1990 BMW E46 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
4
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1990 BMW E46
The 1990 BMW E46 has received a total of 4 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (1 complaint), Electrical System (1 complaint), and Engine And Engine Cooling (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1990 BMW E46
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1990 BMW E46, potentially affecting up to 1,648 vehicles.
Recall 06E040000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 1,648 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1990 BMW E46
4 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1990 BMW E46. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tiressidewall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TURNING INTO A FAST-FOOD PARKING LOT (ABOUT A 130 DEGREE RIGHT TURN), THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STRUCK A SHORT (2" - 3") CURB AT ABOUT 3 - 5 MPH. THE SIDEWALL, MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE WHEEL RIM BLEW OUT. A JAGGED "L" SHAPED BREACH SECTION ABOUT 3" IN TOTAL LENGTH WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT. THE EDGES OF THE TEAR WERE FORCED OUTWARD FROM THE INSIDE. THE IMPACT WAS SO MINOR THAT EVEN AFTER IMMEDIATELY DEFLATING THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL RIM. *TR
DAUGHTER 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 SINCE POWER DEAD. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO DASH AND WIRING ,SMOKE DAMAGE ETC. CONTACTED BMW BY E MAIL TOLD TO CALL LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID BRING CAR IN AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT. I HAVE NO MONEY TO SEND THE CAR TO DEALER FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER,THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS ADDRESSED. *JB
DAUGHTER 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 SINCE POWER DEAD. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO DASH AND WIRING ,SMOKE DAMAGE ETC. CONTACTED BMW BY E MAIL TOLD TO CALL LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID BRING CAR IN AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT. I HAVE NO MONEY TO SEND THE CAR TO DEALER FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER,THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS ADDRESSED. *JB
DAUGHTER 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 SINCE POWER DEAD. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO DASH AND WIRING ,SMOKE DAMAGE ETC. CONTACTED BMW BY E MAIL TOLD TO CALL LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID BRING CAR IN AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT. I HAVE NO MONEY TO SEND THE CAR TO DEALER FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER,THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS ADDRESSED. *JB
Safety Rating for the 1990 BMW E46
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1990 BMW E46 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1990 BMW E46
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1990 BMW E46. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
B630516 — EQUIPMENT
Moisture is visible on the inside of one or both headlights
NHTSA Investigations for the 1990 BMW E46
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW E46
- 1990 BMW E46 (current)
- 1991 BMW E46 — 0 complaints
- 1992 BMW E46 — 0 complaints
- 1993 BMW E46 — 4 complaints
- 1994 BMW E46 — 3 complaints
- 1995 BMW E46 — 6 complaints