2004 BMW 325I exterior lighting problems
44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the exterior lighting on the 2004 BMW 325I — 30% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“I cannot use put my windows up/down, cannot open the trunk, cannot use interior lights, cannot unlock my gas lid. Due to a broke. Electronic part called the GM5”
filed May 16, 2025
“The reflector bowl on the headlights burns, creating a severely decreased output. This is an issue known by many people in the bmw community. Https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/e46-zkw-reflector-recall-open-nhtsa-investigation.552978/”
filed Apr 3, 2021
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Exterior LightingCampaign 11V438000 · Aug 26, 2011
Exterior Lighting problems in other 325I years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 325I | 9 | 2% |
| 2005 325I | 18 | 25% |
| 2003 325I | 48 | 24% |
| 2002 325I | 44 | 27% |
| 2001 325I | 23 | 15% |
| 1995 325I | 1 | 3% |
| 1993 325I | 3 | 14% |
| 1992 325I | 1 | 3% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2004 BMW 325I
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.