| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2002 BMW 3-Series repairs by problem area
Engine (42%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)
Brakes and Traction Control (4%)
Suspension and Steering (16%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (22%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (6%)
Other (5%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 589 repairs.
2002 BMW 3-Series electrical repair cost distribution
$2500+ (2%)
$1000 - $2499 (10%)
$500 - $999 (24%)
$100 - $499 (32%)
< $100 (33%)
Chart based on 125 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2002 BMW 3-Series
Engine not specified
| 154000 mi US $1500 |
Drivers side window stopped working, reverse light not working, |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 58000 mi US $915 |
Battery light came on during road trip on back roads. Battery discharged and car died after approx. 45 minutes driving, stranding us along side of the road. Car was transported via flatbed to BMW of Asheville, who replaced alternator. |
| 60000 mi US $1283 |
Defective window regulators both front windows (drivers and passengers) |
| 61000 mi US $70 |
Ventilation blower stopped working. Replacement of Final Stage Resister (FSR) resolved problem. Ordered part online and completed DIY replacement. |
| 68000 mi US $2350 |
Airbag light. Faulty sensor replaced Intermittent issue with door lock/unlocking |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 100000 mi US $500 |
Blower motor replaced |
| 100000 mi US $125 |
Replaced light control module. |
| 112000 mi US $75 |
Replace driver window regulator |
| 116200 mi US $14 |
Ground short in tail light assembly. |
| 123800 mi US $60 |
Replaced LCM |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual AWD
| 101000 mi US $250 |
headlight bucket replaced after being melted by improperly seated bulb |
| 103700 mi US $350 |
window regulator replaced |
| 195500 mi C $993 |
Alternator, Belt, battery replced |
| 196840 mi C $170 |
Short under hood - slowly draining battery. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Wagon
| 117180 mi R 2000 |
Fuel gauge was inaccurate and car would run out of petrol when the range still showed 180ks.Replaced fuel pump and sender unit |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 96000 mi US $37 |
Left front blinker went out first time-fixed. Now same blinker doesnt work again... |
| 38500 mi US $40 |
Rear light failure. Bulbs replaced. |
| 45000 mi US $420 |
Driver side rear window will not go up. Replaced left rear window regulator and insulation. |
| 51000 mi US $508 |
Replaced alternator. |
| 202000 mi US $80 |
Replaced Blower Motor Final Stage (Resistor) |
| 82000 mi US $1178 |
Left rear window stuck in down position. Also right front window making grinding noise. Both window regulators were replaced. |
| 95000 mi US $850 |
Stinky smell from A/C after compressor is turned off and the fan is still running. Conditioned A/C, helped a little. |
| 99000 mi US $50 |
Sunroof wouldn't close sometimes. |
| 119000 mi US $150 |
Had intermittent indication that rear tail-light was burned out. Turned out to be an intermittent contact. Noise at acceleration thought to have come from engine, but turned out to be MPG gauge. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 40157 mi US $790 |
Replace alternator and battery |
| 47000 mi US $941 |
Fan clutch wobbling. Replaced unit. |
| 82800 mi US $450 |
Replace driver and passenger window motors and regulators |
| 109000 mi US $300 |
Drivers side power window motors replaced |
| 71000 mi | Left rear view mirror not setting for key used. I cleaned off the terminals and pounded on the bottom of the fuel tank with my fist. I believe the float was stuck. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 96000 mi US $80 |
Right rear tail light inop. Electrical connector damaged, I have been told this is common for this year 3 series. Brake light and turn signal would not word on driver side. One year ago I had the passenger side connector replaced. |
| 98000 mi US $580 |
Replaced alternator as it was inop. |
| 60000 mi US $300 |
Repair window regulator on right (passenger) window. |
| 43300 mi | Window regulator. |
| 65000 mi US $50 |
Replace HID igniter control box |
| 70000 mi US $85 |
Replaced window regulator in driver's door |
| 76000 mi US $100 |
Replace passenger front window regulator |
| 81000 mi US $100 |
Replace right rear window regulator. |
| 87000 mi US $100 |
Replace right rear window regulator again. |
| 97000 mi US $60 |
Replace final stage resistor to cure intermittent fan speed control problem. |
| 110000 mi | False low engine oil warning light - replaced oil level sensor. |
| 117000 mi US $120 |
Door remote locking and unlocking was intermittent - fixed by repair to GM5 electronic control module. |
| 146100 mi | Replace broken window regulator in left rear door. |
| 161600 mi US $150 |
Replaced both rear window regulators |
| 122700 mi US $125 |
No visiible leaks found, system working, . A/C recharged |
| 179000 mi US $150 |
Interior cabin fan was running intermittently despite car being off. Replaced blower motor resistor. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 60000 mi US $544 |
"C/S there is a right tail lamp message displayed at times but when checked the lamps are working.Bulletin 63-03-06 taillight grounds.Installed additional grounds to taillight.00 56 867 6FRU." |
| 74000 mi US $690 |
failed alternator |
| 93000 mi US $118 |
recharge A/C add compressor oil |
| 102800 mi US $7 |
The computer showed a false code. Dealer changed the real brake/turn signal bulbs anyway. It seems to have worked. |
| 125700 mi US $1604 |
replace windshield washer pump. |
| 110000 mi US $70 |
Thermometer for outside temperature |
| 118000 mi US $550 |
window regulators, front windows. they would not go up once they went down. |
| 74400 mi C $30 |
Replaced tail light bulb socket wiring harness plug, left rear tail light |
| 80260 mi C $7 |
Taillight failure warning due to poor ground design in tail lights. Spliced a second ground wire an attached to tail light cluster as per bimmerforum diy. $7 in parts and 10 minutes per side. Problem fixed. |
| 92880 mi C $1020 |
HVAN fan speed blowing erratically. Blower motor final stage resistor replaced |
| 46000 mi US $70 |
Second window regulator replaced. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 95000 mi US $1500 |
Alternator and starter |
| 100000 mi US $600 |
Window regulators. |
| 112000 mi US $1500 |
Compressor not functioning properly. |
| 160000 mi US $600 |
Replaced failing alternator |
| 96500 mi US $3700 |
Service II inspection, 4 new tires mounted and balanced, replaced AC compressor and dryer. Replaced headlamp lense due to fogging issue. |
| 75000 mi US $800 |
Had to replace the thermometer because the AC didn't work. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 89300 mi US $3800 |
Replaced AC system due to failing AC Compressor and Condenser Leak. Ventilation fan failing, replaced as well. |
| 120000 mi US $90 |
Driver's side window regulator |
| 97000 mi US $25 |
Windshield wipers were not stopping in the full down position. Replaced the wiper relay. |
| 77000 mi US $300 |
Left rear window actuator replaced. |
| 89900 mi C $700 |
Dead battery replaced, alternator replaced |
| 139398 mi US $200 |
window regulator failed |
| 110000 mi US $500 |
Alternator failed |
| 188000 mi US $50 |
window regulator failed |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4dr Sedan
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual AWD
| 109600 mi US $165 |
Oil fluid level sensor failed. Required new part and oil change to replace. |
| 109000 mi US $248 |
Driver's side window regulator failed for the second time. Had to be replaced. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 4-door
6-cylinder manual 2WD
| 67000 mi US $310 |
Rear left side power windows broke. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
333-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD
| 123000 mi | Blown Rear Speaker |
| 87200 mi US $56 |
Window switch |
| 94300 mi US $350 |
Air conditioning was not blowing cold air. |
| 69600 mi US $90 |
Temp gauge was not working. |
| 42000 mi US $500 |
Dying alternator killed battery as well. |
| 57000 mi US $300 |
AC stopped blowing cold air. Final Stage Unit (FSU) replaced. |
| 59000 mi US $800 |
Replaced high pitch horn. And low pitch horn while we were at it. |
| 65000 mi | Passenger side door fails to reliably unlock outside handle remotely. Interior handle still works. BMW Tech said that lock control module needs to be replaced. Apparently there's a module for everything in a BMW. |
| 39329 mi US $120 |
Right front wheel sensor replaced |
| 47292 mi | Front passenger airbag replaced in recall |
| 135000 mi US $30 |
Replaced wiring harness for front driver's seat belt tensioner. |
| 107000 mi US $200 |
Passenger window fails to roll down; disassembled door to fix. |
| 153000 mi US $2400 |
replace alternator, battery passenger door lock actuator replaced |
| 55000 mi US $25 |
One headlight bulb went out. I swapped front bulbs to confirm the incident, and replaced both with aftermarket Phillips headlight bulbs. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
333-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed automated manual RWD
| 60140 mi R 500 |
Central locking not actuating the unlock function. Door lock unit needed to be replaced. |
| 83080 mi | automatic level control xenon headlights- electrical stepper motor broken |
| 84940 mi €900 |
Alternator broke down and empty battery |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 32860 mi | Driver's seat heating element repaired under warranty. |
| 46500 mi C $300 |
HVAC Final Stage Resistor (fan speed control) replaced. |
| 97500 mi US $930 |
Alternator replaced |
| 103500 mi US $300 |
HVAC blower periodically stopped working. Replaced blower motor resistor. |
| 58000 mi US $200 |
HVAC Control unit going bad. AC blower working intermittent, then would not turn off after shutting down car. |
| 292200 mi US $150 |
alternator failed |
| 254000 mi US $150 |
Replaced dead 5.5 year old battery |
| 88000 mi | TPMS system problem but was never diagnosed or fixed. |
| 148000 mi US $65 |
The climate control interior fans quit working. Replaced final stage fan resistor pack to repair. Common repair on these cars - this unit replaced the original one - it lasted more than ten years before it failed. |
| 101060 mi C $260 |
Replaced broken driver's door lock actuator unit. |
| 152800 mi US $89 |
outside temp. sensor replaced |
| 157000 mi US $654 |
alternator not functioning, replaced. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 97000 mi US $75 |
Power Window switch |
| 78000 mi US $140 |
Outside Air Temp. sensor. Common breakage with the E46 as it is subject to impact from snow and ice. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Coupe
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 180000 mi | Passenger airbag recall |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Convertible
333-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD
| 53000 mi US $200 |
Bluetooth pairing button broke. |
| 70000 mi US $1600 |
Airbag module malfunction. New BMW part had to be procured - $650. Balance was labor and cost of removing an aftermarket airbag on/off switch for the passenger's seat. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Convertible
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 71300 mi US $600 |
Lock actuator needed to be replaced. |
| 112000 mi US $100 |
Battery replaced. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Convertible
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 91000 mi US $695 |
Headlight control module replaced. Consists of three switches and computerized power supply. Expensive !!! |
| 116000 mi US $1028 |
Final Stage Resistor (AC fan speed and temp control) replaced |
| 138000 mi US $800 |
Drivers side seat would not adjust, replaced fore-aft power seat motor. |
| 141409 mi US $429 |
Windshield washer system inoperative. |
| 47000 mi | Drive side door not unlocking, fixed. |
| 85000 mi US $500 |
Windscreen washer pump. Took three trips to get repaired |
| 92000 mi US $600 |
Windscreen washer pump. Took 4 repairs to finally fix! |
| 102000 mi US $500 |
Replace controller for door locks with second hand part. |
| 104000 mi | Replace controller for door locks with second hand part - tried 2 more times and ended up with replacing the original part and removing the fuse. The doors don't unlock remotely, but at least work manually |
| 98000 mi US $148 |
Replaced dead battery (AAA) |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Convertible
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 163000 mi US $180 |
window regulator replaced |
| 123700 mi US $200 |
I had to replace the alternator which stopped charging the battery. |
| 126000 mi US $50 |
The blower motor for hvac system stopped working, and I replaced the motor resistor to fix the problem. |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2dr Convertible
168-horsepower 2.2L I6 5-speed manual RWD
| 133300 mi €100 |
the door lock actuator was replaced |
2002 BMW 3-Series 2-door
6-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 51000 mi US $325 |
Final stage resistor needs to be replaced. AC went out one night, and mysteriously came back like nothing ever happened. Both service advisor at dealer and mechanic at a different shop said it was the blower resistor(something like that). although the |
| 54000 mi US $700 |
dead alternator |
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