1997 Bmw E46 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,037 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Side/Window is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Seats: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
2006: 1; 2007: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Side/Window leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1990 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1999 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10201654 · 110,000 miI WAS RECENTLY DRIVING A 1994 BMW 740I WITH APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES ON IT, IT HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF VERY WELL, AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE TRANSMISSION WILL "REST" IN A NEUTRAL STATE WHEN IT IS PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS MEANS IT WILL GO BACKWARDS WHEN IT IS ON AN INCLINE, MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST PREVIOUSLY WITH THE VEHICLE, AND AFTER MANY MANY HOURS OF RESEARCHING ONLINE, THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF VEHICLE THAT BMW MAKES. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 527.8%ODI 10037019 · 52,890 miVEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4YR 50,000 MILES WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS AROUND 53,000 MILES. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10177629 · 124,000 miI OWN A 2000 BMW 323I AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO I HAD STARTED TO NOTICE A FAINT SQUEAKING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEN MY CAR WAS MOVING, THE SQUEAKING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND WORSE UNTIL THE SOUND WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT COULD BE HEARD EVEN WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP. I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INDEED THAT SUB FRAME SEPARATING FROM THE BODY. AS I FURTHER INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE, I FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE STERLING BMW NEWPORT BEACH COLLISION CENTER WHERE THEY … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 527.8%ODI 10163758 · 73,000 miAT APPROXIMATE 73,000 MILES I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM MY CAR, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND CRACKS IN THE SUBFRAME AROUND THE LEFT REAR BUSHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR AND MODEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SO FAR ARE SAYING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 150.0%ODI 10188169 · 213,000 miDAUGHTER DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 1990 BMW 735I CALLED ME ON CELL PHONE SAID SMELLED HOT WATER AND SOMETHING BURNING. TOLD HER TO PULL OVER AND PARK CAR I WAS ON THE WAY EARLY MORNING COLD. GOT TO CAR INSIDE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE WINDOWS HAD WATER ON THE INSIDE OF THEM AND THE DRIVERS AIRBAG HAD TRIGGERED. FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE SITE SAID IT APPEARS THAT THE HEATER CORE/SYSTEM HAD EXPLODED SHORTING OUT DRIVERS SIDE PANEL AND ELECTRONICS STARTING THE FIRE. DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE SINCE THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND NO WAY TO OPEN THEM SINC… | 133.3%ODI 10159770 · 106,000 miI WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SEAT STARTED TO CATCH FIRE. I PANICKED. I HOPPED OUT AND HAD TO SUFFOCATE THE FIRE OUT BY CLOSING THE WINDOWS. I TOOK IT TO BMW AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, I FELT LIKE THEY DIDN'T REALLY TRY, SO I LEFT THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT FOR NOW BECAUSE THEY SAID THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE TOTALED MY CAR. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.6%ODI 10255568THE REAR TAILLIGHTS ON MY CAR HAVE BURNT OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BULBS. BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHECK, THE BROWN WIRE ON BOTH OF MY TAILLIGHTS COMPLETELY BURNED AND ALSO BURNED ENTIRELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS. *TR | 150.0%ODI 10693755 · 45,000 miLOOK AT THIS - ANOTHER BMW RECALL IS IN ORDER MY BATTERY KEEPS GETTING FLOODED WITH WATER AND THEN THE CAR WON'T START UNDER SNOW THE ICE MELTS AND SOMEHOW GETTING INTO THE COMPARTMENT WITH THE BATTERY IN THE BOOT NOTHING ELSE IN THE BOOT IS WET - NOT EVEN ON THE PLASTIC PLATE THAT COVERS THE BATTERY BUT IT GETS INTO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND THERE IS NO DRAIN FOR THE WATER TO GO SO MY CAR FAILS TO START MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ONE WEBSITE IS THIS ALSO CHECK ON BIMMERFEST - TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COMP… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10444127 · 80,000 miI RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW STSTING THERE WAS NOW A RECALL FOR THE BAD GROUND WIRE ON THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSED THE METLING OF THE CONNECTOR. I HAD ALREADY SPENT $400 FOR THE FIX, NOW THEY RECALL THE PART. BMW NORTH AMERICA TOOK TOO LONG TO DO THIS, AND I AM GOING INTO THE DELAERSHIP TO SEE ABOUT GETTING A REFUND FOR THE SERVICE I PAID FOR THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER. |
| Exterior Lighting | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10441493 · 140,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW E46. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT WAS ONLY FOR MODEL YEARS 2001-2003. UPDATED 02/08/12 | 15.6%ODI 10255568THE REAR TAILLIGHTS ON MY CAR HAVE BURNT OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BULBS. BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHECK, THE BROWN WIRE ON BOTH OF MY TAILLIGHTS COMPLETELY BURNED AND ALSO BURNED ENTIRELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10357440 · 90,127 miPLEASE LET THIS NOTICE SERVE AS A FORMAL PETITION FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF A SAFETY-RELATED DESIGN DEFECT. THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS AREN'T WORKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE GROUND WIRE IN THE CONNECTOR, CONNECTING TO THE BULB CARRIER SEEMS TO BE DAMAGED DUE TO A BAD GROUND. I HAVE BEEN REPLACING BULBS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. *TR | 250.0%ODI 10448204 · 77,000 miFACTORY BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS GRADUALLY DIMMED. BY 77K MILES THE LIGHT OUTPUT WAS TOO DIM TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT. COMPARED TO A NEW MODEL AT DEALER WITH XENON LIGHTS AND FOUND VERY NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE. MECHANIC ANALYSIS FOUND METALLIZED PLASTIC REFLECTORS ON XENON BULBS HAD BURNED AND LOST THEIR REFLECTIVITY. REPLACEMENT REFLECTORS ARE NOT SOLD AS SERVICE PARTS BY BMW, SO REMEDY INVOLVES COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR |
| Air Bags | 150.0%ODI 10188169 · 213,000 miDAUGHTER DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 1990 BMW 735I CALLED ME ON CELL PHONE SAID SMELLED HOT WATER AND SOMETHING BURNING. TOLD HER TO PULL OVER AND PARK CAR I WAS ON THE WAY EARLY MORNING COLD. GOT TO CAR INSIDE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE WINDOWS HAD WATER ON THE INSIDE OF THEM AND THE DRIVERS AIRBAG HAD TRIGGERED. FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE SITE SAID IT APPEARS THAT THE HEATER CORE/SYSTEM HAD EXPLODED SHORTING OUT DRIVERS SIDE PANEL AND ELECTRONICS STARTING THE FIRE. DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE SINCE THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND NO WAY TO OPEN THEM SINC… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10873665 · 131,000 miAIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN HITTING POT HOLE AT AROUND 30MPH. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY E46'S THAT THE AIRBAG IS TOO SENSITIVE. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 150.0%ODI 10188169 · 213,000 miDAUGHTER DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 1990 BMW 735I CALLED ME ON CELL PHONE SAID SMELLED HOT WATER AND SOMETHING BURNING. TOLD HER TO PULL OVER AND PARK CAR I WAS ON THE WAY EARLY MORNING COLD. GOT TO CAR INSIDE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE WINDOWS HAD WATER ON THE INSIDE OF THEM AND THE DRIVERS AIRBAG HAD TRIGGERED. FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE SITE SAID IT APPEARS THAT THE HEATER CORE/SYSTEM HAD EXPLODED SHORTING OUT DRIVERS SIDE PANEL AND ELECTRONICS STARTING THE FIRE. DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE SINCE THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND NO WAY TO OPEN THEM SINC… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.6%ODI 100642802000 BMW 328CI STALLS EVERY NOW AND THEN AND WHEN I RESTART IT I FEEL A POWER LOSS. COMES AND GOES. VERY PESKY PROBLEM, MAKES YOU FEEL SCARED YOU MIGHT GET STRANDED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10176394 · 217,000 miTL*- THE CONTACT SMELLS GAS COMING FROM HER ENGINE ON HER 1993 525I. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHEN SHE CRANKS HER VEHICLE ON SHE CAN SMELL THE GAS. THE SMELL GETS WORSE WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. SHE STATES THAT SHE SMELLS THE GAS WHILE SHE IS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CITY OR WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THE FIRST TIME CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME WHERE THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED. THEY ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10166453PROBLEMS RUNNING THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD HAD OIL LEAK DUE TO FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET REQUIRING $ 3000 REPAIR. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10204833 · 125,000 miFRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE TWISTED. SEAT BACKS ARE SEVERELY TWISTED. THEREFORE I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN DRIVING. I COULD FIND MANY CASES SAME AS MINE IN THE WEBSITE. I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 93-94 BMW 740I. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10191866THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS SLIDE (DO NOT LOCK IN POSITION). THIS IS IRRITATING AND UNSAFE IN MY OPINION. I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Side/Window | Too few reports for a range | 73 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10168956 · 73 miON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2006 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH WHEN MY SIDE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I HAVE A 1997 BMW 528I WITH APPROXIMATELY 230K MILES. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING. I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. I COULD NOT HEAR WELL FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND MY LEFT ARM HAS A LARGE BRUISE ON IT. I TOOK IT BY THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG OR WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THA… |
| Structure:Frame And Members | Too few reports for a range | 124,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10177629 · 124,000 miI OWN A 2000 BMW 323I AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO I HAD STARTED TO NOTICE A FAINT SQUEAKING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEN MY CAR WAS MOVING, THE SQUEAKING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND WORSE UNTIL THE SOUND WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT COULD BE HEARD EVEN WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP. I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INDEED THAT SUB FRAME SEPARATING FROM THE BODY. AS I FURTHER INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE, I FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE STERLING BMW NEWPORT BEACH COLLISION CENTER WHERE THEY … |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2003: 0 complaints · 2004: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags:Side/Window | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | Seats | Structure:Frame And Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Side/Window | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.