BMW 3-Series (E46)
Engines
Problems
All Vehicles
- Window regulators (easy to replace)
- Cooling system in general (especially if fluid is not changed every two years), but specifically:
- Radiator
- Coolant expansion reservoir
- Automatic transmissions can fail if fluid is not changed every 60k miles (despite BMW’s claim that they have “lifetime” transmission fluid)
- Dead pixels on gauge cluster, radio, and climate control displays
- Weak subframe mounts
- Front ball joints
- Avoid cars with the “SMG” automated manual transmission (available on 330i and M3), as they shift very rough
Certain Vehicles
- MY02-03: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions may experience a delay of 2-30 seconds in shifting out of park (subject to TSB) – simply requires reprogramming of Electronic Gearbox Control module using the “manual entry” method
- MY03 and earlier 328i and 330i with manual transmissions: Transmission may stick in 5th gear or reverse and/or may have a lack of shifter feel (subject to TSB) – attributed to gear selector shaft pins sticking due to a defective bushing