1999 BMW E46

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Exterior Lighting

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

1 reports

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140,000 miles · Dec 28, 2011

Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW E46. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW E46. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT WAS ONLY FOR MODEL YEARS 2001-2003. UPDATED 02/08/12

NHTSA ODI #10441493

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.