2005 BMW 3 Series Technical Service Bulletins

71 technical service bulletins (TSBs) are on record for the 2005 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.

• 10249437Jan 16, 2024Electrical system, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
• 10249027Jan 11, 2024Electrical system. The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.
• 10182619Oct 1, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints.
• 10145320Jul 1, 2018Equipment. CONNECTEDDRIVE/BMW ASSIST SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION: ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist features are partially or completely inoperative.
• 10145306Jun 1, 2018Equipment. NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
• 10143564May 1, 2018Equipment. NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
• 10142910Jan 1, 2018Seats. Front passenger seat occupancy (oc3) mat for srs: limited warranty extension to 15 years/unlimited miles
• 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.
• 10052012Mar 1, 2013Electrical system. Bmw: battery has an increased demand due to developemental process of the electrical system. This is causing the batter to need to undergo an energy diagnosis.
• 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.
• 10042686Sep 1, 2011Electrical system. Bmw: on certain vehicles, the jbe (junction box electronics) module fails programming during a software update of the vehicle.
• 10042684Sep 1, 2011Engine cooling. Bmw: on some vehicles, the high pressure fuel pump has an internal component that may fail and causing drivability symptoms such as erratic engine operation and longer starting times.
• 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.
• 10040854Jul 1, 2011Electrical system. Bmw: the vehicle electrical system fails and the vehicle fails to start. The central locking system fails to operate with the remote key. The key cannot be inserted into the key slot. Communication to the vehicle is not possible. The positive battery cable connection at the front power distribution box loses connection.
• 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.
• 10039592May 1, 2011Body and structure. Bmw: the painted surface on the interior door handle may peel due to exposure to hand creams and sun-tanning lotions.
• 10039591May 1, 2011Engine cooling, Electrical system. Bmw: the service engine light is on with stored fault codes. There is a wiring/connection problem or a faulty sensor.
• 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.
• 10037487Nov 1, 2010Seat belts. Bmw: on some e92 models the safety belt extender is not extending the belt or is noisy. This can be a fault of the extender or the belt is contorted.
• 10028370Nov 1, 2010Electrical system, Engine cooling. Bmw: check engine lamp illuminated and/or vehicle overheats. Models e83, e85, e86, e70, e90, e91, e92, e93, e60 and e61. *pe updated 5/24/11.
• 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.
• 10035010Oct 1, 2010Transmission and drivetrain. Bmw vehicle: transmission warning light is illuminated and the transmission enters failsafe mode. Fault code 4f81 (ratio monitoring, clutch a), in some cases combined with the subsequent faults 507b/507c (parking gear sensor implausible signal) or 507d (parking gear incorrectly disengaged), are stored in the egs control module. E60, e51, e65, e66, e70, e90, e91, e92, e93. No model years listed.
• 10030611Oct 1, 2010Electrical system, Equipment. Bmw: 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; (new) bulb failure caused by vibrations. Model e92 (3 series coup). No model years listed. *pe updated 6/23/10. *pe updated 2/7/11.
• 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.

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