1995 Bmw E46 problems

General information about Bmw-E46
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

The fourth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars is designated under the model code E46, which was produced by the German automaker BMW from 1997 to 2006, and was the successor to the E36 3 Series which ceased production in 2000. First introduced in November 1997, the E46 was available in sedan, coupé, convertible, station wagon and hatchback body styles. The latter has been marketed as the 3 Series Compact.

The M3 performance model was introduced in June 2000 with a 2-door coupé body style, followed by the convertible counterpart in April 2001. The M3 is powered by the BMW S54 straight-six engine with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed SMG-II automated manual transmission.

The E46 line-up was phased out starting from late 2004, following the introduction of the E90 3 Series sedans. However, the E46 coupé and convertible body styles remained in production until August 2006.

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Common 1995 Bmw E46 problems

The BMW E46 3 Series, produced from 1998 to 2006, is known to have several common problems and breakdowns. Here are some of the most frequent issues reported by owners:

Vibration / Slamming from the Door When Closing:
- Cause: Loose window nuts for the window opening and closing mechanism.
- Repair: Remove the inner door panel, install modified window locknuts, and tighten to 9.5 Nm.
Left or Right Headlight Error:
- Cause: Electrical headlamp installations touching the headlamp cover.
- Repair: Disconnect the headlamp control module, check for burns, and install modified bulb and headlamp ignition unit.
License Plate Light Error:
- Cause: Water entering the component multipurpose through the license plate lamp.
- Repair: Remove the license plate light assembly, check for damage, and repair/replace if necessary.
Engine Malfunction Indicator (MIL) Illuminates:
- Cause: Faulty coil insulation (Bremi only).
- Repair: Access the engine computer error memory, perform a diagnostic test on the coils, install modified coils, and clear error codes.
ABS Indicator Light Illuminates:
- Cause: Defective ABS control module.
- Repair: Perform tests to eliminate other causes, and if necessary, replace the ABS control module.
Blocked Accelerator Pedal:
- Cause: High outside temperature causing warm air to affect the accelerator pedal position sensor.
- Repair: Remove the APP encoder, check the adapter board number, and install a modified APP encoder.
Error Starting, Engine Not Starting:
- Cause: Transmission gear display on the instrument panel defective.
- Repair: Check for blown fuses and address any issues with the transmission gear display.

These problems range from electrical issues to mechanical failures, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and prompt repairs to ensure the BMW E46 3 Series runs smoothly.

What is the most common problem with E46?

Cooling System Leaks

The plastic components in the cooling system on E46 BMWs are prone to becoming brittle and cracking, allowing coolant to make its way out of the cooling system. The resulting loss of coolant can lead to the engine overheating, which can cause catastrophic engine failure.

Are E46 BMW reliable?

Key Takeaways. The BMW E46 3 Series, particularly the 318i, was a reliable and affordable choice with good fuel efficiency and maintenance costs. The E46 was a significant improvement in comfort compared to its predecessor, the E36, offering better suspension, increased comfort, and a better balance.

What is the life expectancy of a BMW E46 325i?

You can expect your 3 Series to last anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 miles when properly maintained. Is the BMW 3 Series reliable? Due to its meticulous craftsmanship and precision engineering, the 3 Series is a durable, long-lasting, and dependable car.

Why is E46 so famous?

The E46 model was made from 2000-2006 and is considered one of the greatest BMW M3. It blends the engaging feeling of older BMWs with the handling and speed of modern sports cars. Today, it is considered one of the best sports car experiences money can buy and there are many reasons why.

What is the most common problem with E46?

Cooling System Leaks

Is a BMW E46 reliable?

Is E46 hard to maintain?

The E46 M3 is honestly not that hard to take care of. There are a few major things you should always keep an eye on and those are outlined in the Mandatory section at the bottom of this article, but otherwise it's easy. Not too expensive either. This is a 20+ year old car now and parts are available or cheap.

Why is BMW E46 so special?

The E46 generation of the M3 brought specific changes to the roof and hood of these cars. The hood was made from aluminum alloy that weighed less, while the roof was made from carbon fiber. Just like the hood, materials in the car's construction were modified in order for the car to have better speed and acceleration.

1995 Bmw E46 car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bmw E46 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Engine and engine cooling problems
Fuel system problems
Gasoline problems
Tires problems
Visibility problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1995 Bmw E46 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1995 Bmw E46 complaints

The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1995 Bmw E46.

2007-12-11

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2007-09-09
VIN: WBAGJ6328SD
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: MY FUEL TANK SUCKED ITSELF INWARD DUE TO A DEFECTIVE VENT HOSE. BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUED A SERVICE FLASH IN 1998. (16 04 97) THE VENT HOSE IS CONNECTED TO THE CHARCOAL EMISSIONS CANISTER. PRESENTLY, MY TANKS CAPACITY IS REDUCED BY A FACTOR OF OVER . FURTHERMORE, MY TANK LEAKS GASOLINE FROM A CREASE IN THE DENT, WHICH RESULTED FROM THE INWARD COLLAPSE. I HAVE PERSONALLY READ THE STORIES OF AT LEAST 30 OTHER BMW MODEL E38 OWNERS, WHO HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS. IN SOME CASES, THEIR FUEL TANKS RUPTURED WITHOUT WARNING, SPILLING GASOLINE ALL AROUND THEIR VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED BY BMW ANY LONGER. *TR

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2007-08-13

TIRES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2007-08-13
VIN: WBABF4323SE
Components: TIRES
Summary: ON 8/13/07, I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR ON NC HWY 52 NORTHBOUND (A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY) WHEN I HAD A SUDDEN MASSIVE BLOW OUT OF A MICHELIN TIRE ON THE LEFT REAR OF MY VEHICLE, A 1995 BMW 325 IS. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE TIRE WAS NOT LOW ON AIR PRESSURE AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PUNCTURE AS VERIFIED BY THE TIRE DEALERSHIP OWNER. THE TIRE IS A MICHELIN ENERGY PLUS MXV4, SIZE 205/60R15. IT HAS THE FOLLOWING LETTERING ON IT: DOT APTM W17X 2306. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE 2306 INDICATES THE WEEK OF MANUFACTURE. THE TIRE HAD 12,000 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS A COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE OUTSIDE SIDE WALL FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. WITH SOME STRUGGLE, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE BESIDE OF ME AS I HAD TO UTILIZE BOTH OF THE LANES IN MY DIRECTION TO REGAIN CONTROL. ON THE SAME DAY, I SHOWED THE TIRE TO THE OWNER OF C&C TIRE IN ASHEBORO, NC (336-629-6634) WHERE THE FOUR NEW MICHILEN TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON 4/14/07. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE AND NO PERSONAL INJURY WAS INCURRED. I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM THE MICHELIN REPRESENTATIVE TO DISCUSS REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE. I WISH TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT ONLY SO THAT IT CAN BE INVESTIGATED WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT IS WIDE SPREAD. *JB

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2007-05-03

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2007-05-03
VIN: WBACG5322SA
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: IN 1995 I PURCHASED A BMW 318TI. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT THERE HAD BEEN THREE RECALLS ON THIS BMW MODEL. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY OF THE RECALL NOTICES. NOT ONE NOTICE FROM BMW. THE FIRST RECALL HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM. THE HEATER HAS NOT WORKED FOR 8 YEARS AND THE A/C HAS PROBLEMS ALSO. SINCE LEARNING OF THESE RECALLS I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. *TR

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2007-03-01

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2005-02-12
VIN: WBAGK2321SD
Components: VISIBILITY
Summary: THE DELAMINATION OF THE SECURITY GLASS ON MY BMW 750IL. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS AS WELL. MY SIDE AND REAR WINDOWS HAVE BECOME SO CLOUDY THAT THEY LOOK LIKE MAGNIFYING GLASS. I LITERALLY HAVE TO LET MY WINDOWS DOWN WHEN APPROACHING TRAFFIC TO ENSURE MY PATH IS CLEAR. *NM

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2006-09-13

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2006-08-19
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: FAULT IN THE CONTACTS ON LIGHTING. A CONTINUING FAULT ON THE BRAKE CIRCUIT CAUSES THE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS DURING THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE. AFTER CHANGING 4 SET OF REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR I HAD MY MECHANIC CLEAN THE CONTACTS. WITHIN 3 MONTHS ON CLEANING, THE FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AFTER A DAY OR SO THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND HAS NOT RETURNED. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS MY BULBS WERE CHANGED 3 TIMES LAST YEAR ON FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS. *JB

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2006-08-24

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2006-04-20
VIN: WBACG5327SA
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: PROBLEMS RUNNING THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD HAD OIL LEAK DUE TO FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET REQUIRING $ 3000 REPAIR. *JB

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1995 Bmw E46 recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1995 Bmw E46.

2006-05-15

Manufacturer: E SPEED RACING
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: 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.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1995 Bmw E46 problems:

E46 common problems?

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1093877-E46-common-problems

Oct 4, 2008 ... E46 common problems? · ENGINE COOLING: Most likely water pump failure that is common among the 3 series. · CLIMATE SYSTEM: Most likely the Auto ...

common 330i problems | E46 Fanatics Forum

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/common-330i-problems.814517/

Jan 4, 2011 ... Hi im looking to buy a cheap 99 330i e46, with 200,000km's on the clock what are the common problems that im likely to run into with a car with ...

what are some common problems with a 325is

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?115121-what-are-some-common-problems-with-a-325is

Jul 18, 2003 ... I am going to purchase a 95 bmw 325is and wanted to know some common problems with the engine etc.. to make sure they have been replaced..