2006 Bmw M3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (9) · Tires (2) · Power Train:manual Transmission (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw M3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-01-15 · campaign 20V017000 · 59,965 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2020-01-15 · campaign 20V018000 · 292,948 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode d
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags 2018-06-11 · campaign 14V428000 · 574,007 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive i
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Electrical System:wiring 2017-10-25 · campaign 17V676000 · 702,965 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.
Risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-28 · campaign 15V318000 · 419,235 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicle
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this r
Service bulletins (13)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2025-09-12 · B064925 · Other
brake disc return
Electrical System 2024-01-11 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the electrical system of bmw vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. this has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. this document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle ã¢ââdischarged batteryã¢ââ complaints.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2023-10-13 · B340714 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. cause material-
Equipment:electrical 2022-09-01 · B662419 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2020-10-01 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
discharged battery energy diagnosis must be performed: the electrical system of bmw vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. this has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. this document covers important information for the dealer on how to
Service Brakes 2018-07-01 · B340414 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
diagnosis of compound brake system complaints in m vehicles:
Showing the 6 most recent of 13 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-05-05 · Tires · 65,000 mi“firestone firehawk indy 500 tire failed on sidewall…”
2018-04-12 · Power Train · 104,000 mi“the smg transmission intermittently comes out of gear in any situation and is very dangerous when in heavy traffic and/or on a highway and loose all power. i have had several close call accidents at high speeds. i have read many articles stating the same issue with many owners for this type of transmission with a possible defective heat sensor on …”
2018-01-07 · Air Bags · 131,000 mi“yesterday (01/06/17) - while driving in motion, 2 side airbags spontaneously exploded, throwing loose plastic material into the cabin and into my face. cabin filled with smoke and burning smell. i pulled the car to the side of the road and turned off engine for smoke to disappear. i am going to take my car to bmw dealer tomorrow morning for evaluat…”
2017-12-27 · Tires · 121,801 mi“this letter is in reference to two michelin pilot sport a/s 3+ 255/35zr19 96y tires which both failed within 1,130 miles of each other from identical failures. these two failures were on the interior sidewall of the tires. these two tires were purchased and installed on the same day, september 15, 2016, by a dealer. the car had 104,775 miles o…”
2017-10-23 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw m3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v428000 and 15v318000 (air bags). the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact called the local dealer (advanced valencia bmw, 23435 valen…”
2017-06-19 · Air Bags · 40,488 mi“takata recall: your site improperly shows no recalls when vin used, and confuses 2006 m3 (e46) with the 2006 3 series successor (e90?), even though the recall notice rcrit-14v428-8638 shows "model year 2000-2006 bmw 3 series (e46) - incl-m"…”
2016-10-30 · Air Bags · 75,000 mi“driving approximately 20-30mph on local street in a straight direction. driver-side, side airbag deployed without warning. no prior instrument lights were on. never had any airbag lights on in the history of owning the vehicle. replaced passenger side airbag as part of recall in 2014. awaiting dealership to replace driver-side airbag also as part o…”
2016-09-01 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2006 bmw m3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v428000 (air bags) and 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 recall repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of …”
2016-05-10 · Air Bags“takata recall i received a letter from bmw of north america in july 2015 about a drive-side airbag recall for my 2006 bmw m3. (the passenger-side airbag had already been replaced under recall.) we are now 9 months since i received that notice and i have had no further communication from bmw. when i call my local dealer they can only say that bm…”
2015-11-18 · Air Bags“takata recall: tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw m3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair for an extended period of time. the dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.