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Exterior lightingPart report

2003 BMW M3 Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
6%of 54 total for the year
Median mileage
95,824miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2003 BMW M3, 6% of the 54 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 95,824 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

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.

“Xenon headlights my xenon headlights only work intermittently and when they do work they just barely light the roadway. This could cause a vehicle crash without warning. I went to the Bmw dealer and they told me that this malfunction could only be repaired at my cost and that the xenon lights had simply worn out. This is obviously a design flaw. Rear turn signal lghts, brake lights I also have had problems with the driver's side rear turn signal and brake light. …”

NHTSA complaint #10515262, filed 2013-06, 92,000 miles

“My car was in a collision where the driver of car 1 was making a turn into the main street , she turned too wide and could not complete the turn and decided to back up..she slammed into my car ,damage was left front bumper ,broken parking light, damage left front fender , xenon headlight module,(causes the left head light to turn of sometimes) and the air bag light came on , diagnosis found drivers seat belt tensioner fault ,since there was the impact on the drivers side. The driver of car 1 was cited for he incident and also for driving on a learners permit alone. …”

NHTSA complaint #10475478, filed 2012-09, 99,647 miles

“Consumer would like to know about recalls for a 2003 Bmw. He states that he has tried to contact Bmw twice and has received no response. He would like to know if there are any outstanding recalls for his vehicle. The consumer stated his vehicle developed a fuel leak and also a faulty quarter panel tail light, brake light and signal light assembly. The consumer stated he repaired the fuel leak and faulty tail light assembly on his own. The consumer discovered four light sockets/ bulbs out of five were non-operational. The only light functioning was the interior trunk illumination lamp. …”

NHTSA complaint #10220628, filed 2008-03

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201113%
201017%
200912%
200426%
200336%
200213%
199817%
199518%

Other parts of the 2003 BMW M3

Air bags
15 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
14 complaints
Body and structure
5 complaints
Suspension
5 complaints
Electrical system
4 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints
Engine
3 complaints
Other or unknown
3 complaints
Engine cooling
2 complaints
Fuel system
2 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 BMW M3

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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