 16% of the 25 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 71,150 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.
“Side mirrors fading into a brown color. Making the visibility through them impossible. Many times I have almost side swiped cars that are on the side of me due to my not being able to see our of my side mirrors. Also front light keeps going out. I have changed it 3 times in two months and it keeps either going out or falling out of the hole making the indicator light come on.”
NHTSA complaint #10839998, filed 2016-03, 31,000 miles“I received a recall letter from Bmw for the problem with rear lamps. At that time,all real lamps were working on my car. However for safety concern, I brought my car to be checked; few months later, one of the tail light not working. I took my car back to the dealer, they said they were done for the recall . I need to pay if I want to fix the problem. But I found there was no positive voltage on the light bulb circuit. I traced the wire and discovered the wire was broken. …”
NHTSA complaint #10499776, filed 2013-02, 52,300 miles“2005 Bmw 320i . Tail light indicator warning came on. Turns out the wire was melted around the metal where the wire plugs into tail light!! Very expensive to fix!”
NHTSA complaint #10365397, filed 2010-11, 126,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10044032Apr 1, 2012Bmw: the left or right rear light in the side panel has condensation concerning vehicles produced up to february 27,2012.
- 10040057Aug 1, 2011Bmw: 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.
- 10035224Oct 1, 2010Bmw 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…
- 10037025Aug 1, 2010Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
- 10025983Jun 1, 2008Bmw: 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…
- 10025585May 1, 2008Rear 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.
- 10020856Feb 1, 2007Poor connection at rear lamp connector. Bmw. Model e46. *kb model e46 (3 series). Update 8/8/2008.
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 7% |
| 2009 | 5 | 9% |
| 2008 | 2 | 3% |
| 2007 | 7 | 6% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2005 | 4 | 16% |
| 2004 | 42 | 55% |
| 2003 | 23 | 32% |
| 2002 | 3 | 12% |
| 2001 | 8 | 22% |
| 2000 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2005 BMW 3 Series
16 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 BMW 3 Series
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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