2004 BMW X3 Problems and Repair Histories
2004 BMW X3 problems reported via the Car Repair History and Car Reliability Surveys
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BMW X3
2004 BMW X3s for which no problems have been reported are not displayed. So the 2004 BMW X3 problems and repair histories you see here should not be used to infer car problem frequency.
For 2004 BMW X3 problem frequency, check the Car Reliability Survey result. For the problems behind the score, check the 2004 BMW X3 problems and repair histories that follow it.
BMW X3 Reliability through December 31, 2012
General NotesModels and statistics marked with an asterisk (*) have very low sample sizes. These results, visible only to logged-in members, provide only a rough estimate of car reliability.Any result under 20 repair trips per 100 cars is likely a result of the small sample size, and should be expected to increase to 20 or so in future updates.
New models often start out with high repair rates, and then improve as the manufacturer identifies and addresses common problems. MethodologyOnly successfully completed repairs are currently included in the analysis. Routine maintenance, most wear items, recalls, and problems fixed with just a reflash or warning light reset are not included.
| Year | Make/Model | Trips/Year/100 Cars | Compared to all models for the same year | |
| 2004 | BMW X3 | 16 X3s, 9.8 months of data per X3, average 91500 miles Small sample size. Join or 16 X3s, 9.8 months of data per X3, average 91500 miles Small sample size. sign in to view |
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Non-members can see only ten 2004 BMW X3 problems and repair histories. Log in or join us to see them all.
Repair costs are in local units.
2004 BMW X3
Engine not specified
| BMW X3 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2010 | 62000 | First odometer entry | |
| Nov | 2010 | 64000 | 0 | 4X4 light on and car was driving on 4x4. Took car to dealer and was told of a valve leaking oil and broken actuator. Repair cost will be $2.5K. Told dealer that we'll seek a second opinion. Dealer charged us $160 even though was not... |
| Jun | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2004 BMW X3 4dr SUV
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| BMW X3 in Tennessee, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| May | 2011 | 74000 | First odometer entry | |
| Sep | 2011 | 76000 | 23 | Replaced Roundel on front |
| Mar | 2013 | 91000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| BMW X3 in Georgia, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2009 | 67000 | First odometer entry | |
| Dec | 2009 | 67000 | 0 | The rear differential is bad. The repair shop fill it with oil but stated that the problem would still exist. They couldn't tell how long the temporary fix would last without replacing the differential and $2200 bucks. |
| Jun | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| BMW X3 in Utah, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2010 | 82000 | First odometer entry | |
| Sep | 2010 | 88000 | 600 | Replaced drivers mirror motor. |
| Jan | 2011 | 95000 | 150 | xenon ignitor |
| Jan | 2013 | 118000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2004 BMW X3 4dr SUV
225-horsepower 3.0L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| BMW X3 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2009 | 34000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2009 | 35000 | 500 | Front passenger seat belt was locked in fully retracted position. Replaced seat belt mechanism. |
| Aug | 2010 | 41000 | 200 | Intermittent service engine soon light. Service pulled a fault code but could not diagnose what caused it. Light not illuminated at the time of repair. Repaired a vacuum hose. Light hasn't returned. |
| Dec | 2011 | 50000 | 500 | MAP thermostat short to positive. Replaced MAP thermostat. |
| Mar | 2013 | 59000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| BMW X3 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2011 | 96000 | First odometer entry | |
| Aug | 2011 | 97000 | 2000 | PM for cooling system - hoses, thermostat, over flow tank, replaced front brakes, front bushings, replaced valve guides and covers, repaired rear diff leak. |
| BMW X3 in New Jersey, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2009 | 68000 | First odometer entry | |
| May | 2012 | 94000 | 160 | Diagnose sunroof not closing |
| Aug | 2012 | 97000 | 600 | Compressor seized, replaced. |
| Sep | 2012 | 97000 | 0 | Never fixed sunroof because quoted $3,500. Sold X3 at a discount to reflect this. |
| BMW X3 in New Jersey, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2012 | 94000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jan | 2013 | 102000 | 150 | Valve cover gasket leak (leak appeared at 98k miles). |
| Mar | 2013 | 102000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| BMW X3 in Nevada, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jun | 2012 | 81000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2012 | 85700 | 150 | Replaced upstream O2 sensor for bank 2. Bank 1 sensor had been replaced 5 months earlier. |
| Mar | 2013 | 91000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| BMW X3 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2013 | 67000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2013 | 68000 | 4500 | Needed new AC compressor after only 67,000 miles? Terrible. Needed new xenon headlamp |
| BMW X3 in Iceland | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2006 | 500 | Engine hesitating at certain rpm band. 1 of 2 oxy sensors replaced in accordance with numerous fault codes from OBC. | |
| Jun | 2007 | 800 | Same problem again, engine hesitating at certain rpm band. Same oxy sensor again shown as faulty on OBC. As it had recently been changed the ECU was reprogrammed. This has eliminated the problem. | |
| Oct | 2007 | 450 | 1. Fluid leaking from a hose connection going into the power steering pump. Hose clip replaced. 2. BMW Assist overtook the radio and could not be turned off. Fault traced to the BMW Assist switch (which has never been used). | |
| Jul | 2011 | 41540 | 350 | Severe vibration and knocking noise coming from front of car under sharp acceleration from standstill. Diagnosed as worn left engine mount which was replaced and fixed the problem. |
| Nov | 2011 | 42960 | 300 | Battery draining overnight. Tracked to telecommunication unit mostly and to panorama roof control unit slightly. Both disconnected. |
| Mar | 2012 | 44640 | 0 | Front shocks both leaking, and need replacement. Rear coil springs both with broken pig tails and need replacement. |
| Jun | 2012 | 47120 | 1050 | All four shocks replaced with Bilstein HDs and rear coil springs also replaced. |
| Sep | 2012 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| BMW X3 in Florida, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Apr | 2010 | 66000 | First odometer entry | |
| May | 2010 | 67000 | 50 | Rear passenger window would not stay closed. It kept sliding down. Front passenger door creaking. There's a vibration in the rear near the exhaust which had a repair done. No vibration before the repair. Told this was "normal." |
| Jan | 2011 | 75000 | 1760 | Not enough room to describe - Vent Valve, Water Pump, Oil leak, entire belt system, belt tensioner, etc. |
| Mar | 2011 | 77500 | 468 | DISA Valve |
| May | 2011 | 35 | Replaced windshield wiper pumps (2) and filters. Both were leaking. Bought parts on ebay and completed repairs ourselves. | |
| Aug | 2011 | 82000 | 0 | Took the car in for an oil change & lube. I think they only did the oil change, waiting to hear back, but anyway, they say I need rear brakes and wheel alignment. Cost is $1100. I may get rid of this car. I've sunk $3k into it this year |
| Feb | 2012 | 88500 | 650 | Oil leak - Valve Cover Gasket and Oil Filter Housing Gasket |
| Mar | 2012 | 89000 | 0 | I have a recurring problem with the "service engine soon" light coming on and a message that the system is too lean. Can't find the problem. |
| Sep | 2012 | 93000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| BMW X3 in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2009 | 56000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2009 | 56000 | 800 | passenger window wouldn't close or open. |
| Nov | 2011 | 82000 | 500 | oil leak in back pinion |
| Jan | 2012 | 84000 | 500 | broken sunroof replaced fan belts |
| Sep | 2012 | 98000 | 146 | alarm kept randomly going off |
| Dec | 2012 | 103000 | 0 | Brake pads worn out and replaced. General Maintenance |
| Mar | 2013 | 108000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2004 BMW X3 4dr SUV
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 6-speed manual AWD
| BMW X3 in Oregon, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jan | 2011 | 89000 | First odometer entry | |
| Nov | 2011 | 97000 | 920 | No problems -ready for 90,000 check-up which was 6000 mile past due. Oil Service, replaced front brake discs, pads, and sensors, and replaced 6 spark plugs. |
| Mar | 2012 | 101000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2004 BMW X3 4dr SUV
184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| BMW X3 in Indiana, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2012 | 82000 | First odometer entry | |
| Sep | 2012 | 82000 | 560 | The pipe going to the rear windshield washer sprayer was leaking. Dealer took front and back seats out, replaced the pipe and did oil change and replaced wiper blades. |
| BMW X3 in Georgia, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2010 | 82000 | First odometer entry | |
| Nov | 2010 | 92700 | 250 | the engine light went on, it was repaired |
| Oct | 2011 | 110700 | 800 | oil leak, one fixed one still needed |
| Sep | 2012 | 129000 | 1700 | We had to have the oil pan replaced or repaired. The majority of the expense was due to labor not parts, as it is hard to reach in the x3. |
| Feb | 2013 | 135000 | 700 | new brake pads, the brakes sound slightly off |
| May | 2013 | 136000 | 550 | The car wouldn't start, tried a new battery but it turned out to be the starter. It cost 550.00 |
| BMW X3 in Indiana, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2010 | 38000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2010 | 39300 | 2000 | Had To replace sunroof cassette |
| Jun | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| BMW X3 in Florida, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2011 | 73000 | First odometer entry | |
| Sep | 2011 | 73000 | 397 | I had to replace the rear RH window regulator. |
| Oct | 2011 | 73700 | 1911 | Small oil leak on the garage floor. Had to replace oil separator system (acc. to forums a common failure) and valve cover gaskets on the engine at 70,000 miles at a cost of almost $2,000.00. This will prevent me from ever buying another BMW. |
| Jan | 2013 | 80300 | 0 | This is the second time I would have to spend $1,900 to replace leaking seals etc. The first time I had all gaskets, seals & O rings replace at a cost of $1,700. Strangely enough the leak occurred after a trip for an oil change, etc. |
| Mar | 2013 | 81000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| BMW X3 in Massachusetts, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2009 | 31000 | First odometer entry | |
| May | 2010 | 32700 | 0 | Rotors warped, less than a year since replaced, covered under warranty. |
| Aug | 2010 | 36000 | 50 | Left rear window regulator failed, window fell inside door. |
| Aug | 2011 | 42000 | 1500 | Right rear rotor starting to seize. |
| Oct | 2011 | 43500 | 1305 | lower steering shaft failed |
| Mar | 2013 | 50000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| BMW X3 in Pennsylvania, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2009 | 41000 | First odometer entry | |
| Dec | 2009 | 43000 | 50 | emissions sensor malfunction-- sensor replaced |
| Apr | 2010 | 45000 | 0 | Have had engine noise since April 2008. Dealer stated no problems shown on computer. Have had independent oil analysis done & have given dealer results several times showing excess bearing wear or a cracked head or casting. |
| Jun | 2010 | 45000 | 0 | engine bearing noise-- dealer says nothing wrong-- oil analysis says problem much worse & bearing is ready to fail |
| BMW X3 in Virginia, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2007 | 0 | Left engine mount cracked, causing kickback and sound from steering when turning left and accelerating hard simultaneously. Repaired under warranty. | |
| Mar | 2008 | 150 | Passenger front speaker failed, unknown cause. Both front speakers replaced with similar aftermarket speakers. | |
| May | 2009 | 450 | Left front wheel bearing cracked. Repaired with new OEM parts. | |
| Aug | 2009 | 450 | Replaced worn right front wheel bearing | |
| Oct | 2009 | 85000 | 64 | Replaced headlight washer pump. |
| Nov | 2009 | 86000 | 260 | Vehicle unresponsive to remote control, NOT key related. |
| Jun | 2011 | 107000 | 1600 | Grinding noise coming from leaking front right strut. Lower control arm also bent. Replaced both front struts, lower control arms, and sway bar links. 4-wheel alignment done afterwards. |
| Apr | 2012 | 127000 | 498 | DISA variable intake valve failed. Unit replaced. |
| Apr | 2013 | 152000 | 931 | A crankcase ventiliation valve hose was leaking, triggering the SES light. Entire CVV system and hoses were replaced. |
| BMW X3 in Washington, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Feb | 2010 | 80000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jan | 2011 | 97300 | 500 | Coolant expansion tank and water pump leaking. Replaced both parts along with coolant and belts. |
| Apr | 2013 | 121000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
2004 BMW X3 4-door
turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel manual AWD
| BMW X3 in Cyprus | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2011 | 33480 | First odometer entry | |
| Aug | 2011 | 33480 | 4600 | turbo blew passengers window stuck, motor replaced |
| Sep | 2011 | 37200 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
Expert 2004 BMW X3 Repair Advice
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