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2000 BMW E46

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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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

All reported categories

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: 16 of 18 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.

  • Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 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

Structure complaints

8 reports
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51,000 miles · Oct 15, 2007
Structure

THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 323 CI BMW IS, THE REAR MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE SUBFRAME HAVE RIPPED OUT FROM THEIR SPOTS IN THE SHEET METAL BECAUSE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMITS THE TORSIONAL LOAD FROM THE ENGINE THROUGH THE SUBFRAME, THEN INTO THE CHASSIS. THE CONSTANT LOADING AND UNLOADING WEAKENS THE INSUFFICIENT SHEET METAL, CAU…

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THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 323 CI BMW IS, THE REAR MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE SUBFRAME HAVE RIPPED OUT FROM THEIR SPOTS IN THE SHEET METAL BECAUSE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMITS THE TORSIONAL LOAD FROM THE ENGINE THROUGH THE SUBFRAME, THEN INTO THE CHASSIS. THE CONSTANT LOADING AND UNLOADING WEAKENS THE INSUFFICIENT SHEET METAL, CAUSING IT TO FATIGUE AND SEPARATE FROM THE CHASSIS. THIS FAILURE OF THE CHASSIS THREATENS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE COST TO FIX THIS DEFECT IS AROUND $9,000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205743

84,000 miles · Jan 18, 2007
Structure

I DRIVE A 2000 328CI BMW WITH 84,000 MILES ON IT. 1. IT HAS BEEN A DAILY DRIVER FOR 3 YEARS. 2. THE SUBFRAME HAS TORN BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL. 3. BMW IS NOT RECOGNIZING THIS AS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND IS GIVING A HARD TIME COVERING THE FIX. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179069

95,000 miles · Dec 24, 2006
Structure

REAR SUBFRAME CRACKING FROM MOUNTING POINT ON DRIVERS SIDE. VERY UNSAFE, CREAKING CLUNKING NOISES FROM REAR OF VEHICLE DUE TO THIS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10176886

76,000 miles · Dec 2, 2006
Structure

THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVING CAR AND THAT IS ITS SOLE PURPOSE. THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT HAS BEGUN TO RIP OUT OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, BUT BMW HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND I AM AWAITING THEIR REPLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174979

68,000 miles · Oct 11, 2006
Structure

SUBFRAME DAMAGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT 68,000 MILES, CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE DURING OPERATION. NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, STILL WORKING WITH BMWNA TO STOP WITH THE "RUN AROUND" STORY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170593

106,000 miles · Oct 8, 2006
Structure

AT ABOUT 106K MILES I NOTICED A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAS MULTIPLE STRESS FRACTURES AND SEPARATIONS AT THE POINT WHERE THE MOUNT IS WELDED TO THE UNIBODY. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINT. AT NORMAL INTERVALS. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HI…

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AT ABOUT 106K MILES I NOTICED A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT HAS MULTIPLE STRESS FRACTURES AND SEPARATIONS AT THE POINT WHERE THE MOUNT IS WELDED TO THE UNIBODY. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINT. AT NORMAL INTERVALS. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY 90% OF THE TIME AND THE REST IN RESIDENTIAL STREETS. IT IS A FAMILY CAR AND HAS HAD NO MODIFICATIONS PERIOD. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THE SUSPENSION SHOULD NEVER SEPERATE FROM THE BODY BECAUSE OF TORSIONAL FORCES FROM THE TRANS/DIFF. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES !! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170218

73,000 miles · Jul 27, 2006
Structure

AT APPROXIMATE 73,000 MILES I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM MY CAR, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND CRACKS IN THE SUBFRAME AROUND THE LEFT REAR BUSHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR AND MODEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SO FAR ARE SAYING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER …

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AT APPROXIMATE 73,000 MILES I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM MY CAR, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND CRACKS IN THE SUBFRAME AROUND THE LEFT REAR BUSHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR AND MODEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SO FAR ARE SAYING IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163758

37,000 miles · Jun 27, 2004
Structure

MY BMW 328CI YEAR 2000 HAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SEPERATION OF REAR UNDER CHASIS, MY CAR IS IN THE DEALER NOW AT BMW SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BMW NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY ARE CHARGING ME $22000 FOR REPAIR. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS …

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MY BMW 328CI YEAR 2000 HAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SEPERATION OF REAR UNDER CHASIS, MY CAR IS IN THE DEALER NOW AT BMW SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BMW NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY ARE CHARGING ME $22000 FOR REPAIR. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS IN AUGUST AND ITS ONLY 37K MILES ON IT. I TALKED TO THE BODY SHOP OF BMW SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY SHOWED ME 3 CARS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM . A $45K CAR EASY TO SEPERATED THE UNDERCHASIS AND SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HOPE YOU TAKE A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK ON THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10078873

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.