2002 BMW E46 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
2
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
7
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2002 BMW E46
The 2002 BMW E46 has received a total of 2 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 7 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problem area is the Electrical System (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2002 BMW E46
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2002 BMW E46, potentially affecting up to 44,188 vehicles.
Recall 09E025000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 42,540 vehicles affected
Defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
View full details →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 2002 BMW E46
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 BMW E46. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevices | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
LOOK 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 COMPLAINING TO BMW WHICH WON'T DO THE RECALL YOU NEED TO FORCE THEM TO DO THE RECALL HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=949111 THEY SHOULD BE FIXING THE LEAK WHEN THEY DO THE LAMP RECALLS WHICH IS ALSO PROBABLY CAUSING FAILURE TO START ISSUES NEXT ISSUE IS THE WINDOW REGULATORS - GOOGLE THAT ISSUE YOU WILL SEE THE INTERNET IS FLOODED WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING THEY CAN'T GET THEIR WINDOWS TO ROLL UP ON THIS CAR I HAVE VERY LITTLE MILEAGE FOR A 2002 - UNDER 50K AND YET I AM ALREADY REPLACING MY THIRD WINDOW REGULATOR - THAT IS THE REGULATOR ON BOTH FRONT WINDOWS WENT AND ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS NOW WENT - $200-400 REPAIR JOB BIG PROBLEMS WITH BMW AND I CALLED THEM AND COMPLAINED AND THEY WON'T REIMBURSE UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL WHICH THEY SAID THEY'VE NO INTENTION OF DOING TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THESE ISSUES FOR IT NOT TO BE A BMW RECALL - THEY WON'T PASS YOUR CAR FOR INSPECTION WITH THE WINDOW DOWN OBVIOUSLY ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE REARVIEW MIRROR LEAKED AND IT IS BLURRY NOW IN MY 2002 BMW M3. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF BMW'S. DEALER WON'T REPLACE AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MIRROR IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ITEM AND OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR
Safety Rating for the 2002 BMW E46
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2002 BMW E46 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2002 BMW E46
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 7 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2002 BMW E46. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
240203 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HARSH 3-2, 2-1 DOWNSHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. PRODUCED 10/02 UP TO 04/03. *TT
640502 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
IHKA BLOWS TOO HOT AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 32 DEGREES F. *TT
121302 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REPROGRAMMING DME. *TT
230402 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SMG TRANSMISSION; CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE. *TT
841302 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY DISCHARGED AFTER CTP8000 INSTALLATION. *TT
230702 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
SUBJECT REGARDING INTERMITTENT ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEEL PROBLEM - REVISED WITH SIMPLIFIED ORDERING PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN MODELS INCLUDING E65/E66 SINCE SERIES INTRODUCTION UP TO 06/02. *TT
SIB350102 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FEELINGNOTCHY OR NOT MOVING SMOOTHLY WHEN DEPRESSED IN SMALL INCREMENTS ON CERTAIN MODELS INCLUDING E52, E53 AND E65/E66 VEHICLES FROM SERIES INTRODUCTION UP TO 06/02. *T
NHTSA Investigations for the 2002 BMW E46
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW E46
- 1997 BMW E46 — 4 complaints
- 1998 BMW E46 — 0 complaints
- 1999 BMW E46 — 2 complaints
- 2000 BMW E46 — 19 complaints
- 2001 BMW E46 — 0 complaints
- 2002 BMW E46 (current)
- 2003 BMW E46 — 1 complaint
- 2004 BMW E46 — 5 complaints
- 2005 BMW E46 — 0 complaints