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2005 Bmw M3

The Verdict

91 Smooth Ride

The 2005 Bmw M3 has 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (25 complaints) and body (6 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 91/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Bmw M3, consider the 2022 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2022 has 97% fewer complaints

View the 2022 Bmw M3 dashboard →

91

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200151134
2005612532
2006563135184
200822162635
20091014624
201001941
20113114203
201200420
201300742
201510030
201610031
201700111
201810070
202120100
202200001
202520000

By Category

Electrical
25
Body
6
Engine
3
Transmission
2
Brakes
1

By Severity

1
16
2
19
3
1
4
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 1

I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 MPH, AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD WHEN MY FRONT HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVE SIDE WITHOUT. ON THE DISHBOARD OF THE CAR THE CHECK BULB LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT HOME THE NEXT DAY WHEN TK THE PART PLACE TO GET A BULB TO FIND OUT THE WIRES WHERE BARE THERE WAS ONLY METAL NO PLASTIC. THEG TOLD ME YOU HAD TO REPLACE THE HOLE THING WITCH COST OVER 1000 DOLLARS FOR. I WENT HOME RESEARCH IT ONLINE, AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS A LOT ON BMW, AND THEY NEVER RECALL THEM. THAT THEY HAVE EVEN BEEN ON FIRE DUE TO THIS. I CALLED BMW AND THEY TOLD ME THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE YET TO RECALL THEN AND AFTER YOU FIT IT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS DUE TO HEAT.

91mo ago
Body 1

EVAPORATOR CORE DESIGN FLAW IS CONDUCIVE TO MOLD AND MILDEW BUILDUP. OVERTIME, THE BACTERIA CAN BUILD UP TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL RELEASE INTO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM UPON USE CAUSING UNSAFE HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS FOR BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. STANDARD CLEANING PROCEDURES PROVIDED BY BMW ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCE.

98mo ago
Brakes 4

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 6-5-2017. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ON IGNITION START, THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS UNUSUALLY LOUD AND REVVED UP. UPON SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC GEAR TO REVERSE, THE CAR SELF-ACCELERATED IN REVERSE WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS. ATTEMPTS TO REPEATEDLY BREAK DID NOT WORK, SO GEAR WAS SHIFTED TO DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND AVOID A COLLISION INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD HOME THAT WAS BEHIND THE PARKED CAR. UPON CHANGING GEAR TO DRIVE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SELF-ACCELERATE FORWARD, AND AGAIN BRAKES DID NOT WORK. IN FORWARD MOTION, AT HIGH SPEED THE CAR WENT OVER THE CURB AND HILLY GROUND. ATTEMPT TO SHIFT NOW TO PARK ALONG WITH BRAKE DID NOT WORK. TO AVOID MASSIVE ACCIDENT AND COLLISION WITH PARKED CARS AHEAD, THE DRIVER TURNED THE WHEELS TOWARD A UTILITY POLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STOPPED ONLY AFTER A COLLISION WITH THE UTILITY POLE. THE CAR WAS SMOKING IN THE BACK AND WAS STILL REVVING WHEN STOPPED. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER, CAR WAS MOVING AT SPEED 60 MPH. NO FLOOR MATS WERE MISPLACED NEAR DRIVER PEDALS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET HELP, AT WHICH POINT 911 CALL WAS MADE. DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO FAIRFAX HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. DRIVER SUFFERED FRACTURED NOSE AND TEARS IN FACE THAT REQUIRED SURGICAL REPAIR AND SUTURES. EVENT REPORTED TO BMW NORTH AMERICA, 6-6-2017. MOST PEOPLE WILL TRY TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS WAS DRIVER ERROR. HOWEVER, VARIOUS MALFUNCTIONING SELF-ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH BMWS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ONLINE; INCLUDING E46 GENERATION BMWS, WHICH IS THE MODEL OF MY CAR. IN CASES WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS SUCCESSFULLY SOLVED (FOR BMWS), REPLACING EITHER THE VANOS SOLENOID SENSORS OR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS DID THE TRICK. IN UNSUCCESSFUL CASES, THE DRIVERS SIMPLY SOLD/REPLACED THE ENTIRE CAR BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO DETECT OR RECREATE THE ISSUE USING THE SOFTWARE AND TECHNIQUES THEY HAD.

110mo ago
Electrical 2

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM REFLECTOR IS BURNT OUT DUE TO FAULTY MATERIAL BEING USED. REFLECTOR IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND NORMAL HEAT FROM BULB MELTS THE PLASTIC. THIS MAKES IT VERY UNSAFE AND DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON ON THE INTERNET. THE SOLUTION IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND DUE TO THIS COST,MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT FIX AND DRIVE UNDER THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HOLD BMW RESPONSIBLE.

112mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

113mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA INFLATORS, HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND BMW DEALERSHIP STILL HAS NO ANSWER

116mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT ATTEMPTED FOR 10/27/16. PETER PAN BMW CANCELED APPOINTMENT AND NOTIFIED ME THE PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATE FOR DELIVERY. 30 DAYS HAVE PASSED WITH NO UPDATES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS ARE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL.

117mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL BACK ON JULY 2015 AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT I CAN HAVE THIS FIXED! I HAD A TOYOTA VEHICLE THAT WAS REMEDIED VERY QUICKLY! THIS RECALL SHOULD NOT TAKE OVER A YEAR TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM DRIVING THIS CAR AND WANT THIS DOCUMENTED!

117mo ago
Electrical 2

I RECEIVED A PRINTED NOTIFICATION FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC DATED JULY 2015 UNDER THE SUBJECT MATTER: "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-318: DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE." SINCE I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION, 13 MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND STILL I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM CATONSVILLE BMW IN MARYLAND REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG. SINCE I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND STILL OWNS IT, I AM DRIVING IT RISKING MY LIFE AND LIMB FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. IT IS THEREFORE REQUESTED THAT NECESSARY ACTIONS BE TAKEN FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG OF MY 2005 BMW 325I BY CATONSVILLE BMW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVERT POTENTIAL DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND LIMB OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. THANK YOU. *TR

119mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL - DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OVER 12 MONTHS - TODAY I RECEIVED THE SECOND NOTIFICATION FROM BMW. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE BMW MAKE THE REPAIR IN OVER A YEAR DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY. WHAT IS "WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME" THAT THIS COMPLAINT SHOULD BE MADE?

120mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL I'VE BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR ALMOST A YEAR AT BMW SAN FRANCISCO. WHAT IS A "REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME" TO WAIT FOR THIS REPAIR?

120mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL: IN JULY 2015 RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL DUE TO DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEFICIT. HAVE CALLED 2 DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES IN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN REPLACEMENT DURING THE PAST YEAR. HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT I'M ON A WAIT LIST AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT OR FAILURE, ONE YEAR SEEMS AN EXCESSIVELY LONG TIME TO WAIT GIVEN THE SAFETY RISK. COMPLAINT ISSUED BY PHONE BUT VIN NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

121mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

121mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 350CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF

123mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THE RECALL ON MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS ISSUED AND THEY HAVE STILL NOT REPLACED IT.

125mo ago
Electrical 1

SIDE MIRRORS FADING INTO A BROWN COLOR. MAKING THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THEM IMPOSSIBLE. MANY TIMES I HAVE ALMOST SIDE SWIPED CARS THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF ME DUE TO MY NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUR OF MY SIDE MIRRORS. ALSO FRONT LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED IT 3 TIMES IN TWO MONTHS AND IT KEEPS EITHER GOING OUT OR FALLING OUT OF THE HOLE MAKING THE INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON.

126mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL. THE DEALER, LIFE QUALITY MOTOR SALES INC OF BROOKLYN NEW YORK AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC REFUSE TO COMPLETE THIS TAKATA PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE

126mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

128mo ago
Electrical 2

PER MY LETTER FROM BMW, I AM TO NOTIFY NHTSA THAT BMW IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE AIRBAG RECALL SITUATION WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER IN JULY 2015 AND CALLED BMW TODAY 11-16-15 TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE PARTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG.

129mo ago
Transmission 1

SMG TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND RANDOMLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FOUR LANE AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. LIGHT WENT OFF AND IT SEEMED FINE L FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND SAME HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TAKING MY SON TO THE HOSPITAL. I CALLED BMW AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WASNT A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THEREFORE IT ISNT DEEMED AN ISSUE ON THIER END. I TOLD THEM I WASNTED THIS REPORTED AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE THE REPORT IN THIER SYSTEM. I WAS NOT AWARE UNTIL RECENTLY THAT YOU HAVE TO REPORT IT TO NHTSA. THE FORUMS I HAVE READ HAVE ALSO CALLED BMW AND REPORTED ISSUES. THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE TO REPORT IT TO NHTSA AND NOT BMW. VERY DISHEARTENING. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY DRIVING MY CAR BECAUSE OF BMW WANTS ALMOST $6000.00 TO FIX THE ISSUE AND GIVE A 1 YR WARRANTY ON SOMETHING THEY KNOW TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE WITH EXPENSE WITH THIS WELL KNOW ISSUE.

131mo ago

37 total

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